Chapter 75
Lydia stared blankly at Sienna and the others. She couldn’t help but wonder when it had started, this closeness between her sons and Sienna. When Sienna first arrived, all five sons resisted, insisting they wanted Phoebe instead. Especially Jamar, who, after losing Phoebe, would wake up crying at night, desperately searching for her. He had been listless all day, devoid of any spirit.
They had brought in a psychologist to help them cope. The psychologist suggested that Sienna should use Phoebe’s original name, saying it would create a kind of mental association that would not only help them emotionally but also assist in finding their biological daughter in the future.
After undergoing this therapy, Sienna recovered remarkably well. Once she changed her name, she fully integrated into the Jenkins family, which contributed to a more harmonious and prosperous home. The psychologist also recommended that Sienna sleep with Jamar at night to help ease his nightmares. Sienna took the initiative to stay with Jamar. At first, he resisted her presence. However, within days, his attitude toward her began to shift.
Indeed, with Sienna by his side, Jamar stopped waking up from nightmares, and his mental state started to improve. Before long, Jamar began to treat Sienna like a real sister, often sticking closely to her side. Sienna actively engaged with the other boys, and they gradually stopped clamoring for Phoebe’s attention. Their relationships blossomed.
When Sienna first arrived, she had been the one to comfort the boys with her sweet nature and thoughtfulness. Lydia reminisced, wondering when the dynamics had reversed. Now, instead of Sienna comforting them, the boys were often showering her with affection and concern. It seemed this shift had started a few years after Sienna moved in.
Lydia suddenly remembered an incident when she saw Sienna being carried upstairs by Ollie. Ollie had said Sienna fell asleep on the couch, and he was taking her back to her room. When the family went out, Sienna would tire easily, and the boys would compete to carry her. At mealtime, Sienna sometimes left half of her food uneaten, and the boys would eagerly finish it for her. If it were anyone else making such a request, the boys would surely refuse. Yet, they happily obliged Sienna.
Previously, Lydia felt comforted by the close sibling-like bond between Sienna and her sons. Now, however, seeing their intimacy gave her an inexplicable chill. It seemed more like they were raising a girlfriend than a sister. It was simply outrageous how they treated their adopted sister. Sienna was a girl, and Lydia had never specifically taught her to be wary of such things. Perhaps Sienna just didn’t understand. But the five grown men should have more sense.
The more Lydia thought about it, the angrier she became. Sienna, being sensitive, sensed a piercing gaze directed toward her and turned to see Lydia’s expression, which was a mix of confusion and anger. Immediately, she pushed her two brothers aside, stood up, and walked over to sit next to Lydia. She wrapped her arms around Lydia and, with red eyes and a pitiful tone, said, “Mom, everyone is criticizing me, and I feel so sad.”
Having just been comforted by her brothers, Sienna momentarily forgot to restrain herself in front of Lydia and act less intimate. In the past, Sienna wouldn’t have thought twice about it. However, ever since the online rumors began swirling, insinuating that she and Jamar were more than siblings and resembled a couple, she couldn’t help but be aware. Many people joined in, stoking the flames of public opinion and misunderstanding the nature of her relationship with her brothers. Lydia had been following these online discussions closely, so Sienna should keep her from misunderstanding.
Besides, Sienna was certain Phoebe was behind all of it. From the very beginning of the livestream, Phoebe had intentionally suggested their sibling closeness, leading many to dig through past recordings and screenshots to find evidence of their seemingly too-close bond. Later, Phoebe even set traps for both Reece and Sienna, dragging Leon and Jamar into the mess. Sienna felt as if Phoebe was deliberately trying to portray her relationship with the brothers as inappropriate. This was definitely a calculated move by Phoebe, and Sienna was determined to get even. She continued to cling to Lydia, pouring out her grievances. “Mom. I…”
Lydia initially stiffened when Sienna hugged her. However, as she listened to Sienna’s heartfelt complaints, much of her earlier displeasure and resentment began to fade. After all, this was the child Lydia had raised, and her heart softened as she gently patted Sienna on the back. “Ollie and Leon are looking into who’s behind all this. Once they find out, they’ll help you get your revenge, so don’t be sad.”
Sienna snuggled closer to Lydia’s shoulder. “Mom, you and my brothers treat me the best. Having you all as family is the happiest thing in my life.” Lydia smiled at this. “We raised you. Of course, we’ll treat you well.” However, she wasn’t about to let the matter rest. Her smile faded as she turned her cold gaze to her five sons. “Your behavior is simply unacceptable. How can you hug your adult sister like that?”
“Sienna might not understand, but you should know to maintain appropriate boundaries between men and women. Look at what people online are speculating—that Jamar and Sienna are more than just siblings, but something like a couple.” In her frustration, Lydia even slammed her hand on the table. “From now on, you all need to pay attention. No more hugging Sienna. No more overly intimate gestures.” She shot a pointed look at Jamar. “Especially you—no more kissing her forehead or anything like that. You need to be especially careful.”
Jamar recalled the online rumors and felt a surge of anger. Just because I’m close to Brenda doesn’t mean it’s some scandalous affair. This is ridiculous, he thought. Feeling awkward under his mother’s reprimand, Jamar muttered, “Got it.” Cain and Joshua didn’t see any problem with their actions. They had always been this way, regardless of the outside world’s judgment. “Mom, we’re just close. Those people outside are the ones who are twisted,” Cain insisted.
Lydia frowned and retorted, “No matter how close you are, you’re adults now. Siblings must avoid crossing certain lines. Otherwise, people will say the Jenkins family lacks proper upbringing.” She then turned to Sienna, saying, “Sienna, you’re getting older. You need to be more aware of these things.”
Sienna internally disagreed. I spent years subtly nurturing this closeness with my brothers, making them protective of me. What if things change and we drift apart! she thought. Nevertheless, she nodded obediently. “Mom, I didn’t understand these things before, but I’ll listen to you and be careful in the future.” In front of Lydia, Sienna always appeared gentle and thoughtful and never threw tantrums. This was one reason why Lydia adored her so much. Satisfied, Lydia replied, “You are so well-behaved.” She fixed her sharp gaze on her sons. “Did you all hear that!”
Unbeknownst to Lydia, Sienna was winking at her brothers from the safety of Lydia’s embrace. They all responded in unison, “Yes, we’ll be more careful from now on.” Although they said this, it didn’t weigh heavily on their minds. Nonetheless, they realized they needed to be more cautious in public to protect Sienna’s reputation. For now, this issue was put aside.
Lydia suddenly recalled something that had been bothering her. She turned to Sterma and asked, “What’s going on between you and Reece!” Sienna had already prepared her response for Lydia and the others. She feigned even more innocence as she replied, “I assure you that Reece and I are completely innocent. We meet in private because Mrs. Hill likes me and asks him to deliver things to me.”
She added, “That so-called couple’s pendant was also a gift from Mrs. Hill, and Reece and I had no idea about it beforehand. This misunderstanding is all Phoebe’s fault. When Reece tried to explain, she wouldn’t even listen. Now, everyone thinks there’s something going on between us.”
Hearing Sienna’s explanation, Lydia felt a bit more at ease. So it’s just a misunderstanding, she thought. This was something she could easily verify with Ophelia, so Reece and Sienna couldn’t possibly be lying. Besides, Siera had indeed been favored by Ophelia since she was little. As long as Sienna wasn’t trying to steal her biological daughter’s boyfriend, Lydia could live with it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to cope with her feelings. “Oh. I see. It’s good that it’s just a misunderstanding.” Lydia said, then turned to Leon. “You should go find Phoebe and offer her the best resources and contracts from the company. This will serve as a kind of compensation for her.”
After a brief pause, Lydia added, “We should bring her back. It’s not right for a Jenkins family girl to be living in a small apartment outside. That just doesn’t sit well.” While Lydia wished to have Phoebe back, she found it difficult to approach the subject herself, so she decided to send Leon instead.