Chapter 1108: Chapter 1048: The Wrong Code Phrase
Gatherings are nothing more than eating, drinking, and chatting.
When they were together, they were still children, then they were adopted by different families and led drastically different lives. Thus, they have very little in common.
"Everyone has changed so much! You were dark and skinny as a kid, and now you’ve grown so tall."
"You too, you were a chubby kid, and now you’ve become handsome."
Celia Rafael chimed in, "None of your changes compare to how much Belinda Rafael has changed."
"She hasn’t changed much, she was already a little beauty as a child, and grew up into a big beauty." The chubby kid glanced at Sienna Johnson, his face slightly blushing.
Actually, everyone isn’t unwilling to get close to Sienna Johnson, it’s just that the presence of the man beside her is too strong, making them hesitant to approach.
Celia Rafael said, "She abandoned Drew Rafael for wealth, marrying a wealthy man. Isn’t that a big change? I really didn’t expect her to be such a person."
"We can’t speak too much on matters of the heart, maybe there’s something more to it?"
Celia Rafael asked aggressively, "What kind of story could there be?"
The chubby kid was left speechless.
As Celia Rafael spread the word, Sienna Johnson became perceived as the woman who abandoned her childhood sweetheart for the vanity of marrying a wealthy man.
...
"Noah Phillips..."
Noah Phillips was very popular, almost like a luminary, constantly surrounded by people. Sienna Johnson saw that he was finally momentarily alone and approached him.
"You look beautiful today," Night Owl complimented.
His gaze lingered on her face, moving down to her crimson lips. He took a deep breath, barely resisting the urge to kiss her.
Night Owl found his self-control over this woman waning, fearing he won’t be able to capture her heart if it continues.
"Where’s Teddy? Didn’t you say you’d bring Teddy over? Why haven’t I seen him? Is he at the hotel?" Sienna Johnson noticed Teddy wasn’t with him.
"He unfortunately fell ill today, so I didn’t have him come," Night Owl replied.
"Ill? What’s wrong? Is it serious?" Sienna Johnson asked worriedly.
"Just a common flu."
"He never learns how to take care of himself," Sienna Johnson commented with concern.
Initially, she let Noah Phillips take Teddy because he claimed he could cure Teddy, and at that time, she was overwhelmed by internal and external troubles, unable to manage him.
Now, the atmosphere in the Johnson Family was good, she should have Teddy come back.
"Why did you bring Adrian Desmond too? You’re the only one who brought a family member."
Seeing Adrian Desmond, Night Owl had to restrain himself intensely to avoid drawing a gun and bursting his head.
They were bitter enemies, and now had added a facet of rivalry for affection.
"The invitation didn’t say not to bring family, Adrian wanted to see where I lived, so he came along."
Night Owl suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You’re afraid of me!" His tone was certain, and before Sienna could back away, he quickly stood straight, maintaining half a meter distance between them.
"Yes, I’m somewhat afraid of you now," Sienna Johnson confessed.
"I’m not going to eat you," he laughed.
"But you trouble me greatly!"
"Oh?" Night Owl assumed a listening posture, but Sienna Johnson was unwilling to speak further, turning to leave.
After walking a few steps, Night Owl suddenly said behind her, "I am not a ghost!"
Sienna Johnson suddenly halted in her tracks, her face changed drastically.
"What did you just say?" Sienna Johnson turned around, scrutinized Night Owl’s face, her eyes examining Noah Phillips attentively.
"Do you remember when we used to play at the haunted house as kids?
I went to see it, the haunted house is still there. Broken down, eerie, exactly terrifying. I don’t know if you’ve grown up, if your courage still holds?"
He recalled old memories with Sienna Johnson, hoping to increase their closeness.
"Do you remember our secret code?" Sienna Johnson steadied her mind and asked.
"Of course I remember. The code is... I, am not, a ghost!"
I am not a ghost!
Night Owl saw her continuously staring at him, then shrugging his shoulders, he asked, "Why, was I wrong?"
Sienna Johnson suddenly smiled, a radiant smile that made Night Owl go starry-eyed.
"The code is correct."
Night Owl invited, "Then are you interested in going ghost hunting with me at the haunted house? Just like we did as kids?"
Knowing Sienna feared ghosts, Noah Phillips rationalized how they could have gone on ghost hunts.
"Ghost hunting?" Sienna Johnson said, double entendre, as she gazed at Night Owl’s face, gently saying, "Of course I’m interested."
"Then shall we go to the haunted house tonight?"
Sienna Johnson suddenly playfully smiled, saying, "Before going to the haunted house, there’s another secret code."
"Another one?" Night Owl’s smile appeared somewhat unnatural.
"Adrian Desmond is looking for me, I need to go." Not far away, Adrian Desmond was indeed searching for her. Sienna found the perfect excuse.
Night Owl shouted, "If I tell you the code, will you be willing to go to the haunted house with me?"
"Yes!"
Sienna Johnson turned away, her smile disappearing, her face now enveloped in frost. She strode off without looking back.
Adrian Desmond came forward, seeing her talk with Noah Phillips, and disapprovingly said, "What were you talking about with Noah Phillips, chatting so happily?"
"..."
"What’s wrong with you? Your face looks so bad?"
"Hold me," she weakly said.
Adrian Desmond didn’t know what was going on, but he obediently embraced Sienna Johnson. Her face buried in his chest, her mind in turmoil.
Celia Rafael and Augusta Rafael are best friends, with a relationship as close as sisters, and Celia had been looking for Augusta, happening upon the two hugging in the corner.
Unable to see the woman’s face, but recognizing the man, she noted it was Belinda Rafael’s now husband - Adrian Desmond.
"Take your lovey-dovey home, don’t block the view here," Celia Rafael said rudely.
Adrian Desmond cast a piercing look over, filled with horrifying murderous intent, causing Celia Rafael to shiver before turning and leaving awkwardly.
Sienna Johnson stood upright from Adrian Desmond’s embrace, looked up, her expression restored.
Adrian Desmond urged, "Just now, what happened to you?"
"Talk at home!" Sienna Johnson lowered her voice and said.
Adrian Desmond felt she was clearly troubled, "If you’re really not feeling well, we should leave first."
"No! I still need to confirm something." Sienna Johnson took the wine glass from Adrian Desmond’s hand and drank it all.
"What exactly is going on with you?"
Sienna Johnson was behaving unusually.
Sienna Johnson wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoes, kissing his earlobe, making Adrian Desmond tremble. She murmured in a very soft tone only he could hear,
"I suspect the Noah Phillips who came today is fake."
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