Chapter 55: Taking Turns

Back at the ancestral residence, just as Alaric Vane and Seren Thorne stepped out of the car, Mrs. Gable walked over to inform them that Julian Ruan had arrived and was currently waiting in the living room.

Hearing Julian’s name, Seren frowned. "What is he doing here?"

She had just run into Arthur Ruan and the eldest Ruan brother at the Moore funeral today, and now the second brother was waiting for her here the moment she returned. What was this family trying to do? Take turns coming over to disgust her?

Mrs. Gable replied, "I heard that Miss Sweetie is preparing to get engaged to Mr. Silas. Master Julian came specifically to notify you to return for a family meal."

Seren understood and headed into the house with Alaric.

In the living room, Julian Ruan was sitting on the sofa waiting for them. Seeing the two enter, he stood up and tried his best to offer Seren a gentle smile. "Seren, you're back? I heard you ate something bad; do you feel any better now?"

Earlier today, Arthur Ruan and Silas Ruan had attended the funeral together, intending to tell Seren to return home to witness the engagement when they ran into her. However, before they could mention the main business, they had ended up in a heated argument. After returning home, Arthur had done nothing but complain about the encounter.

Since seeing through Sweetie Ruan’s true colors, Julian had been reflecting on himself during this period. He felt he had cared far too much about an ungrateful outsider like Sweetie while neglecting his own biological sister. To make amends and apologize, he had volunteered to come and personally invite Seren back while his father and brother were still grumbling.

Aside from apologizing, he actually had another reason for being there. After realizing that Sweetie would eventually cause the death of their entire family, Julian had tried to persuade Silas several times to break up with her and help kick her out of the house. But no one in the family would listen to him; he had even been scolded by them several times for it.

He didn't want to stand by and watch his family meet a tragic end, so he hoped Seren would return. Seren was also a member of the Ruan family. Although she appeared cold-hearted now, he believed that once she saw her family again, she would remember the beauty of their bond and soften her heart to help the Ruans through their crisis.

Seren spoke, her voice cold and distant. "Let's skip the pleasantries. I won't be attending any Ruan family engagement banquet. You should leave."

"It's not an engagement banquet, just a family dinner." Although Silas and Sweetie weren't biological siblings, they were on the same household register and carried the titles of brother and sister. The Ruans feared gossip, so even though they had agreed to the marriage, they didn't plan on a grand celebration. They intended to have a family meal for the engagement and only invite a few relatives for the wedding later.

Julian looked at Seren, pleadingly. "Seren, I know you're still angry with me. I was indeed stupid before and misunderstood you. But we are family after all, and the Ruan house is your home. Are you really willing to cut ties with all of us and never return?"

{Family? Your real sister passed away over half a month ago.}

Hearing Seren’s inner voice, Julian’s heart constricted, yet he stubbornly refused to believe that Seren was a transmigrated soul. No matter what Seren thought or said, in his eyes, she was a Ruan and his biological younger sister.

Seren, however, truly didn't see him as family. She said with a firm tone, "I'm not going back. Don't come looking for me ever again. Mrs. Gable, see the guest out."

Mrs. Gable nodded and immediately made a gesture for Julian to follow. "Master Julian, let me have the driver take you back."

Looking at the indifferent expression on Seren’s face, Julian knew he couldn't get her to go home today. He whispered a soft "I'm sorry" to her, turned, and left. He had driven himself there today, so he didn't trouble the Vane family driver and drove back alone.

When he reached home, Silas Ruan happened to be coming downstairs. He asked casually, "What did Seren say? Is she willing to come back that day?"

Julian shook his head, looking dejected. "Seren doesn't want to acknowledge us anymore. She told us not to look for her again."

Hearing this, Silas looked displeased. "Her wings have truly grown strong. Does she think she can ignore us just because she climbed onto the high branch of the Vane family? Without a maternal family to back her up, does she think she can live a good life in her husband's house? She won't acknowledge us now, but just wait until Alaric Vane discards her—let's see where she goes to cry then!"

Julian said, "Brother, haven't you heard? Seren has earned a lot of money through fortune-telling and stone gambling. She doesn't need to rely on anyone. Even without someone to back her up, she won't let herself suffer."

Silas dismissed this. "How much could she possibly earn? She spends money like water; what she earns isn't even enough for her own extravagance. Sweetie is much more sensible; she saves her pocket money to buy gifts for the family, unlike Seren Thorne, who only thinks of herself."

Hearing him belittle Seren in every sentence made Julian uncomfortable, and his tone turned a few degrees colder.

"Sweetie Ruan’s monthly allowance was always more than Seren’s. Even after buying things for us, she still had plenty left. Besides, the three of us brothers supplemented her with extra pocket money every month—it was far more than what she spent. We three brothers never spent a single cent on Seren Thorne; why don't you mention that?"

Silas was stifled. Even though he was in the wrong, he remained defensive. "Whose fault is it that Seren Thorne was so unlikable? If she had even half of Sweetie’s sensibleness, we wouldn't have been so cold to her in the past."

"She wasn't sensible?" Julian laughed. "Back when Seren was at home, she got up every morning to prepare breakfast for the entire family. She knew you had stomach problems and liked to stay up late, so every night she would specially brew a bowl of porridge and bring it up to you. She even formulated special incense to help you soothe your nerves and sleep. Our third brother was a 'flop' in the entertainment industry for years, unable to even sell out tickets for his fan meetings. To keep him from being sad, Seren spent her own money to buy all the tickets and hired people to see him just to provide him with emotional value..."

As he brought up these past events one by one, not only was Silas stunned, but even Julian himself felt a bit dazed. It turned out Seren Thorne had been so good to them in the past.

Unfortunately, when people are being loved, they often overlook the other person's efforts and take everything for granted. It is only when that love vanishes that they suddenly realize how much they had benefited from it.

Both brothers fell silent. After a long while, Julian spoke again: "Brother, I know you don't believe me, but I have to say it. I really did hear Seren’s inner voice; Sweetie Ruan will destroy our family. I’ve already tried to persuade you. If you insist on marrying her, then after you get your certificate, I will move out and no longer participate in any family activities."

Over these past few days, Julian had tried to convince everyone in the house until his voice was hoarse, but not a single person believed him. Since he couldn't save the others, he would at least save his own life.

Silas remained silent for a few seconds before saying, "Suit yourself."

What Seren said wasn't necessarily true. If he canceled his engagement with Sweetie because of these rumors, it would be irresponsible toward her. If Sweetie really harbored ill intentions as Seren suggested, at worst he would be more cautious in the future; if things truly didn't work out, he could just get a divorce.

Seeing that he was beyond help, Julian said no more and brushed past him to go upstairs.