Chapter 449


    J was still hung up on thedies’ sarcastic remarks that she didn’t notice the woman approaching


    her.


    Johanna had to wave her hand in front of J’s face before thetter came back to her senses.


    J blinked at Johanna, at a loss for words.


    She looked familiar for some reason.


    But J couldn’t figure out where they had met before, so she decided to brush off the thought.


    Thinking that Johanna was about to mock her just as the others had done, J squared her


    shoulders and lifted her chin. “Hello. Can I help you with anything?”


    She held her breath and braced herself for the inevitable. What sort of abuse was she going to hear


    this time?


    “It’s very nice to meet you. My name is Johanna White, and you may call me Mrs. White just like


    everybody else.” The woman stretched out her hand, her eyes gleaming as she peered at J with


    obvious curiosity.


    Johanna had noticed J the moment she had entered the room, mainly because she had the same


    eyes as her husband.


    As for J, she was rather taken aback by the distinctck of hostility. It was a breath of fresh air after


    what she had just experienced.


    She set her te down and reached out to shake Johanna’s hand. “Hello, Mrs. White,” she said with a


    polite nod and an apologetic look.


    So, this was the Mrs. White that Ethan had mentioned earlier.


    Upon closer inspection, J finally realized why this elegant woman looked so familiar—she saw that


    same face in the mirror every day. Johanna White looked just like her.


    “You caught my attention when you came in just now,” Johanna said with a smile. Before either woman


    knew it, she had already sped J’s hand between both of hers. “Are you a native of Seacisco?


    I’ve grown very fond of the local cuisine. Can you give me a few rmendations?”


    Johanna was genuinely amiable and didn’t put on airs, unlike the other richdies in attendance. She


    had a gentle aura that inspired the confidence of the people around her.


    “Oh, there’s a restaurant near my school that sells the bestmb stew in town,” J replied instantly.


    “This is the perfect season to have a heartymb stew I think.”


    Seeing that J seemed to be in good terms with Johanna, the other women had no choice but to


    back down. They stood to the side and exchanged pointed nces, not daring to interrupt the other


    two’s conversation.


    Johanna finally turned to them after a while, though her expression was not as warm as when she had


    been speaking to J. “It’s cold out here,dies. Why don’t youe with us to the lounge inside?”


    The White family was one of the most prominent lineages in Barnes. Each generation had studied


    abroad and gone on to be notable figures in their respective field, and some of them had even


    held important positions in the military. Needless to say, Johanna was a key yer in society, and


    everyone pandered to her at every chance they got. And since she was courteous toward J, the


    women had to keep themselves in check, lest they inadvertently offended Johanna.


    It was the early days of spring, and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge opened to the garden.


    Despite theck of snow, the cool, refreshing scent of winter still lingered in the air.


    “You know Seacisco so well. Have you lived here since you were a child? May I ask who your mother


    is?” Johanna was usually reserved, but she was inexplicably interested in J. Aware that she might


    be crossing a line, she smiled kindly at J and assured her, “It’s all right if you don’t tell me. I know


    it’s a little abrupt and may not exactly be appropriate. Just forget I asked.”


    The matter of her family background was a sensitive issue for J, so she was grateful for the other


    woman’s consideration.


    But she sensed no malice from Johanna, so after a moment’s hesitation, J decided to answer her


    question. “I was adopted by the Lind family. As for my biological parents, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I have


    no idea who they are.”


    Her voice instinctively quieted down as she spoke, and the words fell heavy between them.


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    Johanna’s face immediately changed. A mix ofplicated emotions shed across her eyes. “Are


    you saying that you’re adopted?” she asked urgently, as if to confirm a crucial truth.