Chapter 222


    "Yes, I''m so down for it." Sabrina jumped off the hammock and said with joy, "Jenna, since you''re in


    charge, let''s prepare something special that will impress everyone. How about a special New Year


    banquet?"


    Jenna chuckled. She thought for a while and said, "That''s interesting, I''ll think about it."


    "What is there to think about? Alright, that''s final." Sabrina was full of excitement.


    "Sabrina, it''s a good thing to hold an annual banquet but we should also get Grandma''s consent


    and look through the expenses in the past few years. We can''t just hop into it without proper


    nning," Jenna smiled and reminded her.


    Richards Manor had no shortage of money but this did not imply that people here would be up for it.


    Often, these asions were events where people bragged about their riches and sesses to one


    another, all just so they could feign their pride.


    If the distribution was unfair or favoring one over the other, no matter which part went wrong, it


    would offend the status of each person in Richards Manor. They would easily associate this event


    with the inheritance rights in the manor, therefore they would keep an eye on the distribution of


    these benefits.


    This was a headache but seeing Sabrina full of anticipation, Jenna also got excited.


    "Jenna, you worry too much. Trust me, Grandma will definitely agree. Now, every big family in A city


    is nning events like this. Last year, Frederic Newton''s family spent 10 million on the New Year


    Day''s celebration. The event was all over the news, even I knew about it despite being in Capital


    City. Plus, this will be an auspicious event for everyone." Sabrina was very confident. From her


    perspective, the current Richards Manor was utterly gloomy. They needed to hold such an


    extraordinary New Year banquet to lighten up the mood.


    Jenna listened and nced at her sideways. "Since you''re so interested in this, you have to help


    me throughout the event!"


    "Of course." Sabrina rubbed her face that was a little red from the cold bite of wind and said


    seriously, "I shall do as youmand, Young Madam."


    After speaking, she got down on one knee, making Jennaugh.


    "What''s the asion?" Strong footsteps approached as two tall men walked in.


    Jenna looked up.


    Hansen and Christopher strode in one after another, looking absolutely dashing.


    One of them was wearing a suit and leather shoes, while the other wore the most trendy royal blue


    fleece coat. They had their hairbed to the back neatly, revealing smooth foreheads. They were


    especially handsome.


    Why was Christopher here?


    Jenna was surprised. She looked up at him, failing to hide the puzzle in her eyes.


    "Hello, Jenna." Christopher approached Jenna without hesitation and stretched out his hand.


    His eyes were as calm as a quietke. His thin lips curled upwards, looking polite and sophisticated.


    "Hello, Mr. Matthews." Jenna only paused for a split second before she shook his hand.


    His hands were very warm against Jenna''s cold ones. His eyebrows were raised slightly and he


    gave her hand a firm shake. He looked around the room before his eyesnded on the open


    window, speaking in a caring and thoughtful manner.


    "It''s so cold today. Why is the window open? No wonder your hands are so cold."


    Jenna panicked a little inside. She retracted her hand and smiled faintly. "We like some fresh air."


    She answered so elegantly with a slight smile stered on her face. There was nothing


    inappropriate but she felt a displeased gaze shot at her.


    She did not even need to guess who it was from.


    She spared no looks at Hansen and smiled at Christopher. "Christopher, what brings you here all


    the way from Capital City?"


    Christopher grinned. "I''m here to see Vivian and you."


    Jenna smiled lightly. She was used to small talk.


    On the sofa, Sabrina was flipping through a magazine in her hand. She raised her head and smiled


    at Christopher. "Mr. Matthews, I didn''t expect to meet you here."


    Christopherughed. "Miss Delia, you should have told me that you''reing to A city. Wouldn''t it


    be more lively if we came together?"


    "Oh, please no, you''re a public official who handles important matters. I wouldn''t dare to get in the


    way," Sabrina waved her hand and said loudly. The two looked like close friends.


    They were both from Capital City and from prestigious families. Jenna could figure why they were


    close with each other.


    She returned to the desk to deal with the ledgers.


    Hansen had a dark expression on his face.


    Jenna casted him no nces since the start, it was as if he did not exist.


    His face was gloomy and he felt embarrassed.


    "Seems like you''re quite interested in being the head of the household." After a while, he walked


    over to Jenna and spoke to her.


    Jenna did not respond.


    "You have to be careful when you''re in charge. Handling Richards Manor is not that easy," he


    coughed awkwardly and continued.


    "You think I want to do this? Nobody cares about taking over Richards Manor," Jenna closed the


    book and replied coldly.


    A cold wind hit his face when she shut the book. It felt like a p on his face and he seemed


    pathetic, adding to his awkwardness.


    She really showed him no mercy. On top of that, she was rude.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    He nced at Christopher and Sabrina from the córner of his eye. They were chatting away, paying


    no attention over here. Only then did he feel less embarrassed.


    "Jenna, are you really going to do this to me?" He lowered his voice and gritted his teeth.


    "What did I do?" Jenna raised her eyes and stared at him. "Mr. Richards, what are you talking


    about? Are we that close? Why would you think that way?"


    She spat her questions as Hansen gaped at her, unable to say anything.


    Were they not close? They had been in the same bed for so many years; they had unspeakable


    affection towards each other. But at this moment, she denied all of it!


    "Jenna, at least we can get along nicely," he whispered.


    "Is that so?" Jenna gave him a sad smile. "Stop pretending. Who am I to get along with you, Mr.


    Richards?"


    Her smile was stiff and cold, and she looked straight outside the window.


    "What do you mean?" Hansen asked,pletely clueless. He felt that she was so angry with him


    on this day, even more distant than usual.


    She looked at the plum blossoms outside the window, blooming brightly with vibrant colors amidst


    the snow.


    It was beautiful, she thought.


    Would she blossom that way in this family? Could she forget the past and start anew with them?


    She felt like she couldn''t.


    "What happened?" He frowned. Her face was pale and ashy. There was a trace of pain in her eyes


    and his heart trembled as he asked.


    She tugged the corners of her lips, turned her head, and nced at him coldly. "Did you bail Norton


    out? You promised this would never happen. Do you care to exin it now? What more lies do you


    want to feed me with?"


    She red before turning around and looked at him no more. She picked up the ledger and walked


    towards the sofa on the other side.


    She felt her stomach chum painfully when she asked him that.


    Early in the morning, she had heard from the servants that Norton was back. It was probably for


    Sabrina!


    In fact, there were not many people in the manor that knew Norton was detained except for Vivian,


    ude, and Maria. It was kept a secret to everyone else.


    However, when Sabrina arrived, Norton did not show up. Let alone Sabrina, even the servants were


    guessing where he went. It became more suspicious especially when he was absent at the reunion


    dinner during the holidays.


    Hansen stood in a daze and finally understood why Jenna was so cold towards him.


    She really misunderstood him!


    He did not want Norton toe out at this time as well. Everything was not going the way he


    wanted.


    In her heart, Norton was his younger brother, his family. She had a thousand reasons to think so.


    But, she did not understand his feelings.


    She was the person he loved the most. She was his family.


    Even so, she would not understand, nor would she believe it.


    If it were not for her, he would never investigate the case.


    But since he had started it, no one should be wronged. This was his principle but she would not


    understand.


    There was no way for him to exin.


    "Jenna, this is a misunderstanding. I didn’t bail Norton out of jail," he followed to sit down beside her


    and exined.


    "Drop the act, who else could it be?" She looked at the ledgers icily.


    "You,” he was dejected, "Are you not willing to believe me at all?"


    "Give me a reason to believe you. Who else has the power to do this besides you?" Pain and


    ridicule shed across her eyes.


    For a time, Hansen was speechless.


    He, too, had no idea.


    "Don''t you presume that I don''t know. Javon''s case could have closed but you insisted on


    investigating it further. Didn''t you do this to save Norton?" Her eyes grew red and she lowered her


    head.


    "Jenna, do you really think so?" He opened his mouth wide in surprise, staring at her nkly.


    Norton''s case was clearly suspicious. It was not a case which he could close simply. Jordan was


    unwilling to do so and the legal procedures did not allow it. This was a matter of life and death. How


    could this case be closed without solid evidence?


    However, Jenna thought the other way. Perhaps, she did not understand at all. That was why she


    med him for all of this.


    Just then, Meroy came over.


    "It’s so lively here today. I see that things have really changed once Young Madam took over." She


    smiled.


    "Meroy." All of them went closer to her and smiled politely at her.


    "Old Madam is awake now. If you want to see her, you may go in," Meroy said.


    Hansen could say nothing more to Jenna. He went in with Christopher.


    Meanwhile, Jenna and Sabrina apanied Meroy, chatting with her.


    As soon as Sabrina suggested that they hold an annual banquet, Meroy was absolutely delighted


    and praised the idea. She was very happy and said, "You youngsters are always so creative. I am


    sure of this: Old Madam will definitely like it."