Chapter 75: Is He Even Human?
Soon enough, they reached the staff’s canteen.
It wasn’t hard to spot Riley among so many staff members there for lunch.
He was already waving at them enthusiastically, as if they had been gone for days instead of minutes.
And Ava is sitting opposite him.
Sienna smiled at them as they approached, her gaze briefly scanning the table. Food was already there, waiting for them. They only had to start.
"Wow," Sienna said as she took her seat. "You’re utterly efficient, Riley..."
"I know," Riley answered proudly, gesturing for Mia to sit beside him, "It’s one of my best abilities."
"Don’t talk nonsense. I still remember how you create chaos," Ava added calmly, smiling at Sienna as she settled beside her. "I’m the one who ordered..." She smiled.
"Excuse me, I only create excitement wherever I am. But never chaos." Riley protests.
"Well, Riley," Mia added playfully, "I also remember that you are the best one who can create problems."
Sienna let out a soft laugh, the familiar dynamic between them easing something inside her.
"Alright, alright, pretty ladies, stop attacking me. Let’s eat," Riley said, already picking up his utensils and starting to eat.
However, it didn’t take long... Riley glanced at Sienna as something crossed his mind.
"And you," he added, pointing his fork at Sienna, "...you need to start telling us about your family matters."
Instantly, the silence settled between them. Three pairs of eyes were now fixed on Sienna. They were waiting for her to reveal the chaos in her family.
Sienna didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she reached for her drink, taking a small sip as if buying herself a few extra seconds.
And then, she set the glass down and finally smiled at them.
"My useless father," she said evenly, "...he is trying to sell me to a gangster boss."
Everyone’s expression changed from curious to shocked, and then to furious.
Riley froze, eyes widening.
Ava gasped.
Mia slowly lowered her fork, and her face became red.
"Sienna, I’m sorry," Riley said carefully. "I might have heard it wrong... You said your dad sold you to a gangster boss?"
"Hmm, that’s what I said..." Sienna replied.
Ava leaned forward slightly, her expression sharp even though her tone still sounded soft, "Sell you... as in marriage?"
Sienna stared into Ava’s eyes and offered a small, humorless smile. "Well, that would have been nicer."
Mia swallowed before saying in an annoyed tone, "Wait! What kind of father does that...?!"
"A useless and cruel one," Sienna replied in her calm tone.
Riley set his fork down slowly, his earlier playful energy gone. "Okay," he said, letting out a long, heavy breath. "We need more details about it, Sienna."
Sienna relaxed a bit in her chair, gently holding her glass.
A soft, bitter smile played on her lips, yet her eyes didn’t quite show the same warmth. Those painful memories always seem to pop up at the wrong moments, and today was no different, catching her off guard.
"Why are you still asking about it?" Sienna said with a smile, though her tone revealed her annoyance. "It’s obviously the same reason as before...to pay his gambling debt."
"The fuck with your fa—" Riley cut himself off abruptly, pressing his lips together when he realized his voice had risen far too loudly in a public place.
He quickly glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to their table.
Then he leaned in closer to them, lowering his voice, though the anger in it didn’t fade. "Is he even human?" he whispered harshly. "How dare he do that to you?"
Sienna didn’t answer immediately. Not because she didn’t want to. But because she didn’t know how. There were countless ways to describe her father’s evilness, but eventually, words simply... ran out of meaning. So instead, she could only shrug and let the silence settle around them.
Ava, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "Sienna," she said, her voice calm. The kind of calm that didn’t belong to peace, but to something tightly controlled. "I’m sorry if my words sound harsh..."
Sienna turned to look at her. And for the first time, she saw something different. Ava’s usual composed, almost untouchable demeanor had shifted. There was anger there, unmistakable, restrained only by discipline.
"But your father," Ava continued, her eyes steady, "is too kind to be called evil."
The table went still, all eyes now staring at Ava.
"He is far beyond that," Ava added, her tone sharp despite her careful choice of words. "He is cruel. Barbaric. A man who has never shown gratitude for the daughter who has sacrificed so much for him."
Sienna blinked slowly, too shocked to hear Ava actually curse. And her cursed way is too strong for someone like her, the person they regard as the fairy mother.
Ava didn’t stop. "If such a man were to die," her voice dropping slightly, "even hell might hesitate to accept him."
Silence followed.
Even heavier this time.
Then, casually, Ava reached for her glass of water and drank it in one go, as if trying to cool down something burning inside her.
Meanwhile, Sienna, Mia, and Riley just stared at her. Completely stunned.
They still can’t believe seeing Ava, who usually spoke like a composed mentor, guiding them through life. And yet, right now, she looked like she had just delivered a judgment straight from the underworld.
"...WOW!" Riley whispered under his breath.
Mia nodded slowly, still staring. "I think I just witnessed history."
Ava blinked. Then, she noticed all three of them staring at her as she had just grown horns on her head.
Without warning, she reached out and lightly flicked each of their forehead, one by one. Not hard, but just enough to snap them.
"Snap out of it," Ava said flatly. "Lunch is almost over. Eat!"
They all blinked in unison, then nodded silently. And obediently returned to their food.
For a few minutes, the table was quiet again, filled only with the sounds of cutlery and the occasional awkward glance.