Chapter 3 Here We Go Again

At Jalster International Airport...

"How long do we have to wait here, Carson? Jennifer's flying back. Couldn't we have just sent a driver instead of both of us coming down here? How important does she think she is? You have so many tasks pending at the company, and I need to keep to my own schedule. We..."

"There she is," Carson Bennett said.

Hearing this, Edmund Bennett, who was sporting sunglasses, quickly turned his attention toward the airport exit.

Carson spotted Jennifer just as she noticed the two of them standing out.

In the severe heat, Carson was dressed entirely in a black suit. Edmund, a pop idol, was also fully covered.

Jalster in August was oppressively hot, and on this blistering summer day, they stood out in a bustling area.

As Jennifer strode past the two conspicuous figures, she didn't even give them a look.

"Hold up, Jennifer!" Frustrated by her disregard, Edmund couldn't help but call out to her as she walked away.

However, Jennifer didn't stop; she quickened her stride instead.

Just as Jennifer was nearly out of sight, Carson quickly moved to intercept her.

"Enough games, Jennifer."

Carson's expression showed a trace of annoyance as he faced his younger sister, revealing no pleasure in their reunion after four years apart.

Four years ago, such words might have hurt Jennifer. Now, they seemed not to affect her.

"Smart people don't stand in the way. Move."

"Are you out of your mind? Watch your tone, Jennifer!" Edmund retorted.

"Perhaps you should recognize your own mistakes before you criticize others."

"You little..."

"Edmund!" Carson shouted.

Edmund was about to explode in anger at Jennifer's remarks when Carson intervened to hold him back.

Jennifer watched them and snorted, her lips curling in derision.

After holding Edmund back, Carson turned his attention to Jennifer. "Get in the car. Grandma wanted us to pick you up because she knew you were coming back."

His statement slightly softened the frostiness in Jennifer's gaze.

After a brief pause, she stepped into the nearby Maybach.

"Jennifer, I'm warning you. If you mistreat Leyla again, I won't let it slide... Ouch!"

Jennifer had just shut her eyes in the back seat when Edmund's incessant babble from the front passenger seat reached her. She lifted her hand and punched Edmund on the head.

"Say another word, and I'll beat the shit out of you. Believe me or not?" She leaned close and hissed in his ear while clutching his hair.

That punch left Edmund dizzy. He instinctively wanted to strike back, but with Jennifer still gripping his hair, he could only clench his teeth to suppress the curses he wanted to spit out.

"Humph!"

With a dismissive snort, Jennifer let him go and closed her eyes once more.

Carson, who was driving, glanced in the rearview mirror at the sound of their scuffle.

But as his eyes landed on Jennifer's face in the mirror, a sharp voice from the back seat warned, "Keep staring, and you'll regret it."

Carson found himself at a loss for words.

Seated in the front passenger seat, Edmund experienced an odd sense of satisfaction observing Jennifer berate Carson as well. "Ignore her, Carson. She's—"

He wanted to say she was insane. But learning the lesson from earlier, he wisely chose not to finish his words.

The car maintained its silence as they continued the journey, and as soon as it halted, Jennifer's eyes flew open.

Noticing that the Bennett brothers had exited, she independently pushed open the car door.

Jennifer raised her eyes to the villa in front of her, emotions swirling visibly in her gaze.

She had not anticipated returning here.

She first visited this place when she was just 16 years old. By that time, she had already become Plevale's leading agent, and tracking down her family was easy.

Back then, she was young and still harbored some hope for what they called family ties. Yet, the Bennett family had made it clear they did not need this so-called biological daughter; someone else had already filled her shoes.

"Carson, Edmund, you're home."

Just as Jennifer stepped forward, a figure darted from the villa. A girl in a pink dress flung herself into Edmund's arms.

Holding her, Edmund's face lit up with joy, while Carson looked on, his expression softening.

Leyla Bennett clung to Edmund and Carson, her face alight with happiness. But her smile faded as soon as she noticed Jennifer.

A moment later, she regained her composure, turned to Jennifer with a smile, and said, "Welcome home, Jennifer."

"Here we go again, phony."

Leyla's greeting made Jennifer's smile outshine hers. However, Jennifer's reply drained the color from Leyla's face.