Just as they were talking, Ava walked in from outside.
As soon as she saw Alessia, she expressed concern, "Sia, when did you arrive? Why are you standing at the door? Where are Chris and Elle? Didn't they come with you?"
"They're busy," Alessia said coldly, finding a seat and sitting down.
"It's summer vacation now. How could Chris and Elle be busy?" Ava pretended to complain, glancing at her, and then sat down beside her.
If these words came from Grandma Carter, Alessia might feel pampered, but coming from Ava, she always felt strange.
Perhaps, this was the discordant point that she had always felt between herself and Ava.
Alessia remained silent, took a sip of water, and saw Nolan opposite her, sitting with his legs crossed, sneering, and speaking sarcastically. "Aunt, you don't need to worry. She didn't bring the children because she's afraid her precious little ones will be bullied. As if anyone cares."
"Yeah, there are many mad dogs outside." Alessia tilted her head and glanced at Nolan.
Every time Nolan brought up the children, he touched on her sore spot.
"Who are you calling a mad dog?" Nolan gritted his teeth and suddenly stood up, pointing at Alessia.
Alessia nonchalantly said, "Whoever responds is one."
This time Nolan couldn't bear it anymore and rushed over to confront Alessia.
Completely forgetting that he had been at a disadvantage in front of Alessia twice before, he was a typical case of not learning from one's mistakes.
Seeing Nolan about to rush over, Alessia smirked and looked at Ava.
"Is this what you called apologizing to me?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Ava's face, and she remembered to stop Nolan. She stood up and said, "Nolan, you've frightened your sister."
"Aunt, move aside. You heard it too. Alessia called me a mad dog first." Nolan's eyes were crimson with anger, almost ignoring everything.
Seeing that he was about to be stopped, Harrison, who had been silent on the side, stood up and slapped Nolan.
"That's enough, you brat. How did I tell you yesterday? Your sister has been away from home for many years and has suffered a lot. Why do you keep bothering her over trivial matters?"
"Dad." Nolan was stunned by the slap, stood there, and held his face, calling out in a daze.
"What 'dad'? Apologize," Harrison ordered in a firm tone.
Nolan didn't speak but turned to his usually doting mother, Margaret, "Mom!"
However, this time even Margaret hesitated for a moment and just pursed her lips, softly coaxing, "Nolan, just apologize to your cousin."
Clearly, the last time they met at the Ramirez family gathering, these people were still cold to her, but this time it was completely different.
Alessia couldn't believe that there would be such a big change in such a short time.
Anomalous behavior usually hides something sinister.
Things seemed to be getting more interesting.
Alessia's beautiful almond eyes flickered, and she saw Nolan, under pressure from all sides, finally looking at her reluctantly, his voice as low as a mosquito, "Alessia, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Alessia deliberately looked over with insult in her eyes.
Only when someone is desperate will they resort to desperate measures.
The secret that made Alessia feel uncomfortable about Ava seemed to have to be found from Nolan.
Being insulted by Alessia like this, Nolan showed signs of losing control again.
He lifted his head to give his father a rare serious look and then lowered it again.
Nolan compromised and continued, "I shouldn't have sarcastically mocked you."
"Hmm, remember that then." Alessia casually shifted her gaze and took a sip of the plain water on the table.
He looked up at Alessia with a mocking, teasing expression, his teeth clenched, and squeezed out a word from his throat, "Remembered."
With that, as if unable to control himself, he turned and walked out of the room in a hurry, slamming the door behind him.
Harrison watched his son's angry figure leave, his eyes flashing with a hint of cunning, then turned back to Alessia with a smile, "Sia, your brother may have had too much drink. Don't take it to heart."
"Mm." Alessia responded indifferently, appearing uninterested.
"Sia, try the dishes. You're just back from abroad, you should give them a taste," Margaret said, particularly attentive.
No matter what Margaret said, Alessia remained indifferent.
Even so, there was no one at the table expressing any dissatisfaction.
This abnormality was a bit overboard.
Just as the dinner was about to end, Margaret suddenly spoke again.
"Sia, since you just returned to the country, your two children probably haven't found a school yet, right?"
Alessia looked at Margaret expressionlessly.
Thinking that Alessia was finally interested in what she said, Margaret proudly pursed her lips. Always pretending to be indifferent, she thought she could control Alessia effortlessly.
"Sia, there's a Happy Garden Kindergarten. You should have heard of it, right? It's the second-best kindergarten in the city. Even if you have money, you might not be able to get in. I know the vice principal of that kindergarten. If you want, I can help you talk to the vice principal, but it's a bit troublesome. Are you free tomorrow? Let's go out for a meal--"
"No need, I have my ways." Even if Alessia was zoning out, she understood this time. She was yawning boredly.
Margaret assumed Alessia would agree, so she kept talking. However, when Alessia rejected her, Margaret's voice unintentionally increased.
"Do you know what you're rejecting? It's the second-best kindergarten in the city. Children can't afford to lose out from the starting line. Do you want your children to attend those mediocre kindergartens?"
"No need. My children will not lose out no matter where they go." Alessia refused, not out of arrogance, but out of enough confidence in her two babies.
"Fine, it's up to you then."
This time, Margaret seemed genuinely annoyed by Alessia's refusal. She took a sip of water and complained to Ava.
Ava, who hadn't said much during the evening, hesitated and finally joined in to support Margaret. "Sia, don't be stubborn. This is a good opportunity. It's not easy for your aunt to get to know the vice principal."
"I'll go to the restroom." However, Alessia didn't want to listen to this anymore, and simply ignored them, standing up and leaving the room.
The topic was interrupted again.
Margaret stared at Alessia's disappearing figure and then looked angrily at Ava.
"Ava, look, this is your good daughter."
As soon as Alessia left, Margaret vented her frustration at Ava.
"She has a stubborn temper, probably because she hasn't been with us since she was little. Sister-in-law, please don't mind her," Ava said with a smile, trying to smooth things over.
Jessie glanced at the two women who were arguing and turned around, got up, and walked out of the private room.
When Alessia came out of the restroom, she saw Jessie washing his hands.
She took a glance and then looked away, walking past her without any expression.
As they finished washing their hands, Jessie suddenly spoke, "Sia, I really like you, so you must watch out for the Ramirez family."
Alessia raised an eyebrow and asked, "Aren't you part of the Ramirez family?"
Jessie smiled and said, "I am, so I'm also a bad person."
To say that about oneself was quite fresh.
Alessia couldn't help but look at Jessie a few more times, then asked, "So, tell me, what's so bad about the Ramirez family?"
Jessie took out a tissue, wiped her hands, and said, "Don't try to get information from me. Just remember, don't believe anything the Ramirez family says."
Seeing this, Alessia knew she wouldn't get any more information from Jessie, so she stopped asking.
***