Chapter 91: Questions and Answers
Adele’s lifestyle was a bit extravagant. First, she only drank artificial blood, which looked like powdered milk but was sold in 100-gram increments at an exorbitant price. To sustain Adele’s daily expenses would require a considerable fortune.
Just thinking about the cost of artificial blood gave Jasmine a headache. And that wasn’t even considering other expenses, like clothes and jewelry. Adele’s nightgowns were all silk, a single gown costing the equivalent of Jasmine’s annual salary. And those were just her sleepwear. Jasmine didn’t even dare to look at the price tags of Adele’s formal dresses, fearing that the mere sight of them would give her a heart attack. Even Adele’s casual clothes were expensive, and she never wore the same outfit more than three times.
Damn, how can I afford to support her?
Jasmine wavered. If it comes down to it, I’ll just let her drink my blood when she’s hungry. Jasmine was strong and healthy. Even if Adele drained her blood, she could recover quickly. Most importantly, her blood was free, much cheaper than artificial blood.
Then she remembered Adele’s bank card, which must hold a significant amount of money. Jasmine sighed again. What good is a bank card if she’s run away from home? Surely, her parents would have frozen her accounts. It was the first thing parents did in those novels when their children rebelled.
Lost in these absurd thoughts, Jasmine returned to Adele’s room. Adele was still in the same position as when Jasmine had left, but her hair was mostly dry now. Adele had never dried her own hair before, always relying on Jasmine. Although she had almost managed to dry it herself, her hair was now a tangled mess.
Jasmine paused, a smile appearing on her face. She took the towel from Adele’s hand, picked up a comb, and gently brushed Adele’s hair until it was smooth and sleek. After finishing, she sat down beside Adele.
Adele shifted slightly, making space for Jasmine. An awkward silence fell between them. Then, as if on cue, they both spoke at the same time, “You…” They turned to look at each other, seeing the unspoken questions in each other’s eyes.
Adele hesitated, then gestured for Jasmine to speak first. Jasmine, not wanting to waste time, asked directly, “I heard at the castle that you injured the Lady and ran away…”
Adele’s eyes widened in shock. Seeing her reaction, Jasmine realized: It must be a rumor! Adele didn’t hurt the Lady. Adele explained, “I… I didn’t hurt Mother. I just used hypnosis to keep her in her room. Her maids tried to stop me as I was leaving, so we fought, and I managed to escape.”
“Then why did you run away?”
This was what Jasmine couldn’t understand. According to the maids, Adele had run away after injuring her mother. That story had seemed somewhat believable. But now that she knew Adele hadn’t harmed the Lady, why had she run away?
Adele blushed slightly. “Well… I was fighting, and then I ended up outside the castle, and I ran into some guards, and then…”
Jasmine vaguely understood. Adele hadn’t intended to run away, but the situation had escalated, and it would have been awkward not to flee. After clearing up this misunderstanding, another silence fell between them. Jasmine couldn’t help but ask, “So… are you going back?”
Adele answered without hesitation, “No way. It might have been a misunderstanding, but I’m already out. Why would I go back? If I do, Mother will definitely lock me up again. And…” Her face flushed, and she glanced at Jasmine, her voice filled with concern, “If I go back, Mother will definitely target you!”
“But if you don’t go back, where will you go?”
Jasmine had initially thought that if Adele had nowhere to go, she would take her to the Human Resistance Army base. If they could coexist peacefully, that would be ideal. If not, she would travel the world with Adele, spreading the seeds of rebellion, joining the Human Resistance Army when they needed her as a weapon, fighting for their cause.
That was basically how she had been living her life so far.
But it had all been a misunderstanding! Even if her identity hadn’t been exposed, if Adele had been captured and brought back, she would have just been confined and starved again! Jasmine felt a twinge of regret, but not much. The Lady had been determined to break Adele’s will, making her suffer to force her to submit.
The Lady did have some maternal love for Adele, after all, she was her flesh and blood. But it wasn’t much. As the Lady, she didn’t need to personally care for Adele. She only needed to appear before her occasionally and offer guidance. Jasmine didn’t know what Adele’s life had been like before she turned six, but after that, it was Jasmine who had been by her side.
They were practically inseparable every day. Jasmine had seen the Lady many times during those thirteen years, but she never stayed long. Could a mother who barely spent any time with her daughter truly love her? Most importantly, it wasn’t because the Lady was too busy. She simply didn’t think it was necessary.
Adele had countless servants at her beck and call. The Lady probably thought that was enough.
The Blake patriarch and the Lady weren’t good parents, at least in Jasmine’s eyes. Adele might be a good child, but that was because Jasmine had raised her. Look at the second miss, spoiled and unruly, a classic brat.
Jasmine didn’t have a good opinion of the Lady, especially after Adele’s confinement. But she couldn’t think of any other place Adele could go. Besides Blake Castle, where else could she live in luxury? Jasmine hadn’t realized that it wasn’t that important to Adele.
In fact, Adele had her own ideas.
Hearing Jasmine’s question, Adele’s eyes lit up. “Spark Farm.”
Jasmine was stunned. “Spark Farm?” she repeated, confused.
“Yes, Spark Farm is my personal property now.” Adele said this with a hint of pride, her eyes shining. “You asked me not to abandon it, remember? I promised you, and I intend to keep my promise. I completed the paperwork a few days after returning home. Spark Farm is now under my name. Even Father and Mother can’t take it away from me.”
“…” Jasmine hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected Adele to act so quickly. With Jasmine’s frugal mindset, she would have waited until just before graduation to buy Spark Farm, taking advantage of the fact that the school would let her manage it for free, even without ownership.
But Adele had acted decisively, securing ownership of Spark Farm as soon as she returned home.
Adele continued, “And I told Father that I would develop Spark Farm and the surrounding area into a city that rivals any in the world. If I succeed, the Blake family will never force me into a marriage I don’t want.”
This was the deal she had made with her father. Even the Blake patriarch had been surprised by her proposal. He knew Spark Farm. It was remote and cold. Turning it into a major city? It sounded like a joke.
But Adele might just have the talent to pull it off. So, after a moment’s thought, he agreed. After all, there was no risk for him. If Adele succeeded, it would prove her exceptional abilities, and countless vampire suitors would flock to her. With her high standards, she would surely find a suitable husband.
If she failed, it would mean she still needed guidance, a few more years under the Blake family’s protection. It would also give them time to resolve the conflict between Adele and her mother. It was a win-win situation.
So, the Blake patriarch had readily agreed, only to betray Adele when the Lady confronted him.
Hearing Adele’s explanation, Jasmine realized that there wasn’t actually any irreconcilable conflict between Adele and her father. Her impulsive decision to reveal her true identity now seemed foolish. She sighed, unsure what to say. She could continue staying by Adele’s side as Jasmine. They both knew each other’s feelings. It should have been a happy ending. But in reality, there was an insurmountable barrier between them.
Adele was still the high-ranking vampire heiress, while Jasmine was the symbol and pillar of the Human Resistance Army.
Adele, perceptive as always, sensed Jasmine’s sudden gloom. She panicked, feeling that if she didn’t do something, Jasmine would leave her. So, she blurted out, “What about you, Jasmine?”
Jasmine was startled. “What?”
“Where are you going? Are you going to abandon me and return to your own kind? Or will you stay with me, like before, always by my side?!” As Adele asked this, she reached out and grabbed Jasmine’s hand, her fingers intertwining with Jasmine’s.
Adele was truly sharp. She had already sensed Jasmine’s thoughts. The moment Jasmine’s identity had been revealed, their paths had diverged. They could choose to walk different roads now.
Facing Adele’s question, Jasmine fell silent.
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