"Aspen, long time no see." Christina was the first to speak, smiling as she broke the awkward silence.

Aspen's expression turned icy. "You don't need to call me. I don't recognize you as family. Your family is in Jayrodale, and mine's in Bridgefields. We were never close, and we never will be."

Christina kept her smile steady. "It's been so long, and you're still holding a grudge? But don't forget—when the main family fell apart, and you ended up as Andrew's servant, that was mostly your own doing."

Aspen let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I'll admit it. Everything back then was my own fault. But Christina, do you dare say you didn't stir the pot from behind the scenes with that sweet, scheming smile of yours? I know it was you who lured the main Stevens family to Jayrodale, just to use them against Andrew."

Christina did not even try to deny it. "You're absolutely right. I brought them there. But I only did it to help you—to settle the score on your behalf. Things just didn't go h