Rise of the returned sister (by Isla) novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Xena, the poster girl for class and poise, wasn’t one to hold back when her patience wore thin. Putting up with Emily’s nonsense was never on her to–do list, especially after the living hell she endured the previous night.

Janie, on the other hand, seemed blissfully unbothered as she sipped her iced coffee.

Emily cleared her throat. Janie. David, you’re both leaving today, right?”

Janie didn’t so much as flick an eyelash in her direction. David followed her lead, clearly uninterested in entertaining the

cowersation.

The awkward silence hung thick in the air until Jason jumped in. “Yeah, our time as guest stars is wrapping up today. I have to say. I’ll miss all of you.”

Jackson tensed at the comment. He still had to stick around and endure this mess, while Janie was about to leave it all behind. It didn’t sit well with him–not one hit.

Janie, noticing his gloom, offered him a small, almost apologetic glance.

She, too, had grown tired of the drama. She’d done her part, endured her share, and she was ready to leave this all behind.

Emily tried again. “Why not stay a little longer? We could all spend more time together.”

Jason laughed lightly. “I wish. But since Janie and David are leaving, it’d feel a little desperate for me to stick around on my own. What about you, Xena? Got any exciting plans coming up?”

Xena, looking visibly drained, barely spared him a glance.

Xena turned her gaze toward Janie. Tve been preparing for the Liberty Arts Cup, she said, dropping the name of an upcoming prestigious painting competition. “Otherwise, I might stay longer.”

[Janie’s leaving? What’s the point of this show without her? The drama will die without Janie, I swear.]

[Xena is prepping for the Liberty Arts Cup? Classic Jenkins family move. Always classy, always ambitious.]

[Seriously, someone thinks Janie is just a pretty face? She’s really outstanding!]

Jason’s face lit up in exaggerated surprise. The Liberty Arts Cup? Xena, that’s insanel

The Liberty Arts Cup, hosted every three years by the National Fine Arts Association, was a prestigious event in the art world. Just making it into the preliminaries was a major accomplishment, but reaching the finals–or winning–meant you were officially on the map as a rising star..

Xena offered a bashful smile. “It’s just the preliminaries. I got lucky, that’s all.”

Zion bristled. “Lucky? Don’t downplay it. This is a serious competition, Xena. Getting into the preliminaries already proves how talented you are

He hinted, “I mean, look at some people. They’d never even dream of competing at this level”

Ryan’s gaze flicked to Zion. “That’s enough, Zion”

Ryan had no interest in stirring the pot. If anything, he figured Janie would’ve excelled at something like this if she’d had the same opportunities growing up.

Xena’s smile tightened, but she said nothing.

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Chapter 130

Zion was done. The looked back at Jande. “So, Jande, what about you? Got any big competitions on the horizon?”

Janie leanest larity on the chair, not even sparing him a glance,

provscallous

To bet. Zion and his provos ations weren’t worth the energy

The Jenkins family stitn’t stir up any meaningful emotions for her anymore–no love, no hate, not even irritation. Just apathy

Zok jaw tightened “Seriously? You’ve just going to ignore me? Do you even know how rude that is?”

Trudy losing the face of the Jenkins family.

He cut himself off, swallowing the rest of his words.

It Janie had always been in the Jenkins family, even if she wasn’t as excellent as Xena, she wouldn’t be so arrogant and impolite!

Blame it all on Xena’s mond