Chapter 547: Found the Fated Snake
Chapter 547: Chapter 547: Found the Fated Snake
"What?" Michelle Fuller was stunned. "Peeping on someone while they’re bathing? How perverted is that?"
The Second Great-Aunt’s expression soured. "Rhea Dempsey," she snapped, "why on earth are you bringing this up?"
"Second Great-Aunt, didn’t you say you raised me?" Rhea Dempsey snorted. "I just have to tell my girl here exactly *how* her great-aunt raised me."
"How did she raise you?" Renee Jennings raised a slight eyebrow, sensing something was fishy.
’Knowing Ms. Dempsey’s personality, if this Second Great-Aunt had truly been a benefactor, she would have surely mentioned her before. And she certainly wouldn’t be acting this way.’
"Didn’t I just say her husband got caught peeping on someone bathing and ran off?" Rhea Dempsey said slowly. "Her husband ran away, abandoning the Second Great-Aunt and their two children."
"Can you even call him a man?" Michelle Fuller retorted. "He’s a piece of scum."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" the Second Great-Aunt shot back. "That’s all lies people made up! My husband is not that kind of person!"
Rhea Dempsey ignored her and continued the story. "So, her husband didn’t just leave—he also took all the family’s money with him. Suddenly, the Second Great-Aunt didn’t even have money for groceries."
"So, does that mean they..." A flash of understanding crossed Renee Jennings’s delicate features. She had already guessed most of it.
"Yes, it’s just as you’re thinking, Renee." Rhea Dempsey nodded and sighed. "My family lived near the Second Great-Aunt’s, so she brought her son and daughter to us for help."
"Whoa, she came to you for help, and it somehow became the story of how she raised you?" Michelle Fuller was utterly shocked.
"There’s more," Rhea Dempsey said. "Her two kids would always fight me for the meat at dinner. A few times, they made me so mad that I told your uncle I was going to tell your grandparents. The Second Great-Aunt was afraid we’d actually snitch, so she’d set aside a little meat for us to eat separately."
Renee’s expression was complicated. "And now, in her version of the story, it’s become that her own children had no meat to eat, and she saved it all for you?"
"That’s right." Rhea Dempsey shook her head in disappointment. "Second Great-Aunt, you didn’t really think I was too young to remember all this, did you?"
The Second Great-Aunt looked as if she’d swallowed a fly. She stammered, "Rhea, even though I was living and eating at your house back then, I also helped out a lot. Even if I don’t get credit for achievements, I should get credit for effort."
"Is that so?" Rhea Dempsey gave a dry laugh. "Then go ask my parents for credit. What are you coming to me for?"
"Enough!" The Second Great-Aunt’s face changed abruptly, and she roared, "Rhea Dempsey, don’t you go too far! Your parents have been dead for years!"
"Second Great-Aunt, I don’t want to say any more. Since my parents are gone, there’s no need for us to stay in touch." Rhea Dempsey pointed to the rotten fruit on the coffee table, then to the front door. "Take your rotten fruit and go."
"Go? Why should I go?" The Second Great-Aunt put on a shameless front. "I already said, I’m going to live here. You people have more rooms than you can even use. If I stay, I can even help you keep an eye on this nanny, make sure she isn’t slacking off or stealing food."
Hearing this, Glenn Zane’s cheeks burned as if licked by flames, hot with humiliation. "I don’t slack off or steal food."
"Hmph, all you nannies are the same!" The Second Great-Aunt leaned back comfortably against the sofa, running her hand over the leather surface. "This is real leather, isn’t it? It’s so comfortable."
"Zane, don’t mind her." Renee Jennings comforted Glenn Zane warmly. "We all see how hardworking and honest you are."
Glenn Zane’s eyes warmed, and she bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Renee. Thank you, everyone."
Renee Jennings gave a slight nod, her gaze falling back on the Second Great-Aunt. "Old woman, are you sure you’re not leaving?"
"I’m not leaving." The Second Great-Aunt was defiant and even started giving orders. "I didn’t bring many changes of clothes. You all can find some time to take me out and buy a few new outfits."
Michelle Fuller rolled her eyes. "You’ve got some nerve."
Renee Jennings smiled, pressing her lips together, and began to speak in a slow, deliberate manner. "You’d better think this through. We have quite a few animals in this house. If you get scared or bitten, we won’t be held responsible."
Hearing this, the Second Great-Aunt waved a dismissive hand. "What’s there to be scared of? What kind of animal haven’t I seen? I’ve even seen a tiger."
"As long as you’re not afraid." Renee Jennings looked at Rhea Dempsey. "Mom, Michelle and I are taking Zane and Jasmine out to get some sun."
"Alright, go ahead." Rhea Dempsey nodded, knowing full well her daughter was off to formulate a plan.
Seeing this, the Second Great-Aunt quickly added, "Don’t be out in the sun too long. You still have to take me out to buy some clothes later."
Rhea Dempsey sneered inwardly.
Renee Jennings ignored her and walked out without a backward glance.
Blueberry instructed its buddies to keep an eye on the Second Great-Aunt, then followed the others out. "Meow? Renee, are we really going to let that annoying human stay here?"
"In her dreams," Renee Jennings said as she walked. "Our house isn’t a place she can just decide to live in."
Michelle Fuller looked at her expectantly. "Renee, what are you going to do?"
The corners of Renee Jennings’s lips turned up in a grin. "Come on. First, I’m taking you all for a trip to the zoo."
Michelle Fuller seemed to guess what she was thinking. "Are we going to borrow some animals from Faye?"
"Clever." Renee Jennings snapped her fingers.
’Other animals might be hard to borrow, but borrowing Kaiser and the Black Mamba would be much simpler.’
When they got to the zoo, Renee Jennings had Michelle Fuller take Zane and Jasmine to see the giant pandas, while she went to the habitat where Kaiser and the Black Mamba lived.
Faye Wyatt was already waiting for her there.
"Faye." Renee Jennings walked quickly to her side. "How did you get here so fast? I told you to wait for my call."
"Renee." Faye Wyatt placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "It’s fine. I was just about to observe the two snakes’ condition anyway."
Perhaps sensing Renee Jennings’s scent, Kaiser, who was coiled on a branch in the habitat, began to move.
It slid slowly down the tree trunk, and after landing, it quickly slithered toward Renee Jennings, flicking its forked tongue. "Renee, you’re here."
Renee Jennings waved at it through the glass. "Long time no see."
The next second, the Black Mamba suddenly appeared, sidling right up to Kaiser. "HISS~ You finally decided to come down."
Kaiser shot it an irritated glance. "Don’t bother Snake. Snake has a friend here."
"HISS?" The Black Mamba looked at Renee Jennings, its round eyes widening. "Renee, you’re here."
"Hi, Melissa." Renee Jennings waved back at it. "Are you getting used to living here?"
"HISS~ Used to it, very used to it," Melissa said gleefully. "Snake loves it here so much! Snake has changed her mind!"
"What?" Renee Jennings looked at her, confused. "Changed your mind?"
"HISS~ That’s right!" Melissa nodded, looking at Kaiser. "Snake is staying here! Snake has found her one true snake!"
"Huh?" Renee Jennings blinked, asking hesitantly, "But... isn’t your mate on Continent F?"