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Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Spoiled Brat

Her only option was to instigate the young, simple-minded, and arrogant Aiden Powell.

"Aiden, where’s our cousin?" Mia Rhodes asked in a low voice.

Aiden Powell said, "He hasn’t been back for the past few days. I think he went somewhere with his girlfriend."

Mia Rhodes felt relieved. Her cousin was hard to fool, and his girlfriend was always sarcastic toward her. Aiden Powell, on the other hand, was simple-minded; a few words were all it took to get him to do her bidding. It was perfect that they weren’t here.

She sighed. "How did our cousin change so much? In the past, even if she wasn’t nice to me, she never bullied me like this."

Aiden Powell thought back and only recalled that when he was much younger, there was indeed a pretty older girl in the family.

Seeing that he remembered, Mia Rhodes continued in an aggrieved tone, "It must be because I’m not good enough. Why else would our cousin target me for no reason?" She glanced up at Aiden Powell, whose brow was now furrowed, and added, "I won’t be able to visit Grandpa’s house often anymore. Our cousin doesn’t like me coming here."

As expected, Aiden Powell flew into a rage, his young face filled with fury. He had been the center of his own universe since childhood; whenever he caused trouble, his grandfather would protect him unconditionally, which had nurtured his domineering personality.

"Sister, this is your home. Why should you care about her?" Aiden Powell snorted.

Mia Rhodes bit her lip. "But what if she bullies me again just for being here?"

Aiden Powell thought for a moment, then smiled. "Sister, take me to her. I’ll warn her to stay away from the Powell family. That way, she’ll have no right to stop you from visiting."

"Will that really work? Won’t Grandpa be angry?" Mia Rhodes feigned hesitation.

"Of course it will! Grandpa spoils me the most; he won’t get mad at me." Aiden Powell puffed out his small chest, his expression saying, ’Leave it to me, you can count on it.’

Mia Rhodes’s tears turned to a smile. She patted his head and said softly, "You’re so good to me."

Once Aiden Powell had an idea, he had to act on it immediately. He dragged Mia Rhodes to find the driver and told him to take them to Lynn Winslow.

Once in the car, Aiden Powell opened his mouth, only to realize he didn’t know Lynn Winslow’s address. He looked at Mia Rhodes. Afraid the driver would overhear and tell her cousin, Mia whispered the address to Aiden.

Aiden Powell announced in a clear voice, "Sir, to Amberly Bay."

The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror but said nothing and started the car.

Feeling guilty, Mia Rhodes avoided looking toward the front of the car, focusing only on keeping Aiden Powell entertained.

When they arrived at Amberly Bay, a guard stopped the car. Mia Rhodes rolled down the window and said softly, "Hello."

The guard thought she looked familiar, and after a moment, it dawned on him. "You’re that celebrity who’s all over the internet!" he exclaimed in surprise.

Mia Rhodes smiled. "That’s me. We’re here to see my cousin. She lives in Villa 7. Her name is Lynn Winslow."

There weren’t many villas in the Amberly Bay community, and every household was wealthy and influential. But few were like Lynn Winslow, who had bought two adjacent villas outright. Coupled with her beauty, it made her a familiar face to the guards.

"Oh, right, I know her! Miss Winslow," the guard nodded, then looked troubled. "Amberly Bay has strict rules about visitors. We can’t let anyone in without permission from the resident."

Mia Rhodes had already prepared her lines on the way over. "You can call her. Just say her younger cousin is here to see her and that he wants to talk about their grandfather. She’ll agree."

The guard agreed and returned to the guardhouse to make the call.

Lynn Winslow was rather surprised by the guard’s message. She hadn’t contacted the Powell family since arriving in Quartos, so why were they here? And her mischievous, troublemaking younger cousin, of all people.

Her curiosity piqued, she told the guard, "Let them in."

The guard waved them through. A smile touched Mia Rhodes’s lips. ’I knew it,’ she thought. ’With Lynn Winslow’s personality, she would never refuse to see us.’

The car stopped outside the gate of Villa 7. As Mia Rhodes and Aiden Powell got out, the sight of the manicured gardens and the villa’s stunning architecture made Mia press her lips together, her expression dimming with jealousy.

The driver stepped forward to ring the doorbell. A middle-aged woman came out. Mia Rhodes recognized her—she was one of the staff Lynn Winslow had brought with her when she had moved into the Powell family home with such great fanfare.

When Mrs. Sterling saw Mia Rhodes, she opened the door, her face cold as she forced the corners of her mouth into a tight line. "Miss Rhodes. Mr. Powell. Our miss will see you."

Aiden Powell snorted, lifting his chin haughtily as he walked inside.

Mia Rhodes smiled at Mrs. Sterling, who just snorted coldly and muttered, "Up to no good."

Mia Rhodes nearly let her expression falter but forced herself to keep it together as she walked into the villa.

Lynn Winslow was in her loungewear, curled up on a massive sofa. The table before her was laden with her favorite snacks. She merely offered a faint smile upon seeing them.

"What brings you here?"

Seeing her so relaxed, Aiden Powell raged, "Why aren’t you even getting up to welcome us?!"

Mrs. Sterling, who had followed them in, said coldly, "A young lady of the Winslow family is someone others bow respectfully to visit. She has no need to get up to welcome people, and very few are worthy of such a gesture."

Lynn Winslow shrugged, popped a snack into her mouth, and said casually, "Sit down. Don’t just stand there like you’re in detention."

Mia Rhodes clenched her jaw, holding back her anger, before finally saying gently, "Cousin, we’re here because your cousin wanted to see you."

She looked down at Aiden Powell, who nodded and said arrogantly, "That’s right. I’m the one who wanted to see you. I came to warn you: stay away from our family from now on. Don’t even think about setting foot in the Powell family’s house again. We don’t welcome vicious women like you."

Lynn Winslow just said, "Oh," and nodded slowly. "Anything else?" she asked with curiosity.

Aiden Powell was taken aback. He looked up at Mia Rhodes, who returned his gaze with an aggrieved expression. He then added, "My grandpa said he doesn’t want to see you, so don’t you dare bother him! And especially don’t bother my sister, or you’ll have me to answer to!"

Lynn Winslow continued to nod obediently. "Mm-hm. And then? Anything else?"

Her tone infuriated Aiden Powell. Seeing he was about to lose control, Mia Rhodes grabbed his hand to stop him.

’A few curses and warnings are fine,’ she thought, ’but getting physical is out of the question.’ Ever since they walked in, several bodyguards, in addition to Mrs. Sterling, had entered the room. Every one of them had a stony face and a menacing aura.

"Well then, cousin, you get some rest. We’ll be leaving now," Mia Rhodes said softly, leading Aiden Powell toward the exit. She then heard Lynn Winslow’s cool voice, "Mrs. Sterling, see our guests out."

A few of the men then followed them, only dispersing after watching them get into the car and drive away.

Mrs. Sterling returned to the villa to find Lynn Winslow watching TV and eating snacks, completely unbothered. "That Mr. Powell," she asked, "why is he so protective of Mia Rhodes?"

Lynn Winslow snorted. "He’s just a spoiled brat. He believes whatever anyone tells him. I can’t be bothered to deal with him."

’As for Mia Rhodes, though... using a child like that. She really has no shame.’

"The Powell family really isn’t what it used to be," Mrs. Sterling sighed, returning to the kitchen to watch the chef prepare handmade snacks and freshly squeezed juice for Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow didn’t give the incident a second thought, but Aiden Powell, on the other hand, was still fuming.

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