Chapter 547: Chapter 547: Found the Fated Snake
"What?" Michelle Fuller was stunned. "Peeping on someone while theyāre bathing? How perverted is that?"
The Second Great-Auntās expression soured. "Rhea Dempsey," she snapped, "why on earth are you bringing this up?"
"Second Great-Aunt, didnāt 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.
āKnowing Ms. Dempseyās personality, if this Second Great-Aunt had truly been a benefactor, she would have surely mentioned her before. And she certainly wouldnāt be acting this way.ā
"Didnāt 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. "Heās a piece of scum."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" the Second Great-Aunt shot back. "Thatās all lies people made up! My husband is not that kind of person!"
Rhea Dempsey ignored her and continued the story. "So, her husband didnāt just leaveāhe also took all the familyās money with him. Suddenly, the Second Great-Aunt didnāt even have money for groceries."
"So, does that mean they..." A flash of understanding crossed Renee Jenningsās delicate features. She had already guessed most of it.
"Yes, itās just as youāre thinking, Renee." Rhea Dempsey nodded and sighed. "My family lived near the Second Great-Auntās, 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.
"Thereās 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 weād actually snitch, so sheād set aside a little meat for us to eat separately."
Reneeās expression was complicated. "And now, in her version of the story, itās become that her own children had no meat to eat, and she saved it all for you?"
"Thatās right." Rhea Dempsey shook her head in disappointment. "Second Great-Aunt, you didnāt really think I was too young to remember all this, did you?"
The Second Great-Aunt looked as if sheād 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 donāt 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-Auntās face changed abruptly, and she roared, "Rhea Dempsey, donāt you go too far! Your parents have been dead for years!"
"Second Great-Aunt, I donāt want to say any more. Since my parents are gone, thereās 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, Iām 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 isnāt slacking off or stealing food."
Hearing this, Glenn Zaneās cheeks burned as if licked by flames, hot with humiliation. "I donāt 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, isnāt it? Itās so comfortable."
"Zane, donāt mind her." Renee Jennings comforted Glenn Zane warmly. "We all see how hardworking and honest you are."
Glenn Zaneās 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 youāre not leaving?"
"Iām not leaving." The Second Great-Aunt was defiant and even started giving orders. "I didnāt 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. "Youāve got some nerve."
Renee Jennings smiled, pressing her lips together, and began to speak in a slow, deliberate manner. "Youād better think this through. We have quite a few animals in this house. If you get scared or bitten, we wonāt be held responsible."
Hearing this, the Second Great-Aunt waved a dismissive hand. "Whatās there to be scared of? What kind of animal havenāt I seen? Iāve even seen a tiger."
"As long as youāre 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, "Donāt 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 isnāt 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 Jenningsās lips turned up in a grin. "Come on. First, Iām 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.
āOther animals might be hard to borrow, but borrowing Kaiser and the Black Mamba would be much simpler.ā
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. "Itās fine. I was just about to observe the two snakesā condition anyway."
Perhaps sensing Renee Jenningsās 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, youāre 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. "Donāt bother Snake. Snake has a friend here."
"HISS?" The Black Mamba looked at Renee Jennings, its round eyes widening. "Renee, youāre 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~ Thatās right!" Melissa nodded, looking at Kaiser. "Snake is staying here! Snake has found her one true snake!"
"Huh?" Renee Jennings blinked, asking hesitantly, "But... isnāt your mate on Continent F?"