"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