Chapter 181: You’re Quite Stubborn Yourself
Beatrice Donovan froze for a moment. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard Arabella Donovan exclaim with relief.
’Good thing I remembered Beatrice was in Brynn while I was having everything packed. I bought an extra pair of jade-green earrings just for her. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to give her.’
Though called earrings, they were actually a pair of simple, elegant studs. Considering Beatrice Donovan’s profession, these studs were the most understated and discreet pieces in the entire jewelry collection.
Beatrice Donovan was touched. Knowing they were bought especially for her, she no longer tried to refuse.
"Thank you."
Just as Beatrice was about to take the bag, Arabella seemed to remember something and suddenly pulled it back. She took out the contents, then clasped the two studs in her hands and closed her eyes as if meditating.
’My master said that as I accumulate more and more Merit, I can bestow a blessing when I give a gift. That way, the item will be imbued with my aura and Merit, and there’s a high chance the blessing will come true.’
’In that case, I’ll wish for everything to go smoothly for Beatrice. May she stay safe from harm wherever she goes and always return home safely.’
A glimmer shone in Beatrice Donovan’s eyes. ’Return home safely.’ That truly was the simplest yet most profound wish for everyone on her team.
"All done." Arabella put the studs back in the bag and handed it to Beatrice again. "This is the first gift I’ve given you, so you have to make sure you wear them, okay?"
Beatrice Donovan smiled. "Thank you. I’ll keep them with me at all times," she said with a nod. "We should head back now. You should go home early once you’re done shopping, too. If anyone gives you trouble, call me."
"Mm-hmm."
Eugene Jennings overheard and glanced silently at the tall, burly bodyguards behind Arabella. He couldn’t help but scoff internally. ’Who would dare give her trouble? You’d have to have a death wish!’
After Beatrice Donovan left, Arabella and Eugene also got ready to head back.
Dennis Donovan knew she was going out, so he had assigned a car just for her. When she arrived, Arabella told the driver he was free to drive around the area for a while.
Now that they were ready to leave, she made a quick call, and the car arrived in less than five minutes.
Since Herman and the other bodyguards had already been spotted, Herman rode back in the same car with them. Just a few minutes into the drive, Arabella noticed he seemed to have something on his mind, looking like he wanted to speak but holding back.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Herman finally let out a sigh of relief and said with a slightly aggrieved tone, "Regarding the matter with Miss Chamberlain earlier... Miss, you didn’t need to trouble Miss Beatrice. You could have just left it to us."
Arabella tensed up but stubbornly insisted, "Er... it was more convenient for her to handle it. It’s all perfectly reasonable and legal."
’I absolutely cannot admit I completely forgot about that!’
Eugene Jennings was speechless. ’And she calls other people stubborn. She’s one to talk.’
They hadn’t been out for long, so there was still plenty of time to get back for lunch. Arabella had the driver drop Eugene Jennings off at his school’s entrance first.
As he was about to get out, Arabella handed him the sapphire necklace.
"One for me, too?" he asked. ’Why would a grown man like me wear gemstone jewelry?’
That Peaceful Coin from last time had left him with serious trauma. Never mind jewelry—he didn’t even dare to casually use keychains or phone charms anymore.
’And most importantly, I don’t even have a girlfriend!’
"This is a gift for your mother. If you’re heading home this afternoon or tomorrow, could you take it back and give it to her for me?"
Eugene Jennings stared down at the gift bag in his hand, his mind racing. He tried desperately to recall what gifts he and his older brother had given their mom over the years, and the conclusion he reached was...
’We’re doomed. When I bring this back, Mom is definitely going to love our cousin more than us.’
’As for me and my brother? We’ll probably be kicked out of the house!’
When Arabella Donovan returned to 9 Vistagrove Avenue loaded down with shopping bags, Dennis Donovan hadn’t come home yet. Guinevere Preston was standing at her desk, having just finished her calligraphy practice.
She looked surprised to see Arabella back. "You’re home so soon? Was it not fun out there? What did you buy?"
"It was fun, it’s just... it was a little crowded."
’Crowded?’ Guinevere Preston paused for a moment, then recalled it was the weekend. The shopping districts were bound to be more crowded than usual.
"Never mind that. Grandma, come look at the gifts I bought for you, Mom, and the others."
"You got something for me, too?"
"Of course! I would forget anyone else before I forgot you. Look, these two pairs of bracelets are for you. One is engraved with a dragon and phoenix for good fortune, and the other has mandarin ducks playing in water. They aren’t expensive, but the symbolism is wonderful and festive."
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful." Guinevere Preston nodded repeatedly, playing her part as an appreciative audience.
’But just two pairs of bracelets feel a bit paltry for a wedding gift. The main problem was that I didn’t see any truly stunning, eye-catching pieces at the jewelry store,’ Arabella thought. ’I’ll have to go look again in a couple of days.’
Hearing Arabella’s thoughts, the smile in Guinevere Preston’s eyes deepened.
"This sapphire necklace is for Mom—she likes blue. This big gold chain is for Dad; it’s more in line with his... disposition."
Guinevere Preston silently eyed the thick, heavy, bamboo-joint-style gold chain, which felt substantial in her hand. She struggled to imagine what kind of "disposition" Mr. Donovan could possibly have. ’Nouveau riche?’ she wondered.
Her nouveau riche father: "..." ’Wow, thanks so much!’
"These earrings are for my fourth sister; she likes bright red, and the rubies on these are so clear they should suit her perfectly. This other pair is for my cousin on my aunt’s side. The brooch is for my oldest brother. He often attends all sorts of formal public functions, and the color of this brooch is versatile enough to go with any suit."
"My second brother’s events aren’t quite as formal, and he likes purple, so this pendant is perfect for him. My third brother is always in and out of the lab, so he wouldn’t have much use for complicated jewelry; I just got him a pair of cufflinks. Oh, right, and these two jade bracelets are for my paternal aunt and her best friend, Miss Ingram."
’I remember that the first time we met, the gift Lillian Donovan gave me was a very expensive jade bracelet. Giving her one in return should be a safe bet.’
Guinevere Preston was a little surprised to hear this. "Are you very close with this Miss Ingram?"
’An outsider’s gift was suddenly mixed in with all the family presents. It was hard not to read into it. Could there be something special about this Miss Ingram?’
"Not really, we’ve only met a few times."
The only reason she had prepared a gift for her was because on Arabella’s third day in Brynn, Lucy Ingram and her husband had personally come to visit with Lillian Donovan. They had wanted to properly thank Arabella, but she happened to be out, so they left the thank-you gift with Mr. and Mrs. Donovan to give to her upon her return.
Her parents had told her that Liam Lowe was in real estate these days, and their thank-you gift included a luxurious villa of over 300 square meters. Adding that to the birthday present from her third brother, she was now technically a person with a house and a car.
’I got a whole villa out of the blue; I have to show some appreciation, right? Besides, Lucy Ingram and my paternal aunt are best friends. It’s perfectly normal for besties to wear matching bracelets, isn’t it?’
Guinevere Preston was speechless. ’So after all this time, it was just the power of money at work.’