Chapter 322: I Can Solve Your Problem
Arabella recalled a scene from late in the novel’s plot. The female lead had an emotional breakdown, slapping Julian Spencer hard several times before grabbing him by the neck and shaking him violently.
His face was swollen and his neck was covered in bruises. The next day, when he went on a date with his Lover, his voice was so hoarse that she even asked him about it out of "concern."
At the time, Arabella had assumed the love-addled heroine acted out because she’d discovered Julian Spencer’s infidelity. Heartbroken and unable to accept it, she lost control, doing something completely out of character for her.
On top of that, the damn author—in a bid to make the audience accept the male lead having two women—had to resort to slandering the heroine. By painting her as a madwoman, he could contrast her with the Lover’s gentle perfection, creating a "reasonable" and "justifiable" excuse for the male lead’s increasingly flagrant cheating.
But looking at it now, it seemed a fictional character, persecuted by her own world, could truly awaken.
For the version of Summer Vance who had briefly "come online" back then, her tawdry romance with Julian Spencer probably meant less to her than the price of pork at the market going up a few cents.
Aurora Donovan: ’Pfft... I can’t laugh. I have to hold it in!’
The real reason she was so furious was likely because after her awakening, she realized that even in this new life, Julian Spencer had *still* managed to get Dr. Donovan killed. He hadn’t just taken the man’s life and stolen his research; he had maliciously slandered his name after death, ensuring he couldn’t even rest in peace.
Of course, the hardest part for her to accept was that she herself had become an accomplice in that animal’s evil deeds.
Putting herself in the original heroine’s shoes, Arabella felt her own world would have collapsed.
No wonder the original heroine had frantically slapped the male lead and choked him. She probably couldn’t find a knife and hated his guts so much that she just used her bare hands, intending to take him down with her!
Realizing this, Arabella felt both sympathy for the original heroine and a sense of vicarious satisfaction.
That damned scumbag deserved it. ’Why didn’t she slap him a few more times? Just slap him or choke him to death!’
Unfortunately, after that, all it took was a few sweet nothings from the male lead to win her over. The original personality likely took back control of the body and willingly ran off to join his harem.
Thinking of this, Arabella genuinely pitied the original heroine. And when she recalled the ultimate fate of Julian Spencer and his cronies in this new timeline...
’Perhaps, for her, dying back then was a form of release.’
She tried to imagine it: being a perfectly lucid person trapped in a dark corner of your own mind. Forced to watch helplessly as some... thing wore your face and used your name. To see it grovel before the enemy you despised, acting like his pet, his sycophant. It even helped him murder the senior you respected most, all before willingly sharing him with another woman just to please him.
The mere thought made Arabella’s skin crawl, and her stomach began to churn.
Aurora Donovan couldn’t help but give her a sympathetic look. Thinking for a moment, he took the initiative to break the tension. "So you’re a student too. Hello, my surname is Donovan, and I’m a PhD student at Brynn University. You can just call me Donovan, if you’d like."
"A PhD student?" Summer Vance’s eyes widened in surprise. "But Donovan, you look so..."
This perked Aurora Donovan right up.
"I might be a PhD student, but I’m probably only two or three years older than you, strictly speaking."
As soon as he said that, Summer Vance’s eyes lit up. She looked at Aurora Donovan as if he were an incredible genius, a role model to be emulated. This perfectly satisfied Aurora’s vanity and his love for showing off.
He was, after all, a genius, and a genius never lacks for admirers. The thought was positively smug.
"Ahem... ahem..." Arabella quickly caught on to what her brother was doing. She cleared her throat, signaling him to stop while he was ahead.
Aurora Donovan finally reined himself in. He subtly straightened his jacket and said with a faint smile, "Since I’m your senior here, I can’t let you treat me. Where’s the receipt for these two cakes? I’ll send you the money. And please, order another slice for yourself. It’s on me, as a thank you for your kindness today."
"Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept that. It was my treat to begin with. I’m just happy you were willing to accept them."
Seeing that they were about to start arguing over who should pay, Arabella quickly stepped in and put a hand on her brother’s arm.
"It’s a kind gesture. We should just accept it."
"But..."
"But, it’s rude not to return a kindness. Not to mention, my brother is her senior, so it really isn’t right for her to be treating him. How about this: my brother and I will give you a gift."
"A gift?" Summer Vance looked surprised. "Really, you don’t have to. The cake wasn’t that..."
"Lately, have you been feeling dizzy and nauseous, especially right after you wake up?"
Summer Vance froze, completely forgetting what she had been about to say. A look of delighted surprise crossed her face. "Are you a doctor?"
"I’m not, but I can fix what’s wrong with you."
The reason Summer Vance was experiencing these symptoms was that the two souls inside her body were fighting for dominance.
And what Arabella intended to do now was help resolve the conflict between the two souls. She would help them fuse so that this world’s version of Summer Vance could become whole again.
Arabella once again took out a brocade bag, identical to the one she had given Sheldon, and handed it to Summer Vance. "This is for you. Keep it with you and don’t take it off for any reason. Wear it continuously for three months, and your problem will naturally resolve itself."
"I just have to keep it with me?"
"Yes, just keep it with you."
Summer Vance looked hesitant. But then she thought about how, because of the exact symptoms Arabella had just described, she hadn’t been able to properly care for her grandmother, and her own affairs were frequently disrupted.
If things went on like this, she would have to go to the hospital for tests and treatment, no matter how reluctant she was, and that would cost a fortune.
At this thought, Summer Vance clutched the brocade bag in her hand and nodded. "Okay, I promise I’ll keep it with me. Thank you. This gift... it’s more important to me right now than you know."
’It’s only for three months,’ she thought. ’I’ll just wait a month or two. If nothing improves, I can go to the hospital then.’
Arabella read her thoughts as if they were an open book. She knew exactly what Summer was thinking but didn’t press the matter. The benefits of the item would become apparent as soon as she started wearing it. At that point, Arabella doubted she’d be willing to take it off even if she wanted to.
After they finished speaking, the shop started to get busy, and Summer Vance had to attend to other customers. She could no longer stay and chat with the two of them.
As for Arabella and her brother, their trip had accomplished its purpose. They had met the person they came to see, clarified the situation, and delivered the gift. There was no reason to linger.
After finishing their coffee and cake, the two exchanged a simple farewell with Summer Vance and departed.
Once they were back in the car, Aurora Donovan couldn’t help but ask, "What was inside that pouch you gave her? Was it a peace charm too?"
"Not a peace charm. It’s a Soul Nourishing Talisman."