Chapter 274: This Is Going to Cause an Uproar
It was one thing when Butler Donovan kept quiet, but the moment he mentioned it, all eyes snapped back to Caspian Rhodes.
Especially the men of the family. If not for the setting, they would have already dragged Caspian Rhodes off for a "friendly chat," man-to-man.
’That damned wild boar. We haven’t seen him in months, and he’s already managed to win over Preston. She even specifically seated him next to Serena for the banquet. This is completely out of line!’
"Grandma arranged it herself?" Arabella was a little surprised but didn’t dwell on it.
Just then, a clean-cut young apprentice who looked to be in his early twenties brought over a platter of large steamed buns.
Wedding banquets mostly featured a variety of dishes and soups; it was rare to serve a staple food so filling. But Preston had a particular fondness for them, and Dennis Donovan’s affection for her extended to her tastes, so he had the buns added to the menu.
However, as a thank you for Arabella’s help, all the dishes at today’s wedding banquet were provided by Delicacy Pavilion. This meant that even these seemingly ordinary meat buns were made to order, giving them a unique and delicious flavor that set them apart from the other gourmet delicacies.
The moment Arabella saw the platter of buns, she remembered why she had snuck out. She quickly grabbed several of the freshly steamed, still-scalding buns and tucked them away, also swiping a few pastries that had been on the table since before the banquet and remained mostly untouched.
"You all go ahead and eat. I’m going to take some food inside for Grandma. I’ll come find you later after everyone has cleared out."
With that, Arabella scurried away, retracing her steps. Mr. and Mrs. Donovan and the others didn’t even have time to stop her.
"That girl," Mrs. Donovan sighed. "Always in such a rush. It wouldn’t have killed her to wait a moment before bringing food to Preston. She hasn’t even finished her soup."
Butler Donovan’s smile never faltered. "Miss Arabella is just being thoughtful. She wants Preston to have something hot to eat."
In this weather, the buns were still quite hot when served. By the time she delivered them to the inner room, they would likely be the perfect temperature to eat.
Mrs. Donovan was just making an offhand complaint. After hearing Miles’s explanation, she dropped the subject.
Caspian Rhodes, on the other hand, had barely adjusted to the seat beside him being vacated when he felt someone else sit down.
He turned to see that it was the Donovans’ third brother, who had originally been sitting on Arabella’s other side, now covertly sliding into her spot.
This handsome young man, with the refined features of a heartthrob from a classic campus romance, completely shattered that illusion the moment he opened his mouth. The dreamboat vibe vanished, replaced by a palpable, dangerous aura.
"Mr. Rhodes, is it?" he began. "You seem to... know something."
Meanwhile, Dennis Donovan, still unaware of the little drama, had finally finished dealing with the throng of guests vying to toast, congratulate, and curry favor with him. When he turned around, he found Arabella gone again. His brow furrowed, and he quickly summoned Miles.
"Where’s Serena?"
"Miss Arabella just took some buns and pastries. She said she was bringing them inside for Preston to have a little something to eat."
A few nearby guests, who were quite curious about the young lady so clearly doted on by Dennis Donovan, immediately began to shower her with praise.
"She thinks to bring a share for the matriarch even while she’s eating herself. Elder Donovan, your granddaughter is so thoughtful."
"Indeed. It’s rare to find such a considerate young person these days. Elder Donovan and your wife are set to enjoy a happy life."
Dennis Donovan basked in the compliments, but when he turned his head, he met the knowing looks from the rest of the Donovan family. He suddenly realized what he’d overlooked and froze on the spot.
’Oh, no,’ he thought. ’That girl didn’t actually take those buns in there to gossip with my wife about my dating history, did she? Am I even going to be allowed in the bedroom tonight?’
Arabella had no idea whether her grand-uncle would be allowed into his bedroom or not. All she knew was that, despite the exhausting day, she was very happy.
Not only had she gotten to enjoy someone else’s drama, but she’d also temporarily resolved the issue that had been weighing on her mind for days. It felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
By the time she finished her business in the inner room and came out, the rest of her family was already waiting for her at the stone table in the backyard.
"Mom, Dad, First Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Sister."
"Serena, are you all done?"
"All done. The butler will handle the rest."
"You worked so hard today. Are you hungry? Why don’t we go out and get something to eat?"
"No, no, it’s fine. Grand-uncle had someone send food in for us later. I’m stuffed." Arabella looked around. "Where’s Mr. Rhodes? I don’t see him."
"He..." The Donovans exchanged strange looks.
After a moment, Justin cleared his throat and explained, "He had some business to take care of, so he left early. He asked us to let you know when we saw you."
Arabella nodded and didn’t press the issue.
Mrs. Donovan and the others let out a collective sigh of relief and quickly changed the subject. "Serena, now that your grand-uncle’s wedding is over and the New Year is just around the corner, when are you planning to come home with us?"
Arabella paused, looking conflicted. "Mom, Dad, I still have one more thing to take care of here. I might not be able to come home with you just yet."
Arabella wanted to go back with her family right away, but unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis’s problem was still unresolved.
Counting the days, she figured the couple would be looking for her in another day or two. While reuniting with her family was important, if their issue wasn’t resolved, their lives could be in danger.
She knew how to weigh her priorities. Arabella couldn’t just stand by and watch someone die.
This was yet another matter her family knew nothing about. The moment Arabella mentioned that someone’s life was in danger, Mrs. Donovan grew anxious. "What is it? Is it dangerous? You should tell your grand-uncle. He has a lot of people working for him; he can send someone to handle it."
"The people who work for my grand-uncle can’t solve this. But don’t worry, Mom. Other people are in danger, not me. I’ll be fine."
’As long as Mr. and Mrs. Lewis can get their hands on the stillborn infant that was turned into a ghost child, they can sever the connection. Then, once the poor child is sent on to its next life, the couple’s ordeal will be over. And that unscrupulous family will suffer the backlash and get what they deserve.’
A stillborn infant turned into a ghost child? The practice of raising ghost children?!
Hector Donovan was, after all, an insider to this world. The moment he heard her words, he had a good idea of what Arabella was dealing with. His eyes narrowed, and his expression turned serious.
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan didn’t know as much as Hector, but they knew from the description that raising a ghost child was certainly nothing good. They exchanged a look and came to an immediate decision.
"There are only a few days left until the New Year," Mrs. Donovan said. "If you still have business to attend to, rushing back to Stroven City afterward will be cutting it close. This is your first New Year home with us, and we all need to be together. But we can’t bear to see you exhausted from traveling back and forth. So, how about this: we’ll all stay. Our family will celebrate the New Year right here in Brynn."
"Here in Brynn? So, Mom, Dad, are you going to stay at Grand-uncle’s for the holiday?"
’After all, everyone besides her was still staying at a hotel. A whole family celebrating the New Year in a hotel... that would be too...’
"I almost forgot until you mentioned it. Justin, you and your father will go out tomorrow and check the new real estate developments. See if there’s anything suitable for our family and buy it."
Arabella: "???"