Chapter 290: The Face-Changer
Mr. and Mrs. York were taken aback by what Arabella Donovan said. But on second thought, they realized that if it hadn’t been for her, the head of their family would likely be dead. Their son, Evan York, was so infatuated he was ready to risk their entire family fortune and leap headfirst into a pit of fire for love.
The moment Mrs. York imagined the desolate, helpless situation she would have faced all alone, she couldn’t help but shiver. What little compassion she might have felt vanished without a trace.
This was even more true for Mr. York. Before coming, his brother had told him what their family had gone through. If they hadn’t stumbled upon Master Donovan by a stroke of luck, their family would have likely followed the same path as the Lewis family—torn apart and utterly ruined.
As for the current outcome, it was simply just deserts for the insatiably greedy Lewis family, who had brought this upon themselves by trying to harm others.
Nearby, Evan York, who had been lost in his own world, jolted at the conversation. He frowned and asked, "Valerie Lewis? That name sounds familiar. Isn’t she... a freshman at our university, a couple of years younger than us? What happened to her?"
"It’s nothing. Apparently, she’s contracted a serious illness and won’t be able to attend school anymore."
"Oh..." Evan York froze for a second, then his tense posture slumped in relief.
For some reason, hearing that Valerie Lewis would no longer be at school, he instinctively sighed in relief. It felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest, leaving him feeling completely at ease.
Mr. and Mrs. York noticed his reaction and relaxed as well. They were relieved that Valerie Lewis had only approached their son after the school holidays began, so not many people knew about it. By the time he returned to school, it was unlikely anyone would bring the matter up.
Now that the Curse Worm issue was resolved, the York family tactfully rose to leave, making sure to leave behind the payment they had prepared beforehand.
As soon as they were gone, Ethan Donovan immediately leaned in and asked with a smile, "Serena, do you still have a use for this worm?"
"It’s useless now. Why do you ask, Ethan?"
"If it’s useless, then let me take it back to my lab for research," Ethan Donovan said, pulling out a plastic bag and a pair of tweezers. He carefully transferred the small pile of ash from the plate into the bag, bit by bit.
When he finished, Ethan Donovan turned around, only to find that everyone, including Arabella Donovan, had taken a large step back to put some distance between them. They were all staring at him with complicated expressions.
"What are you guys doing? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Ethan, why on earth are you studying that thing?"
"I’m just curious about its internal structure. How can such a tiny worm survive for so long inside a human body? Is this a parasitic relationship or a symbiotic one? What property allows it to stimulate dopamine secretion? How long does that false euphoria last? Could it be applied elsewhere to achieve other, more positive effects?"
When Ethan Donovan finished his spiel, his eyes gleaming, he noticed that everyone had taken another step back, putting even more distance between them.
"..." ’What’s going on?!’
"...Ethan, you sound like one of those mad scientists from the movies, the kind who might slice a person up for research at any moment."
The moment Arabella Donovan said it, she was met with a chorus of agreement from everyone else.
"Exactly! I knew Ethan’s expression just now looked familiar! It was giving me the creeps. Now I remember—he looked exactly like that yandere villain our second brother played in that show."
"Hey, say what you want, but leave me out of it. I was just following a script. The fact that you thought it was creepy just proves I’m a good actor. Unlike *some people*, who are just revealing their true nature."
Ethan Donovan: "..." ’Even now, they still find a way to take a dig at me. My own dear brothers, huh?’
Taking a critical hit from his entire family, Ethan Donovan snorted, pinched the plastic bag shut, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and stormed out in a huff.
"Ethan, where are you going?"
"Back to the lab!"
"But didn’t you just say the security guard lost the lab keys?"
"It’s fine, I can go help."
"...To go bug the delivery company for your advisor’s package?"
Ethan Donovan ground out through clenched teeth, "I’m going to help that security guard fish out the keys!"
Everyone: "..." ’Aaaand he’s snapped. Another one lost.’
Ethan Donovan stomped off, but he stopped short just as he reached the main gate, remembering something important. He paused and turned back to look at Arabella Donovan.
"Serena, about that tour—I mentioned it to my advisor a couple of days ago, and he agreed. But we’ll have to wait a few days for him to get back to campus from his vacation."
"Okay, got it."
’I’ve waited this long, so another day or two won’t matter. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, the investigation those men were conducting should be showing some results soon. They’ll probably come to me themselves in a few days.’
"Don’t worry about the visit to your university. I’ll go with Serena. I promise to deliver her safely to the door of your lab."
Surprised, Arabella Donovan turned to look at Eloise Donovan. "Eloise, you’re going to Ethan’s university too?"
"Yes, but I’m not going to the lab. I’ll just be touring the campus."
"Why the sudden interest in visiting Brynn University? Eloise, don’t tell me you’re also trying to get into their graduate program?"
Eloise Donovan’s expression stiffened. "My grades are decent," she said awkwardly, "but getting into Brynn University for grad school is a stretch. I’m visiting because I’m doing someone a favor."
"A favor? For whom?"
"You’ll find out then."
Arabella Donovan frowned, suspicious. Her gut told her there was more to this than met the eye.
But it was true—she soon found out exactly who Eloise Donovan was doing a favor for by tagging along to Brynn University.
"What are you doing here?"
"And why shouldn’t it be me?" Melanie Yates was wearing a knee-length skirt today with a blue-and-white striped top. With her hair in pigtails and her straight-cut bangs, her attempt to look cute and innocent couldn’t have been more obvious.
And as for who she was trying to look cute *for*—well, that was obvious too.
"Our school has a partnership with Brynn University. Every year, they send a few students over for an exchange program."
Arabella Donovan saw right through her. She looked Melanie up and down, then pointed at her. "Don’t tell me you’re one of the exchange students."
"So what if I am?"
Melanie Yates tilted her chin up, a smug look on her face. Combined with her outfit, she looked for all the world like a bratty antagonist from a teen drama who had just gotten her way.
Eloise Donovan leaned close to Arabella Donovan and explained in a low voice, "She applied for it herself."
Melanie Yates didn’t need to hear them to know what they were whispering. "So what if I applied for it myself?" she huffed. "I still got in on my own merit."
Arabella Donovan was about to say something more when Ethan Donovan’s low laugh came from behind them. "You guys are here already?"
The two sisters then watched as the person who, a second ago, had been standing with her hands on her hips looking fierce, instantly switched personas. One hand held down her skirt while the other tucked a stray hair behind her ear, transforming her into the very picture of a sweet, shy, gentle girl.
Eloise Donovan: "..."
Arabella Donovan: "..."
’This girl must have been a Sichuan opera master in a past life.’
Ethan Donovan faltered. ’What does that mean?’
’The face-changing kind.’
Ethan Donovan: "..."
Eloise Donovan: "..." ’Our Serena... as sharp-tongued as ever.’