Chapter 409: The Suspended Heart Finally Died
Hearing the familiar name so unexpectedly sent a shiver down everyone’s spine, especially the two brothers, Caspian Rhodes and Zane Lynch.
They exchanged a look over the heads of the others, unsurprisingly seeing the same shock in each other’s eyes.
No wonder the man had seemed so strangely familiar. Wasn’t this guy Cassandra Lynch’s mysterious boyfriend, the legendary official male lead of the story?
Damn, what was he doing here at the Rhodes residence, and as Guinevere Rhodes’s boyfriend, no less!
The group was shocked into silence. Nearby, Arabella Donovan was just as shocked, but she had already begun muttering furiously in her mind.
’It has to be someone with the same name. It has to be someone with the same name. It has to be someone with the same name! Important things must be said three times.’
After deluding herself to build up some mental fortitude, Arabella, clinging to one last shred of hope, opened her eyes to look again at the young man beside Miss Rhodes.
He was in his early twenties, with the physique of a model well over six feet tall. Dressed impeccably in a suit, he had an outstanding air about him. His eyes were expressive and seemed to sparkle with emotion. Most importantly, just under the corner of one eye was a tiny, red-bean-like tear mole.
Yep, confirmed. Having the same name wasn’t strange, but to have the face of a handsome romance novel protagonist *and* the signature tear mole? This was absolutely, positively, without a doubt the novel’s protagonist, Ian Jennings—the man who spent an entire book both scheming with and battling against Cassandra Lynch!
The hope Arabella had been clinging to was finally crushed.
’I’m so stupid. Truly! I knew a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a tornado, but I never imagined a little tadpole swimming from freshwater to saltwater to find its mommy could trigger a tsunami. WAHAHAHA, I’m not crazy. I’m not crazy.’
Everyone was speechless. It was clear the poor girl had taken a massive blow. Look what the shock had reduced her to.
Arabella’s mind raced. After having a silent meltdown, she couldn’t help but ask the question that plagued her soul.
’How in the world did you two, who have absolutely nothing to do with each other, get together?’
No, wait, that wasn’t right. They weren’t completely unrelated. In the original novel, when Ian Jennings and Cassandra Lynch made their move against The Lynch Company, Miss Rhodes had been a huge help to them.
’So, this Miss Rhodes really is a relative of Mr. Rhodes... But for a nameless background character from the original story to just shove the female lead aside and take her place... Isn’t that a bit much?’
Guinevere Rhodes was oblivious to their thoughts. Seeing the surprise on everyone’s faces, she found it a bit odd but simply assumed they—especially Caspian Rhodes—were just shocked that she had a boyfriend.
"Ethan and I met at a business reception. He started an entertainment company. It hasn’t been around for long, but he has a unique eye for talent and has signed several rising stars in the entertainment industry. In just two short years, he’s established a firm foothold for his company, becoming a well-known, stylish up-and-comer in the circle. His potential is limitless."
Arabella listened to Guinevere Rhodes sing her companion’s praises, her own expression incredibly complicated.
’Anyone in the know would understand you’re just showing off. Anyone else would think you brought your boyfriend here for a job interview, the way you’re rattling off his resume and personal strengths.’
Pfft...
Caspian Rhodes almost burst out laughing. Fortunately, his years of experience weathering storms kicked in at the critical moment, allowing him to maintain his unflappable CEO persona, the type who wouldn’t flinch even if a mountain collapsed before him.
"Oh, is that so? Then Mr. Jennings is truly a young and promising man."
The words were dripping with sarcasm. Guinevere Rhodes’s eyes narrowed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself.
"Right? You think so too, cousin. Ethan is not only capable, but he’s also a wonderful person. The night we met, a clumsy waiter spilled an entire glass of red wine on my white dress. With so many people at the reception, you can imagine how mortified I was. When Ethan saw what happened, he immediately took off his suit jacket to shield me as we left and even had someone buy a new gown and deliver it to me. It was unbelievably thoughtful."
Hearing this, Ian Jennings played along with a gentle smile. "I only did what I felt was right. I’m sure any gentleman there wouldn’t have wanted to see an elegant lady like you in such an awkward predicament. I was just lucky to be standing near you at the time."
"There were so many people at the reception that night, yet you were the one closest to me. If that isn’t fate, what is?" Guinevere Rhodes’s voice was soft, her eyes full of affection, the very picture of a young woman deeply in love.
Arabella: "..."
’Wow, you’ve spun quite a convincing tale. If I didn’t know for a fact that he was still fooling around with Cassandra Lynch just two months ago, I might have actually believed this beautiful, earth-shattering love story of yours. I can’t watch. I really can’t. I think I’m going to get a stye just from watching this.’
Caspian Rhodes was amused by Arabella’s commentary but kept his expression neutral. He feigned interest, sizing up Ian Jennings for a moment before saying with a faint smile, "It does sound nice. In that case, let me be the first to congratulate you on finding a good man, cousin."
There was nothing outwardly wrong with his words, but to Guinevere Rhodes’s ears, they sounded inexplicably jarring.
Guinevere Rhodes had brought Ian Jennings today with the express purpose of irking Caspian Rhodes and his family. But after all her efforts, Caspian showed no reaction whatsoever, leaving her with the frustrating feeling of having punched a wad of cotton.
Frustrated, Guinevere Rhodes decisively turned her attention to the people Caspian had brought with him.
"I’ve introduced my companion clearly, without hiding a thing. Shouldn’t you introduce your guests a bit more thoroughly, cousin? We wouldn’t want to run into each other outside and fail to recognize one another. That would truly be a case of the great flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple—our own family not recognizing each other."
At these words, Caspian Rhodes’s expression finally shifted.
The great flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple? How exactly did she plan on flooding that temple? Was this a threat, or a test?
Before Caspian Rhodes could sort out her meaning, an energetic young man with a rather unconventional hairstyle approached from nearby. He looked a bit immature compared to the others, perhaps in his late teens, and his loud voice carried from a distance.
"Sis, the ancestor worship ceremony is about to start. What are you guys just standing around here for?"
Arabella Donovan stared at him, her brow furrowed slightly.
’Who’s this now? Another relative of Mr. Rhodes? How come he seems to have even more relatives than my family?’
The corner of Caspian Rhodes’s mouth twitched. He was reluctant to acknowledge his relation to these people; the Rhodes Family relatives were nowhere near as harmonious as the Donovan Family.
"He’s my cousin Guinevere’s younger brother, Ian Rhodes. From my second grand-uncle’s side of the family."
"Oh, so he’s Miss Rhodes’s younger brother," Arabella murmured, then slowly turned her head, looking for all the world like a rusty clockwork mechanism being forcibly wound.
As she moved, everyone could practically hear a stiff creaking sound coming from her neck.
’I must have misheard. I’ll give you one more chance. What did you say his name was?’
Caspian Rhodes: "..." ’This cursed question... and this cursed feeling of déjà vu!’