Chapter 226: They Are Just Scared
This heavy accusation was nearly enough to scare Victor Donovan out of his wits.
He didn’t know whether the Foster child’s survival was a heavenly blessing for their family. All he knew was that if this accusation stuck, it would be an absolute catastrophe for his own.
"No, no, no! We absolutely didn’t mean that!" Victor Donovan’s face was ghastly pale. He showed no trace of the arrogance from a few minutes prior, when he looked like he wanted to tear Arabella and her companions to shreds. Seeing this, Arabella felt her interest wane.
’Caving already? I much prefer the defiant arrogance you and your son had going on, that "I’m the king of the world" attitude. Daring to offend people without doing your homework first... this family really isn’t all that bright. No wonder they’re always being used as scapegoats.’
Hearing this, Caspian Rhodes and Beatrice Donovan glanced silently at Victor Donovan, who was still apologizing profusely to Raphael and Samuel Foster. They nodded in profound agreement.
They still hadn’t figured out who they’d *truly* offended. They completely deserved to fall into this trap.
Having been adrift for over twenty years and experienced the full spectrum of human nature, Samuel Foster could easily see that these people weren’t genuinely remorseful. They were just scared—scared of retaliation from people richer and more powerful than themselves.
If this matter only involved him, that would be one thing. Having just returned to the Foster family, he didn’t want to give his newly reunited relatives the bad impression that he was opportunistic and ruthless.
But this was about Miss Donovan—the same Miss Donovan who had saved both him and his adoptive father, and who had even helped him find his biological family.
Samuel Foster’s expression hardened, revealing a rare, forceful side. "The person you should be apologizing to isn’t me, it’s Miss Donovan. She’s the one you slandered and harassed for no reason. She’s the one you blocked from her private room, forcing her to listen to your outrageous claims and threats."
"She’s the one who broke the rules! Everyone else had to wait in line to get in, so why didn’t she? You even prepared a special private room for her! I bet you’re protecting her because you have some kind of shady relationship. I won’t stand for it!"
Hearing his youngest son’s outrageous and ill-timed outburst, Victor Donovan panicked and spun around, slapping him across the face. "Shut your mouth! It’s not your place to speak!"
But it was no use. After hearing the young man’s words, Raphael Foster’s expression turned glacial. He sneered, "Miss Donovan is our family’s benefactor. If she needed it, we would gladly go to her home and cook for her personally, let alone simply prepare a private room for her convenience."
"Since this gentleman is so hostile toward Miss Donovan and has such strong opinions about Delicacy Pavilion’s hospitality, I presume he doesn’t think much of our humble little restaurant. In that case, go to the kitchen and cancel their order. Refund their bill in full and see them out properly. We wouldn’t want them to feel slighted."
This was, in effect, kicking them all out.
Victor Donovan truly couldn’t understand why Raphael Foster was so partial to Arabella Donovan. Even Desmond Donovan himself had never received such treatment.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt the issue must lie with Samuel Foster. Everything Raphael was doing was simply to stand up for his son; that little slip of a girl was just a convenient excuse.
"Mr. Foster, my son truly knows he was wrong. He’d never heard of Mr. Foster, let alone met him. What he said just now was an honest mistake. I’ll have him apologize to Mr. Foster—he can hit him or curse him as he pleases. Can you please forgive him on account of his ignorance and give us another chance?"
"Dad!"
"If you still consider me your father, then apologize to Mr. Foster!"
Caspian Rhodes and Beatrice Donovan were speechless. He was still going on about "Mr. Foster." He hadn’t even figured out who he was supposed to be pleading with. They were truly hopeless.
Arabella, however, saw things clearly. ’Are these people really that stupid? Not necessarily. They just don’t want to believe it.’
’They refuse to believe that a "wild girl" from out of town like me could win the favor of a powerful figure through my own abilities, easily obtaining things they couldn’t get no matter how hard they schemed.’
Raphael Foster remained noncommittal in the face of Victor Donovan’s tearful pleas. He simply turned to Arabella. "What are your thoughts, Miss Donovan?"
"This happened in your restaurant, so it’s only right that you make the decision. I have no objections. I’m just a little curious..."
"About what?"
Arabella didn’t answer him. Instead, she addressed Timothy Donovan. "You’re so fixated on me. Is it really because you have an overwhelming sense of justice and can’t stand that I didn’t ’follow the rules,’ or is it because you can’t accept that a ’wild girl’ from out of town has suddenly surpassed you, gotten things you can’t get, and enjoyed treatment you’ll never receive?"
Timothy Donovan flinched as if struck. The verbal fig leaf had been ripped away, and his embarrassment quickly turned to rage. "Stop trying to pin labels on me! This was your fault to begin with. What was wrong with what I said?"
"So, by making this scene, are you trying to drag me down and humiliate me? Or are you trying to make the restaurant feel guilty so they’ll upgrade your treatment as well? If you had to choose one, which would it be?"
Timothy Donovan froze. His eyes darted back and forth as if he were actually considering the question.
Seeing him silent for a long moment, Arabella had her answer.
"Mr. Foster, I have no more questions. This whole thing started because of me, but since it happened in your establishment, I’ll leave it to you to handle."
"Of course. It was our negligence that led to this unpleasant experience for you and your friends. Rest assured, I will handle it."
As Raphael Foster spoke, he prepared to have someone escort Victor Donovan’s family out. But before he could give the order, another uninvited guest arrived.
"My, what’s all the commotion? Did something happen?"
Arabella and her party, who had been about to enter their private room, froze. They subconsciously turned toward the voice and saw a young man at the corner of the hallway. He was slender and a bit tan, dressed sharply in a suit, and was watching them with an enigmatic smile.
"Mr.... Mr. Vaughn, you’re..." A flicker of joy crossed Victor Donovan’s face when he saw the newcomer. But it quickly faded as he remembered he was about to be thrown out of the restaurant and that the man he’d invited was now witnessing his disgrace. He had no idea if Mr. Vaughn would be angry.
Raphael Foster’s expression flickered upon seeing the man. "Just a small disturbance," he said, his tone polite but distant. "It’s almost resolved."
"If it’s just a small disturbance, why not let them off this once, as a favor to me?"
Surprise showed on Raphael Foster’s face. He glanced at Victor Donovan’s group with dawning realization. "You’re... with them?"
This sudden interruption was completely unexpected. Arabella leaned toward her cousin and asked curiously, "Sis, who’s that? Mr. Foster seems wary of him."
"He’s the young master of the Vaughn Family from the north side of the city, Vincent Vaughn. His family is influential, and he’s a ruthless character himself. Stay away from him. If you run into him, avoid him if you can. If you can’t, get someone else, but don’t ever be alone with him."
Beatrice Donovan’s earnest advice sounded just like that of a worried parent warning their precious daughter to stay away from unsavory boys.
Unfortunately, Arabella’s focus was a little skewed.
"Vincent Vaughn?"
’Well, I’ll be damned. So it’s him!’