Chapter 184: The World Is My Home
Eugene Jennings was a little speechless at Arabella Donovan’s over-the-top reaction. "My mom invited you over for dinner. Is that really so surprising?"
"Not really, it just feels a little sudden."
’My gut tells me that Auntie inviting me over for dinner right now can’t be as simple as just a meal. Could it be...’
Desmond Donovan happened to be home resting today, and hearing her tone, he knew there was gossip to be had. His ears perked up immediately.
’Could it be... there’s been some progress with that young lady’s situation from the other day?’
As Arabella thought the last four words, her mental voice lilted with anticipation, showing she was clearly very interested in what happened with the young lady.
Desmond Donovan was also curious. What other day? Which young lady? And what was this about her family?
This girl of his hadn’t stepped out the door since arriving in Brynn, except for that one morning she went shopping with her second cousin. Could something else he didn’t know about have happened that day?
While Desmond Donovan’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued, Arabella was already buzzing with energy, eagerly agreeing, "Okay, this afternoon? I’ll tell my grand-uncle in a bit. Send me your address."
After she spoke, Arabella started to worry. It was her first time visiting someone’s home as a guest; wouldn’t it be rude not to bring a gift?
’If I’d known, I wouldn’t have sent that necklace back with my cousin the other day.’
As if guessing what Arabella was thinking, Eugene Jennings was quick to add, "Just bring yourself. Don’t bring a bunch of gifts."
"Huh? Why not?"
"That necklace you sent my mom a couple of days ago almost got me and my brother kicked out of the house by our parents!"
Eugene Jennings’s voice was filled with such grief and indignation that it was clear how miserable his last two days had been.
Arabella was stunned. ’I’m not taking the fall for this!’
"I gave her a necklace. How could that possibly get you and my older cousin in trouble?"
"Because my mom realized that all the gifts my brother and I have given her in over twenty years combined aren’t as thoughtful or valuable as that one gift from you. She feels like she raised us for nothing all these years."
Arabella: "..."
’Well, you can’t blame me for being too amazing just because you two are kind of useless.’
Desmond Donovan: "..." ’The logic is sound, but this girl of his really knows how to push people’s buttons sometimes!’
"So, just bring yourself. Please, please, *please* don’t bring any more gifts. Take pity on us. My brother and I really don’t want to be homeless tonight."
"...Alright."
With less than three hours until lunch, Arabella hung up the phone and went to let Desmond Donovan and Guinevere Preston know.
Desmond Donovan readily approved her outing, but he paused to think for a moment while arranging her transportation. "It’s your first time visiting your uncle’s house. It wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed. In a bit, I’ll have your Uncle Miles fetch some wine and tea from the backyard storeroom. You can take it to your aunt and uncle, so you won’t seem rude."
Arabella paused for a second, then a cryptic smile appeared on her face.
’Eugene, I’m not the one who prepared these gifts. I’m just the delivery girl. You really can’t blame me for this.’
’What a little fox!’ Desmond Donovan’s eyes curved into crescents. He would never admit that he orchestrated this whole thing just to watch the drama unfold.
The only one who knew what they were both thinking, Guinevere Preston, looked at the identical, sly smiles on the faces of the old man and the young girl. She shook her head and silently offered her sympathies to Arabella’s two cousins.
Desmond Donovan arranged for the same driver as before for Arabella, but this time, several bodyguards openly accompanied her.
However, after arriving at their destination, they all remained downstairs to wait while Arabella went upstairs by herself, carrying the gifts.
Eugene Jennings received the message and came down to get her. He saw the things Arabella was carrying and his face immediately fell in horror.
"Didn’t I tell you not to bring gifts?"
Arabella gave an awkward yet polite smile. "It wasn’t my idea. When my grand-uncle heard I was coming to your house for dinner, he had someone pick these out from the storeroom. It was a kind gesture from an elder; I couldn’t very well refuse."
Eugene Jennings almost burst into tears on the spot, but he had no choice but to step forward and help carry the items.
When Arabella arrived at the Jennings’ home, she was, as expected, greeted with a warm welcome. Her aunt saw her carrying all the bags and chided, "You’re already here, you didn’t have to bring gifts!"
But her hands accepted them without any hesitation, and the smile on her face practically stretched to the back of her head.
Then she turned her head, and the look she gave Eugene and his brother was filled with even more disdain.
Eugene Jennings and Brandon Jennings: "..." ’We knew it!’
Mrs. Jennings was an excellent cook. The table was laden with delicious home-style dishes, so fragrant that Arabella barely looked up from her plate. By the time she was done, her stomach was slightly bulging. She used the excuse of helping her aunt clear the dishes to run back and forth a few times and walk off the meal.
After lunch, her eldest uncle cut up a large platter of fruit. As the family gathered around to eat it, the matter of Jennings Plaza was finally brought up.
"Eugene told me what happened when you two went shopping the other day. That membership card of his is actually mine. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t gone shopping much, so I didn’t know about the new rules. That boy... he actually had you sign up for a card for him, and then you even gave us such a valuable necklace..."
"Auntie, you’re making me feel like a stranger. My cousin took time out of his day to go shopping with me, and it was just signing up for a card, it’s nothing. That necklace was a gift for you. It’s not just you; I bought one for my mom too. It’s just a small token of my affection."
Mrs. Jennings was even more delighted to hear Arabella put her on the same level as her sister-in-law.
"That may be true, but our last meeting was under special circumstances, and your auntie didn’t get a chance to give you a welcoming gift. I’ll make up for it today."
Mrs. Jennings had barely finished speaking when a card appeared in Arabella’s hand.
Arabella: "..." ’What’s going on? Why do I suddenly have another card? Where did this thing pop out from?!’
"This is a VIP card for my family’s hotel chain. With this card, you can enjoy complimentary stays in the presidential suite at any of our branches across the country."
Presidential suite? Complimentary?
Stunned by this combination of words, Arabella subconsciously pulled out her phone to look up the hotel’s name.
Basic information about the hotel immediately popped up. It was a five-star hotel chain with branches in every first- and second-tier city, and even in small county towns. Room prices ranged from two or three hundred a night to twenty or thirty thousand a night.
The presidential suite, as its name implied, would be in the highest price bracket.
’Awesome! Now, with this card, Mom will never have to worry about me having nowhere to stay and ending up on the streets when I run away from home.’
Mrs. Jennings: "???"
After that thought, Arabella inevitably thought of Liam Lowe, who had recently given her a luxury villa.
’Mr. Lowe just gave me a home of my own in Stroven City, but Auntie’s card lets me make a home anywhere in the country. Auntie wins!’
Mrs. Jennings: "..." ’Uh, that’s not what I meant!’