Chapter 456: Chapter 456: A Plea to Heaven to Distinguish the Loyal from the Wicked
The Donovans were all amused by Arabella Donovan’s pouty, resentful expression. "So after all this time, *that’s* what you’re actually upset about."
"What do you mean, ’that’s what I’m upset about’? Shouldn’t I be? It’s like you, Hector. Let’s say you secretly like dolls or wearing women’s clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that on its own, but if it were suddenly announced to a huge crowd, wouldn’t you be mortified?"
Hector Donovan froze. It took him a moment to react, his face filled with panic. "Don’t... Don’t be ridiculous! I don’t like dolls at all, and I definitely don’t like women’s clothes! Stop making false accusations!"
"It’s an analogy. Do you get it? An analogy? Or are you saying you’re prejudiced against guys who like dolls and women’s clothes, Hector? I never would’ve pegged you for that. You..." Arabella looked Hector up and down. "You’re surprisingly close-minded."
Hector was left speechless by his sister’s counter-attack. "Get one thing straight. When other people make an analogy, it’s just an analogy. But when it comes out of your mouth, people tend to believe it’s real, you know?"
Didn’t you see the way Mom, Dad, and our siblings looked at me after you said that?
If I had hesitated for even a few seconds longer before denying it, I would’ve been stuck with that label forever!
"Besides, respecting other people’s hobbies is one thing, but being saddled with bizarre hobbies yourself is something else entirely."
"...Fine." Arabella put on a deeply wronged expression, and even the cowlick on her head seemed to wilt.
’Of course, someone as glamorous as Hector, who’s never been publicly humiliated in his life, would never understand my pain. I was just using him as an example, and not only does he not get how upset I am, but he even scolds me...’
Hector: "???" ’Wait a minute. Something’s not right with that tone. Why is she being so manipulative?’
Staggering from the sheer force of her manipulative act, Hector had a sinking feeling and turned to look at his family. He saw that after hearing Arabella’s inner monologue, their expressions had visibly soured as they looked at him.
"Hector, shut up."
"Less talking, more doing."
"No one will think you’re mute for staying quiet right now."
"Exactly! Did Hector not get enough lines on set? Is that why he can’t stop yapping at home? If you’ve got that much energy, go practice on the balcony."
He glanced back at Arabella and saw no trace of her supposed sadness. Instead, she was grinning like the cat that got the cream.
How could Hector not understand what was going on? He wanted to dramatically slide to his knees and beg the heavens to tell the good guys from the bad!
Arabella was thrilled with her successful prank. The rest of the Donovans had likely figured out she was just teasing her brother, but they all let her have her fun.
Even Hector, as wronged as he felt, couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw that she wasn’t truly angry and that the incident hadn’t soured the family atmosphere. The weight on his chest had finally lifted.
Mrs. Donovan was relieved by her youngest daughter’s maturity and open-mindedness, but she also felt for her. She stepped forward, took Arabella’s arm, and said comfortingly, "Serena, don’t be scared. This whole situation is bizarre, I know. But your father, your siblings, and I have been paying attention. Besides our blood relatives—the ones who are close to our family, have good character, and mean you no harm—it seems only Mr. Lynch’s family can hear your thoughts."
"That’s right. And Mr. Lynch’s family couldn’t hear you from the start. They only started hearing you this last time, when they picked us up at the airport after we got back from Brynn. That was the very first time..."
Arabella frowned. "What’s that all about?"
"We discussed it afterward, and we think it’s because of the New Year’s gifts you sent them."
"The New Year’s gifts..." Arabella’s eyes brightened. "You mean the jewelry I sent them, the pieces with the spiritual marrow."
As she spoke, Arabella seemed to remember something. "You all know about this, right? The two raw gemstones I extracted from that rock I bought at the auction in Brynn weren’t ordinary. They’re treasures containing spiritual marrow that can nourish the body and extend one’s life with prolonged wear."
"Of course, we know. Everyone found out as soon as you cut the stone open. They were ecstatic when they learned you were willing to have the gems made into jewelry and give them away. Why else do you think so many relatives made a special trip to our house to give more gifts after we got back from Brynn, even though the New Year holiday was over? Those were thank-you gifts specifically for you."
Arabella: "..."
’Jeez, so that’s what was going on. I was wondering who makes New Year’s visits twice. And all the gifts from my uncles and aunts kept getting more and more expensive...’
"That’s right. That’s exactly what was going on."
Arabella stroked her chin, thinking back for a moment. "At the time, I had the stones made into jewelry and then sent pieces out one by one, following a list of the relatives who had sent me money without hesitation when I desperately needed it for the auction. The only additions to that list were Melody’s family and my maternal uncle’s family..."
According to Mrs. Donovan and the others, her maternal uncle’s family were blood relatives, so they were part of the original group who could hear her thoughts.
The Lynch Family, however...
"My thinking at the time was that Melody’s family is my family, too. Apart from us, they’re her closest relatives in the world. It felt only right to prepare a New Year’s gift for them. I just never thought..."
"Maybe it’s because of that thought. They received your exclusive gift, just like our relatives. In the eyes of fate, that meant they had your acknowledgment and were considered part of our family. That must be why they can hear what you’re thinking, allowing them to change their own destinies."
With Mrs. Donovan’s reminder, Arabella finally understood why Melody Lynch’s plotline had collapsed so suddenly. Not only had Melody successfully found her true savior, but she’d also sent that scumbag from the Gallagher Family—the one who tried to impersonate her savior to play with her feelings—to the hospital...
’So, Melody must have floored it in that garage on purpose, right? It might be a little mean, but I have to say it: nicely done!’
Everyone: Pfft...
Mrs. Donovan suppressed a laugh and patted the back of her daughter’s hand. "So, you really don’t need to be afraid. None of the people who can hear your thoughts mean you any harm. In fact, most of them are elders who adore you. In their eyes, everything you do is right and charming. You have absolutely no reason to feel pressured."
Arabella wanted to point out that being mortified and feeling pressured were two completely different things. Being adored by her elders didn’t make it any less humiliating to have them witness her embarrassing moments!
But the words died on her lips as a sudden thought struck her, and her mind inevitably jumped to another matter.
’Going by this logic... Mr. Rhodes... Don’t tell me he can hear my thoughts, too?’
The Donovans: "!!!"