Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Do You Have to React So Fast?
Having been so bluntly called out, the group looked a little embarrassed.
What was that saying again? See through it, but don’t point it out. It saves everyone some face later on, right?
’Besides, what’s wrong with enjoying a little gossip? Loving gossip and watching drama unfold is just human nature. Liberating that nature and respecting the natural order is a fundamental law of evolution. I love gossip, and I’m proud of it!’
It was a good thing Arabella Donovan didn’t know what they were thinking. Otherwise, the look on her face would have been even more priceless.
Grumbling aside, the most important thing at the moment was the fresh, hot gossip. Everyone quickly turned their attention back to Justin Donovan.
"So? Any news on the Coleman family’s situation? That poor child wasn’t taken back by her heartless father, was she?"
"No, that didn’t happen." Justin Donovan sat down across from Arabella, taking the glass of water his sister handed him. He took a sip to wet his throat and continued, "Mrs. Coleman was arrested a few days ago. With both witnesses and evidence, there’s no way she’ll escape charges for abandonment and intentional injury. It’s just..."
"Just what?"
"It’s just... she’s pregnant. And since the child was rescued quickly, she didn’t suffer any major physical harm..."
Before Justin could finish, Hector angrily cut him off. "What do you mean she didn’t suffer any major harm? If it weren’t for Serena, that child would’ve been taken by traffickers long ago! Who knows where she’d have been sold off to by now, or if she’d have been killed along the way! And you call that ’no major harm’?"
"But none of that actually happened, did it? The law can’t convict someone for something that might have been. At most, what you’re describing would be considered attempted. And with the get-out-of-jail-free card she’s carrying in her belly, she probably won’t get a heavy sentence."
As angry as they were, everyone knew what Justin said was true. After all, even a death row inmate won’t be executed if she’s pregnant; the sentence would have to be commuted. And Mrs. Coleman’s crimes certainly didn’t warrant the death penalty to begin with.
The law allows for mercy, but sometimes that mercy is downright infuriating.
Arabella, unlike the indignant Hector, simply asked, "Were the Coleman Family’s company and stock affected by this?"
Justin gave everyone a gratified look that said, ’As expected, our Serena is the smartest.’ "Of course they were affected. The story of you and Hector catching those traffickers blew up online. Netizens quickly dug up the Coleman family’s dirty laundry and pieced together the real story." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"The Coleman family’s stock plummeted as a result. Many of their previous business partners have proposed terminating their contracts. The company is in turmoil, and as for Mr. Coleman and his family, they’ve become infamous. They’re public enemy number one."
For things to develop this quickly, there were undoubtedly people pulling strings behind the scenes. They could have been rivals who already had a grudge against Daniel Coleman, or it could have been the Kensington family, who now probably wished they could destroy the Colemans to quench their hatred.
In any case, this incident was a massive and devastating blow to both Daniel Coleman personally and his company. And the root cause of it all was none other than his new wife.
Judging by Mr. Coleman’s attitude toward his late wife’s daughter and her family, it was clear he was no saint. At the very least, he wasn’t some starry-eyed romantic who put love above all else.
Did he love his wife? Perhaps. But that love definitely couldn’t compare to his love for himself, his company, or his wealth.
Mrs. Coleman might escape the full punishment of the law because of the baby in her belly, but what happens after she gets home? Faced with the person who ruined his reputation and caused his company’s assets to evaporate, could he really treat her with the same doting deference as before?
Therefore, in Arabella’s opinion, Mrs. Coleman’s real tragedy would only begin after she returned home.
The rest of the Donovan family listened silently to Arabella’s analysis and had to admit she had a point.
While it was a shame they couldn’t see the villain face legal justice, letting them go home to tear each other apart wasn’t a bad outcome either.
Now, the more important question was...
"What about Zora’s custody? Has a decision been made? Until then, where is she staying? Who’s looking after her?"
"The child’s custody hasn’t been finalized yet. Technically, she was supposed to return to the Coleman family’s care until a final ruling was made. But given the severity of the trafficking incident, Vaughn Kensington, on his lawyer’s advice, petitioned for intervention from the local women’s federation and the court to take custody of the child first. Now, they’re just waiting for the court’s decision, which should completely sever the child’s ties to the Coleman family."
Arabella finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
Justin glanced at his sister, hesitated for a moment, then added pointedly, "Caspian Rhodes also lent a hand behind the scenes on this."
"Mr. Rhodes?" Arabella was surprised. The others frowned and looked over as well. "What did he do?"
"The lawyer helping Vaughn Kensington with the custody case was his recommendation. Apparently, it’s a relative of one of his sisters-in-law—one of the top litigators in the country who specializes in these kinds of cases. Thanks to his help, the custody battle was able to be settled and wrapped up so quickly."
Arabella froze, a flicker of realization dawning on her.
’A relative of his sister-in-law? Don’t tell me it’s a relative of his First Uncle’s former daughter-in-law? Mr. Rhodes mentioned before that her entire family is made up of legal heavyweights who graduated from top law schools at home and abroad. If his First Uncle and cousin had dared not to go through with the divorce, her family could have ruined them and made them rot in jail at a moment’s notice.’
’But is Mr. Rhodes really that close with his cousin’s ex-wife? I didn’t even see him exchange a few words with her during the ancestor worship ceremony. How could he ask a lawyer from her family to help Vaughn Kensington? Don’t tell me he also had a hand in his cousin’s divorce? But he didn’t seem particularly close to either of them. Why would he help them? Unless...’
Arabella once again began to suspect that Caspian Rhodes, just like her family, could hear her thoughts.
’I really have to find a way to test him.’
Hearing this, all eyes in the Donovan family instantly shot toward Justin. ’Everything was going fine, why did you have to bring *him* up? You’ll jinx us!’
Justin met their glares calmly, his expression righteously retorting, ’You dare say you’re not curious? I, for one, won’t be able to eat or sleep until I get to the bottom of this.’
The family: "..." Fine, they had to admit they were curious too.
At that moment, Caspian Rhodes was still blissfully unaware that his cover was about to be blown. The Donovans, Arabella included, were already suspicious of him and were plotting how to find an opportunity to test their theory.
However, before Arabella could figure out a way to "accidentally" run into Caspian Rhodes and test him without leaving a trace, someone else came looking for her.
"Mr. Sherwood? Which Mr. Sherwood? The one who almost had a childhood betrothal with you, my fourth sister? What does he want with me? Wait, when did you two get so close?"
Suddenly the focus of everyone’s attention, Eloise Donovan could only think, "..." ’Did they have to react so quickly?’