Chapter 131: Upgraded
Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Upgraded
The members of the Donovan Family could roughly guess why Chester Donovan was so reluctant to leave. But they also knew that based on the assessment Arabella had just revealed—and the fact that he couldn’t hear her thoughts—even if he managed to escape by some fluke this time, he was already out of the running in Dennis Donovan’s mind.
Whether he stayed or left wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Although Chester Donovan had told her the matter was resolved, Arabella couldn’t get through to Beatrice Donovan on the phone, and she couldn’t help but worry.
After all, her cousin had rushed to save someone despite the aura of bloody misfortune surrounding her. If she wasn’t careful, she might not be the rescuer, but the one in need of rescue.
When Dennis Donovan realized what she was worried about, he took out his phone and made a call. He had Beatrice Donovan take a moment to call Arabella and personally reassure her that she was safe. Only then was Arabella able to truly relax.
’He’s such a kind-hearted man. He knew I was worried about my cousin, so he pulled some strings just to have her call me back. So thoughtful and sentimental, reliable and rich... If it weren’t for all those people around him, each with their own ulterior motives and selfish schemes, all trying to leech off of him, why would he ever resort to such ruthless measures? The poor man.’
The Donovan Family: "..." ’Sweetie, are you perhaps misunderstanding your grand-uncle?’
’Wake up! A man who, on his deathbed, could wipe out all the scheming scoundrels after his fortune in one fell swoop would never be the pitiful, helpless old man you’re making him out to be.’
’Not to mention, those rose-colored glasses you’re wearing are a bit thick, aren’t they? He’s really only this kind to *you*!’
Having been hit by this unconventional "sugar-coated bullet," Arabella was instantly won over. She then recalled their earlier topic of conversation.
’With the distraction about Beatrice, I almost forgot about Miss Preston.’
Dennis Donovan’s eyelid twitched, and his hand unconsciously tightened on his cane.
He admitted to himself that he was deliberately trying to win Arabella’s favor. But if she could really help him get what he wanted, he would gladly dote on her for the rest of his life!
As Arabella thought this, she fixed her gaze on Dennis Donovan, her eyes narrowing slightly.
’Huh? Have my eyes... leveled up?’
Leveled up? What kind of description was that? The members of the Donovan Family looked at each other, but before they could even guess, Arabella’s thoughts provided the answer.
Before, while Arabella could glean some things from reading people’s faces, her insights were superficial. Most of the detailed information she had came from the plot descriptions in the book she’d read.
But now, she could see a person’s entire life story just by looking at them. The only limitation was that she could only see past events; the future remained blurry.
But this was already more than enough, especially...
’...I can see not only his past, but the pasts of people connected to him as well.’
And the closer the relationship, the clearer she could see; the deeper the connection, the more she would be shown.
Realizing this, Arabella decisively focused her attention on the part of Dennis Donovan’s reading that concerned his marriage.
Although he and Miss Preston were never married, and they had been separated for decades, the two lovers had never forgotten one another, nor had they ever given up their search. This bond was deeper than any other.
Sure enough, after just a moment, Arabella learned a great deal about Miss Preston.
’Oh, wow... Miss Preston’s life has been so tragic!’
Dennis Donovan’s heart sank, and the color drained from his face. The watching members of the Donovan Family were terrified, afraid the old man wouldn’t be able to take the shock. If something happened to him in their house, their family would never be able to clear its name, not even if they jumped into the Siltflow River.
Fortunately, the old patriarch had weathered many storms and possessed considerable mental fortitude. Even though he was shaken to his very core, he managed to suppress it, not betraying a hint of his inner turmoil.
Arabella didn’t realize her words had nearly broken her grand-uncle’s composure; she was currently furious herself.
It turned out that not long after Miss Preston fled Valoria with her parents, they were helped by a friend and were fortunate enough to settle down in another city.
Miss Preston could only think about her sweetheart, with whom she had lost all contact. She never expected that this friend’s son would also take a liking to her, admiring her youth, beauty, and education.
Miss Preston’s parents had always wanted her to marry a young master from a wealthy family of equal social standing and forget about that penniless boy who had nothing to his name. They were delighted by this prospect and, without their daughter’s consent, accepted the friend’s proposal, betrothing her once again.
Miss Preston never imagined that after escaping the ravages of war, she would be unable to escape a forced marriage—especially since it was being arranged with the son of the very benefactor who had just saved her family.
Most people in her position would have agonized over it but ultimately compromised. Miss Preston, however, was headstrong. That very day, she sought out the young master who admired her and stated plainly that her heart already belonged to another. She told him she was unwilling to marry him and begged him to break off the engagement.
But the man didn’t care if she loved another. He simply said that it was a matter of parental decree and a matchmaker’s word; Miss Preston’s own wishes were irrelevant. He claimed that once she married him, she would eventually accept her fate. And once she accepted her fate, it was only a matter of time before she forgot the man in her heart. He could afford to wait.
At this point, Miss Preston was utterly alone and helpless. That very night, after her meeting with the man, she slit her wrists in a suicide attempt—a final, desperate protest against the arranged marriage.
CRASH—
Hearing this, Dennis Donovan could no longer contain himself. He slammed his cane violently against the corner of the coffee table.
Just as a startled Arabella turned to look, he forced a stiff smile. "I’m getting old, can’t take being hungry. The moment I am, I get dizzy, my vision blurs, and my hands go weak. Can’t even hold onto my cane properly."
Mr. Donovan quickly played along. "It was our oversight. Justin, go to the kitchen and bring some pastries for your grand-uncle to have for now. While you’re there, check if dinner is ready."
"Of course, I’ll go right now."
’So he was just hungry. That makes sense. He’s not young anymore, and all that running around in his youth must have left him with plenty of health problems. But he’s had people looking after him all these years, whereas Miss Preston...’
Whereas Miss Preston... what? Finish the sentence! Everyone’s hearts were in their throats, hanging on Arabella’s unspoken words. Dennis Donovan’s eyelid was twitching uncontrollably.
Miss Preston’s suicide attempt was, of course, unsuccessful. However, the incident caused the matter of the marriage to blow up into a huge affair.
An unmarried young woman attempting suicide by slitting her wrists because she loved another and refused to marry her fiancé—such an act would cause gossip even today, let alone half a century ago. Back then, it was an absolute scandal.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston lost all face, and the friend’s family became the laughingstock of the city. Furious, the benefactor threw the Prestons out of the house.
Mr. and Mrs. Preston, already resentful toward their daughter for shaming them with her suicide attempt, now blamed her for everything. Adding to the pressure, some relatives from the Preston Family who had also been affected by the scandal came to confront them.
Goaded by their relatives’ sarcastic and passive-aggressive remarks, Mr. and Mrs. Preston disowned the still-recovering Miss Preston, casting her out of the family.
The Donovan Family: "!!!"
Dennis Donovan: "..." ’Where are my heart pills?’