Chapter 135: Probably a Huge Scoop
Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Probably a Huge Scoop
Caspian Rhodes’s intentions were so obvious they could be heard from a thousand miles away. Arabella Donovan paused for a moment before asking, "Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?"
"Not at all. It’s no trouble. It’s your first time in Crovia, so it’s safer to have someone to show you the way."
Arabella Donovan considered it and had to agree. It was the first time in Crovia for both her and her grand-uncle. Getting lost would be a major setback.
A delay wasn’t a problem for them, but Miss Preston couldn’t afford to wait.
"Then I’ll have to take you up on that, Mr. Rhodes. We’ll be setting off first thing tomorrow morning."
"Sounds good. Just text me when you get there, and I’ll come pick you up."
What Arabella Donovan didn’t know was that the moment she hung up, Caspian Rhodes had his assistant book the next available flight to Crovia.
The assistant froze, then reminded him, "But Mr. Rhodes, you have several meetings scheduled for tomorrow, including one with Mr. Shaw."
"Postpone the meetings. As for Mr. Shaw, tell him Miss Donovan needs my help with something. We can reschedule the collaboration talk for another time."
From what Caspian Rhodes knew of Arabella Donovan, she wouldn’t randomly follow a relative to another city, let alone proactively ask an acquaintance for information. This couldn’t be as simple as a hot spring trip.
’I have to tag along and see. I might just get to witness some incredible drama.’
Completely unaware that her little scheme had been seen through from afar, Arabella Donovan woke up bright and early the next day to have breakfast with the Donovans and Dennis Donovan.
"Grand-uncle, my friend mentioned a recently opened magma hot spring near Crovia. It’s become quite famous and is supposedly great for seniors with leg and joint issues. Why don’t we go there? The only catch is that it’s a bit remote and the roads are poor, so it might be a rough trip."
The moment Dennis Donovan heard this, he recalled the remote mountain village she had mentioned last night. ’My beloved is almost certainly there!’
’If that’s the case, forget a remote location and a rough journey. I’d drag these old bones of mine up a sheer cliff if I have to!’
"Don’t you worry. I may look like this now, but your grand-uncle has endured more bitterness in his life than you’ve eaten salt. Gravel roads, muddy paths—I’ve seen them all. A little bumpy ride is nothing to me."
Arabella Donovan breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, then we’ll leave right after breakfast. My friend will meet us in Crovia."
At her words, the Donovans all stopped what they were doing and looked over in unison.
"Your friend is meeting you? Which friend?"
When their youngest daughter had mentioned it yesterday, they’d assumed this so-called "friend" was just an excuse. They hadn’t imagined it was a real person. ’When did our little girl make a new friend?!’
"It’s Mr. Rhodes," Arabella said. Since they were going to meet him soon anyway, she saw no reason to keep it a secret.
"Mr. Rhodes’s maternal grandparents are from Crovia, so he knows the area well. As it happens, he’s in Crovia visiting them right now, so I asked if he could guide us. Otherwise, I was worried Grand-uncle and I would get lost, being new to the place."
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan exchanged a glance. "The same Mr. Rhodes who came to your birthday party?"
"That’s him."
This was news to Dennis Donovan. He shot a questioning glance at the head of his security detail, who was responsible for gathering intelligence. The man, ever perceptive, immediately leaned in to whisper in Dennis Donovan’s ear about this Mr. Rhodes.
In stark contrast to the others, who remained relatively calm, Justin Donovan was gripping his chopsticks so tightly they creaked. ’It’s that bastard again!’
’How did he even get in touch with Serena? Are they that close? And this old geezer dared to ask our Serena to a hot spring in Crovia?! What’s his game? Is he trying to make a move on my sister?’
’No way. I have to find a way to stop him. I absolutely cannot let that bastard’s scheme succeed!’
At this point, Justin had selectively forgotten that Arabella had simply made up an excuse yesterday to coax Dennis Donovan into going to Crovia with her; there had been no prior arrangement at all.
Just then, Caspian Rhodes, having just stepped off his plane, felt a sudden tickle in his nose and let out a loud sneeze. He had no idea he’d just been unfairly blamed for something.
"That’s good, then. It’s always easier when you know someone. Just be sure to thank him properly before you come back."
"I know, Mom."
The group finished breakfast at top speed, and just as they were about to set off, they found an extra person in their car.
"Brother, why are you here?"
"I’m coming with you."
"But the company..."
"With Mom and Dad around, it won’t collapse," Justin Donovan said, shooting a cool glance at Mr. and Mrs. Donovan standing outside the car. The last time, they’d dumped the entire company on him to go with Serena to the second brother’s place for over a month of "gossip-watching," leaving him to work late every night, almost to the point of getting dark circles.
’This time, I’m just accompanying my sister on a short trip. We might even be back the same day. If those two can’t even handle a small disruption like this, the family company would’ve gone under ages ago.’
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan could easily see what their eldest son was thinking. But since they were in the wrong, they could only swallow their indignation. "Don’t worry about the company. Your dad and I have it covered."
Mrs. Donovan then turned to Dennis Donovan to explain. "Ever since Serena returned, her siblings have always accompanied her when she goes out. Even though Crovia is close, our eldest is still worried, so he wanted to tag along to make sure everyone is looked after on the road."
The reason was plausible enough, so Dennis Donovan just smiled and didn’t object.
Eloise Donovan had wanted to go too, but the Lynch family was coming to pick her up for the return to Jarden today, so she had to regretfully miss out on watching the drama unfold in person.
"Well then, Brother, take good care of Serena and Grand-uncle. Be safe and come back soon."
"Yeah."
The meeting point Arabella Donovan and Caspian Rhodes had arranged was at the highway exit closest to the hot spring village.
Caspian Rhodes had no idea that their hot spring trip was just a cover story for finding someone and, apparently, getting into a fight. As such, he had come alone and completely unprepared.
When he arrived at the meeting point, he found that in addition to Arabella Donovan, her older brother, and the relative she’d mentioned, there was also a convoy of seven or eight cars filled with imposing-looking bodyguards.
He was the only one out of the loop, feeling like a lamb who’d stumbled into a den of wolves. ’If they dragged me off, knocked me out, and sold me, no one would ever know.’
Just as Caspian Rhodes’s imagination was running wild, Arabella Donovan got out of her car and bounced cheerfully over to him. "Mr. Rhodes, have you been waiting long? I’m sorry, we aren’t familiar with the roads here, so we had to drive slowly and got held up."
"Not at all, I just got here myself." As Caspian Rhodes spoke, his eyes drifted again to the men in black standing behind them.
"You said you and a relative were coming for the hot springs. I figured it would just be a few people. I didn’t expect... all this."
"Oh, them? They’re all my grand-uncle’s bodyguards." Arabella Donovan leaned in and whispered conspiratorially in Caspian Rhodes’s ear, "My grand-uncle is a pretty big deal, so he tends to make a scene wherever he goes. Don’t mind him."
Caspian Rhodes felt a tickle in his ear from her warm breath and thought absently, ’Oh, a big shot, is he? This is going to be some seriously juicy gossip!’