Chapter 145: A Soulful Gaze, Even for a Dog
Chapter 145: Chapter 145: A Soulful Gaze, Even for a Dog
"Your hand? Which one?"
"Your left."
Although Preston didn’t quite understand what Arabella Donovan wanted to do, she extended her hand out of trust.
Arabella Donovan looked closely at Preston’s palm, confirming that her once-fading life line had kinked before continuing on for another stretch.
It didn’t look very long, but compared to the faint line before it, it was definitely more than just a few years.
’This is great! Preston’s fate has changed. She and Great-Grand-uncle can be together for a long, long time.’
The old couple finally understood why Arabella Donovan had suddenly asked to see her hand, and their hearts couldn’t help but tremble violently.
Preston had been hesitant about her partner’s various proposals, partly because she was worried her poor health meant she couldn’t accompany Dennis Donovan for much longer.
But now, with Arabella Donovan’s words, this final worry of Preston’s was gone.
"I’ve thought it over, and you’re not wrong. You only live once. It’s better to make decisions in the present, so you don’t have regrets when it’s time to close your eyes for good."
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey... What are you saying? You and Great-Grand-uncle will definitely live to a ripe old age and grow old together."
"Yes, yes. We’ll take your good words to heart."
Dennis Donovan was also overjoyed, grinning like a fool. "Serena is our family’s lucky star! If she says we’ll live to a ripe old age, then we’ll definitely live to a ripe old age."
Arabella Donovan puffed out her chest confidently, her face full of pride.
’Hmph, hmph, hmph, that’s right! Listening to me is always the right choice!’
"Now you can rest easy, right? Let’s get a certificate in this life, make our mark. That way, I’ll be able to find you again in the next life, and we can be husband and wife for another lifetime."
"This life isn’t even over yet and you’re already thinking about the next one. Dream on. I haven’t agreed to anything."
Dennis Donovan wasn’t annoyed, looking every bit the love-struck fool. "It’s fine, it’s fine. We have plenty of time to think it over. Sooner or later, I’ll get you to agree."
Watching the two of them, Arabella Donovan couldn’t help but laugh.
’So, it really depends on who you’re in a relationship with. Seeing people like my cousin-aunt, Joyce Lowe, and the men of the Croft Family is enough to make anyone afraid of marriage, childbirth, and romance. But watching people like Great-Grand-uncle and Preston is just so heartwarming. It makes me want to find someone and fall in love too.’
Justin Donovan had been enjoying the show, watching the elderly couple bicker, but when he heard Arabella Donovan’s thought, alarm bells went off in his head, and a jolt went through him.
"Ahem, Serena..."
Arabella Donovan turned her head in confusion. "What is it, Big Brother?"
"I’m not against you dating, but the condition is you have to be a little older. You’re too young now and can be easily deceived. You don’t know how cunning men are these days, they’re experts at putting on a facade." ’Like that ill-intentioned Mr. Rhodes who’s always around you!’
"I know."
’Like Julian Croft and his father. Until the very end, who knows if it’s a person or a demon hiding under that human skin.’
"Don’t worry, Bro. I’m not even thinking about dating anyone right now. And even if I were, I definitely wouldn’t let myself get taken advantage of!"
’If someone actually tries to pull a fast one on your ancestor—me—they’ve really picked a fight with the wrong person! If I ever find out he’s deceiving me like Julian Croft and his father, just watch. I’ll break his hands, snap his legs, and confiscate his ’tools of the trade’ so he can be a eunuch for life!’
The three people in the room: Pfft...
Caspian Rhodes, who had come to visit with nutritional supplements in hand, had just reached the door of the hospital room when he heard this terrifying monologue. For some reason, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
Dennis Donovan handled the Preston Family’s affairs with a style that was a complete departure from his cautious and low-key approach of the past few years. He acted swiftly and decisively, with earth-shattering results.
As a result, no sooner had the two of them left Crovia than many in The Donovan Family learned that Dennis Donovan had made a trip to the Donovan estate and found the other half he had been searching for for years.
The relatives who knew the inside story breathed a sigh of relief, secretly celebrating for Arabella Donovan’s family. With such an unprovokable backer, Arabella’s future would be free of worry.
This even prompted some relatives, who had been hesitating about whether to risk a trip to the Donovan Family to give them a heads-up, to now pay a visit openly and honorably.
Thus, when Arabella Donovan and Justin returned home, they were greeted by the sight of Fourth Aunt Rochelle Rowland with her two children, Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt with Second Cousin and his wife, and two other children all gathered together, laughing and chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Donovan.
"Serena’s back? Quick, come and greet your uncles, aunts, and cousins."
Mrs. Donovan was the first to see the two at the door. The moment she finished speaking, everyone who had been sitting on the sofa stood up.
The two aunts, feeling familiar since they had spoken with Arabella Donovan at the birthday party, hurried forward. They took her arms, one on each side, and said enthusiastically, "Serena, you’re back! Your mom said you went to a hot spring. Did you have fun? Is the hot spring there nice? When we have time, we should go for a dip too."
The corner of Arabella Donovan’s mouth twitched. For a moment, she didn’t know how to reply.
’We had a great time, it’s just... we never actually made it into the hot spring.’
Everyone: Uh...
"It was fine. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, what brings you all here? Is something up?"
"Nothing major. We just came to Stroven City on business and wanted to stop by to thank you."
"Thank me?"
"On your birthday, didn’t you do a divination for me? You predicted my biological grandson would face a calamity, but it turned out to be my adopted daughter’s child who got into trouble. The more I thought about it back home, the more it felt wrong, so I interrogated my two kids that very night. I never expected that the two of them would actually..."
Fourth Aunt shot the two of them a look of utter disappointment.
Hugh Donovan and Sabrina Donovan: "..."
Arabella Donovan, however, was listening with great interest. She followed her fourth aunt’s gaze and openly sized up the trendy little couple engaged in a bit of pseudo-incest.
’This elder cousin of mine really does have the standard face of a male lead from a romance novel. Sharp features, lean cheeks... and while his chin isn’t quite as ’chiseled as if by a knife,’ that’s not the point. The point is he has a pair of large, gentle, and passionate eyes. Those eyes could look at a dog with deep affection.’
Hugh Donovan: "..." ’That’s an exaggeration. I’m only ever that affectionate when I look at my wife, I swear to God! And what the hell is a ’chin chiseled as if by a knife’? Is that even human?!’
’And this nominal cousin, who’s actually my cousin-in-law, fits the ’damsel-in-distress’ female lead trope perfectly. Pure, fair-skinned, and pitiable enough to move anyone’s heart. No wonder the author loves to put her through the wringer. I bet she’s especially captivating when she cries, like a pear blossom in the rain.’
Sabrina Donovan: "???" ’That’s going too far!’
Before coming, the two had been warned by their Fourth Aunt that their recently returned younger cousin had some unusual abilities. They also knew it was she who had inadvertently revealed their romantic entanglement, preventing a tragedy from befalling their child.
The couple had come prepared to be roasted and criticized, but they never expected to be hit with a critical strike of appearance-based commentary the moment they met.
The two of them: "..." ’This little cousin doesn’t seem to be what we imagined!’