Chapter 480: Made of Paper

Aurora Donovan couldn’t explain it clearly over the phone, only asking if Arabella Donovan could make a trip in person. Something was very wrong with Summer Vance.

Granted, Ron Cole’s men had been keeping an eye on her this whole time and had detained her the moment they noticed she was acting strangely.

But out of an abundance of caution, Aurora Donovan felt it was best for Arabella Donovan to come and confirm her condition in person.

After hearing his description, Arabella Donovan was, as expected, very concerned about Summer Vance’s condition. She immediately said she would book the next flight out to them.

The Donovan family was also worried and insisted on going with her, using the excuse that they were going to Brynn to visit their uncle or Dennis Donovan’s family.

Arabella Donovan understood their concerns and worries, so she didn’t try to dissuade them.

The large party rushed to Brynn. The moment they stepped off the plane, men sent by Aurora Donovan and Ron Cole to escort and protect them ushered them into pre-arranged cars.

The moment she sat down in the car, Arabella Donovan asked impatiently, “What on earth is going on? What happened to her? Just a few days ago, you were telling me how she was hands-on, down-to-earth, a hard worker, and had a great personality. That everyone at the lab liked her. You said that, barring any surprises, she’d be joining the lab to help you soon. So how did it suddenly come to…this?”

The day Arabella Donovan left Brynn, she had told Aurora Donovan to pay close attention to Summer Vance.

After that, Aurora Donovan had indeed kept her updated on Summer Vance’s recent changes.

And just from Aurora Donovan’s descriptions, Arabella Donovan could vaguely sense that the Soul Nourishing Talisman she had left her was taking effect. The original Summer Vance was gradually, bit by bit, merging with her body, reclaiming her agency, and further awakening.

“I’m not entirely sure either.” Aurora Donovan leaned toward his sister’s ear and gossiped in a low voice, “I asked that Mr. Cole of yours about it afterward. Rumor has it, she got into a fight with Julian Spencer the night before the incident.”

“?!!”

Arabella Donovan’s expression went from a field of question marks to one of sheer amazement. “A fight? What happened? What *kind* of fight?”

Aurora Donovan gave her a look that practically screamed, ‘Oho! My little sister has been corrupted!’

“A physical fight, obviously. Don’t let Miss Vance’s delicate looks fool you, she more than held her own. I heard Julian Spencer’s face is still sporting some bruises. It’s hard to say if Miss Vance is just that fierce, or if the guy is just that pathetic. Made of paper, looks like, if he can’t even win a fight against a woman.”

The moment Aurora Donovan said that, Arabella shot him a death glare. “What’s that supposed to mean, brother? Are you looking down on women? Maybe you and I should go a few rounds and see if *you* can beat *me*.”

Aurora Donovan couldn’t figure out how he’d suddenly drawn her fire. A look of terror appeared on his face as he waved his hands in surrender.

‘His sister was a total badass who could take down seven or eight grown men on her own. Fight her? He wasn’t suicidal!’

“Anyway, that’s pretty much the story. The night after they fought, Summer Vance shows up at our lab to help that guy steal data.”

Arabella Donovan froze again at his words. “You’re telling me that one night Summer Vance gets into a huge fight with Julian Spencer, and the very next day she runs to your lab to help him steal data…”

‘Stealing data was part of the original plot. But Summer Vance actually went and fought with Julian Spencer. That doesn’t sound at all like the OOC, lovesick fool from the original story, the one so captivated by his false affections that she was ready to live for him, die for him, and bang her head against a wall for him. So why would she still take such a risk to go steal data for him?’

At this point, Arabella Donovan also realized something was wrong. ‘Could it be that the Soul Nourishing Talisman I gave Summer Vance didn’t work, or that its effect was too weak? To the point that Miss Vance has developed a split personality?’

“You realize something is off too, right? But the weirdest part is still to come. Fine, she was stealing, but normal thieves are sneaky, afraid of being discovered. Not her. She made a huge ruckus, as if she was afraid people *wouldn’t* know she was doing something bad. She managed to lure all the nearby staff over, practically getting herself caught red-handed.”

In fact, after Arabella Donovan met Summer Vance at the coffee shop that day, Ron Cole’s men had placed her under strict surveillance.

Even without her making such a scene, it would have been impossible for her to actually get the data out of the lab. However, it was precisely because of her extraordinary actions that Aurora Donovan felt more and more strongly that something was very wrong here. He went against everyone’s advice and insisted that, before Ron Cole took her away, they at least let Arabella see her first.

Hearing this, Arabella Donovan finally understood her brother’s reasoning. Her brow tightened as she braced herself for the meeting ahead.

And yet, when she finally saw Summer Vance, she was still taken aback by her appearance.

Unlike their last meeting, where Summer Vance had moved like an exquisite doll but with a faint, discernible spark of life, today Summer Vance was shrouded in an aura of death. She seemed dejected and world-weary. Though she looked like a college student in her early twenties, her presence felt like that of a decaying old crone on the verge of death.

“Did you… do something to her?” Arabella Donovan stared at Summer Vance’s haggard and dejected appearance for a good while; it was the only possibility she could come up with.

The moment the words left her mouth, however, the complexions of the men guarding Summer Vance changed. They looked like they were about to swear to the heavens to prove their innocence.

“No, not at all! She’s been in this room ever since she was caught. We’ve barely even entered, other than to bring her meals. We absolutely haven’t touched a hair on her head!”

It was hard to get a clear look from the outside. After a moment’s thought, Arabella Donovan decided to go inside and see for herself.

When Aurora Donovan found out what she intended to do, he immediately objected. “Something’s not right with her situation. There’s no telling what danger might be involved. Can’t you just take a look from out here? You have to go inside? What if…”

“There are no ‘what ifs.’ It’s precisely because her situation is so wrong that I need to go in and investigate. I’m the one who gave her the Soul Nourishing Talisman. I bear some responsibility for her ending up this way; I can’t just sit back and watch. Besides, not only can I protect myself, but there are all these people out here on guard. If something were to actually happen to me in there, they could intervene immediately. I’ll be fine.”

The siblings each had their own ideas, and in the end, neither could convince the other. They were forced to compromise: Arabella could go in, but Aurora insisted on accompanying her.

That way, if necessary, he could still protect his sister.

Sensing this line of thinking, the burly men standing guard outside couldn’t sit still either. This Dr. Donovan was a crucial national research talent; no mistakes could be tolerated. So, they would have to go in too, to protect *them* if necessary.

Arabella Donovan: “…” ‘What is this cursed nesting-doll situation? Are you people sure you’re not just going in to get in the way?’

Aurora Donovan and the others: “…” ‘That’s a bit harsh!’

The whole entourage filed through the door. The moment Arabella Donovan entered the room and her eyes met Summer Vance’s, she felt something was wrong.

“You’re not Summer Vance. Who are you?”