SWNOVELS Chapter 841-860
Chapter 841
“Bella, feeling hot? Fancy a drink?”
Clark wrapped a small fan around the umbrella handle, blowing it toward his
sister. Then, he reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of lemonade,
twisted off the cap and handed it over.
“Have a sip first.”
Romeo was surprised that Clark had so quickly found this brand of lemonade.
While navigating through the thick crowd, he wiped a large rock clean, “Bella,
let’s sit here for a bit.”
Enter title…
The place was packed. They hadn’t even made it to the entrance of the glass
walkway.
Arabella took a sip, lifting her pretty face to behold the dense crowd in front of
her.
Although they hadn’t yet ascended the mountain, the scenery at the foot of it
was quite pleasant, with lush trees and clear, azure waters.
Suddenly, a scream pierced through the air, scattering the crowd.
“Is that a body?”
“Seems like it. Oh my God, has someone been murdered?”
“Did it wash up from the sea?”
“Should we call the cops?”
Arabella looked up to see a large bag on the shore, washed up by the waves.
The bag had a hole in it, revealing something inside.
Many were terrified, some retched, others quickly pulled out their phones to call
the police.
“Bella, you stay here, I’ll check it out.”
Being a forensic scientist, Clark instinctively wanted to investigate.
Before he left, he handed the umbrella and fan to Romeo, reminding him to look
after Arabella.
Arabella stood up to follow.
The onlookers formed a semi-circle around the bag on the beach, speculating
wildly.
The bag was about the size of a person, tied up with a rope that was attached to
a large rock. It didn’t take a genius to figure out this was a murder.
Police rushed to the scene after receiving a call. Captain Allen’s eyes lit up when
he saw Clark.
Clark was, after all, the Sherlock Holmes of forensics. His investigative skills far
surpassing their own.
Bumping into him today meant this case was likely to be solved!
“Professor Clark, you’re here too?” Captain Allen hurried over to greet him.
Clark simply nodded, “You guys go ahead.”
Captain Allen had his men disperse the crowd, then shot photographs of the
opened bag for evidence. The body inside was highly decomposed, the face
unrecognizable.
Some tourists couldn’t help but retch, others left with their children, leaving only
the curious ones who watched from a distance.
“Captain Allen, we found a cell phone. Soaked in water for so long, the victim is
probably dead.”
“Take it back and check,’ Captain Allen said, then turned to Clark, “Professor
Clark, what do you think?”
“The victim is male.”
This was the clue Clark could discern at a glance. Beyond this, he wasn’t certain
about anything else.
“Time of death is about six months.”
All heads turned toward the source of the voice. When Captain Allen saw the girl
in the crowd, he was overjoyed.Chapter 842
“Bell, fancy meeting you here!”
He dared not call the little girl Dr. Bell, fearing it would give away her identity.
Clark was a bit taken aback. Why was Captain Allen more excited to see his
sister than him?
“Bell, are you out for a day’s fun?” He finished speaking and then noticed the big
shot standing next to Bell. He nearly choked. “Mr.
McMillian, you’re here too.”
“Hmm.” Romeo merely nodded, not showing much emotion.
Enter title…
“Bella, how did you know that the deceased has been dead for about six
months?” Clark asked curiously.
“When a body has been in the water for more than three months, a white, waxlike substance forms on the surface, commonly known as adipocere.”
Arabella’s eyes held a sense of calm and coolness. She continued, “For an
adult body, it takes about half a year to form adipocere.
Considering the weather, we can roughly estimate the time.”
However, just determining the time of death was far from enough.
The police wanted to know the person’s height and age to compare with the
missing person database and find clues.
“Bella, how tall do you think he was?” Clark asked, standing next to his sister.
“About five foot three.’ Arabella looked at the body in front of her and analyzed,
“After maturity, a person’s height decreases by about 0.02 inches each year.
Every 20 years, it decreases by about 0.47 inches. For adult males between the
ages of 40 and 60, their height decreases by about 0.9 inches. Between 60 and
69, their height is about 1.9 inches shorter than their peak height.”
Arabella estimated the victim’s height based on the length of his long bones.
The people around her looked at her in awe, finding it hard to believe this girl
who spoke so confidently and knowledgeably.
As for the deceased’s age.
Arabella moved forward, took a pair of gloves from Captain Allen, put them on,
and in front of everyone, picked up a skull.
The onlookers were stunned. Who was this girl who dared to even touch the
skull.
The thing was, she seemed to know what she was doing.
Clark put on gloves, too, and came over to look at the skull. “You’re trying to find
clues from the sagittal and coronal sutures?”
“Hmm.” Arabella looked at the skull. “I think the deceased’s age should be
between 35 and 40.”
Everyone was stunned. Even Captain Allen couldn’t help but ask, “How can you
tell?”
“Look, this part of the skull is the sagittal suture. It starts to fuse at 22 and
finishes at 35. This part is the occipital bone. The gap between it and the
parietal bone looks lambdoid, which is the lambdoid suture. It starts to fuse at 26
and finishes at 47. In addition, judging by his third molar, we can deduce that the
deceased was between 35 and 40.”
Captain Allen and his team never expected they would get clues about the
deceased’s age and height so quickly.
At that moment, Clark suggested, “You can extract DNA from the deceased’s rib
and compare it with the DNA of the missing persons’ relatives. I believe you’ll
find a match soon.”
“Thank you, thank you so much, Professor Clark and Ms. Bell!”
Captain Allen never thought this case would progress so smoothly today. He felt
incredibly lucky to run into two experts.
Clark nodded, then added, “Also, there are no signs of struggle on his torso and
limbs, which suggests he was killed by someone he knew. As for the victim, that
waterlogged cell phone will give you the answer.”
“Thank you so much for the tip, Professor Clark.”
This clue was crucial for the police investigation. Captain Allen thanked them
repeatedly, and only then did Arabella and Clark remove their gloves, sterilize
their hands, and leave the scene. Chapter 843
The crowd was buzzing with curiosity, their eyes darting to Arabella.
“Could they be medical students specializing in forensics?”
They looked young and even somewhat couple-like.
“Are they a couple, perhaps?”
Upon hearing the word ‘couple’, Romeo glanced back at the crowd, a look that
was enough to silence their whispers.
This stern-faced gentleman and the lady must be a couple.
Enter title…
The warning in his gaze was unmistakable.
Due to the murder case, the usual influx of tourists had lessened significantly.
The trio found themselves alone, strolling along the glass pathway after taking
the cable car up the mountain.
“Clark, it’s amusing that you’re scared of ghosts but not of corpses.”
Arabella couldnt help but chuckle at the irony.
“Watch your words. Clark fears nothing! Last night was just an unexpected
incident,’ Clark defended himself, trying to save face.
“And you, young as you are, seem to fear neither man nor beast.”
Her courage was truly unparalleled.
“She’s seen a lot and is accustomed to it,, Romeo added, unable to resist.
He recalled her mentioning her experiences in the ‘triangular zone’, each
terrifying event toughening her spirit, making her stronger.
Clark, oblivious to her past, assumed Romeo meant that Arabella was wise
beyond her years.
Nodding in agreement, Clark admitted he hadn’t come across anyone more
exceptional than Arabella. Her nonchalance while
In the living room.
Louisa, holding Arabella’s hand, smiled warmly, “They seem to be getting along
well.”
“They’ve been close since they were kids.” Celeste, with a tender smile on her
face, gestured to Arabella, “Bella, come sit next to me.”
Arabella sat down, and Celeste brought out a gift, “When your mother told me
you were coming back, we thought about what to get you. We heard that girls
love this brand, so here’s a little something from us. Please accept it.”
“You’re too kind.” Arabella saw the “QY” on the box, and she hadn’t expected
this.
Louisa couldn’t help but chuckle, “Celeste, you don’t know, do you?
This brand was founded by Bella.”
Celeste’s hand froze in mid-air, “You’re saying QY was founded by Bella? So
this necklace was designed by her, too?”
Celeste was taken aback by this coincidence.
Arabella smiled lightly, “From now on, you will get a 30% discount on all QY
purchases.”
Celeste was floored by this amazing surprise, and her smile towards Arabella
grew even brighter.
Upstairs, Serena watched this scene, her nails digging into her palm.
She had just seen Crystal walking arm-in-arm with Arabella in the garden, and
now Celeste, handing gifts and chatting closely with Arabella. In the past, she
was the one who was the center of attention.
Just then, Clark returned, “It’s getting a bit chilly out. You guys continue chatting,
and I have some work to take care of.”
“What kind of work could he possibly have so late.” Louisa mused, not knowing
that he was Astronisia’s top hacker. She watched his retreating figure, then
turned to Crystal, “Crystal, did this boy bother you?”
“No, Auntie. Clark is really nice, and we talked a lot.” Under Crystal’s curved
brows, a pair of sparkling eyes were full of spirit, “Since Clark has work to do,
we won’t bother you any longer. Bella, I’ll come play with you another day.”
“Sure.” Arabella had a good impression of Crystal. She was straightforward and
cheerful, unlike Serena, who was always roundabout.
handling a skull, her mental strength, and her medical expertise were
unmatched.
“The living may lie, but the dead do not. Every part of a deceased body tells a
truthful story,’ Arabella shared, her tone serene.
“Speaking the truth for the departed is the shared goal of all forensic scientists.
So, Clark, your profession is sacred and commendable.”
Arabella’s praise took Clark by surprise. His career choice had been a frequent
subject of his mother’s disapproval. He dealt with charred, decomposed,
mutilated, and odorous bodies.
His mother found it horrifying and dangerous, saying it was stressful and
detrimental to one’s mental health.
Yet, providing closure for the deceased, comfort for their families, and justice for
society was exactly what his job was about.
In their work, forensic scientists had to eliminate all distractions to unearth the
singular truth for the deceased. Every deduction could impact the direction of
the investigation. A tiny mistake could lead to a huge discrepancy.
Sometimes, the nightmarish scenes of his workday would invade his dreams.
“Do you think this field is good?” Clark asked.
Arabella nodded. “Medical practitioners aim to save lives. While I save the living,
you help the dead. We both uphold justice in our own ways.”
For society, they quietly contributed their humble efforts.
Looking at Arabella, Clark suddenly realized how much more outstanding she
was compared to girls her age. If it were Serena, she would probably be hiding
behind him, scared and eager to leave the scene.
But Bella, with her calm demeanor and professional knowledge, had helped the
dead find justice.
“Romeo, see this? My sister is so accomplished. If you dare mistreat her in this
lifetime, I will make sure you pay, he warned. Chapter 844
Romeo flashed a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry, Clark. The only person who can
ditch me in this lifetime is Bella.”
“What are you talking about? You’re making my sister sound like some
heartbreaker!”
At the end of the clear glass walkway, they stood side by side ina huge heartshaped structure, chatting and laughing as they admired the distant scenery.
That evening, as Romeo dropped the siblings off at the Reflections Villa, he
noticed a Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance.
Enter title…
There must be guests.
“I guess I should leave then. Don’t want to intrude on your folks,”
Romeo addressed Bella before him with a tender smile. “Get some rest.”
“Sure, drive safe.”
“Will do.”
Witnessing their reluctance to say goodbye, Clark suddenly felt like a third
wheel.
Inside the villa, Louisa greeted the young woman with a beaming smile.
“Crystal, you look even prettier than the last time I saw you.”
“You’re too kind.’ Crystal Temple lit up the room with her vivacious energy.
“Actually, without makeup, you’re naturally beautiful, Louisa.
And with makeup, you are like a goddess descending to Earth.”
Louisa chuckled, thoroughly flattered. “Your silver tongue never fails to charm.”
“Flowers can’t hold a candle to you, Louisa. A blooming bud lacks your grace
and elegance, a fully bloomed flower isn’t as breathtaking, and a wilting flower is
simply no match for your timeless beauty.”
Louisa laughed heartily.
“Crystal has always been lively and intelligent. She brings joy to everyone
around her, Kenneth proudly shared with his old friend Alger Temple. “Having
her at home is like having a warm coat on a cold day. She makes life so much
warmer.”
“Ha! Our ‘warm coat’ has some leaks, I’m afraid. Just graduated, and she’s
already thinking about Clark.”
“Haha, what did Clark do to deserve such attention.” Kenneth laughed heartily.
“He went out with his sister this afternoon and hasn’t returned yet.”
Just as he finished speaking, a servant reported, “Mr. Clark and Miss Bella have
returned.”
Crystal’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she turned towards the villa entrance.
“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Allow me to introduce you to my
recently found daughter, Arabella Collins.”
Louisa gently held Arabella’s hand and introduced her to the Temples. “Bella,
this is Alger, Celeste, and their daughter Crystal.
Crystal is older than you, so you should call her ‘sister’”
“Alger, Celeste, Crystal, it’s a pleasure to meet you all” Arabella greeted them
politely.
“Is that Bella? She’s so pretty!” Celeste Temple scanned Arabella from head to
toe, clearly pleased with what she saw. “I wonder which lucky boy will end up
with her.”
“Isn’t she supposed to marry into the McMillian family? She and Romeo would
make a perfect couple. Not bad.” Alger nodded in approval.
“Bella, you’re even prettier than Starmoon, the girl who broke the internet on
Facebook a while ago. I’m so happy to meet you. I’m a friend of your brother,
Clark.”
So this Crystal was here for Clark?
“Alger, Celeste, long time no see.” Clark gave Crystal a brief look.
“Made it, huh?”
“I didn’t know you were so protective of your sister.” Crystal’s smile was radiant.
“Heard you took her out?”
“I just went along for the ride, really. Played the role of the third wheel.”
“It’s been a while, but Clark, you’ve become even more handsome.”
Celeste’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I bet there are many girls chasing
after you.”
“I’m usually busy with work.” was all Clark could say.
“Crystal has also been busy with her studies. Now that she’s graduated, she
wants to return home to help run our business.
Since she’s our only daughter, Alger and I plan to groom her to be our
successor.”Chapter 845
The moment Clark heard that, he realized the implication was that she intended
to stay in the States for an extended period.
“Clark, it’s been a while since Crystal visited us. Why don’t you show her around
our garden? We’ve planted a variety of new flowers lately. Maybe Crystal will
find a few varieties she likes and can take some back to cultivate.”
Clark could only respond, “I promised my sister, Bella, that I would take a walk
with her, right, Bella?”
Arabella was speechless.
Enter title…
Since when?
Clark’s pleading gaze fell upon Arabella.
Louisa was half-skeptical, “Didn’t you just finish walking with your sister?”
“No worries, I can accompany Bella for a walk too; Crystal chimed in, causing
Clark to pause in surprise.
“Well, then you guys should get going. I’ll have the staff turn on the garden
lights,’ Louisa urged.
With a radiant smile, Crystal linked arms with Arabella, “Bella, I heard you just
moved back. How are you adjusting?”
Arabella nodded, taken aback by Crystal’s warm demeanor, “It’s been fine.”
“I heard you used to live in Summerfield, too. It’s been ages since my last visit.
Maybe we could go shopping together sometime?”
“Bella is quite busy.” Clark came to her aid, “Between school, other
commitments, and a fiancé who needs her attention.”
“What about you then?” Crystal looked up at him, hopeful.
“I’m rather busy myself.”
“Well, we can always plan a date once you’re both free,’ Crystal maintained her
hold on Arabella’s hand, grinning, “We can go shopping and try out some
delicious local food.”
“Sure; Arabella agreed just as her phone began to vibrate, “Excuse me, I need
to take this call.”
Clark wanted to tell her not to answer it, but seeing that the caller was Romeo,
he could only plead with his eyes for her to return as soon as possible after the
call.
Arabella found the whole situation amusing. Was Clark intentionally avoiding
Crystal? Was he not interested in her?
“So Clark, what have you been up to lately?” Crystal took the initiative again. “I
heard there have been fewer criminal cases recently.”
“I’ve been spending time with my sister.”
“I understand young girls quite well. Next time you two go out, you can invite me
along. I promise to make sure Bella has a great time.”
“You really plan to return and settle down here?” Clark asked again.
“Yes, this place is my home. I was always planning to return.”
Clark didn’t know what to say to her. As he was in deep thought, Crystal asked
again, “Do you guys have any plans for tomorrow?”
“Not sure yet.”
“What does Bella like?” Crystal continued to inquire, “Are there any places she’s
been wanting to visit? Or anything she’s particularly interested in?”
Clark was stumped by the sudden barrage of questions.
“Don’t tell me you don’t even know what your sister likes?”
In Clark’s memory, the only thing that genuinely piqued Bella’s interest was
Romeo. Only when Romeo’s name was mentioned did her eyes light up. No one
else or anything else could stir a ripple in her heart.
“It seems like you don’t know much. I’ll ask her myself later on.” Chapter 846
As soon as Arabella hung up the phone, she saw her mother waving at her,
signaling her to come over.
Arabella strolled over with a puzzled look, only to be hushed by her mother,
Louisa, “How is it going with Clark?”
Arabella glanced at the distant figures and whispered, “Are you trying to set
them up?”
“Ever since Crystal was a little girl, I’ve watched her grow up. She’s so innocent,
brilliant, and smart. You couldn’t find a single flaw in her background, character,
or education.”
Enter title…
Louisa seemed quite fond of the girl. “Most importantly, she’s been in love with
your brother Clark for over a decade, everyone’s noticed. When she was in
primary school, she said she wanted to marry Clark when she grew up. We
thought it was just a child’s innocent words, but after all these years, she only
has eyes for Clark. I think they make a great pair.”
“But it seems like Clark isn’t interested in her?”
“Your brother Clark needs someone to give him a push from behind, or else he’s
going to be too slow. She’s been making all the moves, yet he doesnt know how
to respond.” Louisa was exasperated.
Arabella caught sight of Clark in the distance, pulling out his phone to send a
message. In a moment, her phone buzzed.
[Sis, where are you? Hurry up.] Clark sounded desperate.
“Let’s go, we shouldn’t intrude on them.” Louisa pulled Arabella away, “Let’s give
them some time together.”
Arabella gave a sympathetic look at the distant figures and replied, [Mom and I
are going inside.]
Clark was speechlessChapter 847
“Mind if we exchange digits?”
“Sure.
Arabella offered her number. Crystal entered it into her contact list then said,
“Well, we’d better get going. You guys should get some rest. I’ll stop by again
soon.”
“Um, okay.’ Louisa and Kenneth stood up to see them out.
“Bella, Bella!” Clark called quietly from the staircase, waving at Arabella. “Come
up.”
Enter title…
Once she was upstairs, Clark hooked an arm over her shoulder and whispered,
“Did Mom ask you to give us some alone time?”
“She didn’t exactly put it that way.’ Arabella raised her eyes to his, a soft smile
on her lips. “You’re not into Crystal?”
“I see her more as a buddy.”
“Does she know that?”
“Are you into that girl who gave you the lucky charm?”
Clark looked surprised. “How did you know?”
“You seemed really attached to that charm. The night you lost it, you looked so
anxious, like you lost something really important.”
Yeah, to him, that thing was the last vestige.
The final link between him and her.
Perhaps seeing the melancholy in Clark’s eyes, Arabella couldn’t help but ask,
“Where is she now?”
“Gone. A year ago.” Clark walked to the large balcony on the second floor,
staring at the distant scenery with a faintly self-mocking tone, “After breaking up
with me, she vanished without a trace… Took everything with her. If not for the
charm I had on me, she probably wouldn’t have left anything behind.”
Clark gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with a subtle sorrow.
“Bella, this world is vast. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack to find
someone. All you get is disappointment. Over and over.”
Arabella sensed the sadness in his words. “Did you two have a fight?”
“No.” Clark’s voice was nostalgic. “We never fought. But near the end, she
started to drift away. Eventually, she told me she didn’t have feelings for me
anymore, that she was in love with someone else, and asked me to stop looking
for her.”
“Did she really find someone else?”
“Probably.” Clark wasn’t sure, but how could she be so heartless if not?
“Does Crystal know about you two?” Arabella asked again.
“Yeah. She confessed her feelings to me when I was at my lowest, right after
she left.”
“And you turned her down?”
“Yeah.” Clark looked off into the distance again. “Crystal’s a good girl, but I’m
just not into her. I didn’t want to lead her on.”
Arabella understood now. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Aren’t you one
of Astronisia’s top hackers? Couldn’t you find out anything?”
“No, I tried everything. It’s like she never existed. Sometimes, I wonder if
everything that happened between us was just a dream.”Chapter 848
Arabella gazed at Clark’s profile, a sudden wave of sympathy washing over her.
“What’s her name? Maybe I can help.”
Clark looked at Arabella in surprise, then realized with a jolt that his sister’s
hacking skills trumped his own. Maybe she could indeed find her.
“Send me her personal details later,’ Arabella said, her gaze falling on the road
ahead. “If she’s doing well, there’s no need to disturb her. But if she’s in any sort
of trouble, you could use this opportunity to clear things up.”
Clark looked at his sister’s profile, finally agreeing, “Alright.”
Enter title…
Serena, lurking in the shadows, was taken aback. She hadn’t realized that Clark
had such a deep and haunting past. His family always assumed he was single.
But why had he only told Arabella.
Never her, his other sister.
Arabella knew that someone was eavesdropping from the shadows. Serena was
the only one who would stoop to such levels, but Arabella couldn’t be bothered.
After taking a shower, Arabella received a message from Clark.
[Carol Earwood, 22, a Libra raised in an orphanage, was adopted at the age of
6 by a family and moved to 111 Stardust Lane in the Golden Fields of
Summerfield South District. Her adoptive parents were county teachers.]
Clark also sent a photo. The woman in the picture had an aloof and indifferent
air about her, stunningly beautiful.
“Got it.”
After responding to the message, Arabella sent one to her subordinate, [Find
this person for me as quickly as you can.]
[The fastest speed? Boss, what did this woman do to you? Dig up your
ancestor’s graves or owe you a fortune?] her subordinate couldn’t help but
respond. [There are many beautiful girls in the world, but I’ve only ever seen two
with this kind of aura. One is you, and the other is her. Boss, are you two longlost sisters? You both have a similar vibe!]
The woman gave off a sophisticated, distant air, her cool and indifferent gaze
impossible to read.
She was like a puzzle.
[Just do it, and stop talking.] Arabella sent the message and began to blow-dry
her hair.
The next morning.
Arabella planned to visit 111 Stardust Lane.
As she was leaving, she overheard the servants discussing how Clark had sat
on the balcony all night, not sleeping. They suspected he was upset.
Arabella glanced at Clark’s bedroom. The balcony was now empty.
She chose a car from the garage and followed the GPS to Golden Fields. After
finding a parking spot, she walked to Stardust Lane.
Stardust Lane was a small neighborhood. On the left were fish ponds, in the
middle was a small road for pedestrians, and on the right were rows of houses.
Arabella followed the rusted, faded house numbers, searching from one house
to the next.
Many villagers ran businesses from their homes. Some sold fruit, others ran
convenience stores, and a few sold vegetables.
Number 110 was a breakfast stall. The owner had set up a small tent at the
front, selling piping hot breakfast. tent at the front, selling piping hot breakfast.
Quite a few people frequented his stall, the tables and chairs even spilling over
to the front of number 111.
“Boss, one hot milk, please.” Arabella approached the stall and noticed that the
tables and chairs in front of number 111 were all occupied. She couldn’t help but
ask, “Boss, doesn’t this obstruct the neighbors’ entrance?”
“Ah, I can tell you’re new here. You’re not from this village, are you?”
The owner filled a cup with hot milk, giving Arabella a once-over.
There wasn’t a girl this pretty in the village.
Enter title…
“I’m here to find a classmate, and it’s my first time visiting.”
Seeing Arabella’s candidness, the shop owner didn’t hold back.
“Next door is Professor Earwood’s place. He and his wife quit their jobs to look
for their daughter. They’ve been gone for a couple of months now.”
“Their daughter is missing?”
“She claimed to have found her birth parents a year ago, planning to settle
abroad. After that, she lost contact with them. No matter how many calls or
messages Mr. and Mrs. Earwood made, they received no reply.”
Arabella’s eyes deepened.
“Professor Earwood said that their daughter was always obedient and sensible.
She wouldn’t just leave like that. Supposedly, she found her birth parents, but
those birth parents never showed themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Earwood felt that
something must have happened to her, so they decided to quit their jobs and go
to Iridia to find out.” The shop owner handed Arabella a cup of hot milk.
“That’ll be a dime.”
“Iridia is a massive place. Without a detailed address, finding someone is like
searching for a needle in a haystack.” Arabella paid, striking up a casual
conversation.
“I heard she was in some place called ‘Lida’. The name was too long, and I
didn’t remember it.” The shop owner continued making sandwiches.
“Lidaria.”
“Yes. You educated folks are so clever. That’s the name!”
Another customer arrived at the breakfast stand, casually asking, “Has
Professor Earwood returned yet?”
“Nope, it’s been a couple of months. I wonder if they’ve found Carol. What a
terrible situation, to raise a child only for her to leave with her birth parents. It’s
practically killing Mr. and Mrs. Earwood.”
“I’ve always thought Carol wasn’t heartless. Do you think she might have been
scammed abroad?” Another villager speculated.
“Impossible, she must have found her birth parents. Think about it, Carol’s been
fluent in different foreign languages since she was little. She must be living well
abroad, and I bet they’re just not letting her contact anyone here.”
“Carol has always been quiet, but I always thought she had potential.”
“Indeed, she had an air about her, unlike anyone from our small village.”
“Poor Professor Earwood spent most of his life in this town. Now he’s off abroad
looking for his daughter.”
The crowd began to discuss amongst themselves.
Arabella found a spot to sit, sipping her hot milk in silence.
“Do you think it could be related to those people who visited our village a while
back?”
Arabella lifted her gaze to the woman who spoke.
“Who knows, Professor Earwood says we shouldn’t blow this out of proportion.
Best not to bring it up again.”
“True, if Carol really found her birth parents and has no plans of returning,
bringing it up would just be rubbing salt in Professor Earwood’s wounds. Better
to drop it.”
Arabella continued sipping her hot milk. When she noticed the woman who’d
spoken earlier leaving after buying her breakfast, she got up and followed her.
The woman was walking home with her breakfast when she heard someone
Calling her.
“Excuse me, could you tell me more about those people you mentioned earlier?”
Arabella explained sincerely. “Carol is my senior at school, and she’s been very
helpful to me in the past. I borrowed some books from her, but I can’t get in
touch with her.
I’m worried something might have happened.”
Seeing the genuine concern in Arabella’s eyes, the woman didn’t think she was
a wrong person and decided to share. “That happened a few months ago. One
night, a group of people burst into Professor Earwood’s house around two or
three in the morning. My roof was leaking that night, and the rain was dripping
onto my bed. My husband saw them when he went to fix the roof.” Chapter 850
“What kind of people were they?”
“It was in the dead of night so that I couldn’t see clearly, but there seemed to be
about seven or eight people in the yard. After that night, Professor Earwood
didn’t open his door for four or five days.
When I finally saw him, I asked him what was going on, and he said he was
visited by relatives. Who has that many relatives visiting in the middle of the
night? In the rain, they were all wandering around the yard. It was strange.”
Arabella continued her inquiry, “Could it be that Professor Earwood made some
enemies?”
Enter title…
“Unlikely. He and his wife are kind people, and they never leave this small town.
They get along well with everyone. I think it might have something to do with
Carol. Shortly after this incident, they both resigned and went to find Carol.”
A hint of sadness filled Arabella’s eyes, “I wonder when I will see Carol again.”
“Well, it’s hard to say. If they had any news, Professor Earwood would have
brought her back by now. But there has been no word from them. I wonder how
the search abroad is going.”
“Thank you, ma’am,’ Arabella expressed her gratitude. “It seems I will have to
wait until next time to return the book to Carol.”
“You’re a good kid, coming all this way to return a book.” The woman glanced at
Arabella’s backpack, no doubt filled with Carol’s books.
After exchanging a few polite words with the woman, Arabella slipped around to
the back of house number 111. Seeing no one around, she hopped over the wall
and entered the yard.
The yard was full of fallen leaves and wilted plants, indicating that no one had
lived there for a while.
Arabella pulled out a Luminol spray from her backpack and sprayed it on the
ground. After a while, some areas began to glow.
Luminol could detect traces of blood diluted up to 12,000 times.
Even if it was cleaned up thoroughly, as long as there was Luminol, the blood
traces could be detected.
The scattered traces of blood were few, indicating that either the injured person
wasn’t seriously hurt or this wasn’t the primary crime scene.
The yard was surrounded by side rooms. All the doors were locked, but upon
closer inspection, Arabella noticed that the locks had been tampered with. She
took a fingerprint flashlight from her bag and shone it on the lock. There were no
fingerprints.
Logically, if Professor Earwood had locked the door before leaving, there would
be fingerprints.
But the lock was clean, which meant two possibilities.
Either someone had been here after Mr. and Mrs. Earwood locked the door and
left.
Or, the person who locked the door wasn’t Mr. and Mrs. Earwood, but someone
else who was cautious enough not to leave their identity behind.
Arabella donned a mask, a baseball cap, and gloves and pushed the door open.
The living room was neat and tidy, with a layer of dust indicating a lack of recent
habitation.
Arabella then took out a pair of glasses she had developed a while ago. After
putting them on, she quickly spotted a small red dot on a wall socket.
The red dot was the light emitted by a camera, indicating that someone had
installed a surveillance camera there.
She quickly moved, observing other areas, and eventually found a total of six
cameras in the living room. Clearly, this was not the work of Mr. and Mrs.
Earwood.
The cameras were all hidden in discreet locations, like multiple pairs of eyes
spying on everything in the house.
Arabella quickly dismounted the cameras. Her phone vibrated at that moment. It
was a call from Romeo.
“What’s up?” Arabella hung up the call and texted him.
Romeo’s voice conveyed a longing hint, “I’m at Reflections Villa.
Edith said you left early. Where did you go?”
“Handling some stuff’ Arabella replied, “I’ll tell you later.”
“Okay, let me know when you’re free. I’ll come find you.”
“Sure.”
Arabella put away her phone and took out a detector, discovering several
bugging devices installed in the room.Chapter 851
These spying devices, all of the latest models released just a few months ago,
hinted that Carol’s disappearance was far from simple.
Arabella searched the living room for a while before pulling out a bottle of
Luminol spray. Now, the living room floor was spotted with numerous blood
residues.
This must have been the initial crime scene.
The question remained. Whose blood was it?
Arabella then ascended the staircase, making her way to Carol’s room.
Enter title…
Just like the living room, it was neat and tidy, with a warm, inviting aura. Arabella
sprayed the Luminol, but no blood residues were found. The room was too
clean, and it was as if all the valuable clues had been wiped away.
After a thorough search in the room, Arabella found an old bottle labeled
‘Vitamin C’, which was now empty.
She brought the bottle to her nose for a sniff and realized it didn’t smell like
Vitamin C at all. There was a powdery residue at the bottom, and upon closer
inspection, it seemed to contain traces of Aetherbloom.
Aetherbloom was a potent poison with a distinct smell, but she couldn’t identify
the other ingredients. So, she carefully collected the powder in a small
transparent bag from her purse, intending to take it back for testing.
The night before, Clark had mentioned that he and Carol had been dating for a
year. Yet, in Carol’s room, there was no sign of Clark’s existence.
It was as if Clark had never been a part of her world.
After another round of fruitless searching, Arabella decided to leave the house
for a while. She climbed over the wall, grabbed some food, and sent her
subordinates to Lidaria to track down leads. By nightfall, she was back, climbing
over the wall once more.
She had dismantled all the cameras and spy devices in the house during the
day and was sure that someone would come to check on them. The only
question was, who would it be?
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Clark.
After dismissing the call, she texted him, [What’s up, Clark?]
[Edith said you left early this morning, and I called Romeo, and he hasn’t seen
you all day either. Where are you?]
[I’m working on something, and I’ll be back soon.]
[Are you investigating Carol’s disappearance? Any new findings?]
Clark quickly caught on.
Instead of answering, Arabella asked, [Clark, have you ever been to Stardust
Lane?]
[Of course. More than once.] Clark responded earnestly.
He had attempted to find Carol there before, but perhaps because he was a
stranger, people weren’t very forthcoming with information.
[I even went to Carol’s house a few times. Her parents always claimed they
didn’t know where she was.]
Clark didn’t buy it, [Maybe Carol found someone else, and her parents didn’t
want me pestering her, so they lied to me.]
He had tried a few times, but they insisted they had no contact with Carol.
[Didn’t they mention anything else?]
[No. What have you found?] At Arabella’s question, Clark wondered.
[I’ll tell you later.] Arabella had just sent the message when she felt the presence
of people in the yard, more than one.
A smirk danced on her lips, and the fish had taken the bait.
Under the moonlight, several figures quickly entered the living room from the
yard. Their swift movements were nothing short of astonishing.Chapter 852
The moment they barged into the living room, a nimble figure swiftly emerged,
locking everyone inside, including herself.
Realizing they’d fallen into a trap, they looked up at the girl standing before
them. In the dark, she wore a baseball cap and a black mask; her slender figure
blocked the doorway, and she exuded an intense aura.
The man leading the group was deadly serious, “Carol? So, you finally showed
yourself, you traitor.”
All of them were wearing black balaclavas, hiding their faces.
Enter title…
“Today is the day you die.” The leader quickly attacked, the others following suit
without hesitation.
One of them pulled out a switchblade, lunging towards the girl, who was now
known as Arabella. She dodged and caught his wrist, then kicked directly
towards his chest.
Another threw a vase at Arabella, who promptly kicked it onto the sofa to
prevent it from breaking and making a noise.
Several men attacked Arabella at once. She kicked at one of their heads, but he
swiftly dodged.
Another made a quick move, and Arabella accurately kicked his fist. She had
used all her strength for this kick, causing intense pain to shoot from his fist up
to his shoulder. He winced and instinctively clutched his aching fist.
Another man drew a small knife, aiming for Arabella’s neck. She avoided his
attack, then kicked him squarely in the chest.
Her movements were extraordinarily swift, her actions quick and ruthless. The
leader suffered a setback, and his voice was filled with anger.
“You’re not Carol?”
Arabella quickly attacked him again.
“Who are you?”
Seeing that Arabella remained silent, the leader’s anger surged. His vicious
attacks were no match for her, and he found himself at a disadvantage.
The others were injured, clearly no match for Arabella.
“It’s time to end this.”
Since she wasn’t Carol, wasting time with her was no point. With a single
command from the leader, everyone drew their silenced guns and aimed at
Arabella.
As they pulled the trigger, Arabella leaped into the air. Amid the hail of gunfire,
she was agile and swift, not only dodging a dozen bullets but also grabbing one
man’s arm, seizing his gun, and returning fire proficiently.
Her aim was deadly accurate, and four gun-wielding hands were hit in no time.
“Who the hell are you?”
Now, the leader was genuinely alarmed.
The girl’s agility, marksmanship, and reflexes were far superior to theirs!
Continuing like this was futile!
“Retreat!”
They attempted to leave at the leader’s command, but they had unknowingly
inhaled a certain gas in the seven minutes since they entered the living room.
Their bodies were now weak, and their consciousness was fading.
This special gas was prepared by Arabella. It produced very little smoke when
ignited, making it hard to notice if one was not vigilant.
It had no scent during combustion and could make a person lose consciousness
in a short time.
It was too late when they realized they were losing control of their bodies.
The leader threw a smoke bomb, planning to escape.
The living room was filled with thick smoke. Arabella heard the sound of a
window breaking, and she quickly grabbed the rope she had prepared, followed
the sound, and, one by one, tied up the men who hadn’t escaped through the
window.
One had already escaped into the yard and was climbing over the wall.
Arabella looked in the direction he had left but didn’t chase after him. She
looked at the four men she had tied up, all of whom had passed out.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door outside.
“Professor Earwood, are you home? Have you returned?” The lady who ran the
breakfast joint next door was knocking on the door, “Are you alright? I thought I
heard the sound of breaking glass.Chapter 853
“Isn’t it strange that the lights are off? Are you sure you heard something?” her
husband questioned, peering through a slit in the door. “I don’t see anyone in
the yard either, and it’s pitch black.”
“Do you think we should call the police? Something feels off. I’m feeling uneasy.”
“Are you sure you heard something?”
“Yes, while you were snoring away, I heard a loud crash, like glass shattering. It
came from Professor Earwood’s place.”
“Let’s go upstairs and have a look.”
Enter title…
They could see right into the center of Professor Earwood’s yard from their
rooftop terrace.
“Look at all those fallen leaves. Professor Earwood is a neat freak.
If he were home, he would’ve cleaned that up immediately.”
“But I’m certain I heard something earlier.”
“It could’ve been a sound from another house or maybe a stray cat jumped onto
a window and accidentally broke something.” The husband yawned, “Let’s go
back to sleep. We have to get up early to make some oatmeal. I doubt the
Earwoods will be back anytime soon.”
“How mysterious.” The wife muttered, switching off the lights.
When there was no more movement next door, Arabella took out her phone and
messaged her team, [Get a few guys over to Stardust Lane 111. I need a hand
moving some people.]
[Moving people??] Her team was taken aback.
[ASAP]
After sending the message, Arabella noticed several missed calls and unread
messages from Romeo and Clark.
She hadn’t been able to respond during the fight.
She sent them both a quick message: [Coming home.]
She then effortlessly removed the mini camera she had installed earlier,
restoring the living room to its original state before leaving with her team.
At Reflections Villa, Clark finally saw a message from Arabella. It was only two
words: [Coming home.]
He tried calling her several times, but she didnt pick up. He was growing
worried. What was she doing that she couldn’t answer her phone?
He messaged Romeo, [Has Bella contacted you?]
[She replied, said she was on her way home. Didn’t answer my calls.]
[I wonder what she’s up to.] Clark was concerned. He had a bad feeling about
the evening.
“Clark, I’m done changing!” Serena came downstairs cheerfully.
“Why haven’t you changed yet?”
“I’m going up now.” Clark rechecked his phone, but there was still no call from
Arabella. It was already 8 p.m.. Where could she be?
Seeing that he was preoccupied and constantly checking his phone, Serena
couldn’t help but ask, “Clark, is something wrong?”
“No.’ Clark shook off his thoughts, “I’m going upstairs to change.
Wait for me.”
“Okay!”
Serena watched him go upstairs, a look of delight on her face as she exchanged
a knowing smile with Martha.
Martha returned the gesture, giving her a thumbs up. They hadn’t expected
things to go so smoothly.
With Arabella out of the house, Martha had encouraged Serena to invite Clark
out shopping under the pretense of buying Christmas gifts for the family. This
would not only show her generosity and tact but also help them bond as
siblings. Plus, she could use Clark’s credit card to buy herself some things.
After all, Clark’s money always seemed to end up with Arabella.
Martha coached her that if Clark made excuses, she should playfully remind him
of the time he took Arabella to the movies and shopping.
Sure enough, Clark was initially uninterested in going, but Serena pouted and
said, “But Clark, you went with Bella last time.”Chapter 854
Eventually, Clark gave in, promising to accompany her for a shopping spree in
the evening.
Clark descended the stairs after changing his clothes, and Serena happily
hooked her arm through his, “Clark, I knew you’re always the best to me!”
“You’re my sister. If I don’t treat you well, who will 1?” Clark teased, scratching
her nose playfully. His cell phone buzzed as he arrived at the garage and
opened the car door. Seeing Arabella’s name on the caller ID, he picked up
immediately.
“Bella, where have you been?” As soon as he answered the call,
Enter title…
Clark complained, “It’s already 8 p.m., do you know how worried
I’ve been? You didn’t answer my calls, replied to my numerous messages with
just a word or two, and took forever to respond.
Are you trying to drive me crazy? Where have you been all day?”
Upon hearing this, Serena realized that Clark had been glued to his phone all
day, waiting for Arabella to reply.
A sour feeling crept into her heart, and a tinge of resentment and jealousy
welled up within her, but she kept her emotions under wraps.
“Clark, I’ve caught a few people who might be related to Carol’s disappearance.”
Arabella, always a woman of few words, spoke while driving, “They’re with me
now, but I’d rather keep my location a secret, so don’t spread the word. I’m
coming to pick you up at the
Reflections Villa. Can you meet me there?”
“Sure, how long will you be?” Hearing that this was related to
Carol’s disappearance, Clark felt his heart tighten.
Was his sister out catching culprits today?
What sort of people could be related to Carol’s disappearance?
Didn’t Carol leave because she fell in love with someone else? How did it turn
into a “disappearance;’ in Arabella’s words?
Too many questions popped up, giving him a bad premonition.
“I’ll be there in about three minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you by the main gate.” Clark closed the car door and turned to
Serena, “Serena, something came up. I’ll accompany you to the mall some
other time.”
“Clark…” Serena rushed after him as he hurried away, “Clark, what happened?”
“I have to go out with Bella. Stay here like a good girl, or calla friend to
accompany you. Buy whatever you like, and I’ll pay you back later. Be good.”
Clark patted her on the head and quickly left.
“Clark.” Serena was extremely upset. Why could Arabella summon Clark away
with a single call?
Arabella must have done it on purpose!
She chose to call precisely when Clark was about to accompany her shopping!
Clark was too much. He had promised to accompany her shopping, but he
stood her up to go out with Arabella.
In the distance, Serena saw Arabella’s car parked outside the villa.
Clark quickly got in, and the car soon disappeared.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Upon returning to the
living room of the main building, she saw Edith arranging a bouquet of flowers.
The several servants around were complimenting her on her arrangement.
Looking at the flowers in front of her, Edith smiled, “I hope these flowers can
bring Ms. Bella some joy. I’ll put them in her room: Martha rolled her eyes and
turned to see Serena storming back.
She couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Hadn’t Serena gone shopping with Clark?
Why did she return alone?
Edith’s smile and the flowers in her hand fully pricked Serena’s heart. She
blocked Edith’s way, “Was it you? Did you tell Bella that Clark was going
shopping with me?” Chapter 855
“Ms. Serena?” Edith held a vase, perplexed. “I’m not sure what you’re talking
about.”
“You must have tipped her off! That’s why she suddenly called and whisked
Clark away; Serena fumed. “Everyone in this house knows you’re her lapdog!”
“Serena, looking after Ms. Bella was a task assigned to me by the lady of the
house. I’m just doing my job. How have I become a ‘lapdog’ in your eyes,
unworthy even of being a human? I wasn’t aware of Clark’s sudden change of
plans, and I believe it has nothing to do with Ms. Bella. It’s just a coincidence.”
“You’re still arguing!”
Enter title…
That damn servant! Not only was she defending herself, but she was also
defending Arabella!
What had Arabella done to bewitch her?
“Clark was about to get into the car, and then that conveniently timed call came
through, and he left? There were plenty of other times throughout the day to
call. Why that exact moment?”
Edith felt wronged. “You should be asking Clark, and he’s the one involved. I
don’t know anything. You’re blaming the wrong person.”
“What, now you’re using Clark to pressure me?” Serena looked at Edith and the
few trembling servants behind her. She couldn’t help but sneer. “That’s right, you
all think you’re something special now, climbing up Bella’s big tree, not giving a
damn about anyone else.”
“Serena, I’ve never thought that way. Whether in the eyes of the master and
mistress or us servants, you’re always the lady of this house.”
“Who among you has ever treated me like a real lady?” Serena was so furious
she knocked the vase out of Edith’s hands.
The vase fell to the floor, shattering with a crisp sound. The junior maids were
frightened and hid behind Edith, not daring to look up.
Edith was startled and thought Serena was being unreasonable today and too
much.
What was she doing knocking over her flowers?
They were intended for Ms. Bella.
The last time she had a cold for several days, feeling miserable all over, Ms.
Bella gave her a few pills, and she was better in no time.
That’s why she splurged today, buying a bouquet for Ms. Bella to express her
gratitude, but it ended up being knocked to the floor by Serena.
“Serena, calm down.’ At this moment, Martha stepped forward and pulled
Serena aside. “Some people are short-sighted, thinking they can enjoy the
shade by clinging to a big tree. Don’t let it get to you.
Who knows who will have the last laugh?”
After speaking, she glared at Edith. “We’ll see!”
“So that’s why Serena’s personality has changed so drastically. It’s all because
of your instigation.’ Edith glared at Martha. “Most people guide their children on
the right path. Only you are leading Serena astray. You’re only going to ruin her.”
“It was you who bullied Serena first, and I haven’t even mentioned that! You
must have tipped off Ms. Bella to call Clark and lure him away. You’re so
cunning, so good at playing your games. You can’t even guide Ms. Bella on the
right path, yet you have the audacity to criticize my parenting? Where do you
get off?”
“Are you out of your mind? Clark probably stood Serena up because he had
something more important to handle.”
“Oh, so you’re saying that going out with Ms. Bella is more important than going
out with Serena? In the end, Ms. Bella is the most important in this house, is
that it?”
Tonight, Kenneth and Louisa had gone to a dinner party and weren’t home, so
Martha’s aggression was unchecked.
The servants had never seen such a situation and were scared out of their wits.
“You’re completely unreasonable!”
It was like a scholar meeting a soldier, unable to reason with her.Chapter 856
“Indeed, Bella has the Collins’ family blood coursing through her veins, but don’t
get too excited yet. For the past eighteen years, the true apple of the Lady’s eye
has been Serena, and the one cherished by her five brothers is also Serena!
The depth of their affection for her over these years is beyond words. You all
know that deep down!”
Martha, supporting Serena, spoke with words that were like a knife to their
hearts.
“With such profound affection, Serena has more than enough power to kick you
all out of here! If you dare to plot against her behind her back, none of you will
Enter title…
be able to stay in this family.”
“Whether we can stay or not isn’t up to you alone; said Edith, looking at Serena
with disappointment.
“Serena, over the years, I’ve watched you grow up. I know you’re not inherently
bad. At eighteen, you need to understand right from wrong. Don’t let your future
be swayed by those with malicious intentions.”
With that, Edith bent down to pick up the flowers from the ground.
She had spent thirty dollars on these flowers, and now they were desecrated
and trampled on. She couldn’t possibly give them to Bella now.
It was really a pity. These beautiful flowers could have brightened Bella’s day,
but instead, they were ruined by these two.
“Clean up the mess,’ Edith instructed the maids as she exited, holding the
damaged flowers.
To her surprise, this action provoked Martha.
“Oh, look at you, ordering people around. You’re just a servant, but you’re acting
as if you run the place. You think you’re something special just because you’re
clinging to Bella? Stop putting on airs in front of us!”
Edith did not want to waste her words on Martha, as it would be like arguing with
the stubborn, there was no reasoning with her.
She placed her hope on Serena, “Ms. Serena, it’s Ms. Bella approved that you
were allowed to stay in this family. If she had any resentment towards you, she
could have made use of her parents’ guilt and had you leave right from the start,
but she didn’t.”
Edith spoke from her conscience, “When your parents and your brothers were
being kind to you, Bella didn’t interfere, she didn’t sabotage you, she didn’t
speak ill of you in front of them.”
Edith continued, “Bella has been busy all day. Maybe she encountered some
tricky issues and needed Clark’s help. They’re both doctors, right? If it’s a matter
of life and death, it’s only reasonable that Clark would drop his shopping to help.
Bella is straightforward. She says what’s on her mind, she doesn’t beat around
the bush.”
Seeing Serena silent, Edith felt she had taken some of it in, so she added,
“Think about it.”
After Edith left, the maids began cleaning up the mess in silence.
“What’s with the slow pace? Are you here to slack off?” Martha couldn’t help but
reprimand, “In the Lady’s heart, Serena is the most important one. You shortsighted fools, you’ll get what’s coming for you.”
One of the maids couldn’t help but say, “Martha, we were all watching Edith
arrange the flowers just now. She didn’t use her cell phone to contact Bella, and
you misunderstood her.”
“You’re still defending her? It seems like you really want to leave.”
The maids were scared out of their wits and quickly cleaned up
and left.
“Those blind fools! I need to teach them a lesson someday, or
they’ll forget who’s in charge in this house!”
Martha angrily led Serena upstairs, muttering all the way, “That old
hag Edith, trying to mislead you, smear me in front of you, tell you
to distinguish right from wrong, bah, isn’t she just saying I’m the bad guy? She’s
the one giving Bella advice, yet she still plays the good guy!” Chapter 857
Serena gently patted Martha’s hand, saying, “Don’t worry, I can see clearly. It’s
just that I don’t know if Clark had an emergency. If it’s really as serious as Edith
mentioned, a matter of life and death, then I might have misunderstood Clark
and Arabella.”
“Serena? How did she manage to brainwash you? It’s already this late. What
could be so urgent that it required Clark to leave? Okay, let’s say it’s a matter of
life and death. Clark could still have explained it to you. But he didn’t even
consider your feelings and left you behind to follow Ms. Bella. Isn’t that a little
inappropriate?”
Enter title…
“Clark said he would go shopping with me another day. He also told me to go
first and find some friends to accompany me, to buy more of what I like, and
then ask him for reimbursement.”
Upon hearing this, Martha scoffed, “Clark really does play favorites. He gave his
unlimited black card to Ms. Bella, letting her buy whatever she wanted. But
when it comes to you, you can only buy things and then ask him for
reimbursement. If you buy a lot, it’ll be awkward to ask him for reimbursement,
right?”
Serena’s gaze dimmed. Yes, when she heard Clark say these words, there was
a sudden chill in her heart.
She used to think Clark was the fairest, but lately, she began to feel that Clark
was biased, just like Hans Chasel, as if Arabella was the only one in his heart.
“Serena, I’ll go shopping with you! Since Clark has already said so, let’s buy
more. Having some things as our own is better than being penniless in the
future.” Martha persuaded, “Wait for me a moment. I’m going to change my
clothes.”
“But Martha, it’s already half-past eight.”
The mall closed at half past ten.
“We’ll buy as much as we can. Just pick the expensive ones. don’t worry about
whether you like them or not!”
Under Martha’s arrangement, Serena’s originally unbalanced heart was
completely shaken. In the end, she went to the mall with Martha to go on a
shopping spree. Both of them let loose and bought without even looking at the
price tags.
Meanwhile.
Arabella parked her car in front of Villa Cascada.
The armed guard at the gate saw the boss getting out of the car with a
handsome man and was somewhat puzzled, “Boss, who is this?”
Jack noticed the commotion and immediately came over, slapping the back of
his head, “Why are you asking? This is Clark! Put away your weapon now.”
The guard at the gate quickly put away his gun, calling out, somewhat
bewildered, “Clark.”
Clark gazed at the grandiose mansion in front of him. Just the entrance lawn
alone was several thousand square meters. What was key was that many
people were patrolling back and forth with weapons. The brightly lit mansion
looked mysterious, like some sacred palace that did not allow strangers to enter.
Clark didn’t know why Jack knew his identity or why he called his sister “boss.’
No wonder his sister said on the phone that she would take him to a place, but
she didn’t want anyone to know about this place and asked him not to publicize
it.
With so many people holding weapons, it certainly couldn’t be publicized.
“Bella, what is this place?” Clark asked the girl beside him.
“This is one of our boss’s main bases. There are many laboratories inside,
equipped with the most advanced equipment and instruments from home and
abroad. Many of our boss’s world-renowned medical experiments are completed
here. Like that SIR virus epidemic in Antarctica last time, the antidote was
researched here by our boss.Chapter 858
Arabella glanced at Jack, who immediately clamped his mouth shut.
“Was Bella the one who developed the cure for the SIR virus in Antarctica?”
Now, it was Clark’s turn to be shocked. That virus had been rampant in
Antarctica, causing countless deaths, with even a few cases popping up back
home.
Clark had paid attention to the news back then, impressed by the brilliance of
Professor Arabella, as no one else in the world had been able to come up with a
solution.
Enter title…
“You’re not the Professor Arabella from Summerfield College, were you?” Clark
asked, looking at the girl next to him in disbelief.
“Yep, that’s our boss! She completed all her studies at Summerfield College two
years ago. Even the professors who taught her felt inferior, humbly accepting
their role as her students. She’s now a distinguished professor at Summerfield
College, one of the 66 influential figures since the college’s founding. That’s our
boss!”
Arabella glanced at Jack again, “That’s enough from you.”
Jack clamped his mouth shut immediately, his eyes signaling he wouldn’t say
any more.
“Why did you stay at Westerly College then?” Clark asked, walking alongside
her.
“That’s because President Barton of Westerly College needed our boss’s
cooperation in conducting some experiments.” Jack began but quickly covered
his mouth, once again using his sincere gaze to signal he wouldn’t say any
more.
Arabella was speechless.
Clark was surprised to discover his sister had so many different identities. Her
headquarters, like her, was shrouded in mystery.
As Arabella led him into the side building, the two guards standing watch
respectfully greeted her, “Boss.
Arabella nodded slightly.
Why were there so many armed guards if they were here only for experiments?
Who were these people?
“Bella, who are these?”
“Guardians of the building,’ Jack answered vaguely.
Arabella led Clark into the side building and down to the basement.
There were several empty rooms, the walls made of iron bars, making them look
like giant cages. The cages were empty, exuding a chilly aura.
As they walked past, their footsteps echoed in the air. Sensor lights flickered on
one by one, casting an eerie glow.
In the last cell were four individuals they had captured today. They were still
unconscious, huddled together in a heap.
“They’re the ones connected to Carol’s disappearance?” Clark asked, his heart
pounding.
“Yes”
As soon as Arabella finished speaking, someone brought over two chairs. She
sat down and lightly said, “Clark, sit.”
After Clark sat down, Arabella directed one of her subordinates, “Wake them
up.”
“Yes!” Jack pressed a switch on the wall. Immediately, icy water cascaded from
the ceiling of the cage like a heavy downpour.
Meanwhile, a transparent partition rose up from the floor, effectively shielding
them from the splashing water droplets.
Arabella and Clark remained dry, with not a single drop of water on them.
The four men in the cage were soaked to the bone, shocked awake by the
bone-chilling cold. They realized they had not only been tied together but their
hoods had also been removed.
The partition retracted into the floor, and Clark, unable to contain himself any
longer, asked, “Who are you people? Why did you call Carol a traitor? Where is
Carol?”
Earlier in the car, his sister had briefly explained the situation to him. He had a
feeling Carol’s disappearance was not straightforward.
“What do you know? Tell me!”
Any mention of Carol made Clark lose his usual composure.
One of the subordinates entered the cage and removed the gag from one of the
men. Seeing that the man was about to bite his tongue off, the subordinate
quickly stuffed the gag back in, giving him a few hard punches.
“Playing dirty with me? Boss, I suggest stripping them down to check for any
gang tattoos or the like.”
Strip them?
The eyes of the four men widened in horror. A soldier may be killed but not
insulted. Being stripped naked and exposed to each other was worse than
enduring torture.
“Go ahead.” Arabella stood up, her hand resting on Clark’s shoulder.
“I’ll step out for a bit. Feel free to ask them anything you want to know.”
After Arabella left the basement, her phone vibrated again. It was a call from
Romeo.Chapter 859
Lost in her own world, Arabella barely noticed the call.
With a swipe across the screen, Romeo’s voice echoed from the other end,
“Bella, you’re still not home?”
It was already nine in the evening.
“Almost there.”
“What have you been up to all day?”
“Just dealing with stuff” Arabella replied softly, “Just went out with Clark.”
Enter title…
“What were you and Clark doing?”
Arabella couldn’t exactly tell him that they had been out rounding up a few guys
related to Clark’s missing girlfriend.
If Romeo knew she’d been risking her neck, facing off with a handful of armed
thugs, he’d definitely be mad.
“We just hung out.”
“So, what kept you busy all day?”
Not picking up calls, only replying to one or two messages.
“I had a small task to complete.”
Helping Clark find his girlfriend could be considered a task, right?
“Was it dangerous?”
“Not at all. It was easy.” Arabella added, “Just took up some time.”
“Indeed, it took up time.”
She’d vanished for an entire day. He would have sent someone to look for her if
it wasn’t for her message.
“Did you finish it?” Romeo asked, concern in his voice.
“Yep, it’s done.”
They were just waiting for those guys to confess, then they’d have a lead.
“Are you hungry? Did you have dinner?”
Only at his question did Arabella remember that she hadn’t eaten dinner. She
had been staking out at Carol’s house for quite a long time to catch those guys.
To keep Romeo from worrying, Arabella lied, “I’ve eaten.”
“I’ll send over some late-night snacks for you, Clark, and your parents. What do
you feel like? Barbecue? Pastries? Or?”
“I’m not hungry, and I don’t want anything.”
Arabella wasnt sure how much longer she would be occupied. To save him the
trouble of waiting, she said, “I’ll just take a shower and head to bed when I get
home. You should sleep early as well.
See you tomorrow.”
Romeo’s eyes softened hearing the last three words, “Alright, see you
tomorrow.”
He figured Bella must be tired after a day’s work. It wouldn’t be right to disturb
her rest now.
Tomorrow it was, then.
As long as they could meet.
“Get home soon, don’t stay out too long.” Romeo added, “Let me know when
you get home.”
“Okay.”
Glad that Romeo didn’t ask too many questions, Arabella breathed a sigh of
relief and hung up.
A while later, Clark emerged from the side building, much to Arabella’s surprise,
“Did they say anything?”
“They didn’t spill a word.” Clark seemed a bit down, “Jack stripped them down,
but they don’t have any gang tattoos. We can’t tell who they are yet.”
“Don’t worry, Jack will figure something out.”
Clark gazed at the lawn in front of him, his eyes filled with desolation, “Bella,
where do you think Carol is now?”
“I can’t tell.Chapter 860
“It’s been a year,’ Clark lamented, “I can’t believe it took me a year to realize she
was in danger. How did you find out? I’ve also been to Stardust Lane, but the
villagers there wouldn’t say a word about Carol. Either they played dumb, or
they simply walked away. How did you figure out something was off from what
they said?”
“I bought a cup of hot milk from her neighbor’s breakfast joint and sat down to
listen to their chitchat.”
Clark was in dumb silence..
Just like that?
Enter title…
And she managed to pick up hints from that?
“They’re all from the same town. You, a stranger, suddenly asking about Carol
would have made them wary, and they would hide the truth. But if they’re
gossiping among themselves, it’s a different story.”
Clark laughed at himself, “I even went to her house, asking her parents
abruptly.”
At that time, he was almost going insane, unable to find Carol anywhere. He
had to swallow his pride and ask the villagers to visit her parents again and
again.
Her parents kept saying they couldn’t reach their daughter either, and Clark
thought they were lying.
He thought Carol had fallen for someone else, that her parents didn’t want him
to bother her anymore, so they lied to him.
“Looking back now, her parents probably didn’t know anything, but I can’t be
sure. We’ll have to wait for the investigation results.”
“What has she been through this past year?” Clark murmured to himself, “Why
are those people calling her a traitor? What kind of situation did she get involved
in? Is she safe now?”
“Clark, don’t worry too much,’ Arabella softly consoled, “Those people are also
trying to find Carol. That means she hasn’t shown up yet, and she must be
hiding somewhere.”
“Where could she be hiding?” The thought of Carol possibly spending this past
year in extreme danger and fear made Clark heartache.
It was all due to his negligence!
He believed Carol when she said she liked someone else.
“While Carol told you she was in love with someone else, she also told her
adoptive parents she found her biological ones and then disappeared from your
lives completely. I suspect neither of these things are true. She might have had
a reason she couldnt stay, or she could have been taken by some other force.”
Upon hearing this, Clark didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried.
The relief came from the possibility that Carol didn’t leave him because she fell
for someone else.
The worry was because Carol was nowhere to be found. She might have gotten
involved in something dangerous and couldn’t get out safely yet.
Just then, Jack came out from the side building, followed by a few of his men.
They were all wet and covered in blood, showing they had been working hard.
“Boss, those hard-nosed guys won’t spill a thing. They’re barely hanging on. If
we keep going, they’ll kick the bucket,’ Jack reported to Arabella, “I gave each of
them one of those life-sustaining injections you developed. Once they wake up
tomorrow, I’ll resume the interrogation.”
“Alright; Arabella instructed, “Take Clark inside to rest for a bit.
Have someone pour some tea and bring some food. I need to check on my lab.”
Arabella took out two small transparent bags from her bag, each containing a
cotton swab which seemed to have something on it.
Clark asked with confusion, “What are these?”