SWNOVELS Chapter 981-1000
Chapter 981
“Crystal?” Serena paused in her conversation, looking at Crystal Temple with a
sweet smile in her eyes, “Are you here for Clark? He won’t be coming home for
a while.”
“know, your mom said he’s busy with work.”
“Well, he’s been staying at his own place recently. I think it’s probably the Mystic
Oak House. How about we go visit him together one day?” Serena proposed.
Having her as a sister to accompany Crystal to visit Clark would make Crystal’s
intentions less obvious.
Enter title…
Crystal smiled, feeling Serena’s warmth, saying, “Sure, thank you.”
“You’re too polite, Crystal.”
They chatted for a while longer before Crystal went home. As soon as she
entered her room, she couldn’t wait to try on the new clothes and made sure to
pose in front of the mirror, making cute and playful faces while recording videos
for Louisa.
She made nine videos, one for each dress, and didn’t forget to thank for her
great taste in picking out such beautiful and playful dresses that she loved.
After sending them, she saw how pretty she looked in the videos and forwarded
them to Clark.
Hearing his phone ring nine times, Clark took it out to see videos from Crystal.
He was puzzled, but upon opening one of them, he saw Crystal wearing a cute
puffy dress, making adorable faces in the mirror.
Since the video volume was on speaker, everyone heard Crystal saying, “Oh my
gosh, this dress is so cute! You have such good taste. It’s so vibrant when I put
it on, and I love it. Thank you! This dress must’ve been expensive”
Clark didn’t understand why Crystal would randomly make such videos and say
such things in them. He felt Dennis’ questioning gaze and quickly sent him a few
question marks.
Soon, Crystal replied, [Clark, do I look good in these clothes?]
Her voice was sweet and full of laughter, which further infuriated Dennis.
Carol, on the other hand, didn’t show much emotion.
Clark, getting anxious, couldn’t help but send a voice message asking, “What’s
with these clothes? People might think I bought them. Why are you sending
these to me?”
Crystal laughed again, [Aunt bought me all these beautiful clothes. I’m happy, so
I wanted to show you. Aunt is so thoughtful, and she treats me like her own
daughter.]
Dennis, hearing this, was about to explode.
[My mom bought you clothes?? Why don’t you show them to my mom then?
Why are you showing them to me?] Clark was a little frustrated.
Crystal didn’t know what had upset him and quickly made a voice call.
Clark didn’t want to answer at first, but he thought it was necessary to clarify
some things, so he answered and put it on speaker.
“Clark” Crystal’s sweet voice came from the other end, “I was just sharing Aunt’s
kindness with you. Why are you upset? Did I interrupt your work? Or do you not
like these clothes?”
It seemed like she was a very considerate, gentle, and caring person who cared
a lot about Clark’s feelings.
Carol’s gaze deepened. She realized that in the year she and Clark had been
dating, she had never spoken to him in such a gentle tone. It was always he
who took the initiative to care.
“Crystal, I have something to tell you.” Clark began, glancing at Dennis and
Carol. He said seriously, “We can only be friends. I’m sorry.”
Crystal’s laughter froze.Chapter 982
“You know, my heart only beats for Carol.”
Before Clark could finish his sentence, Crystal interrupted, “Clark, did I upset
you by sending all those videos earlier? Or did I say something wrong? I didn’t
mean to upset you. I heard from Louisa that you’ve been very busy lately.
Let’s talk face-to-face tomorrow. Now, I need to reply to Louisa’s messages.
Sorry for disturbing you.”
“Crystal.” Clark tried to say something else, but she had already hung up.
The atmosphere was distinctly peculiar.
Enter title…
Clark pondered momentarily before sending her a WhatsApp message, [I’ve
found Carol. From now on, I want to spend my time with her]
Seeing the message felt like a slap in the face to Crystal.
She couldn’t believe it, Carol was back!
Was Carol now living in Clark’s mansion? Was that why Clark was so eager to
cut ties with her?!
With these thoughts, Crystal felt as if her world had darkened. She was left in
the dark, utterly lost.
Her heart ached tremendously. Recalling Clark’s tone, she was restless.
Around the same time, Louisa replied, [Crystal, as long as you’re happy, it’s all
good. I was worried that the style I picked would be too old-fashioned for you.
You look like a beautiful princess in it, gorgeous.]
Tears welled up in Crystal’s eyes. She held them back for a while before
replying to Louisa, [Louisa, thank you so much. You’ve been caring for me like a
mother. I don’t know what I did to deserve]
After sending the message, she hid under her blanket and cried.
Meanwhile.
Clark noticed Crystal had not replied yet. He looked up at Dennis and said, “I’ve
made things clear with her. She won’t be coming to our house anymore.”
Finishing his sentence, he knelt down on one knee, saying to the girl on the bed,
“Our relationship it’s purely platonic. I’ll keep my distance from her from now on,
and our friendship will fade…”
He didn’t need friends.
For this lifetime, all he needed was Carol.
Carol’s eyes softened, “Having a few friends of the opposite sex is fine. I trust
your feelings for me.”
After all, he had ended up this injured trying to save her adoptive parents.
His feelings for her were genuine.
“No way! When a man is in a relationship, he should maintain a distance from
other women.” Dennis said sternly, “You need to be considerate of your
partner’s feelings.”
“Bro, don’t worry, I will.” Clark was not offended but agreed earnestly instead.
Carol’s gaze fell on Clark again, “I haven’t told my parents about my return.
Tomorrow, I want to call them and possibly visit them. I also want to introduce
you and Dennis to them formally. What do you think?”
She was seeking Clark’s opinion.
Clark’s eyes lit up, “Of course.”
Last time, Carol’s adoptive mother mentioned that she was expecting their
wedding.
Now that Carol was officially taking him home, it was like an acknowledgement
of his status.
Their marriage was imminent!
The overwhelming surprise filled him with joy.
“Bro, about Mount Doom, I think we should be honest with them.” Carol turned
to Dennis.
After all, her adoptive parents had been dragged into this for a long time, and
they deserved to know the truth.
Dennis nodded, “Your call.”
“Then we’ll go tomorrow afternoon; Carol said.
“Alright.” Clark agreed, “Bella will be going to the lab tomorrow to study the
toxins in your blood. We should get the results soon” Chapter 983
Everything was moving in the right direction, or so he thought.
The following day, Crystal arrived unannounced, carrying a homemade
breakfast with her, standing at the mansion’s entrance. She didn’t ask the
servants to wake Clark. Instead, she just stood there, her figure looking
somewhat forlorn.
Unable to bear it, one of the servants finally plucked up the courage to knock on
Clark’s door.
Half an hour later.
Enter title…
“Clark, Crystal has been waiting outside for almost 30 minutes now. Should we
invite her in?”
“Why is she here?”
The voice from inside the room was groggy, a clear indication that Clark had just
woken up. He hadn’t told Crystal where he was staying, nor had he told anyone
else which mansion he was in. Had she found him by systematically checking
each one?
With this thought in mind, Clark could only say, “Ask her to wait in the garden.
I’ll be down shortly.
After a quick wash and dress, he tiptoed past Carol’s room.
However, living on the edge for so long had made Carol’s nerves particularly
sensitive. The moment Clark wasn’t by her side. She’d wake up easily.
Hearing Clark’s soft footsteps, she felt a wave of confusion. It was still dark
outside. What was he doing up so early?
At that moment, she overheard a servant reporting to Clark, “Carol didn’t wake
up last night. She must have had a good rest.”
“That’s good to hear,’ Clark replied before heading downstairs.
Carol rose from her bed and went to the window, her gaze landing on a graceful
figure in the garden.
Even though it had been a long time since they’d last seen each other, she
could still recognize her in an instant. That was Crystal, the heiress of the
Temple family.
Seeing Clark come down in his pajamas, Crystal immediately brightened up.
“Clark! Why didn’t you sleep in more? I specifically told the servants not to wake
you. How did they still end up calling you? What happened to the wound on your
body?”
“It’s just a small injury: Clark didn’t elaborate, instead asking, “How did you find
this place?”
It was winter, and the morning was chilly, yet Crystal was only wearing a thin,
long dress.
“I woke up at 4 a.m. to make you breakfast. Your housekeeper told me that
you’ve been busy with work lately. I had initially planned to leave after dropping
off the breakfast, but after thinking about what you said last night, I felt that it
was necessary to wait for you to wake up and have a proper conversation.”
Clark’s eyes deepened. Conversation? What more did they have to discuss?
“Before we start, I have to ask, Is Carol staying here?” Crystal asked, her eyes
shifting towards the mansion.
She must be inside. Otherwise, the servants wouldn’t have asked her to wait in
the garden in such cold weather.
They clearly didn’t want her running into Carol.
“Yes.” Clark nodded, not hiding anything.
Crystal laughed, “So, your tension last night and your hurry to distance yourself
from me, was it because of her?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I understand.” Crystal’s smile widened, “Then why did she suddenly
come back?”
“went looking for her and found her.”
Clark, not wanting to paint Carol in a bad light, explained, “She left me before
because of certain circumstances. Now, those issues are about to be resolved.”
Crystal seemed to understand, “So, you two are back together”
And here she was, thinking that she had a chance.
She had even intentionally returned to the country to take over the family
business, hoping to increase her own value.
“Crystal, I’ve always seen you as a friend, nothing more. I’m really sorry.”
Even though Clark knew his words were harsh, it was better to rip off the bandaid quickly. Being clear would be better for everyone in the long run. Chapter 984
“If the friendship between us gave you the wrong idea, I’m truly sorry’ he
admitted, his voice sincere.
“No worries; Crystal replied, her laughter echoing with grace and dignity. “I know
Carol holds your heart, and you could never love anyone else. It was my foolish
hope that perhaps I could sway your feelings.”
As she spoke, her laughter grew, radiating warmth and kindness. “I truly do like
you, and yes, I did use our friendship as an excuse to get closer to you.
But now you and Carol are back together, and I genuinely wish you both
happiness.”
Enter title…
She paused, a hint of sadness in her eyes, but her smile never wavered.
“Even though I can’t be with you, and it’ll take some time to let go, knowing that
she’s back and your smiles will be more frequent than before, that’s enough for
me.”
At her words, Clark felt a pang of guilt.
“Clark, as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter if it’s with me or not,’ Crystal
continued, miming a tiny space between her fingers. “Though it does hurt a little
bit.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Clark tried to comfort her, but she cut him off with a laugh. “I came today to tell
you you’re a wonderful person, truly likable. That’s part of your charm, so don’t
ever change. This breakfast, she gestured to the bag of food, “is my goodbye to
this unrequited love.”
She opened the bag and took out the food and cutlery. “Will you try some?”
Clark didn’t really want to eat, but seeing her on the verge of tears, he reached
for the silverware.
“Hold on.”
Her eyes caught sight of a slim silhouette at the window upstairs. Was that
Carol?
Realizing Carol was watching, Crystal chuckled, “You don’t have to eat it. Just
smell it”
She didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings or trouble.
Clark was a bit confused, but he leaned in and took a whiff of the food.
“Smells good, doesn’t it?” Crystal asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.
“Mmm, smells great,’ Clark noted that the food was all his favorites. Crystal must
have gone out of her way to learn how to make them.
“Getting your praise is all these dishes needed; she said, packing up the food to
take away. She left only a gift bag behind. “These clothes and dresses were
gifts fram your mom. Given my current status, it’s not really appropriate for me
to keep them. Please pass them on to her and thank her for me.”
Clark, feeling even guiltier, didn’t take the bag. “If my mom gave them to you,
you should keep them. You’ve bought plenty of things for us in the past.”
“That was out of respect for your parents, not an exchange of goods! It’s only
right to bring gifts when visiting. And please tell them not to worry about
accepting my presents. I just want to be of help. If my gifts make them
uncomfortable, then I’m the one at fault.”
Crystal gave him a small smile and handed him a tiny notebook. “In here are
details about your parents’ preferences, their favorite places to spend money,
etc. I got them VIP memberships to these places, which are very handy. The
passwords and security questions are also written down. Last time, when your
dad was complaining about a sore shoulder, ! arranged a massage for him. He
really liked the masseuse, so I’ve included their contact details.”
Despite its small size, the notebook felt incredibly heavy in Clark’s hands.Chapter 985
“There are a few more little things, all noted down here,’ Crystal said, smiling at
Clark, her gaze steady. “You have a girlfriend now, so unless there’s a group
activity, I won’t be around anymore. I don’t want to cause any
misunderstandings. Besides, I have a lot of things to handle in the company.
Take care of yourself, and don’t forget to take care of your girlfriend too.
As she said this, she noticed the injury on Clark. No doubt, he had gotten it for
Carol, hadn’t he?
She felt her tears welling up. She had planned to give him one last embrace
before leaving, but the silhouette at the upstairs window made her suppress her
Enter title…
final impulse and whimsy.
“Well, I’m off~” Crystal flashed her most radiant, sunny smile and waved to
Clark. “You must be happy.”
Only then would her letting go mean something.
Turning around, her tears finally overflowed. To keep the person behind her from
seeing her trembling shoulders, she kept smiling, trying to calm down.
“Crystal.” Clark wanted to say sorry, but deep down, he knew that wasn’t what
she needed.
Without halting her steps or looking back, Crystal waved her hand high, bidding
farewell to the person behind her and elegantly leaving Mystic Oak House.
Once she got into the car, she maintained her smile. “Drive.”
The chauffeur, seeing her smiling through her tears, was completely baffled.
It wasn’t until they had driven off into the distance that she broke down crying,
as if she had lost the most important, most precious light in her life.
Meanwhile, Clark stared in the direction she had left in for a while before
lowering his head to flip through the small notebook in his hand.
The book was filled with small anecdotes that helped him understand his
parents better.
It revealed that his father had worked so hard when he was young that he now
suffered from chronic neck and shoulder pain, sometimes keeping him awake at
night. Only a certain brand of ointment could alleviate it.
This brand was exclusive to the royal family, but Crystal had managed to secure
a decade’s worth of the ointment using her connections.
His mother, it turned out, liked wearing knee-length skirts because they made
her look dignified. She wasn’t a fan of extravagant earrings, preferring simple
and elegant designs.
His father had acrophobia and would get weak in the knees in any building taller
than twenty stories. Clark remembered how his father had tried to bond with him
by taking him skydiving.
His mother disliked a lady but had to maintain cordial relations due to past
favors. So, Crystal had noted down three questions that, when asked, would
certainly make the lady back off.
From the notebook, Clark could feel Crystal’s meticulous care. She had
recorded many details, including what kind of flowers his parents disliked, their
dining habits, what things upset them, and so on.
Carol stood by the window on the second floor, watching Clark as he engrossed
himself in the notebook, her eyes darkening a bit.
After some time, Clark entered the house to wake Carol up, the notebook
nowhere in sight.
Carol didn’t ask and acted as if nothing had happened. After breakfast, they set
off for Riverside Villa.
Riverside Villa was one of the many properties under Romeo’s name. Located
by the river and usually vacant, it had been lent to her foster parents for the time
being.Chapter 987
“I’m so pleased that you two were able to reconnect as siblings. In this lifetime, if
you can find your biological parents, then you’ll have two sets of parents who
love you. If not, we will treat you as if you were our own flesh and blood:
Surprisingly, Taylor wasn’t worried about Dennis whisking her daughter away.
Instead, she felt joy in gaining another “son”.
“Our family just got a little larger,’ Logan chuckled warmly.
For Dennis, this was the first time he felt the warmth and beauty of a family.
Enter title…
Gratefully, he looked at the kind-hearted couple before him. They didn’t shoo
him away out of fear that he might take Carol, instead, they accepted his
presence with open hearts.
“Thank you for taking care of Carol all these years,’ Dennis thanked them,
standing up to bow in gratitude.
“What is there to thank us for? We’ve always treated Carol as our own,’ Taylor
quickly motioned for him to sit down.
They engaged in a lengthy conversation, eventually discussing Clark’s recent
endeavors for Carol’s sake.
Carol was moved to hear about Clark’s relentless pursuit of her, going to her
house, following her to Lidaria, and even giving up a life-saving opportunity for
her adoptive parents, facing a group of men all by himself.
Touched by his actions, she was even more convinced that he was the one.
“We support your relationship, and we are looking forward to celebrating your
union, Taylor tenderly said, holding both Clark and Carol’s hands. “You two will
be very happy.”
Both of them were deeply in love with each other, putting one another before
their own lives.
Dennis, who was observing from the side, had nothing to say since their
adoptive parents had given their consent.
However, he would keep a close eye on Clark and Crystal. He wouldn’t let his
sister suffer the slightest bit of injustice.
“As for Clark’s parents, we’ll leave it to him to explain everything when he’s
ready, and then we can have Carol visit them,’ Taylor wasn’t in the least bit
hurried about this matter. “If we need to make a visit, just let us know. We’ll
make sure to bring the appropriate gifts.”
“You’re too kind, Auntie. Carol herself is the best gift. If my parents were to see
such a beautiful and sensible daughter-in-law, they would surely love her”
Taylor couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.
Logan then asked about the incident where a group of men barged into their
house on Stardust Lane and tied them up.
Carol shared her experiences growing up in the orphanage, her subsequent role
as a successor, and the time when she wanted to leave the organization but
was forced to take a deadly poison.
Her adoptive parents were in shock, unable to utter a word for a while.
“Don’t worry, the poison in my body has been neutralized by Clark’s sister.”
Carol lied about this matter.
However, Taylor was still worried and asked anxiously, “Are you feeling alright
now? Do you have any side effects?”
“I’m perfectly fine,’ Carol replied, wincing as her mother squeezed her wounded
hand, but she kept her composure, a soft gaze in her eyes.
Clark thought to himself, if Carol could bear this kind of pain with such grace,
how painful must the poison inside her body be that it could make her cry?
“We need to find a way to bring those criminals to justice!” Logan was furious
upon hearing about his daughter’s hardships.
“Bella has already come up with a plan, and we’re implementing it. It’s been
effective these past few days,’ Carol assured them. She also apologized, “I’m
sorry that I couldn’t save you when those men tied you up and sent me pictures
on WhatsApp.”
“I’m sorry, too. She was suffering from the poison at that time, and I was also
severely injured. We truly regret that you had to suffer’ Dennis added, feeling
extremely guilty.
Under those circumstances, if he had even a bit of strength left, he wouldn’t
have stood by and watched the elderly couple suffer.Chapter 988
Logan and Taylor held no grudges against their children. In fact, they were
relieved that Carol hadn’t shown up.
“If you guys had showed up, we would have all ended up six feet under.
Thank goodness you didn’t.”
“Yeah, those guys just wanted to use us as bait. You’d have walked right into
their trap! We don’t need you guys to save us as long as you’re safe and sound.
We’re willing even if it requires us to lay down our lives.”
Enter title…
“Dad, Mom, how could you talk like that? If it means exchanging your lives for
ours, we’d never choose to survive at such a cost”
The moment Carol finished her sentence, Logan’s face took on a stern look.
He said, very solemnly, “Your mom and I would risk everything to protect you
guys because we want you to live. Otherwise, how could we ever justify the
sacrifices we’ve made?”
“Enough with the grim talk. We’ve just reunited.” Taylor returned to the kitchen to
fetch some snacks to serve their guests.
Meanwhile, at Bella Villa.
This was the closest villa to Westerly College. Previously, Romeo had spent a
fortune to build a lab for Arabella, hoping she would spend more time at the villa.
At this moment, Arabella was in the lab, working on separating toxins from blood
samples. Two hours had passed in the blink of an eye.
Romeo knocked on the door, gently reminding her, “It’s time for a break.”
Seeing that the system wouldn’t finish the analysis anytime soon, Arabella
paused the process and opened the lab door.
“Try this. Just sliced it.” Romeo handed her a plate, skewered a piece of fruit
with a toothpick, and fed it to her, “Is it sweet?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty good.” Arabella took the plate, picking at the food while she ate.
Romeo then started massaging her shoulders. She had a wound on her back,
so Romeo was gentle and careful.
“Solidarity Charity is under investigation,’ Romeo murmured.
Solidarity Charity was a well-known private charity organization. For sixteen
years, it has assisted the government in promoting public welfare and charity
work, establishing nursing homes, hospice centers, orphanages, relief stations
for the disabled, charitable clinics, children’s schools, and so on.
Now, it was revealed that they used the name of charity to brainwash, train, and
expand their organization, even using these people as experimental subjects.
What’s more, some of the relevant departments was in the know. This revelation
caused an uproar on the internet.
“That is just the tip of the iceberg of their atrocities. We need to press the
advantage,’ Arabella then said nonchalantly, “As expected, they’re getting
restless. Soon, there would be a slew of negative news about McMllian
Corporation and Collins Corporation, in an attempt to divert public attention.
We need to be prepared.”
“We’ve already cast the net, just waiting for them to come.” Romeo continued
massaging her shoulders, “Given their ways of doing things, they’re likely to
target the weak.”
“I’ll send more people to Riverside Villa to ensure the safety of Caral’s foster
parents. And at home, I’ll also increase the security”
“My men will also be on the lookout to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Elsewhere.
As the heat on the internet continued to surge, many charitable organizations
were under investigation. Some were community-funded public welfare
organizations, while others were corporate charities.
On the surface, they carried out “student aid”, “elderly care”, “poverty
assistance,’ and other philanthropic projects, but in reality, they were all doing
bad things under the guise of charity.Chapter 989
Meanwhile, charities overseas were hitting the headlines, and as their popularity
grew, some discovered that the same high-profile figures were pulling the
strings behind these organizations. Not only were they fabricated in the field of
charity, but they were also found to be fraudulent and corrupt in other matters.
Several involved individuals were suspended and under investigation.
This whirlwind of controversy swept across multiple countries, causing an
uproar.
The Gellar family.
Enter title…
“Dad, you wanted to see me?”
At this moment, Myrna entered the study of their mansion and couldn’t help but
ask this question as she looked at the composed and cultured man sitting in the
chair.
“Myrna.”
The man in the chair emanated a powerful aura, yet he looked easy-going. He
spoke to her in a kind and gentle tone, “Have you completed your tasks?”
Myrna was taken aback. Usually, her father wouldn’t inquire about her work.
Nevertheless, she nodded, “I just got home, and you called me in. Is something
the matter?”
“Doesn’t Chasel have a sister named Arabella?” Aaron cut straight to the chase.
Surprised at her father’s question, Myrna nodded, somewhat puzzled, “Yes, but
why?”
Aaron looked at her with admiration in his eyes, “The apple doesn’t fall far from
the tree. I can tell that Chasel is ambitious. Invite him over to our place when
you get a chance.”
A look of surprise and disbelief crossed Myrna’s eyes, “Dad, are you okay with
us dating??”
Her father used to rarely pry into her work and love life, but now, he was taking
the initiative to extend an olive branch, inviting Chasel to their house.
What did Arabella do??
She caught Aaron’s attention and even brought Myrna’s relationship into the
spotlight.
“It’s about time you started dating.” Aaron had just finished speaking when his
secretary whispered something into his ear. Aaron nodded and waved Myrna
out of the room.
Myrna found herself outside the study and then in the living room, unsure of how
she got there. Spotting the housekeeper, Phoebe, she hurriedly stopped her,
whispering, “Phoebe, has there been anything important happening at home
lately?”
Phoebe, who always kept close to Mrs. Gellar and was also the housekeeper,
naturally knew a thing or two.
Seeing Myrna’’s rare, playful side, Phoebe smiled elegantly and answered
affectionately, “If we’re talking about recent big news in the house, it’s that your
father is retiring in a month “What does that have to do with Chasel?” Myrna
asked, puzzled.
Maintaining her elegant smile, Phoebe reminded her once again, “Chasel is Ms.
Bella’s biological brother.
“And how does that matter?” Myrna still didn’t understand.
Phoebe whispered into her ear again, “All the recent news and the major events
were orchestrated by Romeo, the young master of the McMillian family, and
Arabella, the daughter of the Collins family-”
Many involved individuals were already under investigation.
Those who could manipulate public opinion both domestically and
internationally, bring so many people down, cause such a development without
getting their hands dirty, and guide the situation in a better direction, not to
mention Romeo’s underground power, even Arabella’s influence was beginning
to draw attention, was indeed powerful.
“All the recent news is related to Bella?” Myrna was stunned. She had indeed
noticed recent news online, but she had no idea that it was all related to Bella,
let alone that Bella and Romeo had stirred up such a storm behind the scenes.Chapter 990
Phoebe repeated her warning, “Mr. Aaron is about to retire, and his connections
won’t be as strong then. Some rival forces have been completely uprooted by
Ms. Bella. Now, about forty percent of the forces are caught in the whirlpool,
unable to save themselves. Another forty percent are too busy to protect
themselves, and the remaining twenty percent are nothing to worry about. When
he retires, he can enjoy his golden years in peace.”
So that was it.
Arabella’s actions were essentially helping her father clear obstacles and
ensuring his safety.
Enter title…
“So, Bella could be in danger?” Myrtna’s first reaction was for Arabella’s safety.
After all, with such a big event involving so many people, how could Bella
ensure she wasn’t involved??
“No way, I need to get Mom and Dad to help secretly. Bella can’t get hurt.”
Chasel only had one sister, more precious than gold.
Besides, she really liked Arabella.
“Miss, please calm down. They already have plans.”
Phoebe didn’t say whether they would help or not, but Myrna understood her
meaning.
Myrna’s heart settled, her mood lightening a bit.
On the other side.
In a dim room, a secretary walked in, reporting to the man inside, “Sir, those old
guys had clearly retired, but now they’re sticking their noses in again. I don’t
know what’s so special about that young girl that so many people are willing to
help her.”
She was just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.
People from the Triangular Zone said she was not only skillful but also had
connections with the Mafia Flame and Mafia C.
In the country, not only did several respected elders use all their connections to
protect her, but several big families were also on her side.
Including the Collins family, the McMillian family, the Archer family, and so on.
Not to mention how ruthless Hans, the current head of the Collins family, was,
while Romeo of the McMillian family was no pushover either. He was downright
terrifying.
And there was Erlinda Archer, who reportedly wanted to adopt Bella as her
goddaughter, but she refused. Later, she adopted the girl as her niece, spoiling
her to the extreme.
“Now several families are all out in force, and it’s tough for us to touch her”
The secretary said, troubled, “Especially domestically.”
There were too many forces protecting the girl domestically.
It would be easier to make a move overseas.
“So you’re saying we just have to let a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl wreak
havoc and ruin everyone’s future?”
The man’s voice was calm, like the calm before a storm, but the secretary could
sense the suffocating presence of death.
He broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling, “I will find a way to make more
troubles for her. She must pay the price!”
“Just pay a small price?” The man seemed unsatisfied with this punishment.
The secretary became even more fearful, “She’ll be torn to shredsChapter 991
“Those folks are looking out for her, aren’t they?” The man proposed a Strategy,
“Break them down one by one. Let’s see who will dare to support her afterward.”
It’s one thing to mess with his career but to dare harm his interests.
“She’s still too young, too naive, thinking the world is all white, then she can’t
stand a speck of dirt. Seeing a bit of darkness at the tip of the iceberg, then she
rushes to eradicate it, thinking that once it’s gone, the world will be clean:
The man laughed and shook his head, seemingly mocking the girl’s innocence
and simplicity.
Enter title…
“White is just a small part of this world. The real darkness lies beneath the
iceberg. Digging it up can change the world? No, she doesn’t realize she’s
digging her own grave.”
“Well said!” The secretary hurriedly agreed, “She’s still too young, thinking she’s
invincible because she’s got people backing her up, not realizing how many
people she might drag down with her..Let reality give them a lesson, show them
who’s really in control of this world”
In the lab.
Arabella isolated 981 types of toxins from Carol’s blood. The toxicity was so high
that the lab mice died instantly upon licking it, not even having time to ingest the
antidote.
Arabella had just developed a few antidote combinations, unsure if they would
be helpful for Carol’s poison. She could only systematically analyze them, then
merge these antidotes into the toxin and feed it to the lab mice.
After three days of hard work, there were finally results. The mice that
consumed the poison laced with the detox pill didn’t die instantly, nor did they
convulse in pain. Instead, they were lively and hopping as if nothing had
happened.
There was finally hope.
Arabella’s eyes softened. If the mice could remain healthy and full of vitality, it
meant that the detox pill could cure Carol’s poison.
Although she felt that things wouldn’t be that easy, at least her efforts in this
direction were correct. The progress made over these days was enough to give
her comfort.
Her phone vibrated at that moment. Seeing that it was Clark calling, she quickly
picked up.
“Clark, what’s up?”
“Bella, Carol’s poison is acting up again. She’s in a lot of pain, just like that day
in the castle. Can I give her the two pills you gave me?”
Before, Arabella had said not to give Carol the pills unless there was no other
choice.
Because Carol’s body was very weak and might not be able to withstand the
strong effects of the medicine.
“Give her half a pill, and then pay attention to her condition. If something’s off,
call me” Arabella instructed.
“Alright.”
Clark quickly complied.
Not long after, Arabella’s phone vibrated again. She thought it was Clark, but
when she picked up, it was Grandpa Beck.
“My dear girl, you’ve been stirring up quite a storm lately. It’s like watching a
grand theatre production for me, one act after another, so thrilling,” Grandpa
Beck’s jolly voice came through the phone.
Arabella couldn’t help but smirk, “Did you call just to tease me?”
“Of course not, I’m happy. I’m proud that my granddaughter is so ambitious and
daring. Your courage testified that I didn’t train the wrong person. You’re the best
candidate to inherit my legacy, no doubt.”
Again, the talk about inheriting his legacy.
Arabella hastily refused, “I’m too busy. I don’t have time.”
“There’s no one more suitable than you in this world. Oh, by the way, when are
you coming to the university? There are still some experiments to be done. Also,
there are competitions coming up in the major universities.
Westerly College is falling behind. You’re the top scorer, and if you could
participate and bring back a trophy for us, it would attract more outstanding
students to Westerly College in the future.”Chapter 992
“So, you’re aiming to one-up Grandpa Charles,” Arabella smirked, calling it as
she saw it.
Charles was the dean of Summerfield College, and he and Grandpa Beck were
always in some sort of competition. Now that Bella had chosen to attend
Grandpa Beck’s Westerly College instead of Charles’ Summerfield, Beck Barton
was looking for a chance to rub it in his rival’s face.
“I’ll leave that opportunity to others.” Arabella showed no interest in the college
competitions. “I’ve got an important experiment to focus on.”
Enter title…
Before she could finish her sentence, Grandpa Beck eagerly asked, “What sort
of experiment? Let’s do it together. I love a good challenge.”
“I don’t want to give you a heart attack,’ she replied.
Unwilling to back down, Grandpa Beck retorted, “I’d like to see what kind of
experiment could possibly stump me!”
He was confident that, with Bella’s help, there wasn’t an experiment in the world
they couldn’t crack.
“Alright, I’ll have someone send you the blood samples later.” Arabella thought
having an extra hand wouldn’t hurt. The sooner they could detoxify Carol’s body,
the better. She couldn’t afford to waste more time.
“As for the college competition, you should at least come and lead a team.
It’s settled with you, the top scorer, boosting their morale.”
Then he quickly ended the call to prevent Arabella from declining and switched
off his phone.
Arabella was speechless.
Two days later.
Grandpa Beck was in the lab, fuming and glaring at the data. “I’ll crack this,
you’ll see!”
Arabella walked in to see him with bags under his eyes, still wrestling with the
data. She couldn’t help but smile, “I told you, I don’t want to give you a heart
attack.”
“Bella, how much are you earning from this project?”
It must be a substantial amount.
For her to invest so much effort, the reward for this project must be at least ten
million dollars, right?
Considering the case’s complexity, shouldn’t she charge a few million more?
“It’s pro bono; Arabella replied.
“What?”
It took a moment for Grandpa Beck to process her answer. “Free of charge?”
When did his Bella become so generous? Offering medical consultation for
free?
For such a complicated case, for free?
“It’s for my future sister-in-law.”
Grandpa Beck: So that’s how it was!
“So, who did Carol offend to get poisoned like this?”
He was puzzled. “I’ve been working on this for two whole days, and I still can’t
figure it out. Who came up with this poison?”
Was there a better pharmacist out there than him and Bella?
Arabella handed him a new blood sample. “I suspect that the toxins in her body
were triggered by the blood of these Chesters.”
The Chesters had been injected with all sorts of strange poisons since their
childhood. Their blood was highly toxic, and normal people couldn’t resist it.
If it weren’t for Carol’s strong physical condition and her ability to fight poison
with poison, she would have been long gone.
“That’s Chester’s blood sample?” Grandpa Beck’s eyes lit up!
With this blood sample, his research would be smootherChapter 993
“Lalso have that detoxification pill I’ve been working on,” Arabella handed over
another small vial.
Grandpa Beck’s eyes widened, “You’ve already developed an antidote so
quickly?”
Darn, his old age was really not serving him well!
He had been researching for two days and hadn’t come up with anything.
He was being outdone by an eighteen-year-old girl!
The old saying was right. The student outdone the master.
Enter title…
His little girl’s all grown up!
Arabella smirked, “That is just a prototype. The lab rats began to lose energy
after taking it for two days.”
This suggested that the antidote couldn’t fully neutralize the poison in Carol’s
system.
“At least you’ve developed a prototype.” Grandpa Beck mused. He hadn’t come
up with anything.
Seeing Arabella approaching, Grandpa Beck hastily clicked on the computer
and deleted all his research from the past two days, then emptied the trash bin.
He didn’t want Arabella to ridicule him.
Seeing his actions, Arabella’s mouth curled into a smile again, “What do you
say? Want to bet whether you can figure it out within a week?”
“A week?”
Normally, if Arabella said “a week”, it would be an insult to his status as a
renowned pharmacist. After all, he was a giant in the medical field. To many
medical students, he was a legend.
But now, he felt that Arabella’s “one week” was a bit pressing.
For the sake of his ego, Grandpa Beck readily agreed, “One week it is! With
both of us working together, is there any antidote we can’t come up with?”
“You’ll be the lead. Arabella replied, her phone began to vibrate. She looked
down to see a file sent by one of her subordinates and began to communicate
with them.
After a while, a foreign executive contacted her, so she made a voice call with
them.
Seeing she was really busy, Grandpa Beck couldn’t help but say, “Alright,
alright, who would dare overwork you. I’ll take the lead, and you can assist.
Oh, right, how’s your injury? Did the healing medicine I gave you work?”
Arabella rolled her sleeve to show him, “Much better. Your medicine is quite
effective. Make more of it, and we can sell it for a 30% profit.”
“This medicine was specially made for you, with your constant fighting. Wait a
minute, I know my medicine can be sold, but why 30%?”
“Shouldn’t I get a commission for helping sell it?”
“You’re even making money off your own family?” Grandpa Beck felt Arabella
was obsessed with medical research, even to the point of exploiting him for
money. But he didn’t mind, and he was happy as long as she visited often. He
wouldn’t mind even if she took all the profit.
After all, he had spent $500 million to acquire the internationally renowned toptier pharmaceutical research instrument H30 to lure her to Westerly College!
There were only two in the world, one in the national research institute of M
Country and the other in his lab.
Arabella looked at the medical equipment in the lab. With these instruments, the
medicine research would definitely leap forward.
Just then, someone knocked on the door, “President Barton, it’s me, Andrew”
The voice of the student council president echoed from outside, filled with
respect and courtesy for President Barton.
“You mentioned earlier that today, our top student is supposed to lead the team
in a prestigious school competition. The student council just checked her class,
and she hasn’t been attending for a while.”
Since President Barton had personally appointed her to lead the team, Andrew
thought it was necessary to inform him.
In the lab, Arabella turned to look at the evasive old man upon hearing this,
“Didn’t I say in my WhatsApp message that I won’t be leading the team?”
The old man had mentioned the leadership matter over the phone and hung up
before Arabella could respond. Arabella had sent him a WhatsApp message,
implying she was really busy and didn’t have time to attend such a competitionOn the way to the competition, he introduced himself to Arabella, “Hi, I’m
Andrew, the student council president. I know you’re Arabella. I’m really glad
you’re leading our team today. Thank you.”
Seeing his humble and gentle demeanor, Arabella smiled faintly, “It’s no trouble.”
When she didn’t smile, she exuded a calm aloof aura like a powerful boss.
But when she did smile, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
Andrew was stunned for a good three seconds, then realized he had been
staring, and his face turned beet red.
Enter title…
The top scorer was even more approachable and beautiful up close than he had
anticipated. How could someone be this stunning?
“This competition is organized by ten universities, divided into two categories:
professional and talent competitions.” Andrew quickly diverted his gaze, not
daring to look into Bella’s eyes anymore.
Her eyes were mesmerizing and unforgettable like the stars in the night sky.
“Because Summerfield College is the dominant force among these ten
universities, the competition will be held in two main halls in Summerfield
College, the south hall for professional competition and the north hall for talent
competition. Only freshmen are allowed to participate, which means we’ll have
to lead two teams to the two competition areas.”
“We’re leading the teams?” Arabella was somewhat surprisedChapter 995
“Right, you’re the head captain, and I’m the co-captain.”
Since Andrew was a junior, he naturally had more life experience, so the school
felt more comfortable having him as the co-captain.
“Talent competition includes piano, calligraphy, and so on. Professional
competition includes medical practical and intellectual duels.”
Arabella wasn’t very clear about the specific competition procedures and
content, only knowing that Mya Dempsey and Joyce Alcott would participate in
the medical practical competition.
Enter title…
At that moment, the “Professional Competition Team” and “Talent Competition
Team” of Westerly College stood in two separate lines on the field. Seeing
Arabella, they all stretched their voices in a playful, teasing tone, “Hello, Miss
top scorer.”
“I wish I were like the top scorer, come and go as I please, and have the
freedom to do my own thing. When will I ever have the power to do that.”
“How does the top scorer study? Can you teach us?”
“Why aren’t you participating in the competition, Miss top scorer?”
Even if she had no notable talents, she could still shine in the professional
competition, right?
Arabella smiled at the people before her, “Do you all have confidence in winning
today?”
“Not at all” The crowd purposely dragged out their response, laughing
uproariously.
“Be serious!” Andrew controlled the situation from the side, and the merry crowd
straightened up again.
Indeed, they needed the captain to maintain order.
“This competition takes place once every four years. I believe none of you want
to leave with any regrets. Show them your best, and let the other colleges know
that we, Westerly College, are not to be underestimated!”
Arabella continued to cheer them on, saying encouraging words. The crowd was
surprised to find that she was more gentle and approachable than they had
imagined!
Who said she was aloof and unsociable before??
“Now, let’s head out.”
Summerfield College was not far from here. Arabella led the way, with two
teams following behind her and Andrew.
At this moment, Mya and Joyce squeezed their way up front, each hooking an
arm with Arabella.
“We’ve missed you! Why haven’t you come by in so long! Kelly is always taking
leaves, too. It’s so boring in the dorm with just the two of us!”
“Myrna sent another huge package the day before yesterday. It was so big that
Joyce and I had to borrow a cart to bring it back to the dorm. It’s something
delicious again.”
“Bella, your sister-in-law Myrna really treats you well.”
Since Myrna had visited their dorm before, they knew about her.
Arabella was somewhat surprised. Myrna sent her food again? And she didn’t
even inform her.
Seeing Mya and Joyce getting close to the top scorer, others who were curious
about the top scorer or wanted to befriend her also cautiously approached.
The two lines turned into a chaotic crowd, some people chattering around
Arabella non-stop and some asking Andrew for his WhatsApp.
On the side of Summerfield College.
To accommodate the competitors from the top ten colleges, the school had
cleared out the backstage of the North and South Halls to set up a rest area.
At this time, in the North Hall.
A group of people surrounded Serena, admiring her new dress, jewelry, and
shoes, all of which were new products from WN Group.
WN Group was a dark horse that recently emerged with fashionable and
innovative designs, becoming the favorite of many socialites, celebrities, and
rich girls.
Some people said that QY had met its strongest competitor in history, as WN
Group’s popularity was nearly on par with QY’s!Chapter 996
“I’ve seen these earrings before in a high-end boutique, and they’re over
$20,000, aren’t they?”
“Those shoes must have set you back $30,000?”
“I know that this dress you’re wearing cost about $120,000. It’s one of a kind in
the world”
The WN Group had copied QY’s strategy, producing everything in limited
editions, perfectly satisfying the upper class’s desire for unique and extravagant
items.
Enter title…
“Let’s not talk about pricing.” Serena elegantly signaled for silence, whispering
to those around her, “I wouldn’t want people to think I’m deliberately flaunting my
wealth.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd eagerly defended her, raising their voices
intentionally.
“No one would think you’re showing off, Serena. You simply have a higher
standard of living than most. Your consideration for others’ feelings shows how
kind and gentle you are.”
“Serena, I heard your parents spoil you rotten. Is it true?” Someone gossiped.
After all, she was the youngest of six siblings and the only girl. The rumor that
her parents favored her over her brothers was the stuff of envy.
In many traditional families, the outdated preference for sons over daughters
was deeply ingrained and quite disgraceful.
“Of course it’s true!” A short-haired girl chimed in. “I bumped into Serena and her
mom shopping the other day, and her mom spent millions as if it was nothing.
Anything Serena wanted, she got!”
“Seriously? That’s unbelievably extravagant.” The crowd around her was green
with envy.
“Serena, you are so fortunate! Your mom doesn’t even bat an eyelid, dropping
millions on clothes for you!”
“I wish I could have a mom like that. Last time, I spent $500 on a new hairstyle,
and my mom complained about the cost for days.”
“I just bought a few new Louis Vuitton bags, and my mom accused me of being
reckless.”
Although the amounts these girls discussed seemed extravagant to most, to
Serena, it was nothing. She even found it a bit pitiful.
One long-haired girl said, “Serena, I heard David Collins is your boyfriend. I’m a
huge fan. Could you help me get an autographed picture? I’m willing to pay you
$1,000!”
“Do you really think Serena needs your money?” Another girl retorted, then
quickly linked arms with Serena and said in a coquettish voice, “I have hundreds
of David’s autographed pictures, but I can never get tickets to his concerts!
Serena, could you help me out? I’m willing to pay ten, even twenty times the
price”
“Getting front-row VIP seats at David’s concerts is impossible! They’re sold out
in seconds. I swear some people must be sitting on their routers to get them that
fast.”
“Serena, I saw Hans in a finance magazine last month, he’s so handsome.
Plus, his age, achievements, and personality are all my dream qualities in a
partner! You should introduce me. If he shows any interest, I’ll definitely pursue
it. If he’s not into me, or if he asks me to keep my distance, I’ll back off. I
wouldn’t want to put you in an awkward situation. Please, help me out!”
The girl who spoke was Rachel, whose family owned a car manufacturing
business. Although their cars were aimed at the average worker and usually
sold for around $7,000 to $10,000, they made a huge profit due to high sales
volumes.
Especially their recent launch of a mini electric car series, priced affordably at
about $3,000 to $4,000, which had captured the hearts of many young people
and mothers, propelling their family to the 13th spot on the Solterra Rich List.
Serena looked at her and suddenly thought, considering their friendship, Rachel
would be a much better match for Hans than Molly could ever be!Chapter 997
That Molly, so useless and foolish, with a lowly background. Serena heard Molly
was even kicked out of her house, living a life of hardship.
The most crucial point: she’s Arabella’s best friend!
If she became the sister-in-law, who knew what kind of mischief she’ll stir up
behind the scenes.
“If by some chance I become your sister-in-law, I’ll make sure you benefit.”
Rachel said, all the while clinging to Serena‘s arm coquettishly.
Enter title…
“Serena, I want to be your sister-in-law too. As long as you make that happen,
I’ll repay you however you want!” Another woman was pestering Serena, hoping
she’d help set them up.
“Serena, I’m not picky. You have five brothers. If any of them is single, I’m up for
it!”
Looking at the ten or so pleading faces before her, Serena offered a light smile.
“Alright, I can’t decide who my brother’s date. How about this? 1’ll find an
opportunity to invite all of you over to my house. Who they end up with will
depend on your skills.”
The crowd was instantly overjoyed, showering Serena with praises.
“Serena, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I love you so much.”
“You’re like a deity to me. If this works out, I’ll worship you for the rest of my life”
“Serena, you’re so kind, so understanding.”
On the surface, Serena smiled, but deep down, she had no idea if this would
work. After all, she knew her brothers’ personalities all too well.
Finding them suitable partners seemed like an impossible task.
Just then, Arabella, leading her own team, was walking towards them.
She was an absolute sight for sore eyes. Her natural radiance and the “straightA student” aura around her made her the center of attention the moment she
appeared.
“Look, the straight-A student is here! Oh my God, she’s even prettier in person. t
finally get to see her today.”
“Westerly College is letting a freshman lead the team this year?”
“What’s so strange about that? Arabella is the only student they can be proud of
at Westerly College. Of course, they’d let her appear at such an event.”
“Indeed, no one else is more capable of leading the team than her. I just wonder
if she’ll compete.”
“What? If the straight-A student competes, what will she choose? If it’s the same
as mine, I’ll quit immediately” Someone sounded disheartened.
“Can’t you have a little ambition? Just because she’s academically gifted doesn’t
mean she’s equally talented in other areas!”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
Seeing Arabella surrounded by people walking in her direction, Serena felt a bit
uncomfortable. What was she doing here?Chapter 998
Wasn’t Clark spoiling her enough? Not enough for her? Needed to come here
and steal the limelight, too? She’s really going to use her pseudonym to beat
these students? Shameless! What’s the point if she win like that? Empty victory!
Upon seeing members of Summerfield College’s talent team members resting
nearby, the students of Westerly College immediately felt a sense of unease and
tension.
After all, Summerfield College was one of the top universities in the country.
Compared to them, the Westerly College seemed somewhat inferior.
Enter title…
Worse yet, the two schools’ rest areas were adjacent, creating an inexplicable
sense of tension and psychological pressure.
Arabella scanned everyone. “Everyone take a moment to rest in your own space
and adjust your mindset. The competition will start in twenty minutes”
One girl in a white dress couldn’t help but say, “Arabella, I’m a little nervous.”
“Me too.” Another girl in a black gown anxiously piped up. “I’ve been studying
piano for five years, but students from music colleges are competing. I’m afraid
I’ll be utterly defeated as soon as I perform:
Before she could fully express her anxiety, a mocking voice interrupted.
“You dared to embarrass yourself after only five years of practice? I’ve been
playing piano since I was three, fifteen years now, and I wouldn’t dare to enter a
piano competition.”
The speaker was Emma, a music major from Summerfield College. Her fingers
fell on the nearby piano keys, playing a famous piece with a showy display of
her speed and skill.
The students from Westerly College listened in stunned silence, their faces
burning with embarrassment. They hadn’t expected her to be so good.
They should never have entered the competition.
They were not only bringing trouble upon themselves but also embarrassing
Westerly College.
After Emma finished playing, the students from Summerfield College applauded
and praised her performance.
The students from Westerly College remained silent, not one making a sound.
“Fifteen years of practice, and you still hit a wrong note, yet you dare to criticize
others?” Arabella’s lips curved into a smirk, speaking casually. “You didn’t even
interpret half of the piece’s emotion. Your fifteen years might not even be worth
someone else’s five.”
Everyone present was shocked at her words.
Even the students from Westerly College looked at Arabella with admiration in
their eyes.
Emma made a mistake? And Arabella actually caught it! Incredible!
“Wait, I didn’t hear any mistakes.’ someone from Summerfield College said.
“I’ve been learning the piano for ten years. If Emma made a mistake, I would
have noticed it.”
“Emma is the pride of Summerfield College’s music department, and there’s no
way she would make such a basic mistake”
“Emma, did you?”
Emma, eager to show off her skills to everyone, had indeed accidentally hit a
wrong note.
She thought her speed could cover it up, as the incorrect and correct notes were
extremely similar. Even a music professor wouldn’t notice unless they listened
carefully.
But Arabella had managed to identify her mistake in such a short time.
Could Arabella’s piano skills be even more advanced than hers?
“Emma, did you make a mistake just now, or is she slandering you? If she is, I
demand an immediate apology.”
“Emma, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Your face looks a bit pale.”
Ignoring the chatter around her, Emma quietly returned to her seatChapter 999
The folks of Summerfield College always seemed to carry a certain air of pride
in their bones, perpetually looking down on others. Even when they were in the
wrong, they would never admit it.
“So someone messed up their performance earlier?” Someone from Westerly
College began to jeer. “With that arrogant, self-important air about you, I thought
you were something special. But this is all you’ve got?”
“So the musical genius of Summerfield College isn’t all that after all.”
This provoked the Summerfield crowd, who began to retort: “Who are you
talking about?”
Enter title…
Westerly College fired back: “Whoever the cap fits. It seems the top-notch
students the prestigious college churns out are all hot-headed and impatient. If I
didn’t know any better, I’d think your cafeteria only serves jalapenos because
everyone seems to be on a short fuse.”
Summerfield College retaliated, “Do you have any proof that Emma messed up?
If not, you’d best apologize to her right now, or we, the people of Summerfield
College, will not let this slide.”
Westerly College: “The top scorer says Emma messed up, so she messed up.
“Enough! Can’t you ever stop?” Emma could no longer hold back and snapped
at them, “Would you all please shut up?”
She was tired of hearing them repeatedly bring up her mistake.
Serena, who was standing on the side, was left speechless by the whole
spectacle.
Arabella was Maestro Melody. If she said Emma messed up, then she definitely
did. She was a master pianist, for crying out loud!
Even if they couldn’t recognize Arabella as a master, Emma’s reaction should
have been enough. Yet, they were oblivious and insensitively making a
spectacle of themselves.
Serena was exasperated but tried her best to stay under the radar, not wanting
to draw Arabella’s attention. Arabella was known for not giving face to anyone. It
would be a huge embarrassment if she exposed Serena’s fake rich girl act in
this large crowd.
The crowd fell silent once again, until surprise gasps erupted from the
Summerfield College group.
“Nancy Austin, your family is something else. Another $3 million for a piece by
Ms. Mirabelle.”
“Wow, this painting is incredible.”
“Is $3 million just pocket change for the Austin family?”
“They’re so rich.
Mirabelle was a master artist renowned in the art world. She was highly
respected in the art world.
With her exquisite painting skills, fluid strokes, and bold creations, she singlehandedly elevated the art of painting to new heights.
Every piece of her work achieved a balance of form and spirit, filled with life and
vitality. She was a significant figure in the art world, admired by many.
“Mirabelle is my favorite artist, bar none.” Nancy smiled gently and said, “My
parents know how much I love her work, so they try to acquire her pieces for me
whenever they can. This is her latest work, ‘Mountain River’. Her technique is
simply incomparable.”
The crowd admired the new piece on her phone, nodding in agreement.
“Yes, capturing the spirit and form, which are the most challenging aspects of a
painting, she does it so well. Truly admirable.”
“Other artists either lack in expression or fail to capture the spirit. But with
Mirabelle’s work, not only is the style refreshing, but it’s also distinctively
personal. I’m one of her fans, too.”
“Your parents are so good to you, helping you collect Mirabelle’s work.
They’re like the perfect parents.”
“My parents don’t seem to be like yours.”Chapter 1000
Serena, sitting to one side, pleaded, “Please stop praising her! If Mirabelle
realizes everyone is complimenting her, she’ll be over the moon!”
At this moment, Arabella pulled out her phone, preparing to take care of some
personal affairs.
Unexpectedly, Nancy, feeling superior, suddenly hushed everyone around her,
then lifted her eyes arrogantly towards Arabella.
“With your perfect academic record and broad knowledge, surely you have
some unique insights. Why not give your opinion on this art piece and tell us
what’s so special about it?”
Enter title…
If someone with a perfect academic record came from a privileged family, then
not being able to recognize the artist or style of this art piece or not knowing
what made it special just showed a lack of exposure and knowledge.
If she came from humble beginnings, no matter how great her academic
achievements were, she still cannot compare to them, the privileged daughters
of wealthy families.
So, regardless of how Arabella responded to this question, she will either be
mocked for her lack of knowledge or her humble background.
Arabella lifted her gaze to find a group of people ready to laugh at her.
She then looked at Nancy’s phone, which displayed a landscape painting,
presumably the one they said was purchased for three million dollars.
Her eyes went cold, “To me, it’s no better than a child’s scribbles.”
Everyone was stunned by her words, and even Nancy was taken aback for a
few seconds.
This naive girl dared to comment that the masterpiece of the revered Mirabelle
was no better than a child’s scribbles!
It seemed not only did she come from a humble background, but she also
lacked any sense of art appreciation!!
“Seems like the top scholar only knows how to study, unable to appreciate the
value of this painting.” Nancy recovered, raising her superior smile, chuckling,
“This is a new piece by the renowned artist Mirabelle”
“Indeed! It was just auctioned off two days ago at an auction by the Austin family
for three million dollars.”
“We don’t blame you for not being able to appreciate fine art, but you dare to
say that Mirabelle’s talent is no better than a child’s. You are not only insulting
Mirabelle but also all of her fans!”
“Apologize to Mirabelle!”
Arabella smirked, looking at the girls in front of her like they were fools.
“Last year, the Collins family bought a piece by Mirabelle for ten million dollars.
This year, the MeMillian family bought another one for ten million dollars. Now,
you’re saying your family bought a genuine Mirabelle for just three million
dollars?”
“What’s so impossible about that? The Collins and McMillian families are
notorious for their extravagance and willing to overspend. We, the Austin family,
are close with Mirabelle. What’s wrong with her giving us a discount?”
Nancy said, sounding a bit defensive.
After all, Arabella didn’t know about the relationship between the Austin family
and Mirabelle and had no evidence to prove her lying. So, she continued her
bluff. What could Arabella do?
Arabella found it even more amusing, “You say you know Mirabelle? Is she male
or female?”
“A man! An old gentleman!” Nancy declared confidently, “I’ve met him many
times. He’s very refined and scholarly, with a strong artistic vibe”
Arabella could not help but chuckle, “Mirabelle is a woman and not very old.
Moreover, she never gives anyone discounts.”
“How would you know? Are you claiming to know Mirabelle personally?”
Nancy insisted, “Mirabelle has had a long-standing relationship with our family.
I’ve met him many times. On the other hand, your family certainly doesn’t have
any of Mirabelle’s artwork, which is why you don’t recognize the landscape
painting.”
“Mirabelle has never painted a landscape.” Arabella said nonchalantly, “Yours is
a fake”
“A fake?”
At this, everyone was stunned.
The folks at Westerly College couldn’t believe how confident Arabella was in
declaring the landscape painting a fake.
And Nancy, she was absolutely livid. Just as she was about to demand proof
from Arabella, she noticed Serena frantically signaling herChapter 1000
Serena, sitting to one side, pleaded, “Please stop praising her! If Mirabelle
realizes everyone is complimenting her, she’ll be over the moon!”
At this moment, Arabella pulled out her phone, preparing to take care of some
personal affairs.
Unexpectedly, Nancy, feeling superior, suddenly hushed everyone around her,
then lifted her eyes arrogantly towards Arabella.
“With your perfect academic record and broad knowledge, surely you have
some unique insights. Why not give your opinion on this art piece and tell us
what’s so special about it?”
Enter title…
If someone with a perfect academic record came from a privileged family, then
not being able to recognize the artist or style of this art piece or not knowing
what made it special just showed a lack of exposure and knowledge.
If she came from humble beginnings, no matter how great her academic
achievements were, she still cannot compare to them, the privileged daughters
of wealthy families.
So, regardless of how Arabella responded to this question, she will either be
mocked for her lack of knowledge or her humble background.
Arabella lifted her gaze to find a group of people ready to laugh at her.
She then looked at Nancy’s phone, which displayed a landscape painting,
presumably the one they said was purchased for three million dollars.
Her eyes went cold, “To me, it’s no better than a child’s scribbles.”
Everyone was stunned by her words, and even Nancy was taken aback for a
few seconds.
This naive girl dared to comment that the masterpiece of the revered Mirabelle
was no better than a child’s scribbles!
It seemed not only did she come from a humble background, but she also
lacked any sense of art appreciation!!
“Seems like the top scholar only knows how to study, unable to appreciate the
value of this painting.” Nancy recovered, raising her superior smile, chuckling,
“This is a new piece by the renowned artist Mirabelle”
“Indeed! It was just auctioned off two days ago at an auction by the Austin family
for three million dollars.”
“We don’t blame you for not being able to appreciate fine art, but you dare to
say that Mirabelle’s talent is no better than a child’s. You are not only insulting
Mirabelle but also all of her fans!”
“Apologize to Mirabelle!”
Arabella smirked, looking at the girls in front of her like they were fools.
“Last year, the Collins family bought a piece by Mirabelle for ten million dollars.
This year, the MeMillian family bought another one for ten million dollars. Now,
you’re saying your family bought a genuine Mirabelle for just three million
dollars?”
“What’s so impossible about that? The Collins and McMillian families are
notorious for their extravagance and willing to overspend. We, the Austin family,
are close with Mirabelle. What’s wrong with her giving us a discount?”
Nancy said, sounding a bit defensive.
After all, Arabella didn’t know about the relationship between the Austin family
and Mirabelle and had no evidence to prove her lying. So, she continued her
bluff. What could Arabella do?
Arabella found it even more amusing, “You say you know Mirabelle? Is she male
or female?”
“A man! An old gentleman!” Nancy declared confidently, “I’ve met him many
times. He’s very refined and scholarly, with a strong artistic vibe”
Arabella could not help but chuckle, “Mirabelle is a woman and not very old.
Moreover, she never gives anyone discounts.”
“How would you know? Are you claiming to know Mirabelle personally?”
Nancy insisted, “Mirabelle has had a long-standing relationship with our family.
I’ve met him many times. On the other hand, your family certainly doesn’t have
any of Mirabelle’s artwork, which is why you don’t recognize the landscape
painting.”
“Mirabelle has never painted a landscape.” Arabella said nonchalantly, “Yours is
a fake”
“A fake?”
At this, everyone was stunned.
The folks at Westerly College couldn’t believe how confident Arabella was in
declaring the landscape painting a fake.
And Nancy, she was absolutely livid. Just as she was about to demand proof
from Arabella, she noticed Serena frantically signaling her