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Chapter_28
The atmosphere outside the Hawthorn family mansion was charged with tension as Thomas and Percival arrived. They overheard Alisa’s venomous words and immediately, Thomas’s expression darkened, his usual calm replaced with a flicker of cold anger. The situation was far more complicated than it appeared, and Percival, alongside Leopold, knew something was off. Arabella had been playing a dangerous game, keeping her healing of Percival’s sister a secret, but now it was becoming public knowledge. What was her true intention?
Inside the mansion, the murmurs from the guests grew louder. The remarks about Vivienne being an unworthy biological daughter and Arabella being superior—despite being adopted—struck a nerve with Dorian. His anger flared, and his outburst only deepened the chasm between the two sides. The biting comments were inescapable, and Vivienne, despite being at the center of the storm, remained poised. She knew she wasn’t just dealing with family drama; she was navigating the power dynamics of this high-society event.
As Dorian tried to defend himself, a guest taunted him about his downfall, pointing out his recent troubles with Beatrice and his inability to hold down a job. Vivienne could feel the heat of the conversation shift toward her family’s misfortunes, and despite everything, she remained silent—waiting for the right moment to speak.
Meanwhile, Arabella was basking in the attention, as the talk of her healing abilities took center stage. Doreen Baker’s praise for Arabella’s medical skills had her smiling inwardly, but she played the part with measured grace, letting the compliments roll off her shoulders. Yet, even with this praise, there was a nagging sense that things weren’t as perfect as Arabella hoped. When she spoke about curing Isolde, the situation only worsened.
Leopold, Thomas, and Percival overheard the conversation, and Percival’s confusion became apparent. His eyes narrowed as he pieced together the real truth. Arabella was once again taking credit for someone else’s work, falsely claiming the healing of Isolde. It was too much for Leopold to stand, and his temper flared, but Percival, ever the strategist, stopped him before he could act. There was a plan forming in his mind—he wanted to see how this would unfold, and what Arabella would do when cornered.
Arabella’s facade cracked as she found herself caught in a lie. Isolde’s blunt words revealed the truth: Vivienne was the one who healed her, not Arabella. The confusion was clear in Isolde’s eyes as she spoke, but to Arabella, the realization was a blow to her ego. She tried to salvage the situation, but the damage had already been done. Arabella’s attempts at denying the truth were futile, and the guests were now paying attention, starting to question her integrity.
As the conversation shifted again, Doreen’s eager request to Arabella for help with her daughter provided a moment of redemption for the troubled heiress. The praises that followed for her “generosity” and “selflessness” seemed to soothe the crowd, but Vivienne knew better. It was all part of Arabella’s charm—using others to further her own agenda.
Alisa, ever the loyal supporter of Arabella, wasted no time in throwing jabs at Vivienne. But before Vivienne could respond, a surprising interruption came in the form of Isolde, who ran over to Vivienne, a bright smile on her face. Vivienne’s surprise melted away as Isolde wrapped her arms around her, and in that moment, Arabella’s facade slipped further. Isolde’s innocent comment, accusing Arabella of pretending to be Vivienne, sent a ripple through the crowd.
Arabella, flustered but still trying to maintain her composure, attempted to deflect the accusation. But before she could make her case, a voice from the back of the room cut through the tension.
“Is that so? Then could you explain why my sister said the one who cured her was Miss Arabella?”
It was Percival. His tone was sharp and calculated as he looked directly at Arabella. The weight of his question landed like a bombshell, and all eyes turned toward her. The pressure was on, and Arabella found herself cornered—caught in a lie that was becoming harder to deny. Would she be able to weasel her way out of this one, or was this the moment the truth finally caught up with her? The room waited for her answer.
