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Chapter_3
The doorbell rang, interrupting the tense moment in the apartment. Dorian, who had been on the verge of calling off the engagement with the Ellington family, was momentarily thrown off balance by the unexpected sound. Cordelia and Dorian both stood up quickly, instinctively heading for the door. Vivienne followed suit, rising from her seat out of respect, knowing the importance of greeting guests properly.
When the door swung open, they were all taken aback. Standing before them was none other than Arabella. Her presence, unannounced and unexpected, caught them off guard. Just hours ago, they had been at the Hawthorn Mansion, and now she was here, standing on their doorstep.
“Dad, Mom, I came to visit you,” Arabella began, her voice light and airy. “And I also brought some clothes for Vivienne.” She smiled sweetly, her expression one of calm sophistication. She was dressed in a light-colored dress, her hair pulled back delicately, exuding an aura of grace and poise.
Dorian and Cordelia exchanged a glance, clearly surprised. Vivienne raised an eyebrow, trying to make sense of the situation. Why was Arabella here so soon after their visit to the Hawthorn Mansion?
Cordelia glanced at the bag Arabella held and immediately noted its contents. There were clothes in there, no doubt purchased by Beatrice. Some were high-end, others barely worn—typical of Beatrice’s treatment of Arabella. Cordelia’s expression changed slightly, but she kept her composure. “You’re so considerate,” she said with a forced smile, accepting the bag and placing it on a nearby cabinet.
“What brings you here all of a sudden?” Dorian asked, his voice sharp, his suspicion growing. His eyes remained fixed on the bag Arabella had brought, sensing that there was more to this visit than just a friendly gesture.
Arabella’s demeanor shifted just slightly. Her eyes glistened, and she looked up at Dorian with an air of vulnerability, as if she were holding back tears. “I know you just found my sister, and you want to spend time with her,” she said in a small, almost fragile voice. “I understand if you don’t want to see me, but… Granny told me to come and teach Vivienne some manners.”
Dorian frowned, his patience thinning. This was becoming all too familiar. Every time Arabella visited, it seemed she was ready to cry at the drop of a hat, claiming some form of mistreatment. But Dorian knew better—Arabella had always looked down on them ever since she gained Beatrice’s favor. The act was growing tiresome.
“What manners?” Dorian snapped, his voice laced with irritation. “Vivienne’s manners are just fine. She doesn’t need anyone to teach her anything. She’s not marrying into royalty. What’s all this fuss about manners?”
Vivienne couldn’t help herself. She chuckled, a small laugh escaping her lips. “Dad, you’ve got a way with words,” she teased lightly, her tone mocking Arabella’s act. Dorian certainly knew how to call things out.
Arabella’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head, biting her lip. “Dad, that’s not what I meant… I just…”
“Alright,” Dorian cut her off, his tone now firm and resolute. “Tell Granny I’m calling off the engagement with the Ellington family. If she looks down on Vivienne so much, then she shouldn’t care about whether Vivienne has manners or not.”
Arabella’s eyes widened, and she couldn’t mask her shock. “Call off the engagement?” Her hands tightened around her skirt, her expression suddenly darkening. It was as if her entire act had fallen apart.
“How could he be doing this?” Arabella’s mind raced with anger. She had worked so hard to stay in Beatrice’s good graces, to secure the engagement with Percival, and now Dorian was about to undo everything. Her voice trembled with frustration, but she quickly composed herself. “Vivienne’s only nineteen. She’s just come back. She’s not getting married right now.”
“Exactly,” Dorian responded sharply. “Vivienne is my daughter, and I won’t let her be rushed into marriage by anyone. Not even Beatrice.” He paused, his tone unwavering. “You tell your grandmother that her plans won’t work this time. If anyone dares to push Vivienne into something she doesn’t want, I will sever all ties.”
Arabella looked at Vivienne with a slightly triumphant, but still veiled, expression. “You don’t want the Hawthorn family to get into trouble, do you?” she asked, her voice dripping with veiled threats. “This is the result of our grandfather’s hard work. If you… if you break off this engagement, everything he worked for will be in jeopardy…” Her voice trailed off ominously, leaving the words hanging in the air.
Vivienne’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes narrowing as she looked directly at Arabella. “Yes, I don’t want to get married. Do you?” she replied coolly, her tone sarcastic.
Arabella’s eyes flashed with anger. She was taken aback by Vivienne’s response, unsure how to react. Was Vivienne taunting her? How dare she!
Arabella’s expression soured further as she tried to regain her composure. “This is no joke,” she muttered, her smile tight and uncomfortable.
Vivienne blinked, clearly enjoying the discomfort she had caused. “I’m not joking,” she said, tilting her head in a mock gesture of innocence.
Arabella’s hands clenched into fists. She had to force herself to stay calm, but the contempt she felt was undeniable. “You really are the true Miss Hawthorn,” she spat, her tone rising in pitch as the venom in her words increased. “I’m just trying to help you, and you—”
Vivienne’s calm response cut her off. “Well, you’re here teaching the real Miss Hawthorn how to handle things?” she said nonchalantly, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Arabella’s face reddened with fury. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she hissed, stepping back as if she couldn’t stand to be in Vivienne’s presence for another moment.
Vivienne gave a slight shrug, unfazed by the tension. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure Granny’s ideas are more important than my future anyway.”
Arabella, now visibly rattled, took a deep breath to steady herself before continuing. “It’s not about that,” she said, putting on a more composed expression. “Granny thinks the engagement is important. There’s a lot of money at stake—our company stands to gain a lot after the marriage is finalized. We can’t afford to break it off now.”
Vivienne narrowed her eyes, studying Arabella closely, but said nothing. Arabella turned her gaze to Dorian, then quickly stood up to leave. “I have to go to the company,” she said hurriedly. “Granny is not happy about the idea of canceling the engagement. If you go through with it, she’ll take back this apartment.”
Dorian opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, Arabella had already left, leaving her words hanging in the air.
Dorian stood there for a moment, his brow furrowed with concern. He had known Arabella was manipulative, but this attempt at controlling him was more brazen than ever. He was about to speak to Cordelia when the reality of the situation hit him: Beatrice would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. And now, it seemed, Arabella was her puppet.
