Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_85
Arabella had the day off from work and was spending her time at home. Though she technically didn’t need to be at Hawthorn Mansion, she chose to stay behind. She wanted to watch Dorian and his family leave in disgrace and see the expression on their faces when they realized just how little they mattered to Beatrice. So, she stayed by her side, keeping her mouth shut while the conversation between Dorian and Beatrice unfolded. As a junior, she knew it wasn’t her place to intervene in family matters.
However, she never expected Dorian to suddenly turn the spotlight on her and demand she make a choice.
Arabella clenched her fists, biting her lip, trying to keep her composure. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Dorian. “Dad, are you cutting ties with me too?” she asked, her voice trembling with feigned hurt.
Dorian’s face remained a mask of indifference, and his voice was steady when he replied, “I’m not cutting ties with you. I’m giving you a choice. If you choose to follow me, you will no longer be allowed at Hawthorn Mansion. If you choose to stay with your grandmother, you will not be allowed to see me anymore. Arabella, you can’t have it both ways. You must decide.”
Dorian’s words were firm, almost as if he had been preparing for this moment. He had been deeply disappointed with Arabella’s actions over the years, especially after Vivienne’s return. Arabella’s behavior had only made him more frustrated, and he now saw it as the right time to make her choose, to see if she would stand by him or continue to play both sides.
“Dad, why are you and grandma on such bad terms?” Arabella sniffled, feigning innocence as she wiped away a tear. “You used to get along so well. Grandma is old, and she’s got her own troubles. I may be adopted, but I’ve always seen you and Mom as my real parents. I want us all to be happy.”
Her eyes were red and swollen as she continued, “I know that ever since my sister came back, she’s been against me, thinking I took everything that belongs to her. But I didn’t mean to, Dad! Can’t you mend things with grandma? I don’t want to leave you guys!”
Dorian’s expression darkened, and his voice dropped, almost a growl as he responded, “Enough!”
The force of his words made Arabella flinch, something she hadn’t done in years. She had never seen him this angry before, and it shook her.
“Vivienne has never once been upset with you. She hasn’t even mentioned you at home. So where are you getting this idea that she’s against you? Arabella, let’s be real. In the two years you’ve been with us, your mother and I have sacrificed everything for your well-being. My own son, Thaddeus, sometimes goes hungry, but I’ve never let you go hungry.”
Arabella hung her head low, refusing to meet Dorian’s eyes. But behind her gaze, a glint of something cold flashed—something no one noticed.
Deep down, she didn’t care about Dorian’s sacrifices. She had never seen him as more than a stepping stone. The Hawthorn family was wealthy, and as a poor girl raised by her grandmother, Arabella had always wanted more. She had worked her way back into the Hawthorn family by currying favor with Beatrice, and it had worked—she had everything she wanted now.
“I admit that we’re not rich,” Dorian continued, his tone still stern, “but since you came into our lives, I’ve tried my best to treat you like my own. I had hopes that someone, anyone, could treat Vivienne the same way. But I can’t say I haven’t tried to give you the best. It’s never been enough for you, has it?”
Arabella’s impatience was growing, her irritation now visible on her face. She couldn’t stand listening to Dorian’s words anymore.
“That’s not what I meant,” Arabella muttered, brushing off his words. “Can we just get to the point?”
Dorian, sensing her annoyance, gave a cold, sharp glance. “Fine, make your choice. Stay or go. It’s up to you.”
Arabella hesitated for only a moment, but it was just long enough to let the decision sink in. She knew exactly what she needed to do. The Hawthorn family, with all its wealth and connections, was her ticket to a better life. She wasn’t going to throw that away. She wiped away a fake tear and gave Dorian a resigned look, her voice soft as she said, “Then… I choose grandma.”
This wasn’t a surprising decision to Dorian. He had expected it. He gave a nod, turned to the lawyer, and instructed, “Mr. Dylan, please add this condition to the contract and have Arabella sign it.”
Mr. Dylan glanced at Beatrice, who nodded in agreement. The lawyer swiftly made the changes to the contract and handed it over to everyone for review. Once they all read over it and agreed, they signed without hesitation.
Just as they were finishing, Dorian pulled out another piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Beatrice. “This is the full formula,” he said, his voice calm.
Beatrice didn’t even wait for him to finish speaking. She glanced at the paper, confirmed that it contained the two missing ingredients, and handed it over to Michael. “Hurry up and get the R&D team working on this. We need this perfume developed as quickly as possible,” she said, her voice sharp and commanding.
Michael nodded, eager to follow through. “Got it, Mom!”
But before anyone could celebrate, Joseph spoke up. “We’re going to need funds for research and marketing. We don’t have much left.”
Beatrice was quick to respond. “We can sell my jewelry if needed. It should be worth enough to cover half a million for the costs. Don’t worry, Joseph. We’ll find a way.”
Despite their financial struggles, the Hawthorn family was willing to push forward with the perfume project, even if it meant sacrificing everything they had left.
Meanwhile, outside the mansion, two men with binoculars were stationed near a massive tree, observing the Hawthorn family.
“Thomas, Dorian left without handing over any potion, but he gave Beatrice something. Do we still stay here?” one of them asked.
Thomas took a final look through his binoculars before removing his earpiece. “Let’s move out.”
Later, at Percival’s place, Thomas reported back. “Mr. Ellington, Dorian didn’t hand over the potion to Beatrice. It looked like he gave her a perfume formula, but we’ll need to confirm its authenticity.”
Percival was lounging on the sofa, his fingers drumming against the armrest as he listened intently. His voice, when he spoke, was low and slightly husky. “Get that paper from Beatrice. See if it’s connected to the potion. Also, dig deeper into Dorian’s background. I have a feeling he knows more about the potion’s whereabouts than we think.”
Thomas looked uncertain for a moment. “Mr. Ellington, are we really investigating Dorian? He’s Vivienne’s father…”
Percival’s eyes darkened, and he gave a cold laugh. “Even if he were my father, I’d still investigate him. I trust my instincts, and I have a feeling Dorian knows something about the potion.”
