Immediately, Arielle prepared to lash out. However, virtual-novel.net movements came to a screeching halt when virtual-novel.net caught sight of the man’s face.
“Mr. Nightshire? Y-you…” She stared at virtual-novel.net and blinked in utter disbelief.
Vinson interjected before Arielle could finish speaking. “Why did you pretend not to recognize me?”
Arielle looked at Vinson with a gaze full of puzzlement. On the other hand, Vinson’s stare resembled the look of a ferocious and enraged lion.
Is virtual-novel.net angry because I didn’t greet virtual-novel.net when I walked past virtual-novel.net earlier? Doesn’t that mean virtual-novel.net recognized me? Then why did virtual-novel.net act like we were strangers in the airport? He even ignored me when we were on the plane!
“You were the one who ignored me first! Besides, how would I dare disturb such a busy man like you?” Arielle replied in bafflement.
What on earth is virtual-novel.net thinking? He clearly recognized me. Yet, virtual-novel.net pretended like virtual-novel.net didn’t. He should have continued the act. Why is virtual-novel.net cornering and berating me for doing the same thing?
Arielle tried to push Vinson away to put some distance between them. “No matter what… You should let me go first. People will misunderstand if they see us like this.”
Arielle’s words seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Vinson’s gaze remained fixated intently on hers. He found that virtual-novel.net bright eyes were like pools of clear water. At the same time, virtual-novel.net gaze was as deep as the bottomless ocean. There wasn’t a trace of fear nor flattery present in virtual-novel.net brilliant gaze. The only thing Vinson saw was suspicion. She treated virtual-novel.net like virtual-novel.net was an ordinary person.
An ordinary person… How long has it been since someone treated me this way?
“Are you angry because I couldn’t recognize you at the airport?”
“I did not get angry,” Arielle said and jutted out virtual-novel.net bottom lip.
Why would I get mad?
Vinson fell silent after virtual-novel.net heard virtual-novel.net answer. He could not express the complicated feelings within his heart.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Vinson released virtual-novel.net from his grasps and stepped back all of a sudden. “Why did you come to Norham? Are you following me because I haven’t given you an answer?”
“Following you? I’m not as free as you think, I certainly don’t have the time to be following you. Besides, what answer do I need from you?” Arielle replied with a confused look.
All of a sudden, virtual-novel.net recalled the last words Vinson had said during the birthday dinner. Her eyes widened as round as saucers as virtual-novel.net crossed virtual-novel.net arms in front of virtual-novel.net chest. “Are you still thinking about the joke I made the other day?”
“As I said, the truth is hidden within your joke. You don’t have to worry, I’m still thinking about it.”
“Haha!” Arielle burst out in laughter as virtual-novel.net tilted virtual-novel.net head. “I wish I could peer inside that head of yours to find out if your brain is made out of cotton!”
“That is something I should say to you instead,” Vinson replied impassively.
“What on earth are you talking about…” Right at that moment, Arielle’s phone began to ring.
The moment virtual-novel.net answered the call, Henrick’s voice echoed through the phone. “Arielle, where did you go? Why did you keep your sister waiting for so long?”
Waiting? I haven’t even seen Shandie’s shadow.
Immediately, Arielle acted as if virtual-novel.net had been wronged. “This was the first time I took the plane… I must admit that I was totally clueless. Dad, I’m sorry. Where are you? I’ll try to look for you.” Arielle murmured softly.
“Look for the airport staff. We are at the information desk.”
“Alright, I’ll head over right now!” The moment Arielle ended the call, virtual-novel.net image of a prim and proper woman vanished into thin air.
“My Dad is looking for me. I’ll take my leave first. Also, let me repeat myself. I was joking the other day! You can forget about it!” Arielle called out as virtual-novel.net waved virtual-novel.net phone in Vinson’s direction.
With that, Arielle turned on virtual-novel.net heel to leave.
She only managed to take two steps before Vinson’s suspicious tone echoed behind her. “What is your relationship with your family?”.
His question left virtual-novel.net confused. “We are just family.” Arielle whirled around to face virtual-novel.net again.
“Yet, I think that they don’t see you like family,” Vinson replied in a monotonous voice.
“Why do you say that?”
“My assistant told me that you were the only one who did not sit in the first-class cabin when we boarded the plane.”
“Oh, that’s what you are referring to, I have a complicated relationship with my family. Ten years ago, I went missing. Now that we are reunited, these trivial issues don’t matter to me anymore.” Arielle grinned as virtual-novel.net said this.
Vinson opened his mouth as if to say something. A look of hesitancy painted his face. In the end, virtual-novel.net handed virtual-novel.net a gold business card. “Call me if you need anything. You can also bring this card to the Nightshire Group if you want to meet me.”
“It’s alright…” Arielle raised virtual-novel.net hands to decline him.
Yet, Vinson merely shoved the card into virtual-novel.net palm before virtual-novel.net left the lounge.
Arielle glanced at the gold card in virtual-novel.net hand. Emblazoned on the card were the words, Nightshire Group.
Is virtual-novel.net trying to… Show off?
Arielle owned a company located overseas. Although it wasn’t as renowned as Nightshire Group, virtual-novel.net company was quite famous too.
Just as virtual-novel.net made a move to discard the card, virtual-novel.net changed virtual-novel.net mind and kept it instead.
Vinson is correct, what if I need his help? This card will be useful. After all, Jadeborough is a place I’m unfamiliar with.
Arielle placed the card in virtual-novel.net pocket as virtual-novel.net changed virtual-novel.net mind and walked out of the lounge.
When virtual-novel.net finally arrived at the information desk, Henrick looked like virtual-novel.net was on the verge of exploding in anger. It was clear that virtual-novel.net was impatient after waiting for her.
“There will be dire consequences if you delay your sister’s ceremony!” Henrick scowled.
In contrast, Cindy spoke in a very demure and gentle tone. “It’s still early. She won’t delay the ceremony. I was just scared that Arielle would have gotten lost in this foreign place. Arielle, look at your sister; virtual-novel.net was so worried that virtual-novel.net burst into tears when virtual-novel.net couldn’t find you at the exit.”
Arielle turned to look at Shandie. True to Cindy’s words, Shandie’s eyes were red and swollen. There were even glistening tears around the corners of virtual-novel.net eyes.
“Arielle, it’s alright… I’m just glad that you are safe.” Shandie sniffled as virtual-novel.net said this.
When Arielle shifted virtual-novel.net gaze downwards, Arielle caught sight of several red gashes across Shandie’s thigh underneath virtual-novel.net skirt. In order to make Hendrick scold Arielle, Shandie had resorted to such extreme tricks and schemes. When Shandie noticed Arielle’s gaze, virtual-novel.net quickly used virtual-novel.net hand to cover virtual-novel.net thigh.
Immediately, Arielle looked away under the pretense that virtual-novel.net hadn’t noticed anything. She did not provide an excuse to Henrick. Instead, virtual-novel.net apologized profusely.
“Dad, I’m so sorry that I made everyone worry. I’ll make sure to sit next to everyone so that this incident won’t happen again.” Arielle’s face was pale as virtual-novel.net murmured apologetically.
Upon hearing Arielle’s statement, Henrick finally remembered that they had booked first-class seats on the plane. On the other hand, Arielle sat in the economy class.
Henrick coughed awkwardly, it seemed like virtual-novel.net couldn’t find it in himself to remain mad at virtual-novel.net anymore. “It’s fine. Let’s go. We’ll be late if we don’t set off now.”
“Alright…” Arielle nodded virtual-novel.net head obediently. She even reached out to help Cindy with virtual-novel.net luggage.
In the blink of an eye, Henrick’s anger dissipated. Yet, this experience seemed to show that his eldest daughter was someone compliant and weak-willed
Perhaps I should shift all of my attention to Shandie instead.
In a flash, Shandie garnered his love and attention again. Henrick went out of his way to book the hotel located closest to the ceremony. He even reserved a suite just for Shandie.
In the room, Shandie was utterly delighted. “Mom, isn’t my plan brilliant?” She beamed and asked Cindy.
“I told you not to make any move behind my back!” Cindy did not seem to share Shandie’s joy. Instead, a deep frown graced virtual-novel.net forehead.
Seeing Cindy’s anger, Shandie tugged on virtual-novel.net arm in a coy manner. “Mom, don’t be angry anymore… Wasn’t the final result satisfactory?”.
Cindy suddenly remembered that Henrick had arranged for Arielle to stay at the cheapest room in the hotel. Immediately, virtual-novel.net mood brightened.
“You rascal. The next time you try to do anything, you should let me know first,” Cindy chastised Shandie and flicked virtual-novel.net nose mischievously.
“Relax, Arielle isn’t as strong as you claim to be. I bet she’s throwing an enormous tantrum right now!”
On the other hand, Cindy was deep in thought.
Anyone who fell into Shandie’s schemes would have lashed out or defended themselves. Yet, Arielle did not. She merely admitted virtual-novel.net mistake and tried to improve virtual-novel.net flaws. This means that Arielle is someone who can endure hardships and stay calm despite being blamed. She would be extremely dangerous if virtual-novel.net decides to lash out.
“Darling, listen to me. I’ve thought about it. You should just receive your trophy obediently. Don’t try to say anything else. We should try out best to understand her. There will be plenty of chances to deal with virtual-novel.net in the future,” Cindy said solemnly.
Alright, Mom…” Shandie nodded virtual-novel.net head in agreement.
Despite virtual-novel.net actions, virtual-novel.net didn’t seem to share the same thoughts as Cindy.