Free Web NovelChapter 42: Chapter 42: You Said It
Gregory Sherwood froze, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest at Arabella Donovan’s words.
"What do you mean by that, Miss Donovan?"
"It’s exactly what it sounds like. You and your fiancée may have a connection, but it’s not going to end in marriage."
Even though he had already dismissed Arabella Donovan as a fraud, Gregory Sherwood couldn’t help but ask, "Is it because of me?"
Arabella Donovan’s expression immediately became complicated.
’Leave it to a textbook simp to immediately blame himself. Your fiancée has been cheating on you left and right—you might as well have a flashing green light on your head—and you’re still trying to gaslight yourself.’
"Ahem, it’s really not," Arabella Donovan said, hesitating. She looked as if she wanted to say more but kept stopping herself.
Perhaps she felt the truth would be too cruel for the man before her, as she couldn’t bring herself to utter another word.
Sensing Arabella Donovan’s hesitation, Gregory Sherwood’s gaze darkened. "Miss Donovan, just say what’s on your mind. I can take it."
’You asked for it!’
Arabella Donovan took a deep breath. "The problem isn’t you, it’s her. Her heart already belongs to someone else."
"Impossible!"
"...And it’s not just one person."
Arabella Donovan’s words and Gregory Sherwood’s furious denial came out at almost the same time. The narrow corridor was plunged into a dead silence.
Zane Lynch had already had his heart broken when he’d first discovered the truth, and he no longer thought of Cassandra Lynch as his beloved sister. So, hearing this new revelation, he was more shocked than anything else.
His surprise quickly gave way to the voyeuristic thrill of a spectator discovering a new twist. ’There’s even more to the story? I had no idea!’
The impact on Gregory Sherwood, however, was far greater. He subconsciously lurched forward, ready to confront Arabella Donovan.
Arabella Donovan jumped, her reaction a beat too slow.
Instead, it was Eloise Donovan, who had been right behind her, who reacted first. She darted forward, pulled Arabella behind her, and faced Gregory Sherwood’s fury head-on, shouting, "Back off!"
Gregory Sherwood, caught off guard by Eloise’s sudden appearance, was startled by her shout and managed to regain a sliver of composure. His face, however, remained as dark as ink.
"Miss Donovan, you should watch what you say. Making such baseless accusations against a young woman is a serious breach of decorum. For a girl who has yet to even enter the professional world, this kind of slander can cause immense harm."
Arabella Donovan opened her mouth to speak, but Eloise cut in, retorting sharply, "My sister doesn’t lie. Instead of standing here questioning her, you’d be better off spending your time investigating whether or not what she said is true."
"You were the ones who asked her to say it. You asked her for the fortune reading. Now that she’s simply told you the truth, you’re tearing into her without a second thought. As I see it, she’s just as hurt as your fiancée supposedly is. Whether you believe it or not, Mr. Sherwood, is your business. After all, we’re not the ones being cheated on."
The moment she said this, everyone present was stunned.
Zane Lynch, in particular, was shocked. ’Oh my god, you little firecracker, how could you just say that so bluntly?’
’This is bad. I have to step in. I can’t let my buddy hit my cousin!’
Arabella Donovan, meanwhile, gazed at her fourth sister with pure adoration, her mind already composing a symphony of praise.
’My sister is a total badass! She’s incredible! She’s the coolest!!! Hmph, that’s what you get for doubting me, threatening me, and yelling at me! Serves you right! And he has the nerve to talk about no proof? Cassandra Lynch and her boyfriend have already made a connection with that Minister Holt! Does he need to wait until their children are old enough to race horses on his head before he believes it?’
’Oh, and there’s Melanie Yates’s brother. Anyone who checked Cassandra Lynch’s bank records would know their relationship is more than just a simple case of pursuer and pursued. Hmm, he’s looking even angrier now. He’s not actually thinking of hitting my sister, is he?’
Arabella Donovan and Zane Lynch were on the same wavelength. Both tensed, ready to spring into action the moment Gregory Sherwood moved—one to pull him back, the other to help counter-attack.
But surprisingly, as furious as Gregory Sherwood was, he didn’t lose his head.
After taking a few deep breaths, he turned and confronted Zane Lynch. "Are you just going to stand there? Don’t you know who she’s talking about?" freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Everyone present: "..."
’Pfft-hahaha! Is this that ’I’m losing the argument so I’ll tattle to their family’ move? How did I not realize he was such a dope until now?’
Eloise Donovan: "..." ’To be honest, I hadn’t noticed either.’
Caspian Rhodes was struggling to suppress his laughter. He hadn’t expected to witness such a good show right as he was about to leave.
Zane Lynch, however, couldn’t bring himself to laugh. He couldn’t figure out how he, a mere spectator, had been inexplicably caught in the crossfire.
What could he say? Who could he possibly control? He hadn’t had a chance to get a paternity test done yet, but just looking at her face, Zane Lynch felt that things were already crystal clear.
Cassandra Lynch was history. The one standing before him now—she was the one his family would have to worship in the future!
He had no doubt that if he dared to say a single harsh word to this little ancestor today, his mother would write him out of the family registry the moment she learned the truth!
Completely out of options, Zane Lynch could only force an awkward yet polite smile. "The innocent will prove their innocence. Why don’t you bring Cassandra here to confront them?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
This was clearly a terrible idea. In an instant, all eyes were on him.
Gregory Sherwood, in particular, looked at him in utter disbelief, unable to understand how the person who always doted on Cassandra Lynch the most could suddenly have such a change of heart.
And then, he stormed off in a huff.
Watching Gregory Sherwood’s retreating figure, Zane Lynch awkwardly rubbed his nose and tried to save face for his friend. "He’s just having a hard time accepting it. He’s not normally like this."
Eloise Donovan shot him a cool glance. "You don’t seem very surprised by all this, Mr. Lynch."
Zane Lynch froze. Only then did Arabella Donovan belatedly realize how strange his reaction—or lack thereof—was.
’Don’t tell me... Zane Lynch knew all along that Cassandra Lynch was seeing multiple people, but he covered for her because she’s his sister and never told Gregory Sherwood? If that’s true, then that makes Gregory Sherwood even more pathetic. Tsk, tsk, tsk...’
Eloise Donovan let out a derisive snort. "Hah..."
Caspian Rhodes, the only one who knew the full story, hadn’t anticipated this delightful encore after the main drama had concluded.
Suppressing a laugh, he clapped a sympathetic hand on Zane Lynch’s shoulder as a gesture of consolation.
Zane Lynch, completely oblivious to the damage his reputation had just sustained: "???"
Because of the delay, by the time Arabella Donovan and her group walked out of the company’s main entrance, dusk had fallen and the city lights were just beginning to flicker on.
Zane Lynch was keen on having the two of them stay for dinner, hoping he could wear Eloise Donovan down and get her to accept his invitation to a banquet his mother was hosting the following week.
Eloise Donovan, however, felt thoroughly disillusioned with the cousin she had just met. She needed some time to recover from the day’s events and thus firmly and decisively refused.
Unable to persuade her, Zane Lynch settled for the next best thing and offered to drive them home himself.
Eloise Donovan, thoroughly annoyed, was about to refuse again when her phone suddenly rang.
It was an unknown number, but Eloise Donovan cautiously answered it anyway.
"Hello, who’s this?" she asked, her languid tone shifting abruptly the moment she heard who was on the other end.
"You’re... Melanie Yates?!"
