I Read Their Tragic Fates, and My Family Reads My Mind?

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Little Logic Genius

Arabella glanced at Melanie Yates, who was inexplicably keeping a low profile in a corner of the hall. "When did you get here?" she asked, puzzled. "I don’t think I saw you before."

"Right when that distant relative of yours was giving you a hard time."

"So you got here pretty early. Why didn’t you come find us?" As Arabella spoke, her eyes darted mischievously. Never one to pass up on some drama, she poked Melanie’s arm. "You saw my third brother just now, right? So? Is he still your dreamboat? Feeling a little disillusioned?"

Melanie froze and shot her a furious glare, her face burning with shame. ’I was trying so hard to forget what happened tonight, and of course she had to bring up the one sore subject!’

Just as she was stewing, Eloise, having finally escaped the Lynch Family’s fussing, came over. "What are you two talking about?"

The moment Melanie saw Eloise, her eyes lit up. "Sis, from now on, you’re my sworn sister! I can’t believe you’re really the Lynch Family’s long-lost daughter, and Cassandra Lynch is actually the daughter of a human trafficker! After all these years of usurping your position, stealing your fiancé, and running around tarnishing your family’s name... And now, she has nothing. She even got thrown out. It’s karma! Total karma!"

When Eloise heard her mention the "so-called" fiancé again, the corner of her mouth twitched, but she didn’t say anything.

Melanie, completely oblivious to Eloise’s reaction, was still flushed with excitement.

"HAHAHA, thanks for inviting me to your birthday party. I got a front-row seat to a fantastic show for free tonight. I bet I’ll be laughing in my sleep."

"Do you have to be so dramatic? By the way, isn’t your family in Jarden? Cassandra Lynch was kicked out of the Lynch Family and they completely cut ties with her. You’re telling me you didn’t hear a single whisper about it beforehand?"

Melanie sighed regretfully. "But I’m studying here in Stroven City, remember? My good-for-nothing brother is in Jarden, but his leg still hasn’t healed. He’s probably just lying at home collecting dust every day. I bet his intel is even worse than mine."

"Don’t you worry. Even though I’m not in Jarden, I still have connections. I guarantee that before you set foot in Jarden again with your uncle and aunt, I’ll have spread the word about everything that happened here tonight concerning you. I’ll make sure everyone in Jarden sees that manipulative, black-hearted schemer for who she truly is."

Eloise’s eyelid twitched. "They’re facts, so I don’t mind how you spread them," she said with a resigned sigh. "Just don’t exaggerate."

"Got it. The truth is juicy enough on its own. Anything more would be overkill. I get it, I get it."

"As for the whole ’sworn sisters’ thing... let’s not. I already have Serena. I’m not planning on getting another sister."

Melanie’s face fell with disappointment, but she didn’t press the issue.

But just then, Arabella chimed in with a mischievous grin. "That’s right! If you really become sisters with my fourth sister, then you can’t become our sister-in-law."

Melanie’s face instantly flushed crimson. She raised her hand as if to smack her, but then seemed to think of something and muttered under her breath, "...Never mind then."

Arabella: "???"

Eloise was also surprised. "You still like my third brother? I thought you liked the clean-cut, refined, gentlemanly type. My third brother is nothing like that in private, you know."

"But he’s just so handsome! Even more handsome up close!" Melanie groaned, covering her face. "Wait a minute, how do you know what my type is?"

Eloise froze for a moment but quickly recovered. "Duh. My third brother came to our school exactly once, when he dropped me off for registration. You fell for him at first sight, so whatever he looked like then is obviously what you like. But he’s really not like that in private. If you’re not prepared for that much, you’re going to regret this down the line."

"I’ve already made up my mind. I won’t regret it," Melanie declared with the unwavering resolve of someone determined to see things through to the bitter end.

"I’ll admit, I was a little surprised at first, but... ugh..." Melanie covered half her face as if overwhelmed. "Every time I look at that face, my mind goes blank. So maybe it’s not that I like the type you described. Maybe it’s that as long as he has that face, I’ll like any ’type’ he is. I mean, forget everything else—I could eat an extra bowl of rice just looking at him."

Eloise: "..."

’She could eat an extra bowl of rice just from that? Is this what they call a feast for the eyes? Is this the power a god-tier face holds over a looks-obsessed fan? It’s over. She’s absolutely smitten!’

Eloise: Pfft...

Melanie talked a big game in front of the two sisters, acting like she was ready to pounce on Aurora and claim him on the spot. In reality, she was all bark and no bite, only daring to steal a few glances from a distance, too timid to even get close.

Before Arabella and Eloise could drag her over to meet Aurora, she used the excuse of needing to go spread the news and made a quick getaway.

As the night deepened, guests began to leave the party one by one.

Caspian Rhodes, who had steered clear of all the drama, only appeared as he was about to depart and was personally escorted to the Donovan Family’s main gate by Arabella.

"There were so many guests tonight I didn’t even notice you, Mr. Rhodes. My apologies for the poor hospitality."

"It’s not your fault. You’re the birthday girl, and this is your first time meeting all these family relatives since returning to the Donovan Family. You already had more than enough people to entertain; you can’t be expected to greet everyone. Besides, I came with Solara and the others, so we were late to begin with."

"You came with Mr. Lynch and his group? Then why didn’t you... with them..."

"They had family business to handle. It would’ve been inappropriate for me to get involved. But let’s not talk about me. I heard you fainted earlier. Are you all right? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Arabella was a bit embarrassed that Caspian brought up her fainting. She gave a hollow laugh and said, "It was just low blood sugar. I was so busy tonight that I skipped dinner and just felt faint for a second. I’m much better now that I’ve eaten."

"Is that so?" Caspian had already heard the full story from other guests and had a good idea of the real reason Arabella fainted. Hearing her explanation, he didn’t call her on it.

"Well, be more careful in the future. Eat your meals on time, and don’t pass out from hunger again."

The corner of Arabella’s mouth twitched. ’I’m not sure which is more embarrassing,’ she thought, ’passing out from hunger, or collapsing because I couldn’t handle a simple divination reading.’

As the two said their relatively friendly goodbyes, they failed to notice several figures a short distance away, watching them with predatory eyes.

"So that’s the guy? He looks presentable enough, but who knows what he’s really like. I’ll run a background check on him later. If he’s a two-faced fake, just watch me teach him a lesson."

Hector Donovan rolled his eyes at him. "You’re going to run a check? How? With those lab connections of yours? The ones who are so out of touch they might as well be living in a cave?"

Aurora Donovan also shot him a disdainful look. "For something this trivial? I don’t need them. I can handle it myself."

Justin Donovan saw right through his younger brother’s little scheme and frowned. "Don’t do anything stupid."

"How is this stupid? If his actions match his appearance and he has a clear conscience, he won’t be afraid of an investigation. If he’s afraid of being investigated, he must have something to hide, which means I have to investigate."

The two brothers: "..." ’Say what you will, you’re a real logical genius!’