Chapter 358: What Is the Biggest Difference Between You?

Chapter 358: Chapter 358: What Is the Biggest Difference Between You?

Cassandra Lynch’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and her expression twisted for a moment.

Though it was only for an instant, it was still noticed by Arabella Donovan.

’Here we go, here we go. That expression, that look... I don’t even have to think to know this scheming little protagonist is definitely cursing me out in her head right now. Let me guess what she’s muttering about me. It’s got to be the same old story: calling me a country bumpkin from the boonies who has no manners, doesn’t know how to socialize, and isn’t as elegant, graceful, noble, or poised as her.’

Arabella Donovan had barely finished her internal jeering when, in a corner on the other side of the room, Mrs. Donovan—hiding and pretending to be a customer—almost lost control and rushed over to beat someone up.

Seeing this, Mr. Donovan quickly pulled her back. "Calm down, calm down."

"Calm down? How can you tell me to calm down? How dare she look down on Serena? Why was our Serena lost in the first place, suffering so much? Wasn’t it because of that damned human trafficker mother of hers?"

The more Mrs. Donovan spoke, the angrier she became. The fact that Arabella Donovan had been lost for so long was a constant ache in her heart. The only reason she usually appeared so serene was that her two daughters’ kindness, consideration, and sisterly bond had greatly soothed her pain.

But that didn’t mean she could remain indifferent when someone else brought it up, especially when that someone was a beneficiary of the whole affair.

"If it weren’t for her and her selfish mother, our Serena wouldn’t have had to suffer all that hardship and misery. Every time I think about it, the pain is unbearable. And her? Not only does she not feel a shred of guilt, but she also dares to secretly laugh at our Serena..."

Mr. Donovan was just as furious, but now really wasn’t the right time to charge out and settle scores. "I know, I know. Just calm down for now. Once Serena is done talking with her, I’ll personally go with you to confront her. You can hit her or curse her out then—it’ll be up to you."

After much pleading and persuasion, Mr. Donovan finally managed to placate his wife for the time being.

The situation in the private room of the adjacent shop was much the same. Justin Donovan, pretending to brew coffee behind the counter, stared at the freshly made, scalding cup before him. He even began to secretly wonder if pretending to trip and spill the coffee on a certain someone would be a violation of his morals and upbringing.

At that moment, Cassandra Lynch had no idea that after just one glance, Arabella Donovan had seen right through her. Not only that, but her thoughts had been secretly broadcasted, making her an object of public outrage before she could even do anything.

After her brief loss of composure, Cassandra Lynch quickly calmed down. Plastering on her gentle, fake smile again, she took the initiative to start the conversation. "Miss Donovan, this is the second time we’ve met. The last time was at my uncle and aunt’s dinner party. I never thought that by our second meeting, things would have changed so much. I am no longer Miss Lynch, and you..."

"I’m still a daughter of the Donovan Family. So not much has changed for me."

Arabella Donovan’s interjection successfully made Cassandra Lynch falter for a few more seconds. It took her a good while to remember what she wanted to say, but just as she was about to continue, Arabella cut her off again.

"Miss Lynch, did you ask me here today just to reminisce about the good old days? If that’s the case, I’m afraid I can’t play along. I might not do much besides eat, drink, and sleep, but my time is still very precious. I don’t want to waste it on pointless chatter."

In her entire life, Cassandra Lynch had never met someone as unpredictable as Arabella Donovan. The entire mental script she had prepared to cozy up to her was now useless, and the polite smile on her face was on the verge of cracking.

"I... I was just feeling a bit emotional."

Arabella Donovan silently enjoyed her rapid change of expression, smiling as she said, "You certainly should feel emotional. The world is a fickle place. Who knows when a sparrow might become a phoenix? And who’s to say a fallen phoenix won’t end up worse off than a chicken?"

"Of course, what’s real is real, and what’s fake is fake. When a fake phoenix—a real sparrow—stays in the phoenix’s nest for too long and sees enough real phoenixes, it starts to think it’s become a phoenix too. Radiant, pampered, and rightfully deserving of everyone’s admiration and pursuit."

"Little does it know, a phoenix that can’t withstand the flames can only end up as a roasted chicken. But an ugly duckling, no matter how plain, will one day be reborn from the ashes and turn back into the swan it was always meant to be."

Arabella Donovan’s speech seemed rambling, but it was actually packed with meaning. At least, after hearing it, Cassandra Lynch took it personally and felt deeply offended.

"You don’t have to be so hostile towards me. The person who took your place was Eloise Donovan. I heard you suffered a great deal all these years, faced a lot of criticism, and couldn’t even go to school. Everywhere you went, people looked down on you. Meanwhile, Eloise enjoyed all the resources in the Donovan Family that should have been yours, and hogged all the affection that was meant for you. Don’t you resent her for it, even a little?"

Arabella Donovan was gesturing to her big brother in the distance, motioning for him to quickly bring over a cup of coffee to help her suppress the overwhelming scent of ’tea’ wafting from across the table. Otherwise, she was genuinely afraid she might puke right in front of this person.

Hearing Cassandra Lynch’s words, Arabella Donovan’s hand paused.

Sitting in the next room and listening clearly to the goings-on through a live phone connection, Eloise Donovan couldn’t help but feel her heart leap into her throat, even though she believed Arabella Donovan wouldn’t be easily swayed by Cassandra Lynch’s few words.

’Tsk, tsk, tsk. I get it now. This person asked me out just to sow discord between me and my sister Eloise, to ruin our deep bond. She wants to use a borrowed knife to kill, making us fight each other to the death so she can swoop in and reap the benefits.

’I was mentally prepared for this before I came, but I didn’t expect her to be so blunt about it, not beating around the bush at all. Do I look that stupid? Or does she think that someone who came from the sticks, never went to school, and has never seen the world must be an idiot who’ll believe anything she says?

’What a huge misunderstanding. I just didn’t go to a proper school, but I never said I couldn’t read or write. Our Sacred Temple’s library has, if not a thousand books, then at least eight hundred. I can’t say I’ve read them all, but I’ve gotten through most of them.

’Then there was my master, who gave me one-on-one private tutoring in every subject. I memorized the Four Books and Five Classics, studied the Daoist arts of the Three Pure Ones, and occasionally had to learn the four classical arts, antiquities appraisal... his motto was that you can never have too many skills. And the result? I come out here only to be treated like an illiterate fool who knows nothing. If my smug master found out, he’d probably cry himself unconscious in the bathroom.’

The Donovan Family, hearing for the first time that Arabella Donovan had learned so much up on the mountain, were all taken aback. They grew even more curious about her mysterious master.

Seeing that Arabella Donovan remained silent for a long time after she spoke, Cassandra Lynch assumed her words had hit home. A flicker of contempt and mockery crossed her eyes as she patiently waited for Arabella’s response.

But unexpectedly, the first thing Arabella Donovan said when she turned back to her was...

"Do you know what the biggest difference is between you and my sister?"