Chapter 506
Arabella, along with Kenneth and Louisa, headed over to a charity dinner.
This shindig was started years ago by a big shot from Summerfield. It’s held annually, and ever since the guy kicked the bucket, his daughter had been keeping it going. It’s been a thing for about seventeen years now.
The point of this event every year was to help the kids out in the sticks sort out their grub, education, health, and stuff like that.
The crowd was pretty much the people from upper class of Summerfield. It’s not open to the public; it’s just for folks with some serious clout and standing.
Kenneth and Louisa had been coming for the full seventeen years. But this time was a little different; they rocked up with their daughter Arabella in tow, who pretty much stole the show as soon as she arrived.
Arabella had this cool, classy vibe about her. Dressed in a black evening gown, she looked icy yet regal, like some kind of queen bee.
She rocked up, arm in arm with Kenneth on one side and Louisa on the other, and instantly had all eyes on her.
Lots of guests started asking around: Who was she? Why did she seem so chummy with the Collins family?
The event host, Erlinda Archer, spotted them and made a beeline, saying, “Arabella, you made it! I was worried you might give it a miss!”
She saw Arabella arm in arm with Kenneth and Louisa, and curiosity got the better of her. “You guys know each other?”
Looked like they’re pretty tight, considering Arabella was usually pretty aloof and wouldn’t just go around linking arms with anyone.
Kenneth and Louisa were taken aback by her words. Erlinda knew Arabella too? Just how wide was Arabella’s social circle?
Erlinda was the head honcho of the Archer family. Ever since her old man passed away, she’s been running the family’s century–old business and had some serious sway in the business world.
She was over forty and looked capable and gutsy, with the sharp eyes of a businesswoman.
“They wouldn’t happen to be your actual parents, would they?” Erlinda hit the nail on the head.
Arabella nodded, making no attempt to hide it: “Yes, they are my parents.”
“I thought as much.” Erlinda shook hands with Kenneth, gave Louisa a hug, and said, “Great to see you guys at the Archer family dinner again this year. I had no idea you were Arabella’s biological parents. She had a rough time with the Murphy family. From now on, you should shower her with love and make up for the past.”
Louisa was puzzled: “How do you know my daughter?”
“It’s a long story.” Erlinda chuckled. “But I’ll give you the short version.”
It happened a few years ago. Erlinda, who seemed to have everything, had a dream one night where she was wearing a super fancy dress.
The next day, she hunted down Arabella, who was just making a name for herself as the founder of QY, hoping she could make a dress just like the one from her dream.
The young girl told her straight up that the dress wouldn’t suit her and would turn out ugly. It was a waste of time.
Erlinda didn’t buy it and insisted. The girl refused, and things got tense between them.
Eventually, she went to great lengths to find someone else to make it. Sure enough, the dress turned out to be an eyesore. She had no desire to keep it and tossed it straight
away.
