Chapter 27


    Nighttime at Hawthorn Mansion.


    The banquet kicked off at eight.


    Vivienne and Dorian rocked up at half past seven to Hawthorn''s crib.


    The mansion front was jam-packed with luxury cars.


    In the hall, Arabe was looking all dolled up in a custom dress, sipping red wine and mingling with the


    guests. With her chin up and chest out, she wore a confident smile, looking every bit the rightful heiress


    of the Hawthorn family.


    As soon as Vivienne and her crew stepped in, Arabe spotted them. She walked over, wine ss in


    hand, and greeted them with a warm smile. "Dad, Mom, Vivienne, you made it? Come on in, the guests


    are almost all here."


    In a very hostess-like tone, she added, "I hope you brought your appetites tonight."


    Dorian frowned, his face looking a tad sour. Was she implying they were poor and couldn''t afford good


    food on the regr?


    Cordelia didn''t look too pleased either, but she kept her mouth shut.


    Arabe turned to Vivienne with a smile. "By the way, sis, Mr. Ellington will be joining us tonight."


    Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "So what?"


    "Mr. Ellington is really into you. He wasn''t nning oning, but he changed his mind when he heard


    you''d be here." Arabe kept her polite smile, looking like the perfect sweet, well-mannered girl in


    everyone''s eyes.


    "I see," Vivienne replied nonchntly. "Are you jealous or something?"


    "What?" Arabe was taken aback, not getting the implication at first.


    Vivienne smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "If you fancy him, I can totally step aside!"


    Arabe was taken aback, barely holding herposure. "You can''t just make things up."


    She liked Percival? What a joke! That worthless man was nowhere near her league!


    "If you don''t like him, watch your words!" Vivienne said calmly, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    A fleeting look of spite crossed Arabe''s eyes, but she quickly regained herposure.


    Vivienne gave her a quick nce and decided to ignore her, turning to join Dorian in greeting some


    acquaintances. Just as she turned away, a mature-looking girl walked up to her, gave Vivienne a once-


    over and sneered at Arabe, "Who''s she? Your friend? Why would shee to Octavia''s birthday


    party dressed like this?"


    This girl was Michael''s daughter, Alisa. She had been staying at her grandpa''s during her visit, so she


    didn''t know Vivienne and thought her outfit was too in.


    Vivienne nced at her own outfit - jeans, white tee, sneakers. What was wrong with that?


    "Alisa, watch your mouth. She''s your cousin," Arabe whispered to Alisa.


    Alisa gave Vivienne a disdainful look. "So you''re Dorian''s long-lost daughter? Not as impressive as I


    thought. How could you snatch Arabe''s fiancé? What were you thinking?"


    Alisa mostly lived with her grandpa, so she wasn''t very familiar with the Hawthorn family affairs. But


    she admired Arabe, seeing her as a celebrity - gentle and generous.


    And she was suppoed to marry into the Ellington family! So what if Percival was a loser? The Ellington


    family''s reputation was a golden ticket, and if Arabe could marry into it, she''d be set for life.


    Who would''ve thought that Dorian would find Vivienne and the Ellington''s engagement would fall upon


    her? It pissed her off to no end.


    Vivienne just got back and she was already stealing Arabe''s fiancé. How could she tolerate that?


    She definitely wouldn''t stand for it.


    Hearing this, Arabe''s face nched and she quickly tried to stop Alisa. "Alisa, that''s enough! Mr.


    Ellington was originally my sister''s fiancé. She didn''t steal him."


    Alisa thought Arabe was just too afraid of Vivienne to speak up, so she said righteously, "Arabe,


    even though you''re adopted, you''re still a Hawthorn. And you''re even better than the real Hawthorn''s


    daughter. You don''t have to be afraid of her, and you should pursue your own happiness. Mr. Ellington


    was originally your fiancé."


    This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    The moment these words left her mouth, Dorian and Cordelia''s faces fell. Vivienne, on the other hand,


    looked intrigued, eyeing Alisa.


    Everyone around them started throwing them odd nces. Arabe''s face turned sour instantly. Alisa,


    that idiot! Did she really have to remind everyone that she was adopted in front of all these people?


    And also, who would want to marry that good-for-nothing Percival! She was so outrageously stupid!


    But Arabe couldn''t let it show. She could onlyugh it off and exin, "You misunderstood. I have no


    interest in Mr. Ellington..."


    Before she could finish, Alisa cut her off, "Stop defending Vivienne. I know you''re just afraid she''d get


    mad, but I''m not! Arabe, today I''m gonna help you fight for this engagement."


    Arabe was so angry she almost bit through her back teeth. "I don''t need..."


    Just as she was about to speak, Coral chimed in, "Yeah, Arabe, you''re so much better, why should


    you be scared of a country bumpkin? She just got back and she''s already stealing your fiancé, who


    knows what she''ll steal next. Everyone''s here today, we must make her give back your fiancé."


    Coral had previously set up Vivienne for a fall, and boy, did she get reamed out by her folks when she


    got home. Normally she''d dodge Vivienne like the gue, but seeing Arabe all upset, she couldn''t


    help but stick up for her.


    Everyone, just like Alisa, thought Percival was a good-for-nothing, but his family was loaded and his


    grandpa doted on him fiercely. Marrying him would mean getting most of the Ellington family fortune.


    How sweet a deal was that?! And it got snatched away by Vivienne?


    Just because she was from the Hawthorn family? No way, Jose!


    "No, Vivienne didn''t..."


    Arabe was fuming and about to exin when Vivienne cut in with a smirk, "Oh? You wanted to marry


    Percival? Why''d you tell me you didn''t like him when I asked?"


    "I didn''t..."


    Arabe tried to get a word in, but Vivienne wasn''t having any of it. "Like I said, if you want to marry


    him, he’s all yours..."


    "No! I don''t want to marry him!" Arabe blurted out in a panic, her voice several decibels higher.


    Quite a few heads turned their way. Arabe felt a wrenching sense of injustice, her eyes welling up


    with tears. "Alisa, Coral, drop it already. I don''t want to marry Mr. Ellington and Vivienne didn''t steal my


    fiancé."


    She felt utterly wronged. When did it get so bad that she could hardly get a word in? Alisa and Coral


    kept interrupting her, thinking they were doing her a favor, and drew everyone''s attention. She''d be livid


    if they messed up Vivienne and Percival''s marriage speaking on her behalf.


    Yet, to Alisa, Arabe''s distressed state was all Vivienne''s doing. So she marched up to Vivienne,


    seething, "Stop threatening Arabe. What makes you so high and mighty? Just because you''re from


    the Hawthorn family? What do you have that Arabe doesn''t?"


    "Arabe is the talk of the town in Havenwood. She''s a renowned talent, a Cloudcrest High School


    graduate, Dr. William''s apprentice, and she even saved Mr. Ellington''s sister the other day. Everyone in


    Havenwood is talking about her. She''s both beautiful and kind. What gives you the right to fight her for


    a fiancé?"