Chapter 45 - The Mark

When Jaquan caught up to Arabella, she was squatting under a tree and making a phone call. She curled up and drew circles on the ground with her fingers in uneasiness. "Vincent, I'll just ask you one question. Did you mean what you said in the private room just now?"

Jaquan didn't know what Vincent said on the phone, but Arabella hung up. It looked like she was under hypnosis.

And she silently stared at the ground.

Jaquan walked over and draped his coat over her.

Arabella looked up and saw him. Tears suddenly flowed out of her eyes as she asked in a low voice, "Are you here to laugh at me?"

Jaquan wiped away her tears with his thumb and sighed, "Arabella, you know I love you. I will never laugh at you."

"But I don't want your love!" Arabella cried out loud. "I want Vincent! I've liked him for so many years! Why did he find a retard all of a sudden? Why? How am I worse than that retard?"

Jaquan also wanted to roar. 'I've liked you for so many years, but why won't you give me a chance!'

But he didn't say it. He just lowered his head and suddenly said, "She's not a retard."

"You speak for her!" Arabella stood up indignantly. She was still crying. She looked so beautiful when shedding tears under the street lamp, but in a flash, her tears were replaced by hatred. "I don't want to see her!"

There were two kids in the Pecks. One was bold and the other was weak and timid. Unfortunately, the bold one was a girl, while the weak one, the family's inheritor, was incorrigible. Because of autism and fear of darkness, he had never left the house. The Pecks made it clear to the public that they would make Arabella the successor. That was why Arabella went to study abroad four years ago.

At that time, before she left, she asked those friends to keep an eye on Vincent so that no vixens could get close. They joked, "Everyone knows that Vincent won't get close to women except you..."

Arabella thought that Vincent knew she was in love with him all this time. And the mental support when she was abroad was the wish that she could marry Vincent after she's back. However, she didn't expect that a retard would take her place!

How could she bear it?

Jaquan was so familiar with Arabella that he understood her emotions. He immediately stopped her and said, "Arabella, don't act rashly. Vincent is serious this time."

Arabella avoided him and walked forward. "Don't get in the way."

"He marked her." Behind her, Jaquan said calmly, "He gave her his first kiss."

Arabella suddenly turned her head and her eyes instantly reddened. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she covered her head and screamed, "No way! You are lying!"

"We saw it." Jaquan walked over and supported her shoulder. "I, Ferne, Armando, and Randy. We all saw it."

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" Arabella tried hard to break free, but she couldn't. Because she was too angry, she accidentally slapped him.

It was finally quiet.

Arabella stared at him and suddenly hugged him in grief and cried, "How could I have a breakup the moment I was back? Why... Why doesn't Vincent like me....? Why? Am I a bad girl ...?"

"Arabella." Jaquan hugged her and caressed her back. "Be with me, okay?" He asked softly.

Arabella was still crying.

Jaquan whispered in her ear, "I like you. I've always liked you since I was a child."

After a long time, Arabella finally stopped crying.

Jaquan held her in his arms and was about to return by car.

Halfway through, Arabella suddenly asked him, "Jaquan, can you do something for me?"

This was the first time Arabella addressed him by name. Jaquan was so happy that he immediately nodded. "Okay!"

...

When Emily returned to the Britt's, it was late. After she came out of the restaurant, she waited for Sydnee. Then, the three went to buy a locker and Emily locked the property ownership certificate inside. Afterward, she gave the key to Harold.

Without saying a word, Harold put the key into the pocket of his shirt.

On the way back, Sydnee wanted to ask something, but she didn't know how to say it. She just looked at Emily from time to time. In her memory, Emily was still the little girl who wouldn't grow up. She was in a white lace dress, had a soft and cute face, and sweetly called Eliot and Elsie. She was smiling, sensible, and obedient.

Unlike the current her, who was looking out of the window expressionlessly with cold eyes.

What exactly happened to her?

"You don't need to be curious about my relationship with him." Emily looked out of the window and said without raising her head, "I'm just a retard."

Sydnee was speechless.

'Your ability to read people indicated otherwise, okay?'

Harold looked at the two people in the backseat through the rearview mirror. Although he was usually dumb, it didn't mean that he could be calm when he heard Emily being called girlfriend by Vincent and saw her hugged in public by him.

A dumb man might look dumber because of shock, and others might mistake it as being mature.

But it wasn't like that. He hadn't come to himself yet. After all, it was Mr. Vincent. It would be hard to find him a match in City Y. And even if there was one, it wouldn't be Emily!

Harold recalled Emily's strange behaviors these days, and suddenly realized something. Emily could change her style, so it was reasonable for Vincent to change his taste... No. No matter how much he changed, he wouldn't love Emily. She was not even an adult!

They were about to arrive at the Dickerson's. Emily turned her head to look at Sydnee and said, "I'll go to the Tea Manor in two days. Will you be there?"

"Yeah." Sydnee packed her bag and thanked her again before getting out of the car. Then, she waved her hand and said, "Text me."

"Alright."

This was the second time Emily had come home late.

She thought only Eliot would be waiting in the living room and she didn't expect the whole family to be there. All of their faces were gloomy. Beverly sat there and didn't say anything when she saw Emily coming back. Elsie sat on the sofa with an ashen face. Only Maury and Eliot were standing in the living room.

"Have you had dinner?" It was Eliot who noticed her and walked over to feel her hand. "It's cold. Go wash your hands with warm water."

"Alright." Emily washed her hands and came back. Sensing that the atmosphere was still gloomy, she couldn't help but ask, "Eliot, what's wrong?"

Since something like that had happened this afternoon, even if the marriage between the Buckleys and the Britts wouldn't be canceled, the Buckleys would do something to make it difficult for Elsie. Emily knew it, but she just pretended to be in the dark and asked.

Eliot explained in a low voice, "The Buckleys had planned to come over tomorrow and talk about the engagement. But they called and said that Marquise's head was injured. The engagement was postponed until the end of the year."

"You talked too much. How can she understand?" Maury frowned and turned his head to look at Emily. He softened his expression and said, "Are you tired? Just go to bed."

Emily blinked her big eyes and carefully said to Maury, "Good night, dad."

Eliot caressed her head and said, "Don't be afraid. It's fine. Go to sleep."

How could he know that his little retarded sister was the one behind this thing that he was worried about all night?