Chapter 450: Gone, Just Like That

Chapter 450: Chapter 450: Gone, Just Like That

"Mr. Rhodes, what are you doing here?"

That’s right, the person who had arrived even before the Donovan Family was none other than Caspian Rhodes.

Like Vaughn Kensington, Caspian Rhodes was also travel-worn and looked haggard. It was clear at a glance that he had rushed over at top speed.

"I was just coming to pick up my parents and heard what happened here, so I rushed right over. Are you all okay? Is anyone hurt?"

"We’re fine, we’re fine. I contacted Mr. Cole and his men beforehand, so we had backup in the shadows. And those traffickers were no match for me. I took them all down in a few moves. The locals nearby were also really helpful. The moment they heard they were child traffickers, they all jumped in to help without me even having to ask. They pinned everyone down, and not a single one got away."

Caspian Rhodes let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly. "That’s wonderful news."

"Mr. Rhodes." The words had barely left Caspian Rhodes’s mouth when he heard a slightly confused call from his side. Turning his head, he met Vaughn Kensington’s surprised gaze.

"Mr. Kensington? What are you doing here? And this child..." Caspian Rhodes stared at the child in Vaughn Kensington’s arms, his eyes wide with surprise. ’Isn’t that the little girl Arabella Donovan has been with for the past two days?’

Arabella Donovan, however, was a bit surprised. She glanced at Vaughn Kensington, then turned her head to look at Caspian Rhodes. "Mr. Rhodes, you know Mr. Kensington?"

"We’ve met a few times before. We happen to be discussing a project recently, so we’ve been in contact more often."

’They’re discussing a project? What project? Don’t tell me it’s that Alvane beltway development project, is it?’

Caspian Rhodes froze, then narrowed his eyes. He quickly realized something else had happened that he wasn’t aware of.

Vaughn Kensington’s gaze shifted between Arabella Donovan and Caspian Rhodes. "Mr. Rhodes, you know Miss Donovan?"

"Miss Donovan and I are... old friends, you could say. She’s helped me out quite a bit in the past."

"Mr. Rhodes has also helped me several times."

The two exchanged a smile, but Hector Donovan found the sight incredibly jarring. He took a step forward, positioning himself between them and shattering the atmosphere.

Vaughn Kensington wasn’t a fool. He could see the chemistry between them in a single glance—or more accurately, Caspian Rhodes’s special treatment of Miss Donovan.

’No wonder she was so confident before, saying that if there was anything she wanted, plenty of people would line up to offer it to her, and it wouldn’t be his turn. She really wasn’t bluffing!’

Caspian Rhodes was long accustomed to the tight defense put up by Arabella Donovan’s brothers. He smiled good-naturedly and returned to the previous topic.

"Mr. Kensington, you still haven’t answered my question. This little girl is..."

"She’s my sister’s daughter. My little niece happened to be on the same variety show as Miss Donovan and her brother, and they took great care of her. I came specifically to pick her up and to thank Miss Donovan and her brother."

"I see." Caspian Rhodes’s eyes flickered. ’So the little girl is Vaughn Kensington’s actual niece. What a... coincidence.’

Vaughn Kensington could see that Caspian Rhodes had things to discuss with Arabella Donovan and the others. Besides, it had been a chaotic day, and the child was getting sleepy, so he took the initiative to speak. "The little one is getting tired. I’ll take her back to rest, so we’ll be taking our leave. Thank you, Miss Donovan and Mr. Donovan, for everything today. Mr. Rhodes, regarding our project, let’s find some time to discuss it in detail after I get the child settled."

Vaughn Kensington’s words were undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill. His offer to "discuss it in detail" meant that the collaboration they were planning was already more than halfway to being secured.

Caspian Rhodes’s eyes flickered. He hadn’t expected to run into such a pleasant surprise while just looking for someone. He nodded and replied, "Alright."

Arabella Donovan blinked, having guessed the meaning behind their exchange. A gleam of excitement sparkled in her eyes.

’Looks like the major project the original female lead secured by using the truth of the little girl’s tragic death is about to be snatched up by Mr. Rhodes this time! That’s good, too. Mr. Rhodes is way more capable than that other Miss Rhodes. Vaughn Kensington won’t lose out by partnering with him. This is a win-win!’

Hector Donovan pouted, the sour taste of jealousy almost spilling from his lips.

’Good? What’s so good about it? It’s perfectly natural for me to ride my own sister’s coattails, but what right does this guy have? Is he part of our family? How dare he benefit from my sister’s influence!’

Caspian Rhodes struggled to suppress the upward curve of his lips. He offered attentively, "You must be tired after such a long day. Let me drive you back to the hotel to rest."

"No need. We have our own car."

As soon as Hector Donovan finished speaking, a white minivan appeared right on cue at the police station entrance.

The van came to a steady stop, and the driver’s side window rolled down to reveal none other than Hector Donovan’s agent, Sheldon Webb.

"Hector, Arabella, get in. Time to go back."

"Coming." Hector Donovan shot a triumphant look at Caspian Rhodes, raising his chin as he pulled Arabella Donovan toward the van.

Caspian Rhodes didn’t try to stop them, merely sighing with regret. "Alright then. I was hoping to take this opportunity to tell you, Arabella, what happened with my relatives after they went home for the ancestral worship. But since you have your own ride back... I guess we’ll wait until next time."

The moment he said that, Arabella Donovan’s hand SWISHED free from her brother’s grasp. Then, before anyone could react, she had hopped into the passenger seat of Caspian Rhodes’s car. CLICK. She fastened her seatbelt with a motion that was nothing short of smooth and swift.

"Second Brother, I just remembered, there’s something I need to ask Mr. Rhodes. Why don’t you go back with Webb first? We’ll be right behind you."

’Why wait until next time? I want to hear it now, right now, this very second.’

Hector Donovan: "..." ’Girl, do you have to be so obvious about ditching your brother for some juicy gossip?!’

But he wasn’t actually that hurt. He was just frustrated that he had already refused the offer and was now trying to figure out how to take back his words and logically follow his sister into the car to get in on the gossip.

Caspian Rhodes wasn’t at all surprised by this outcome. He walked around the car to the driver’s seat, not forgetting to confirm one last time with Hector Donovan, "Are you sure you don’t want to ride with us, Second Brother? You can have your agent go back first."

Hector Donovan almost gave in to the temptation. At the critical moment, however, Sheldon Webb called his name from a distance, pulling him back to his last shred of reason. "No, it’s fine. I have a car."

Hector Donovan practically spat the words out through gritted teeth. Caspian Rhodes didn’t press him further, simply nodding. "See you in a bit, then."

"See... you in a bit."

He had barely finished speaking when the car started, blasting him with a face full of exhaust fumes before disappearing from sight shortly after.

Sheldon Webb got out of the van and saw his client staring longingly in the direction the pair had left. He asked, confused, "I thought you didn’t like your sister getting too close to that Mr. Rhodes. Why didn’t you stop her just now?"

Hector Donovan clutched his chest, grief-stricken. "...You don’t understand."

’The gossip, oh, the gossip! It was big and round, so ripe its fragrance could be smelled for miles, and just like that, it’s gone! Gone!’