Chapter 453: How Is This Not a Mutual Rush?

Chapter 453: Chapter 453: How Is This Not a Mutual Rush?

Caspian Rhodes pressed his lips together, struggling to suppress the smile that was forming at Arabella Donovan’s internal roast.

"So, their whole family has now... checked into the hospital together?"

"Yes. The clan uncle—you know, the old man who was arguing with First Uncle and the others at the ancestral rite—heard about what happened to their family. He thinks they’ve been latched onto by something unclean and suggested they find a master to exorcise the evil spirits and ward off disaster."

"And your paternal uncle’s family... they agreed?"

"Mhm. Actually, even if the clan uncle hadn’t said anything, they were already thinking about finding a master for an exorcism. After all, with so many things happening in such a short time, they were worried they’d run into something unclean. But as you know, it’s hard to find a genuine master like you these days. Most of them are just swindlers. I heard they’re busy pulling strings everywhere trying to find a real master to solve their family’s problems."

Arabella Donovan: "..."

’The ancestor is striking down his unworthy descendants to protect his posthumous reputation. Meanwhile, the unworthy descendants are desperately trying to find a real Daoist to strike back at the ancestor so they don’t get wiped out. How is this not a touching scene of fatherly love and filial piety? A truly two-way street.’

Caspian Rhodes: ’What a hell of a joke!’

"Mr. Rhodes, you should stay out of this. It’s their family’s problem, and it’s not for outsiders to meddle in. And don’t be fooled by that clan uncle of yours. He might talk all high and mighty, as if he really cares about the family, but in reality, he can barely save his own skin. Making a suggestion like that was purely to test the waters..." Arabella Donovan paused.

Caspian Rhodes immediately asked, full of curiosity, "Test what?"

’To test whether finding a master for an exorcism actually works, of course. If it does, then after your paternal uncle’s family is done with the real master, he can snatch him up and use him for his own family.’

"..." ’What kind of twisted recycling method is this?’ ’But still...’

’Going by what Serena is saying, this clan uncle probably has some shady dealings of his own going on.’

’Thinking of this, Caspian Rhodes felt an unusual headache coming on. Serena really wasn’t wrong when she called his family a dynasty of outlaws.’

’His main priority these next two days would be to investigate all the messy, sordid things these relatives were doing in private. The immoral stuff he could let slide; at worst, it was just a disgrace to their own names and didn’t affect his immediate family.’

’But he couldn’t turn a blind eye to the illegal activities, the things that crossed the line.’

’Since he was going to do it, he had to act fast. Caspian Rhodes had already sent people to gather evidence of their crimes while secretly withdrawing his family from any business dealings and partnerships connected to these relatives.’

’Once he had all the evidence and had completely severed his family’s business ties with them, he would turn around and report them, making them pay the price for what they had done.’

’He wasn’t looking to earn a reputation for righteously turning in his own family; he just hoped the stupid things they did wouldn’t needlessly affect him and his elders.’

Arabella Donovan was oblivious to the schemes brewing in Caspian Rhodes’s mind. She shook her head and said, "It’s nothing. Besides them, has anyone else gotten into trouble? For example... that cousin of yours who came looking for trouble the other day, and her family."

"Of those at the ancestral rite that day, besides my family, a few of my paternal aunts, and some distant relatives, most of the other relatives have had a rough few days. My cousin’s family ran into some trouble too, but nothing too major. At most, they just lost some money. It wasn’t as serious as what happened to my paternal uncle’s family."

"I see." Arabella Donovan stroked her chin, lost in thought.

’From the looks of it, her family is still in the ’all ambition, no guts’ stage, so the ancestral backlash they’ve received isn’t that severe. It could also be that the real Mr. Rhodes is healthy and capable, which is temporarily suppressing their greedy impulses.’

’But for people like them, even if they can suppress their greed for a while, they can’t suppress it forever. They’re like hyenas drooling over a juicy piece of meat, constantly circling. Even if they know the meat is surrounded by thorns, they’ll still charge forward recklessly for that one bite, always ready to trample over the blood and flesh of those who went before them to claim their victory.’

Caspian Rhodes deeply agreed. The actions of Guinevere Rhodes’s family over the years had long since proven Arabella Donovan’s point.

’He recalled how Arabella Donovan had mentioned not long ago that Vaughn Kensington was originally Guinevere Rhodes’s great opportunity. Now, that opportunity was undoubtedly his!’ ℴℴ𝘮

Arabella Donovan had been feasting on the gossip about Caspian Rhodes’s family the whole ride. By the time they reached their destination, she was thoroughly satisfied and utterly content.

But the moment she got out of the car, she was met with her second brother’s inexplicably long, mournful face.

"Mr. Rhodes certainly takes his time driving. We left later than you but still got here first. You left early and made us wait all this time."

Hector Donovan’s words were dripping with passive-aggressive sarcasm, filled with the resentment of someone who’d been tempted with juicy gossip but didn’t get to hear any.

"Second Brother, Mr. Rhodes was kind enough to drive me back. How can you say something like that? It’s so rude."

Hector Donovan: "..." ’I can see you enjoyed your gossip. You’ve just forgotten all about your brother.’

"It’s alright. Your brother is just worried about you. I don’t usually drive fast, and since I was giving you a ride today, I was afraid driving too fast would be unsafe or make you carsick. That’s why I drove a little slower than usual. In any case, it’s my fault for making your brother worry."

"Second Brother! You’ve really gone too far this time. Mr. Rhodes, please don’t listen to my brother’s nonsense. He didn’t mean it like that."

Hector Donovan: ’Damn it, this fucking green tea guy!’

"Serena." At the critical moment, her eldest brother appeared to save the day.

"Mom, Dad, Eldest Brother, Sis... why are you all here?" Arabella Donovan asked, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise as she looked at her family, all neatly assembled behind her.

"How could we not come after something so big happened to you?" Mr. Donovan said, shooting a hostile glare at Caspian Rhodes. ’If the signal hadn’t been so bad in that remote little mountain village, would this punk have been the first to get to her?’

Mrs. Donovan also gave a slight smile. "Thank you for bringing Serena back, Mr. Rhodes. Our family has some things to discuss, so we won’t keep you any longer."

Caspian Rhodes: "..." ’Is it my imagination? Why do I get the feeling Mrs. Donovan’s attitude toward me has changed too?’

In the end, Caspian Rhodes took the hint and left. The Donovan family filed, in orderly fashion, into the hotel’s most private presidential suite.

Arabella Donovan stared at the group standing in a line before her, all with serious expressions, looking like they wanted to say something but were holding back. She was utterly bewildered.

"Mom, Dad, brothers, sister, what’s all this...?"

The younger ones looked at each other, then decisively passed the difficult task on to the adults.

The two adults also stared at each other for a good while. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Donovan was the first to admit defeat. He sighed and said with resignation, "Serena, we have something very important to tell you."

Hearing this, Arabella Donovan grew even more confused. "Well, go on and say it. I’m listening, aren’t I?"

Mr. Donovan fell silent again. Finally, after an impatient pinch from his wife, he avoided his daughter’s strangely expectant gaze and gritted his teeth.

"Actually... we can all hear your thoughts."

Arabella Donovan: "???"

Arabella Donovan: "!!!"