Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Howard, Vivian, David, and the group of Darling brothers sat on the sofa in the living room. David took a sip of coffee and then spoke. Tve come today to see Miss Darling”
Howard and Vivian exchanged glances. They assumed he was referring to Audrey. Since Danielle had only returned recently, they didn’t think he’d have any sort of dealings with her
Vivian asked hesitantly. “Do you mean you’re here to see Audrey. We saw the news about the two of you. Our families are indeed betrothed, but…”
Vivian didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence. “David, you’re here,” Audrey said sweetly as she came into the living room and looked shyly at him.
Joseph decided to speak up then. He was slightly daunted by David’s vibe, but he felt it was necessary to make things clear. “Mr. Charrington, are you and Audrey seeing each other?”
He hadn’t minced his words, and for a moment everyone looked to David with their breaths hitched, including Audrey, who had an expectant look on her face..
David knew then that the Darlings had misunderstood him. He stole a glance at Danielle, who was still tucking into her food, and then he answered, “I’m not acquainted with Audrey”
He continued to explain, “She wasn’t paying attention and bumped into me at the hospital entrance. His eyes remained cold and indifferent, while his lips curled slightly into a seemingly mocking smile.
Nathan added. “The reports online are baseless. The person who first broke the fake news has been dealt with. As for who instigated that person, I’m sure Miss Darling knows more about that.” He looked meaningfully at Audrey then.
Everyone around them raised an eyebrow. Even Danielle looked up, a little surprised.
Audrey’s face paled as she bit her lower lip in disbelief and humiliation. “David, I hadn’t planned to fall down. I didn’t expect that someone would photograph us at that moment and even upload it online,” she said in a quivering voice.
Audrey then lowered her head and said, “I’m sorry. Large drops of tears rolled from her doe eyes as if in indignation.
David watched Audrey carefully but didn’t reveal any change in his emotions. Howard and Vivian inevitably felt a heartache for their daughter, but they suspected that David hadn’t dropped by just for this matter.
Vivian spoke again. “David, we hadn’t had the time to inform you that we managed to find our biological daughter very recently. She’d just returned two days ago. We haven’t released this information to the public yet and even our relatives are still in the dark.
“It
tour intention to keep this information from you. We’d been planning a time to pay you and your family a visit, but-
Vivian then called Danielle over to the living room. She held on to her daughter’s hand tightly as the young lady sat down obediently next to her. “Danielle, this is David Charrington.
“Our families had an arrangement even before you were born, you were a boy, you and David would be as close as brothers, and if you were a girl, you would be betrothed, Technically speaking, David is your fiancé.”
She then turned to David and said, “David, this is Danielle, our blogical daughter.”
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Chapter 18
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David looked at Danielle with a soft look in his eyes. Danielle was quick to ask, “So, Mr. Charrington. What exactly brings you here today?”
“I heard that my fiancée had been found, so I’ve come over bearing gifts. And to see if she’s adapting well to life here,” David explained as he lifted his cup of coffee. He let the steam of the coffee waft over his face as he parted his lips gently to take a sip.
Nathan’s eyes widened as he thought, Miss Darling has returned to her own home, what’s up with the concerned tone? If you used this gentle tone in meetings, nobody would walk on eggshells around you!
“Nathan.” David’s low voice interrupted the thoughts in his head,
Nathan jumped to action, holding out a beautiful gift box and opening it in front of Danielle. He placed it on the coffee table in front of her and said, “Miss Darling, this is a gift from Mr. Charrington. The Crimson Lily. He trusts that you have a great need for it.”
Danielle looked at the Crimson Lily before her and realized that it was David who had outbid her at the auction. It was safe to assume that her other identity was already known to David.
The Darling brothers voiced their opinion then in a rare show of unity. “Mr. Charrington, you’re indeed well–informed. Our sister has only just returned, and she is still a young lady. It might be premature to discuss marriage at the moment.”
Audrey looked at the way her brothers jumped to Danielle’s defense. Her parents had never mentioned the betrothal to her, but now that Danielle was back, they brought it up in a heartbeat. A shadow flashed across her eyes, but everyone was too preoccupied to notice.
Even though David was infamous for his aggressive and ruthless business methods, Howard and Vivian also recognized that he was a fine specimen of a man with his good looks and intelligence. They believed that Danielle would be happy if she married him.
Danielle hadn’t expected that her fathily and the Charringtons would have agreed on an arrangement like this. She never would have thought that the man sitting across from her was actually her fiancé.
“Miss Darling, my grandfather has been itching to get out of the hospital, and he’d like to thank you in person as well. Would you be so kind as to pay him a visit with me?” David ignored the brothers and addressed Danielle directly in a compelling
tone.
Vivian asked quizzically, “Danielle, you’ve met David’s grandfather, Logan? Why does he want to thank you?
“I happened to be around the hospital and helped him with a minor surgery,” Danielle answered in an even tone.
Nathan’s eyes widened again, and he screamed in his heart, ‘You helped him with a surgery that no one had the guts to perform. Even the director of St. Katherine’s Hospital was at a loss! Then he shook his head subtly and mused to himself, ‘As expected of a miracle healer”
David answered on Danielle’s behalf, “Miss Darling’s medical skills are incredibly advanced. If you’d prefer, you can visit him as a representative of the Darling family, and not as my fiancée
David had a way with words, and he had a natural talent for persuading people. Howard looked at David admiringly as he marveled. “That’s a great idea.”
Vivian agreed. “That’s true. You could go on our behalf. It would surely please Logan. What do you think, Danielle?”
Danielle couldn’t help thinking that she didn’t actually have a say in the matter.
Chapter 18
“That settles it then. You’ll go with David to visit Logan and inform him that you’ve returned home,” Howard said with finality.
The Darling brothers began to protest.
Vivian was quick to nip it in the bud. “What are you boys on about? All of you are getting older, but I don’t see a single one of you with girlfriends or fiancées, she chided as she shot them all disdainful look.
She couldn’t help but compare her sons to David. The second David found out Danielle was back, he showed up with a ton of gifts.
Meanwhile, her own sons barely lifted a finger–just came home and handed her the easiest, most convenient gift they could
think of.
The marriage between Danielle and David had been arranged by their families, but David was a total catch. Not only was he good–looking, but he also knew how to treat people with respect
To make matters worse, Logan was still in the hospital, and it didn’t look like he was doing too well.
SEND GIFT
