Chapter 222 Video of the Beating
After they finished cooking, Anna emerged from the bedroom carrying a delicate little gift box. She pressed it into Arabella's hands with trembling fingers. "Take this. It's for you."
Arabella happily accepted it and opened the box to find a pair of exquisite earrings. "Thank you, Auntie! They're beautiful!"
Anna beamed. "If your mother were still here, she'd be giving you gifts too. I'm giving you this on her behalf."
The mention of her mother brought sadness to Arabella's eyes. She forced a smile. "In my heart, you're just like my mom. You're both family I'll always have."
Ben had been playing on his phone on the sofa when he suddenly yelped, "Holy crap!"
Natalie walked over and smacked him on the forehead. "Watch your mouth! You need to break that habit, you hear me? Keep this up and you'll turn into a little thug!"
Mike agreed. "Your mom's right. All day long, it's just phone games. If you put that time into studying, you'd be way better off!"
Ben made a pitiful face at Arabella. "Auntie, look at them—always nagging. What did I even do? I just saw something shocking. Can't my young soul express a little surprise?"
Arabella smiled. "What shocked you so much?"
Ben eagerly rushed over with his phone. "Look at this. This kid's getting beaten up—it's awful."
Arabella took the phone and saw it was a bullying video. She couldn't tell where it was filmed—just high walls, vaguely suggesting a dead-end alley.
A boy in black clothes crouched with his back to the camera, protecting his head and neck while several fashionably dressed, loudmouthed boys took turns kicking him.
"Fuck you, asshole! Think you're so tough? Collecting our homework—you trying to rebel or something?"
"What a piece of shit! Acting like some nagging old lady!"
"That's for snitching! That's what you get!"
"The girl I like keeps hanging around you—I've been sick of you for ages!"
The thirty-second video showed the boy in black never turning around, staying crouched with his back to them, taking the beating. Even when he got kicked down, he didn't make a sound.
Arabella thought the kid looked even thinner than Daniel. Who knew how much abuse he'd already suffered?
She quickly checked the video parameters and saw it had been filmed just a few days ago.
"Ben, send me this video," Arabella said seriously. "This needs to be reported to the police immediately. Otherwise this kid's life will be ruined."
Ben was young enough that her words made him take it seriously. "Okay, I'll send it to you right now."
Mike and Natalie had also seen the video, their expressions grim. "We should report it. Let's go to the police station after lunch. We can't delay—who knows what else that kid's going through every day we wait."
Arabella thought about it. "All right. We'll go to the station after we eat."
Natalie prepared the dishes while sighing. "Kids these days are too bold. Beating a classmate like that—back in our day, a student like that would've been dragged home by the teacher by their ear!"
Mike nodded. "Seriously. Kids back then weren't this bad. Now they get access to the internet too easily, and they go bad just as easily."
He glanced at Ben. "You need to spend less time on your phone and learn something good, you hear?"
Ben sighed helplessly. "I know, I know. They manage to bring this back to me somehow. Unbelievable."
Arabella reassured him. "Your parents really are worried about you. You're their only child. They don't care if you're super successful—they just want you safe and healthy."
Ben wasn't an unreasonable kid. He nodded silently.
Anna smiled. "You only listen when your aunt talks to you."
Since Arabella was visiting, the table had eight full dishes prepared—far more than they could finish. Actually, every year Arabella specifically told Anna not to make so much food, but Anna never listened. She said Arabella only visited once a year, so she needed to eat well.
After lunch, Natalie stayed to look after Anna while she napped, while Mike took Arabella and Ben to the police station first, not wanting to delay.
Only two officers were on duty at the station. When they heard what happened, they took it very seriously, immediately requesting the video and comparing the surroundings to areas near various schools. They praised the group for reporting the problem promptly.
The officers said they'd follow up once they investigated, so Mike and Arabella left feeling reassured.
On the way back, Ben wanted to buy fireworks, so the three of them made a detour to the fireworks market.
Little did they know, back at Anna's house, Natalie and Alexander were staring at each other in shock. After a long moment, Natalie finally asked, "What did you just say? You're Arabella's what?"
"I'm her husband," Alexander repeated.
After the initial shock, Natalie felt somewhat panicked. "I've only met Anthony once, but I know he definitely doesn't look like you. You, you, you..."
He had to be an impostor, showing up while Arabella was away to scam money!
Natalie immediately tried to close the door. "Scammer! Get out!"
Alexander quickly held the door open, explaining helplessly, "Arabella divorced Anthony over six months ago. We've been married for over six months now. She's pregnant with my children—twins. I came here because something came up at home. I need to take her back early."
Natalie was shell-shocked by one bombshell after another. "Two hours ago, Arabella told me she and Anthony had a great relationship and had even adopted a child. Listen, mister, if you're going to scam people, at least be professional about it! Do some background research first!"
Alexander sighed. "Arabella probably didn't want you all to worry, so she didn't mention it. But I really am her husband."
Natalie looked at him suspiciously. "How much of a loser would you have to be for her to not even want to admit you exist?"
The comment left Alexander momentarily speechless.
But after his persistent explanations, Natalie finally, half-believing, let him inside.
Alexander was very courteous. Even though this was an impromptu visit, the gifts he'd brought were expensive. Natalie snuck a peek—many were things she didn't even recognize.
Anna would probably love them.
Natalie's impression of him improved by three points. This man seemed decent. You could tell he valued Arabella.
She pulled out her best wine from storage and poured him a glass. "Have something to drink while you wait."
Even though Alexander wasn't much of a drinker, his position required some knowledge of alcohol. As soon as he picked up the glass, he caught the faint scent of cheap spirits. Without changing expression, he took a sip and praised, "Good wine."
Natalie brightened, thinking he seemed genuine. She cheerfully brought out nuts and snacks, placing them in front of him. After thinking about it, she washed some fruit too.
Alexander slowly ate the nuts, leaving the wine to the side as he waited for Arabella to return.
When Arabella, Mike, and Ben came back and saw an extra person in the house, their expressions were quite something.
Arabella hadn't expected Alexander to show up here. Mike, on the other hand, simply jumped to the wrong conclusion.
He looked at his wife in tragic despair.
Natalie was straightforward. She immediately saw what he was thinking and was furious enough to want to hit him with a knife. "He's Arabella's husband! What are you even thinking?"
Was she that kind of casual woman?
After all these years together, he still didn't understand her!
Mike was even more shocked. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Natalie quickly dragged him into the bedroom, pulling Ben in too.
If she'd had doubts about Alexander's story before, seeing Arabella's expression now confirmed everything.
That man really was Arabella's husband. Arabella really had divorced, remarried, and gotten pregnant—and hadn't told them!
This girl didn't consider them family at all!
---
In the living room, Arabella stared at Alexander in shock. "How did you get here?"
Alexander looked back at her. "I was worried about you. Frank told me something. I need to confirm it with you immediately."
Arabella was confused. "What thing?"
Alexander shook his head. "You need to come to the hospital with me to confirm something."
Arabella didn't understand what he was getting at. "You want me to go to the hospital but won't tell me why. What's going on?"
Was something wrong with the babies?
The thought made Arabella's face go pale.
Alexander quickly explained, "It's not about the babies. Arabella, I want to..."
He hesitated, unsure whether to say it.
No one wanted to hear that they had mental health issues. It wasn't diagnosed yet—he didn't want to add that pressure.
After a moment, he said, "I made an appointment with an expert in prenatal emotional wellness and guidance. They can help you relax during pregnancy, which is good for the babies' development. This expert is hard to book. I want to take you to see if it helps."
Arabella didn't doubt him. She hesitated. "Do we have to go back today?"
Alexander nodded. "Yes. The appointment is for tonight. If you want to see Anna, we can come back after the session."
Arabella thought about it and agreed.
Since Anna was still napping, Arabella stopped Mike and Natalie from waking her. She just said goodbye to them, feeling somewhat ashamed. "I'm sorry..."
She'd hidden all this from them, and they'd ended up hearing about it from a stranger.
They must be so disappointed in her.
Mike quickly said, "Don't be silly. As long as you're happy, nothing else matters."
Natalie added, "Don't worry. I'll explain things to Anna for you."
Arabella's chest tightened with emotion. "Mike, Natalie, thank you both.
"Thank you for understanding. Thank you for accepting me."