Chapter 98 Cassidy Messed Up
Anthony and Cassidy's wedding was held on the top floor of a luxury hotel in Majestic City. When Arabella and Philip arrived, the ceremony had already begun. Accompanied by soul-stirring music, Cassidy slowly walked toward Anthony.
She was the most beautiful bride today, wearing a priceless handcrafted haute couture wedding dress and a diamond-encrusted luxury crown. Her pure face wore only light makeup, making her appear even more ethereal.
She looked at Anthony before her with pure joy, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth. She was certain no woman in the world could be happier than her. Everything about today's wedding had been personally designed and overseen by Anthony—he'd given her a truly dreamlike wedding.
Anthony took her hand, and amid the priest's blessings, the two embraced and kissed.
This was the scene Arabella witnessed as she entered.
Her steps involuntarily paused—not because she still had feelings for Anthony, but because... this wedding setup was too similar, far too similar to her own wedding.
That wedding had been something she'd anticipated and valued immensely. From the backdrop to every detail, she'd personally finalized everything. Back then, Anthony had laughed at her for being nitpicky, but she hadn't minded—it was a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, of course she had to take it seriously.
How could she have known then that what she thought was "once in a lifetime" would actually last only two short years?
Philip was also stunned, instinctively looking at Arabella with uncertainty. "Arabella, this wedding setup..."
The same dreamy blue and pink color scheme, the same helium balloons suspended in mid-air, the same large clusters of white lilies and pink peonies... If he remembered correctly, even the arch design was identical to the one Arabella had personally designed back then...
Had the Watson family gone crazy with penny-pinching, unwilling to spend money on wedding decorations and just reusing old stuff from two years ago?
Arabella's shock lasted only a second before she continued walking in with complete composure.
She thought the same as Philip—Jennifer was so stingy that she'd probably dragged out the old decorations for reuse.
Either way, it had nothing to do with her. She was here for only one purpose: to take Molly away.
She first scanned the venue. She recognized many of the wealthy ladies present—after all, during her two years as a Watson family daughter-in-law, knowing these people had been basic homework.
Arabella quickly spotted Jennifer.
She sat at the head table in the front row with Rachel beside her. Everyone at that table was either rich or noble. She also found Molly and Becky—they were seated at a nearby round table.
Arabella walked straight toward Jennifer.
As the mother-in-law, Jennifer had just come down from the stage. She'd really stolen the spotlight today—her formal dress was even more noble and elegant than bride Cassidy's wedding gown, mercilessly overshadowing Cassidy. She was currently in high spirits.
When she turned and saw Arabella, her expression immediately darkened as she hissed in a low voice, "Arabella, what are you doing here? Today is Anthony's wedding day—you're not welcome here! Get out!"
Rachel also looked over with disdain. "Arabella, you're not unwilling to let go and planning to make a scene to ruin my brother's wedding, are you? We've arranged over a hundred security guards throughout the venue. If you dare cause trouble, you'll be on tomorrow's front page in Majestic City. I advise you not to humiliate yourself."
Arabella ignored Rachel's words and looked only at Jennifer, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Ms. Reed, did you know Cassidy adopted a child?"
Jennifer sneered. "Do you think Cassie is like you—someone who can't have children? She's already carrying the Watson family's flesh and blood. She doesn't need to run off and adopt children like you did! If you're going to sow discord, at least pick a better reason."
Many of the wives present recognized Arabella. Seeing her appear here, they all looked over curiously, thinking Arabella had come to wreak havoc at her ex-husband's wedding.
But instead, she was saying the new daughter-in-law had adopted a child? This kind of thing was quite significant in wealthy families. There were many cases of people bringing back illegitimate children and claiming they were adopted—who could say for sure?
Everyone perked up their ears with interest.
Jennifer's face couldn't hold up, and she immediately darkened her expression. "Arabella, don't push your luck. Get out now, or don't force me to take action against you!"
Arabella looked toward Molly and Becky at the nearby table and asked, "How did Cassidy introduce them?"
Jennifer glanced over impatiently. "Those are Cassie's younger sisters from her family!"
She deliberately raised her voice, wanting everyone to hear that Arabella was making things up.
Philip sneered and also raised his voice. "Cassidy's sisters? They're children from the orphanage. We can contact the orphanage right now for proof. Is the Watson family's daughter-in-law really from an orphanage?"
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. This was an upper-class banquet—how could the Watson family's new daughter-in-law have orphanage children attend? How inappropriate!
For a moment, everyone looked at Molly and Becky with some distaste, unconsciously moving further away.
Jennifer was practically fuming. That bitch Arabella had come here spouting nonsense, clearly wanting to ruin Anthony's wedding!
But because of Philip's shouting, everyone in the hall now knew about this. No matter how angry she was, she had to clarify this matter in front of so many people, or it would only bring shame to the Watson family.
She took a deep breath and coldly instructed Rachel, "Rachel, call those two children over. Let them confront Arabella face to face!"
She absolutely refused to believe Cassidy would dare bring orphanage children to the banquet. Though Cassidy was somewhat petty, she knew her place—how could she be foolish enough to bring two poor people in?
You had to know that when confirming the guest list, she'd actively crossed out Cassidy's working-class parents' names!
Let alone Cassidy adopting children. Was she crazy? Pregnant with the Watson family's baby and still adopting? Even if—taking a huge step back—Cassidy really did adopt, she'd never dare make such a decision without consulting her first.
So she had no qualms about having Rachel bring them over. She wanted to publicly humiliate Arabella.
Rachel quickly brought Molly and Becky over, crossing her arms and looking mockingly at Arabella. "Here they are. How much longer can you keep up your lies?"
Arabella looked at Molly and softened her voice. "Molly, tell them how Cassidy brought you here."
Molly's eyes darted away. "I... Ms. Bourbon, I've already been adopted by Ms. Sanders. You can't take me away anymore..."
Arabella was stunned. What did this mean? Hadn't Molly been unwilling to go with Cassidy? Why did these words sound like she'd gone willingly?
Had Cassidy threatened her?
Thinking this, Arabella looked at her earnestly. "You don't need to be afraid. Tell everyone the truth—I can definitely take you away. Molly, trust me."
A hint of venom flashed in Molly's eyes. She didn't understand why Arabella was so annoying. She'd already left—why was Arabella still chasing after her?
She wanted to live a wealthy, comfortable life, not follow an abandoned woman through hardship!
She knew she had to make things clear now. Biting her lip, she said, "Ms. Bourbon, I went willingly. I don't want to go with you—I want to stay with Ms. Sanders. Could you please stop bothering us?"
Arabella felt thunderstruck, staring at her in shock as if looking at a stranger.
When they'd parted yesterday, Molly had seemed fine. Why had she become like this?
In that instant, she remembered many things—initially seeing Cassidy's car on the way out of the orphanage, and Molly's strange behavior yesterday.
She'd been slow to react, never thinking that if Molly hadn't accepted Cassidy, how could she have been wearing such expensive, beautiful new clothes?
The Molly she'd wholeheartedly wanted to take back and raise well—Molly's heart had long since turned toward Cassidy.
Unable to accept this, she wanted one final confirmation. Looking into Molly's eyes with a trembling voice, she asked, "Did Cassidy promise you something? Did she... did she speak badly of me in front of you? Don't believe her—she's lying to you. Don't fall for her tricks."
Molly lowered her head, hands clasped together. Having come this far, she decided to stop pretending. "I just don't want to go with you, Ms. Bourbon. I finally have a chance to leave the mountains—I want a better life. You can understand that, can't you?"
Arabella stepped back. She'd come here full of confidence, thinking she could take Molly back, never expecting to receive such a heartbreaking result.
"If that's the case," she swallowed the bitterness in her throat and said to Molly, "then I wish you happiness. I won't bother you anymore."
After speaking, she turned to leave.
Everything had happened too suddenly. Jennifer couldn't believe this child really was adopted by Cassidy!
Even Rachel was stunned, for once not continuing to humiliate Arabella.
The guests who'd noticed the commotion also began murmuring, "The Watson family's new daughter-in-law doesn't seem very smart. What kind of thing is this to do?"
"I heard she's from a humble background—no ability to see the bigger picture."
Hearing these voices, Jennifer's expression changed. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Cassidy lifting her skirt and walking down from the stage, calling to Arabella's retreating figure, "Arabella, I knew you'd come to congratulate me in person. Won't you sit down for a drink?"
During the ceremony, she'd noticed Arabella's arrival. She'd calmly continued through the ceremony procedures, deliberately waiting until it ended before coming over, wanting to make this incident bigger so everyone would know that the child Arabella wanted to adopt had come to her instead.
She wanted everyone to know she was more loving than Arabella and more liked by children.
She wanted Anthony to see how pathetic and laughable Arabella was in comparison to her—even an adopted child didn't like her.
At this moment, she completely failed to notice the wrong atmosphere, looking at Arabella with a beaming smile and saying in the gentlest voice, "Arabella, what's wrong? Is it about Molly? Sorry, I didn't tell you beforehand. The child came to me for help—I had no choice. You won't blame me, will you?"
Arabella stopped and turned back, seeing Jennifer's already darkened face nearby. She smiled meaningfully. "Ms. Sanders, are you sure you want to discuss this matter with me in front of so many people?"
Cassidy looked at her innocently, a flash of cunning in her eyes. 'Arabella, you're scared after all.'
However, before she could speak, Jennifer sharply scolded, "Cassie, go toast the guests!"
This farce had to end immediately—at least it couldn't continue in front of so many people, or the Watson family's reputation would truly be ruined!
The stupid thing Cassidy had done could be settled behind closed doors after the wedding.
Cassidy was stunned, not understanding why Jennifer was protecting Arabella. She looked at Jennifer in confusion. "Mom, I..."
Before she could finish, Jennifer coldly interrupted, "Shut up and go toast!"
Cassidy heard the warning in her words and didn't dare say more. She reluctantly agreed and turned to find Anthony, only to see him staring blankly at Arabella. A nameless fire immediately rose in her heart. She bit her lip and walked to his side. "Tony, let's go toast."
Anthony withdrew his gaze and nodded flatly. "Alright."
With the Watson family forcibly ending this farce, naturally no one would let them lose face. The guests all sat back down as if nothing had happened.
Arabella had no reason to stay longer. She took one last look at Molly, then turned and left without hesitation.
Molly felt somewhat panicked. She was young and had grown up in the mountains, never encountering such complex situations. She'd thought Cassidy, who brought her to the big city, was very capable, but unexpectedly she was being ordered around by that old woman without even daring to say a word of rebuttal.
And that old woman clearly didn't welcome her—would her life in the Watson family go smoothly?
In her panic, she didn't notice Becky quietly leaving.
Just as Arabella reached downstairs, she heard a timid, childish voice behind her: "Ms. Bourbon."
Arabella's steps paused as she turned to see Becky and quickly asked, "Why did you come down?"
Becky gathered her courage and stepped forward. "Ms. Bourbon, please adopt me."
Arabella was stunned.
This was the second time Becky had said this to her.
The first time, she'd already been preparing to adopt Molly and had politely declined. She hadn't expected Becky to bring this up a second time today.
But though she no longer needed to adopt Molly, she was in no mood to adopt another child.
Seeing her silence, Becky thought she was still reluctant about Molly and hurriedly said, "Ms. Bourbon, Molly isn't worth your sadness. She pretends to be innocent and kind in front of Ms. Ramsey and you, but privately she bullies the other children at the orphanage all the time. She's long since stopped wanting you to adopt her, but she didn't want everyone to blame her, so she pretended to be forced into it. Actually, she's thrilled to be adopted by rich people. Ms. Bourbon, she's really not worth it—please adopt me instead!"
Arabella frowned. "You're so young—these aren't things you should worry about. Besides, you're still her friend—you shouldn't talk about friends behind their backs like this."
She didn't disbelieve Becky's words, but in her view, this little girl seemed a bit too scheming.
Not wanting to say more, she turned to leave. Becky bit her lip and called to her retreating figure, "But if I don't fight for myself, I'll be stuck in the mountains forever. I want to study outside, I want to go to university, I want a broader life. I don't want my future to be only marriage and childbearing. Ms. Bourbon, there might only be this one chance to change my fate—is it wrong for me to fight for it?"
Philip was somewhat moved by these words and instinctively stopped to speak. Arabella grabbed his wrist and said quietly, "Let's go."