Chapter 79 A Childhood Friend Returns?
Arabella suddenly snapped back to attention, meeting his gaze. Her instinct was to say she knew the man on stage, but she worried Gabriel wouldn't believe her and would mock her for talking nonsense.
So she smiled and said, "Nothing really, I just think he's amazing. So young, yet already a successful entrepreneur with a stellar reputation in Quantum Cove, one of the world's most cutting-edge tech innovation hubs. Then he boldly sold his company, achieved financial freedom, and returned home with capital to develop and build up his hometown."
Gabriel hated it when she praised other men. Hearing this, he scoffed coldly, "He just couldn't make it abroad anymore and came back to fleece naive people like you of their money. You're making it sound so noble."
Arabella's expression darkened. "How can you say that about him? Is it really so hard to acknowledge someone else's excellence?"
Setting aside her childhood friendship with Manuel, even as a stranger, anyone would admire and praise such a young, accomplished role model.
Gabriel pressed his lips together, unwilling to start an argument at such an event, and could only suppress his temper.
On stage, Manuel concluded his speech with a slight bow to the audience. As he straightened up, his gaze caught something in the crowd, and his expression briefly changed.
The government official applauded with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. Wright. We look forward to our future cooperation."
Manuel withdrew his gaze and shook hands with the official courteously.
The gala officially began, and the atmosphere became more relaxed and casual.
Arabella was still upset by Gabriel's earlier words and didn't feel like using him as a human walking stick anymore. While he was talking with others, she slipped her arm away from his.
She wanted to find Manuel.
Of course, she didn't dare approach him rashly.
After so many years, Manuel surely wouldn't recognize her. If she suddenly rushed up to reveal her identity, how embarrassing would that be?
But as she lifted her dress hem and slowly weaved through the crowd, still searching, her phone rang.
She took her phone from her delicate handbag and saw it was an unknown international number.
For some reason, she suddenly felt secretly excited.
She remembered that in her last email reply to Manuel, she'd specifically given him her phone number, asking him to contact her when he returned home so she could welcome him back.
And this international number...
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Arabella?" The voice in her ear was identical to the one that had just spoken on stage.
Modest, warm, low, and powerful.
Her heartbeat instantly accelerated. Arabella instinctively looked around, asking excitedly, "Manuel, is that you?"
Manuel, on the other end, had just spotted Arabella craning her neck and looking around in the crowd, so he said with a smile, "I see you. Don't move, I'm coming right over."
"Okay!"
After hanging up, Arabella couldn't describe her current feelings.
She completely forgot she was a married woman, forgot she had twin children, and forgot her husband was right there at the event.
Her heart was full of anticipation for reuniting with Manuel.
Just like when she was little, after losing her father and being abandoned by her mother, walking alone on the muddy road after school in the rain, her feet stuck in the mire with nowhere to turn, when she saw Manuel hurrying toward her with an umbrella—that same joy and excitement.
Back then, Manuel's appearance was always like a god descending from heaven, always able to rescue her from dire straits.
Unfortunately, their friendship hadn't lasted many years.
Manuel's family later moved to the big city, and then she heard he'd gone abroad to study.
After all these years, to see her childhood playmate again—her excitement and joy were indescribable.
Manuel looked at the charming, radiant woman before him, studying her carefully, his emotions equally complex.
Her features still held traces of childhood, which was how he'd been able to spot her from the crowd at a glance when his gaze swept over the audience from the stage.
But she no longer carried that childhood aura of inferiority, timidity, pitiful loneliness, and rural awkwardness.
She was beautiful, gracious, elegant, and mature.
She was married to another man, and her husband seemed to come from good stock—clearly wealthy or noble, otherwise she wouldn't be here.
"Arabella, it really is you. I thought I was seeing things earlier." After they finished looking each other over, Manuel spoke first.
Arabella blinked back to awareness, lowering her head with a slight smile, suddenly so nervous she didn't know how to respond, "I... I never expected this either. When you mentioned returning home in your last email, I thought... this is such a surprise."
Both smiled. They clearly had so much to say, but this setting obviously wasn't appropriate.
A middle-aged man approached, patting Manuel on the shoulder, "Manuel, ran into an old friend?"
Manuel turned around and said, "Uncle, this is a former neighbor from back home. Haven't seen each other in years—never expected to meet here tonight."
The middle-aged man, addressed as uncle, glanced at Arabella with a somewhat meaningful smile, "Manuel, this lady is Gabriel Sterling's wife."
"The Sterling family?" Manuel had been abroad for years. Though he'd studied Luminara's elite circles before returning, he knew nothing about their personal information and private lives.
Manuel's uncle prompted, "The Sterling family of Sterling Group."
"Oh." He finally understood, then looked at Arabella with even greater surprise.
Though he'd already guessed she'd married into wealth and nobility, he never dared imagine it would be one of Luminara's most prominent families.
How could a little orphan with no parents have connections to such top-tier aristocracy?
As they were talking, Gabriel, who'd been looking for Arabella, finally arrived.
"What are you wandering off for? How am I supposed to find you if you get lost?" Gabriel's gaze focused only on Arabella. He walked over, grabbed her arm, and scolded her quietly in her ear.
Arabella felt uncomfortable all over. She glanced at him, then at Manuel, hesitating whether to make introductions.
After all, Gabriel had just said all those disparaging things about Manuel.
She was afraid this guy wouldn't give him any face and would embarrass Manuel publicly.
Unexpectedly, before she could speak, while still hesitating, Manuel's uncle greeted Gabriel first.
"Mr. Sterling, I was just saying I'd like to chat with you later, and here you are. What a coincidence—Mrs. Sterling and Manuel are old neighbors, knew each other as children. Never expected them to meet here tonight. How fortunate!"
Gabriel was shocked.
He suddenly understood why Arabella had been staring at the man on stage so intently.
So they were old acquaintances!
Though stunned internally, he remained composed on the surface, merely raising an eyebrow slightly. He glanced at Arabella, then looked toward Manuel, saying with polished grace, "What a coincidence. Mr. Wright grew up in Whispering Pines?"
Arabella's hometown was called Whispering Pines, a rather backward, remote small town four or five hours' drive from Luminara.
Manuel smiled faintly, "Yes, I grew up in Whispering Pines too, moved away with my parents when I was in eighth grade."
Before he finished speaking, he proactively extended his hand, "Mr. Sterling, pleased to meet you."
As the guest, and Gabriel representing local business leaders, naturally, Gabriel had to show proper courtesy.
So, although he was internally suspicious about various things, he still extended his hand with perfect manners, "Mr. Wright, you're too kind. You're the one who's young and accomplished—truly admirable. I hope we'll have opportunities to collaborate in the future."
Arabella stood to the side without saying a word, but internally she'd been rolling her eyes for quite some time.
Who would have thought Gabriel could be so polite when he wanted to be.
Just moments ago he'd been looking down on Manuel, and now here he was, all smiles and handshakes, discussing future collaborations.
What a stellar performance.