Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Legendary Eighth-Grader
At these words, Lillian Donovan and the pair of fraternal twins standing behind her couldn’t help but gasp.
Lillian finally remembered her children were still with her, and this wasn’t a suitable topic for them. She immediately tried to send them away.
"It’s been a while since you two have seen Eloise, right? Why don’t you go up and chat with her for a bit? I’ll call you down for dinner later."
After speaking, Lillian seemed to remember something and asked anxiously, "Eloise is home, right?"
"She is. She’s probably in her room catching up on homework. You can go on up and find her yourselves."
Although the two youngsters were reluctant, they were ultimately worried about Eloise’s situation, so they headed upstairs, looking back every few steps.
Once those who shouldn’t have been present had left, Lillian stopped holding back and sat a little closer to Mrs. Donovan.
"Please, just tell me what’s going on. How could our perfectly fine Eloise suddenly belong to another family?"
The two branches of the family were close, and Mrs. Donovan knew that Lillian genuinely doted on her niece, Eloise. She didn’t keep her in suspense and briefly explained the situation.
"It was truly an accident. Eloise’s school organized a blood drive. When Eloise went, she found out her blood type was wrong. She came home and got tested again at the hospital. The results showed her blood type didn’t match anyone in the family. That’s how we found out we had taken home the wrong baby all those years ago!"
It had been less than two months, but looking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago.
Mrs. Donovan’s heart ached for how sensible Eloise was, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel relieved. Unlike Cassandra Lynch, Eloise’s first reaction to the truth wasn’t to hide it, or even to find the person she was switched with and eliminate her, suppressing her behind the scenes. Instead, she had taken the initiative to contact them and tell them the truth.
After learning the truth, she had even moved out of the Donovan Family home, feeling she couldn’t face Arabella, who had been hurt by all this.
It was because both girls were so wonderful that Mrs. Donovan couldn’t bear to part with either of them.
Thankfully, both girls were with her now, and everything was heading in a good direction.
Lillian was stunned. She never would have imagined that a plot straight out of a TV drama would happen to someone so close to her, let alone her most beloved niece.
"So what’s the situation now? Have you brought the other girl back? What kind of person is she? Is she nice? How is she with Eloise...?"
Mrs. Donovan felt a little helpless under Lillian’s barrage of questions, but she knew her worry was just clouding her judgment. She smiled good-naturedly and said, "Don’t be so anxious. It’s not a bad thing."
Lillian froze. "Not a bad thing?"
’The child you’ve raised and doted on for over a decade suddenly belongs to someone else, and that’s supposed to be a good thing?’
As if reading her mind, Mrs. Donovan chuckled. "It really isn’t a bad thing. It just means we have one more child in the family. We’ve already brought her home. She’s an exceptionally good and adorable girl. Everyone in the family who’s met her has fallen in love with her."
"Eloise was so upset about it that she moved out for a few days, but it was Arabella who helped persuade her to come back. The two girls are like biological sisters now, sticking together wherever they go. Even I, their mother, am getting a little jealous."
"Is that so?" Lillian was a little dazed by Mrs. Donovan’s account. "But... I heard the girl was found in a very remote area..."
’If it was a remote area, she must not have had a good life.’
’It felt a bit callous to think that way, since that girl was technically her actual biological niece.’
’But to Lillian, the girl who was switched at birth was still a stranger she had never met. If she had to choose, there was no way this stranger could compare to Eloise, whom she had known for over a decade.’
That was why Lillian had rushed to the Donovan Family’s house the moment she heard the news, to check on Eloise.
’She was afraid the returned girl, seeing the Donovans’ obviously superior living conditions, would become resentful and turn the house upside down, forcing Eloise out in the process. Isn’t that how it always plays out in the dramas?’
Hearing this, Mrs. Donovan’s eyes sharpened. She grew warier of whoever had leaked this information to Lillian.
"It is a relatively remote place. Serena was adopted by a reclusive master as a child and grew up in a Sacred Temple, where she learned a few minor skills. In fact, just a few days ago, she did a small favor for the head of the House of Aethel Jade. He was so grateful for her help that he had two sets of jewelry specially delivered for her and Eloise."
Lillian was stunned by the information overload. It took her a moment before her eyes widened. "Are you saying she grew up in a Sacred Temple?"
Seeing Lillian’s dazed expression, Mrs. Donovan recalled their previous discussions about Arabella’s inner voice. A thoughtful look crossed her face, and she decided to give Lillian a heads-up.
"Life in a Sacred Temple is simple, and the people are unsophisticated. When you meet her in a bit, if Serena offends you or Julian in any way, please don’t take it to heart."
At that moment, Lillian had no idea what a huge surprise Arabella had in store for her. Hearing Mrs. Donovan’s words, she temporarily set her worries aside.
She quickly reassured her, "Don’t worry. We’re not some old-fashioned sticklers for rules. For family, the most important thing is getting along. If she’s really as wonderful as you say, I’ll be too busy adoring her to nitpick about such things."
Mrs. Donovan just smiled faintly without a word. Meanwhile, Lillian’s fraternal twins had already charged enthusiastically up to the second floor to find Eloise.
As it happened, the safe that Arabella had bought on Eloise’s recommendation was having a small issue, and she had come to ask for her help.
And so, when the two little troublemakers burst into Eloise’s room, they were greeted by the comical sight of the two girls squatting on the floor together, trying to figure out how to open the lock.
"Eloise..."
Eloise was also surprised by their sudden appearance. "What are you two doing here?"
She then turned to introduce them to Arabella. "These are our aunt’s two children, Iris Donovan and Sean Donovan. They’re fraternal twins. This is your sister, Arabella."
Hearing those two names, Arabella’s eyes lit up.
’What great names! "Raising cloudy rainbows, dark and dense, while jade-plumed phoenixes pipe and sing." And "The road ahead is long and far; I will seek high and low." It seems this branch of the family is quite cultured, to be so meticulous with names.’
Iris’s eyes widened in surprise. "What was that sound?"
"What sound? You must have misheard." Eloise quickly grabbed Iris’s hand, stopping her from saying anything more.
Fortunately, before Arabella could get suspicious, her attention was diverted by the other person.
"So you’re the daughter Uncle brought back? Let me tell you, I don’t care where you came from or who you are. My sister and I will only ever acknowledge Eloise. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll behave and not cause any trouble. And you’d better not bully Eloise, or we’ll make you regret it!" Sean said, shaking his fist as if he meant business, trying to look menacing.
’This kid seems a little... goofy. Could this be the legendary... eighth-grade syndrome?’
Sean: "???" ’You’re the goofy one! Your whole family is goofy!’
