Chapter 5 Unfavored Child

Daniel Garcia kept his women for only three months. During this period, they had to be at his beck and call and they were not allowed to find him in his company or make a ruckus there. After their break-up in three months, they were not allowed to pester him.

Outside, there were rumors that said his personality was cold and dull, but women who wanted to have sex with him were like an unruly crowd on a wild goose chase.

That was because he had money and power. Moreover, he gave loads of money to women who dated him. After three months, they would even receive a significant sum of money for their breakup.

After their session, Daniel did not loiter around and left. After he left, the room was still filled with an enchanting atmosphere of people making love to each other.

Arabella took the check from the nightstand and looked at the numbers on it. Her lips curled up into a self-deprecating smile. Five hundred thousand. Her first time…

Just now, they did it a total of three times. Because John did not need it, she gave her most precious thing to a stranger.

Whether it was family background or looks, this man would not lose to John, so she would not lose out either, right?

Yet why was her heart in pain? The type of pain where she felt indignant after being abandoned by others.

A cool liquid slowly flowed down from her eyes, and she tried her best to bite down on her lips, preventing herself from crying.

The Rivera residence had been passed down for several generations. It was a retro-style house that looked like a castle. Green and slimy ivy climbed on the walls of the red house and looked very eye-catching under the sunlight.

The sycamore tree in the residence was tall and straight while the flower garden was stylish and beautiful. The water fountain was like a heavenly girl scattering flowers. During midsummer, it was cool and comforting to have a slow walk under the shade of trees.

Arabella Rivera made someone move a deck chair on the grass patch beside the flower garden. She lay on the deck chair and silently read her book. A cup of coffee was placed on the transparent glass table beside her, and the scene gave off a sense of leisure during a peaceful time.

Mrs. Walter rushed forward. “Miss Arabella, Master Samson and the others have come back.”

“I got it,” she replied and closed the book in her hands. She collected herself and walked to the living room.

An old man over 60 years of age sat on the sofa while holding an exquisitely-carved walking stick. On his thumb was an amber ring, and his white hair was neatly combed.

A pair of travel-worn husband and wife sat beside him. The man was wearing a suit and leather shoes while the woman was wearing a dark purple dress and had a beige shawl over her neck. She looked graceful and extravagant.

She changed her shoes at the entrance and walked into the living room. “Grandpa, Dad, Mom.”

Benjamin Rivera gave a slight nod. Compared to Benjamin’s coldness, her mother Helena was emotional as she pulled her and touched her thin face while her eyes were brimming with tears. “Arabella, you lost weight.”

Her mouth was slightly open, and she wanted to talk, but a cold scoff rang in the silent living room.

She looked toward that direction. Master Samson looked at her with a mighty gaze. “You still remember how to come back!”

She gently pursed her lips and kept quiet.

In the whole Rivera family, Master Samson had always disliked her. Because when Helena was pregnant with her, the doctor had accidentally identified her child as a son. Master Samson was happy to the core, yet instead a daughter was born.

Moreover, when Helena gave birth to her, she suffered severe bleeding and could not bear a child again. Hence, the Rivera family’s only male heir stopped at Benjamin.

The Rivera family had a large family business and needed someone to inherit it. Master Samson had intended for him to keep a mistress who’d bear a son for him before bringing the son back to the Rivera family and using money to make the woman leave Andalas.

Benjamin and Helena were classmates in high school and were engaged when they were in university. After they were married, they still had a wonderful relationship.

Towards Master Samson’s suggestion, Benjamin was disagreeable. Because of this matter, the two of them argued frequently and Master Samson had even ended up in the hospital due to his anger.

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The Rivera Family’s Banquet

Due to this reason, between her two daughters, Benjamin loved Serenity a little more and was only lukewarm towards Arabella. In addition, Arabella’s father didn’t like her, so she was sent to live with her grandmother. She returned home only when she was 13 after her grandmother died.

Arabella stood stiffly while Helena tried to speak up for her. “Dad, your 80th birthday is in half a month. Arabella came specifically to wish you a long life,” she said, giving her a meaningful look.

Arabella pretended not to notice and continued to stand quietly. If not for Helena’s repeated cajoling, she wouldn’t have bothered to return for an insignificant birthday celebration.

In this whole family, only Helena and Serenity treated her well… but ever since Serenity and John got married, there had been a gap between the two.

To be fair, though, this gap was something only she perceived.

Serenity treated her the way she always did, reminding her to take care when she was sick and being concerned over her eating habits.

She had a barrier in her heart that she couldn’t overcome, so she intentionally stayed away from Serenity… The two of them weren’t as close as they used to be.

Benjamin didn’t want the whole household to be uneasy because of her return, so he followed Helena’s instructions and said, “Dad, Arabella called me a few days ago to ask what gifts you’d like. She spared a lot of thought in picking out a gift for you.”

If not for Benjamin’s reminder, Arabella would have forgotten to prepare a gift, but luckily, there had still been half a month, which had been enough time for her to prepare something for him.

Upon hearing Benjamin’s words, the Rivera family head stopped himself from getting angry, but he still had a long face.

Even so, Arabella didn’t care because, in her memories, he had always looked at her with that unpleasant face.

The only time she got along with him was when she was 16, having been accepted into a good high school with the best grades in school while Serenity had had to rely on family connections to enter the school.

The phone in the living room rang, and Helena was the closest to the phone so she picked it up.

After listening for a moment, she smiled and replied, “Alright, understood.”

She put down the phone and turned to Master Samson. “Dad, Serenity and John knew you were coming today, so they booked a hotel room for you to rest and clean up.”

Master Samson’s face softened. “Serenity’s so considerate.”

Not long after, Serenity and John arrived at the Rivera family house and brought everyone along to the hotel.

Serenity, her makeup enhancing her features, took Master Samson’s arm and sat down as soon as she entered.

“Grandpa, I’ve missed you. Are you doing alright in Auckland?”

Master Samson was much closer to her, and his stony face carried a hint of a smile. “Everything is going great. Why didn’t you bring Eva?”

Serenity smiled. “We’re going to go out soon, so it’s not convenient to bring her along.”

In the evening, they went to the hotel and were led to a private room by the attendants.

Serenity sat next to Master Samson, often making him laugh at the dining table with her stories and jokes.

Master Samson talked about the customs in Auckland and the scenery, drawing the interest of everyone at the table.

The atmosphere was filled with joy. Only Arabella sat quietly and out of place in this family banquet.

She was bored out of her mind, as if she was a stranger at this table, and found an excuse to leave the private room.

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