Chapter 134
Chapter 134 An Anxious Wait Ends
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From the doorway, he faintly saw the figure getting into a cab. He knew Arabella’s usual ride was a sports car. If it had been her, she would have driven herself, not taken a taxi.
“Mr. Stewart, it likely wasn’t Ms. Hamilton. The person left in a taxi,” Andy reported upon returning.
“Alright, never mind then.” It seemed he had been mistaken.
Over at Cloudrise Manor, with Arabella still unaccounted for, Ethan drove back to the family home.
“Ethan, what brings you back?” Naomi asked, surprised to see him walk through the door.
“Has Arabella returned yet?” Ethan asked immediately, bypassing any greeting.
Seeing that his first concern was Arabella, Naomi felt a sharp pang of jealousy.
That troublesome girl only ever caused worry for the family!
Staying out so late without a call, not answering her phone…
Now even Ethan had rushed back, looking for her. How inconsiderate!
“No, she hasn’t. You couldn’t find her?” Florence stood up quickly, her worry evident.
“Not yet,” Ethan replied.
“What do we do now? Could something have happened to her?” Florence’s anxiety, which had already been high, spiked again.
“Let’s not panic just yet. Has Arabella ever been out this late before?” Ethan asked Florence.
“No, never. She’s always been home before dark,” Florence said, wringing her hands.
“Actually, she has been. Mom just didn’t know about it,” Naomi interjected.
She didn’t want the family to be so frantic. Arabella was an adult–what was the big deal if she stayed out late?
Ethan looked at Naomi after her comment. “You’ve seen her out this late before p>
“Yes. We’re all adults. Everyone has friends–she’s probably just with hers. There’s no need for all this worry.
“I stay out late with friends sometimes too. Mom, why don’t you go upstairs and rest? Ethan and I can wait here for her,” Naomi suggested, trying to ease the tension.
Ethan nodded in agreement. “Mom, go on up. I’ll let you know the moment she’s back p>
“How can I possibly rest when she isn’t home?
“And your father–why did he have to be away so late tonight of all nights?” Florence said helplessly.
“Dad isn’t home? Where did he go?” Ethan asked, surprised.
“He went over to Frank’s place. Who knows what they’re discussing that’s taking so long?” Florence sounded both puzzled and
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Chapter 134 An Anxious Wait Ends
annoyed.
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“Ethan, call your father right now and tell him to come home immediately,” Florence insisted, her displeasure clear.
“Mom, if Dad isn’t back yet, they must be in the middle of something important. Let’s not interrupt. I’ll send more people to look. Arabella might already be on her way back,” Ethan reasoned, trying to calm her.
“Fine. Send more people out and find her as soon as possible,” Florence said sternly.
“I’ll arrange it right now.” Ethan immediately picked up his phone to make the call.
Just then, Arabella walked through the front door.
Seeing Florence, Ethan, and Naomi all still gathered in the living room, she asked in surprise, “Why is everyone still up p>
Hearing her voice, they all turned toward the entrance.
“Arabella,” Ethan said, lowering his phone.
“Arabella, where have you been? Why are you back so late?” Florence hurried over to her, concern etched on her face.
Seeing the obvious worry in her mother’s eyes, Arabella asked, confused, “I was out with a friend. What’s wrong? Did something happen p>
“See, Mom? Ethan? I told you she was probably just with friends,” Naomi chimed in.
“What’s going on?” Arabella looked at Naomi, still puzzled. What did her being out have to do with anything?
Naomi adopted a reproachful tone. “Nothing ‘happened‘ at home. It’s that you didn’t come back, and you didn’t call. You had everyone worried sick!
“If you’re going out with friends, you should at least let someone know. If you’d been much later, there would have been a real crisis here p>
“Is that all?” Arabella listened to Naomi’s scolding with an impassive expression.
“You don’t believe me? Check your phone. See how many times Mom and Ethan tried to call you,” Naomi retorted irritably.
She finally had a chance to lecture her sister and wasn’t going to waste it.
Arabella quickly checked her phone and was startled to see over a dozen missed calls from Florence and Ethan.
She had put her phone on silent during the flight school session and had forgotten to turn the ringer back on. Arabella looked apologetically at Florence. “I’m so sorry, Mom. My phone was on silent–I didn’t see your calls.” “On silent? Why would you have it on silent for no reason?” Naomi said incredulously.
“At the flight school, don’t you silence your phone during instruction?” Arabella retorted, looking directly at Naomi.
“No, I never do. What if there was an emergency at home and no one could reach me? They’d be frantic,” Naomi replied pointedly,
her tone laced with sarcasm.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.