Chapter 276 An Unexpected Escort
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“Mr. Stewart, Matthew, I’ll be on my way now.” Naomi struggled to maintain her dignity as she said her goodbyes and turned to leave.
“Naomi, wait for me!” Ruby hurried after her.
“Robert, sorry for the disturbance today,” Arabella also prepared to leave.
Robert tried to persuade her to stay. “Dr. Hamilton, leaving so soon? If you’re free, why not join us for lunch?”
He had clearly noticed how firmly his grandson had defended Arabella earlier–he wasn’t about to let a chance for them to spend more time together slip away.
Understanding his intent, Arabella politely declined, “Robert, I’ll have to take a rain check this time–I still have some errands to
run.”
Robert sounded a bit disappointed. “Alright then, next time for sure.”
“Of course. I’ll be going now, Robert.” Just as she was about to leave, Arabella remembered Ethan’s earlier reminder and turned to Matthew. “Mr. Stewart, the renovations at the research facility are progressing well. Would you be interested in visiting to see the developments firsthand?”
“Of course he should go take a look,” Robert answered promptly on Matthew’s behalf.
Arabella’s lips quirked faintly, yet she went on, “Mr. Stewart, you’re welcome to visit anytime.”
“How about right now? It’s perfect timing, and Dr. Hamilton can accompany you to explain everything,” Robert urged eagerly, practically ushering them out. “No need to keep me company. Off you go to your business.”
“Robert…” Arabella felt a mix of amusement and helplessness–she hadn’t actually agreed to go with Matthew.
“That works. We’ll head out now,” Matthew, however, accepted readily.
Arabella was surprised. Was he serious?
“Go on, get going,” Robert said happily, his eyes crinkling into a smile.
With little choice, Arabella followed Matthew out.
Once in the driveway, Arabella moved toward her own car as she had the last time, but then Matthew spoke up. “Take my car”
“Hmm?” Arabella paused.
“We’re both going to the same place. No need for two cars,” Matthew explained patiently–a rare display for him.
Arabella was still catching up. “You actually want to go? I thought you were just humoring Robert to avoid a lecture.”
She had assumed it was like last time–a polite excuse. Why was it different now?
Matthew’s brow furrowed slightly. “Was your invitation not genuine earlier?”
“No, of course it was. You’re welcome to visit anytime,” Arabella clarified honestly.
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Chapter 276 An Unexpected Escort
“I want to go now,” Matthew stated, as if it were the most natural thing.
Arabella sighed inwardly. So he really did expect her to accompany him.
“Alright.”
The lead investor calls the shots. Considering your 200–million stake, I’ll play along.
Resigned, Arabella got into Matthew’s car without further argument.
The car soon pulled away from Stewart Manor.
Inside, once settled, Matthew picked up a file and began reviewing it with focus.
Since he wasn’t speaking, Arabella sat quietly as well.
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Her gaze, however, kept drifting toward him. She watched as he worked through the documents with calm efficiency, finishing several in short order before opening his laptop to join a video conference.
Arabella’s eyebrow lifted slightly. Decisive, swift, and thorough–no wonder he had taken over the Stewart business empire at a young age and become a prominent figure in Doranor City.
“Is there something on your mind?” Matthew suddenly looked up at her.
Startled, Arabella felt a flicker of embarrassment. “No.”
“Then why have you been watching me?” A trace of amusement touched the corner of Matthew’s lips.
“I haven’t been,” Arabella denied, her cheeks warming slightly as she pulled out her phone, pretending to be occupied.
Noticing her discomfort, a faint smile glimmered in Matthew’s eyes.
The car came to a smooth stop, and the driver announced, “Mr. Stewart, we’ve arrived at the research facility.”
The two exited the vehicle and entered the building, unaware that another car had been trailing them the entire time.
A short distance from the facility’s gates, a car was parked discreetly.
“See, Naomi? And you still think she didn’t plan this?” Ruby said with a cold snort.
Naomi frowned. “But how could she have known about our plan?”
She still found it hard to believe that Arabella had been orchestrating today’s events from the beginning.
“If she weren’t Aletta’s apprentice, she wouldn’t have shown up at all. Only the two of us knew about this–no one else did,” Ruby argued through gritted teeth. “Even if she is the apprentice, the way she humiliated us today at the Stewarts‘ was absolutely
deliberate.”
She hadn’t expected Arabella to actually be Aletta’s protégée, but even so, Arabella shouldn’t have embarrassed them so thoroughly.
Naomi fell silent. Ruby had a point–she and Ruby shouldn’t have doubted her, but clearing the air should have been enough. Why did Arabella have to be so cold and severe?
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Chapter 276 An Unexpected Escort
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“And what’s more, we had already left, but she just had to stay behind. Now she’s latched onto Mr. Stewart,” Ruby continued, stoking the fire.
Naomi bit her lip, coming to Matthew’s defense. “Matthew invested in this facility. It’s normal for him to check on the progress.”
‘He could have come any other day, but he chose today–and Arabella is personally escorting him…” Ruby went on, trying to sway Naomi’s opinion.
n truth, Naomi’s heart was far from as calm as her outward appearance suggested.
Ruby’s words only agitated her further. Without a word, she started the car and drove off.
‘Naomi, why are we leaving already?” Ruby asked, confused.