There were over a dozen missed calls on the phone, most of them from Sandra, and three from Balch. Arabella texted Sandra first to let her know she was safe, then called Balch back on the sofa.
Preston sat quietly, seemingly watching to see how long she could stay.
Balch's voice came over the phone, and Arabella quickly said with a smile, "It's me."
"Uh huh." Balch's voice sounded calm, "Are you okay?"
Arabella countered, "Did you come last night?"
"The driver didn't see you, and no one was picking up your phone, so I went myself and found out you got in Preston's car."
Upon hearing this, Arabella looked at Preston sitting next to her and let out a long sigh, "That's embarrassing."
Preston didn't look at her at all.
Arabella touched her ear and asked Balch on the phone, "So, would it be too much to ask you to come pick me up again?"
Balch chuckled, "My pleasure."
Arabella sent Balch her location, then put down her phone and looked at Preston, "Mr. Hunt, a friend is coming to pick me up, I'll be gone soon."
Preston looked at her again. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were deep, as if trying to see through people, making them uneasy. But Arabella wasn't flustered at all. She smiled calmly, looking even more beautiful under his gaze.
The doorbell rang, and Karan hurriedly got up to open the door.
"Your friend is here to pick you up." Preston said slowly, without even looking.
Arabella was taken aback and instinctively looked at the door. Karan opened the door, and Balch, dressed in dark blue loungewear, was standing there.
Arabella looked at Preston, then got up and walked up to him, her expression surprised, "How did you get here so fast?"
Balch laughed and said to her, "I forgot to tell you on the phone, I'm Mr. Hunt's neighbor."
After saying that, Balch turned his head to look at Preston in the living room and said softly, "Hello, Mr. Hunt,"
Preston leaned back on the sofa, just slightly nodding his head.
This coincidence was a bit hard to believe. Arabella didn't have time to think deeply about it, she just said with a smile, "So, I guess I was close to you last night."
Balch laughed and nodded, then asked, "Can we go now?"
"Sure." Arabella answered, then turned her head to nod at Karan, then glanced at Preston still sitting on the sofa, before leaving with Balch.
Karan watched them leave the front yard, then closed the door.
"Arabella has really grown up after not seeing her for several years." Karan said while walking towards the kitchen, "She's getting more capable, with that smart mouth and beautiful face, she sure can attract a lot of men!"
After saying this, she looked at Preston, but Preston was still sitting on the sofa, his eyes didn't change at all.
Arabella stepped out of Preston's place and spotted Balch's house.
They lived in the same neighborhood, with every house having its own unique style despite the unified villa design. Balch's villa was just to the east of Preston's, a mere fifty meters apart.
Arabella silently followed Balch, causing him to turn around, "What's up?"
Arabella let out a sigh, "Nothing, just thinking it's too much of a coincidence. It makes me a little uneasy."
Upon hearing this, Balch chuckled, "Yeah, it's quite the coincidence.".
They were now at Balch's doorstep. He stopped and said, "Hang on a sec. I need to get my car."
Arabella looked up at his door and laughed, "We're right at your doorstep and you're not gonna invite me in for a cup of joe?"
Balch adjusted his glasses and grinned, "I didn't want to be too forward. You wanna come in for a bit?"
As he was about to unlock the door, Arabella grabbed his arm, "I was just joking. Look at me, all wrinkled up and not exactly presentable. Better just take me home."
So, Balch drove Arabella home himself.
As they passed Preston's house, Arabella turned to see Valerio, the young boy, leaning on the second–floor balcony railing, seemingly watching her car. The car quickly passed and Arabella looked away.
"Do you know Preston?" Balch suddenly asked.
Arabella chuckled lightly, "Kind of. If not, I might have been left on the curb after mistakenly getting into his car last night."
"I didn't expect him to let you stay the night." Balch commented.
Upon hearing this, Arabella blinked, "Actually, I lived with the Hunt family for a few years when I was young. But if you're asking if I have any connection to them, nope, I just lived there till I was eighteen…"
"And then?"
"And then…" Arabella glanced forward, "My absent mother suddenly had a change of heart and took me abroad to live with her."
At a red light, Balch turned to Arabella, "Didn't have a good time at the Hunt'?"
"Could I?" Arabella looked at him, "I was neither here nor there, neither fish nor fowl. How many people in that house do you think liked me?"
Balch looked at her, his eyes soft as if they could soothe her soul.
Arabella immediately laughed, "But that's all in the past. Luckily, I have a knack for self–regulation, or you wouldn't be seeing me as I am now."
The light turned green. Balch slowly moved the car, looking forward, he murmured, "You're doing pretty good now."
Arabella leaned back in her seat, looking at him with a natural smile and a twinkle in her eye.
After saying goodbye to Balch, Arabella got home and had just taken a shower when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to see Sandra standing there, visibly relieved to see she was home.
"What happened?" Sandra walked in, shutting the door behind her, "Where were you last night? I called and called and you didn't pick up. I was worried sick!"
Arabella, drying her hair, sat down on the sofa, "I'm fine, aren't I? Relax, I'm not that easy to get rid of."
"So, you were with Balch last night?" Sandra asked again.
"Nope." Arabella slowly dried her hair, "I spent the night at Preston's."
At the mention of "Preston", Sandra's face went pale, she looked at Arabella as if she couldn't believe her own ears, "Preston?"
Seeing Sandra's reaction, Arabella couldn't help but laugh.
"You…you're pulling my leg, right?" Sandra looked at Arabella anxiously.
Arabella calmly looked back at her, "Nope. I had a few too many last night, called Balch to pick me up but ended up in Preston's car by mistake."
Sandra was left speechless with shock. After a while, she managed to ask, "So…everything okay?"
Arabella sighed, "Yeah, just a bit surprised to meet his son."
"What did you say?" Sandra looked at Arabella in confusion, "Whose son?"
"Preston's." Arabella glanced at her, "You're also from a wealthy family, but how do you not know he has a son?"
Sandra has been Arabella's desk mate since primary school and they've been besties since they were ten. Even though the Smith family isn't exactly high society, they're well off. Sandra, despite being low–key, is a trust–fund baby. The two have been tight even after Arabella left Sunburst City for Starhaven, with Sandra sticking by her side through thick and thin.
"I…" Sandra looked confused, "I never heard… How could Preston have a son? I've never heard any rumors!"
"Looks like the Hunt have been good at keeping this kid under wraps." Arabella slowly said, "Of course, it could also be because the kid's identity can't be revealed."
"Who's the mother?" Sandra frowned, "Could it be Vivian?"
Arabella looked at her helplessly, "Sandra, why are you being so slow today?"
Vivian, the girlfriend Preston brought home Six years ago, but on that very day, she fell off the balcony of the Hunt family and was severely injured, leaving her in a vegetative state from which she has not woken up since. "Yeah, no way it's her…" Sandra mumbled distantly, then snapped back to reality, "Hold on, what does it matter to us who the mother of his kid is! Don't talk about it!"
Arabella let out a sudden laugh, "But I am curious."
"Bella!" Sandra looked at her, "Don't tell me you're still hung up on Preston?"
"It's not like that." Arabella replied nonchalantly while applying body lotion, "I'm just curious, what kind of woman can catch Preston's eye?"
Sandra clearly looked anxious upon hearing this, "Why do you care about what kind of women he's into?"
"Even if I tried to be nice to him today, he was still as cold as ever." Arabella laughed, "He didn't fancy me Six years ago, and he still doesn't now… I feel kind of like a failure!"
Sandra jabbed her head hard, "The whole city's men are attracted to you, why do you care about one Preston!"
"Then why can I attract so many men, but not Preston?"
Sandra was about to get angry, "Arabella!"
"Alright, alright!" Arabella glanced at her and burst into laughter, "I was just kidding. After Six years, do you think I would allow myself to be troubled by him again?"
Sandra listened, but still just stared at Arabella, who ignored her and started rummaging in her handbag. She couldn't find what she was looking for, and Sandra couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking for?"
Arabella looked up at her and slowly said, "I can't find my voice recorder in my bag."