"Ophelia, you're an absolute catch as well," Hans said with a light chuckle. "You're bound to find someone who really gets you, to
share the road ahead."
Sean stood to the side, looking visibly down.
Why didn't he get a compliment?
Doesn't he have any redeeming qualities?
Just as he was about to ask Ophelia, Clark spoke up, "We've been nattering on for ages, let's not hog your twith Bella. Hans,
Chasel, Sean, let's make tracks."
Sean hadn't exchanged a single word with Ophelia before she took Arabella's hand and said, "Then showaround, will you?"
Arabella's lips curled into a smile. "Sure thing."
The two walked off, Ophelia's hand in Arabella's, and Sean's chance for a chat vanished into thin air.
"Ophelia is just too adorable. Who'd have thought she'd find so many compliments for me? I'm very pleased," Clark said with clear
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtmischief in his tone, and then he took a bite of a pastry. "But why does it taste less sweet than it did when Ophelia handed it to
me?"
Sean fought the urge to punch him.
"We all got praise, except for Sean..." Chasel said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at Sean. "Oh, Sean, what does
it say about your charm when a sharp-tongued young lady can't muster a single word of flattery for you?"
Sean clenched his fists even tighter.
"Alright, let's lay off Sean," Hans interjected, giving Sean a sliver of comfort. At least Hans was on his side!
Just as Sean was about to express his gratitude and mention their earlier teasing, he heard Hans add, "Sean really isn't in the same
league as that girl."
Sean: ?
The laughter from Chasel and Clark was uncontrollable, the proverbial hammer from Hans striking Sean the hardest blow.
In the garden.
Ophelia was astounded by the exotic flowers and rare plants before her.
"Your family sure knows how to live it up, cultivating all these precious plants."
Even the Almond family, known for their own extravagance, didn't splurge on such delicate and costly flora for their gardens.
Ophelia couldn't help but crouch down, "Just these few plants could buy an ordinary Joe a set of wheels, extravagant, truly
extravagant."
It was the epitof opulence.
"Like them? I'll dig a couple up for you to take home." Arabella wasn't just being polite; she genuinely called for a small pot and
trowel, ready to get to work.
Ophelia widened her eyes.
"Don't worry, my parents would be thrilled if | dug up a couple of these plants to give to a friend. Are there anything else you
fancy? I'll dig them up, too."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Ophelia was charmed by the gesture and felt truly fortunate to have a friend like Arabella, who was straightforward and didn't beat
around the bush.
This kind of demeanor was refreshing and endearing.
"That's plenty, these two will keepbusy enough. Enjoying your food and taking your plants, I'm already being quite impolite."
After Arabella finished digging, she had someone place the plants in Ophelia's car and then washed her hands before they
continued their stroll. "What's there to feel awkward about? What's mine is yours."
Hearing this, Ophelia felt a lump in her throat. She remembered when Arabella faced tough times in the Murphy family, how she'd
told Arabella more than once that everything the Ophelia family had was hers too, including her parents, ready to share, if only
Arabella wanted it!
She had repeatedly urged Arabella to leave the Murphy family and had even convinced her own parents to consider adopting
Arabella.
But Arabella had stayed for Grannie Grace's sake, never taking up the offer.
Ophelia never imagined that the words she'd once said would be echoed back to her by Arabella, word for word.