novelxo Chapter 179
Upon hearing Miranda's comment, Hannah and Caius both turned their gaze to the other side. Sure enough, they saw the Hawke family making their entrance.
Alden and Grace walked arm-in-arm, greeting others with warm smiles. The four Hawke boys were in tow as well, with Arabella tagging along in a pretty princess dress, deliberately positioning herself in the middle like the apple of their eye.
But today, the Hawke brothers seemed different than usual. They barely acknowledged Arabella. So, when Arabella fell a bit behind, they didn't wait for her. She was left to awkwardly gather her dress and hurry to catch up.
As the Hawke family arrived, celebrities and the elite, who typically swarmed around them in the past the moment they spotted the family, kept their distance.
After all, the four Hawke brothers and their spotlight-stealing sister were social media gold.
Any association with them could skyrocket one's exposure, making them a hot ticket for fame-seekers. Hence, each time when the Hawkes had made their entrance, they'd be the center of attention and receive countless compliments.
But now, with Miranda present, no one wanted to risk offending the Lancaster Group or Miranda herself by getting too close to the Hawkes.
Besides, the Hawke family had been the subject of quite a bit of disgraceful scandal recently, with their sons and adopted daughter making tabloid headlines. Nobody wanted to be dragged into that mess. In the lively party atmosphere, the Hawkes found themselves largely ignored, and Alden and Grace struggled to maintain a polite facade despite their discomfort. The Hawke boys wore frowns as well. Arabella, however, seemed oblivious to the situation. She was busy trying to showcase herself, flipping her hair or adjusting her dress, then offering practiced smiles at the cameras.
Hannah couldn't hold back any longer. "Are the Hawkes out of their minds bringing her here? Aren't they embarrassed?"
Caius frowned. "They're still treating Arabella like she's something special, hopeless. Maybe she's got some dirt on them?""
The three of them stood amidst a crowd of socialites and heirs, creating an utmost captivating scene in that night's banquet. Photographers couldn't stop snapping photos of them, more so than they did of the top celebrities.
Miranda casually picked up a pastry from a nearby buffet platter, watching the Hawkes as she spoke, "Maybe they're worried that not bringing Arabella would cause more gossip. Bringing her might be an attempt to smooth things over."
Given what she knew about Arabella, Miranda was certain Arabella wouldn't pass up an opportunity to attend such an event. A little play for sympathy and she'd manage to get an approval from Alden and Grace.
As for leverage, there were definitely some. Arabella and the Hawke family were on the same boat now The Hawkes likely feared that if they didn't keep Arabella on their good side she might spill the beans about something from two years ago.
It was clear the family was putting on a show of unity, but it was all for appearances. Dorian and the rest brothers clearly had no interest in engaging with Arabella. Despite her attempts to create a picture of sibling camaraderie, she was met with polite but firm indifference.
Miranda had always thought the four brothers were
༢
no different from
Arabella masters of self-promotion. With one as a CEO, another a lawyer, a musical prodigy, and an esports star, they each had their
own
careers but loved appearing at events with Arabella.
If that wasn't vanity and calculated publicity, what was? The entire Hawke family seemed cut from the same cloth.