Chapter 17


    Yet, Arielle remained emotionless as if she weren‘t the least bothered.


    And that was the truth; she truly couldn‘t care less about being forgotten by Vinson.


    She knew that the Southalls wanted connections with the Nightshires because of their elite


    social status. Despite this, that prestige wasn‘t what she wanted or needed.


    So, it didn‘t matter whether Vinson remembered her at all.


    Shandie scoffed when Arielle didn‘t react to her.


    Liar! Keep acting like you don‘t care then, Arielle. I bet that deep down, you‘re crying like a big baby


    who‘s hurt about the whole thing.


    Serves you right! Vinson would never be interested in a in country bumpkin like you!


    Little did the four Southalls know, Vinson‘s eyes had burned holes in the back of Arielle‘s head for quite


    some time.


    He stayed that way until Arielle boarded her flight. Only then did he let out an intrigued


    chuckle.


    Beside him, the assistant‘s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.


    What‘s going on?


    Mr. Nightshire neverugh. He‘s usually unsmiling, and some would even say


    intimidatingly distant. I can‘t believe he‘s chuckling to himself now.


    Also, this isn‘t sneeringughter. No. It‘s more genuine, like an amusedugh thates from deep


    within one‘s chest.


    It‘s been ages since Ist saw Mr. Nightshireugh like this.


    While the assistant was deep in thought, Vinson‘s voice suddenly sounded. He asked, “Did you notice


    a difference between her and the others?”


    There were three women in that family. Which is he referring to?


    The assistant had worked alongside Vinson for several years now, so he knew better than to


    ask Vinson outright. He pondered for a while before recalling that Arielle had dressed


    differently from the others.


    Then he answered hesitantly, “Indeed. The other three have donned well–known designer


    brands while that youngdy‘s clothes... Well, they seem like some randomly bought clothes from an


    unknown stall.”


    Even with such a sharp observation, Vinson still shook his head.


    The assistant instantly stiffened in shock. Did I guess wrongly? Was Mr. Nightshire not


    referring to thatdy?


    Just as the assistant felt flustered, Vinson‘s voice spoke up once again. “I‘m not talking about


    her clothes.”


    The assistant heaved a sigh of relief since he had at least guessed correctly.


    Still, he frowned in confusion. “If it‘s not the clothes, then what is it?” Within seconds, Vinson‘s facial


    expression returned to its usual indifference. “It‘s nothing.


    Let‘s resume.”


    Then the assistant dropped the topic altogether. He didn‘t dare to probe any further, so he


    continued with his report.


    On the ne, the four Southalls sat in the same row. Henrick had been in a foul mood ever


    since Arielle‘s stunt. Because of this, he ordered Arielle to carry out several mindless tasks throughout


    the flight. She was told to move their luggage to the overhead cabin, then tidy their coats and put them


    into the luggage, followed by taking out their chargers and so on...


    Everyone else on the ne assumed that she was merely their housekeeper. Arielle wasn‘t bothered


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    with doing all those tasks. All she did wasply with Henrick‘s


    request without anyints.


    Eventually, Henrick couldn‘t hold it in anymore. He boomed icily, “Enough! Get over here.” Once Arielle


    sat down next to Henrick, he interrogated with a sharp tone, “I thought you


    said that you helped Mr. Nightshire. So why didn‘t he remember you at all?”


    Arielle shook her head candidly.”


    him a small favor then, so it‘s normal that he


    doesn‘t remember me.”


    “Then you should have...” Henrick faltered as he looked at Arielle. I guess having a naive


    daughter isn‘t always a beneficial thing.


    If only it were Shandie who knew Vinson... she would have immediately caught on to my


    intentions and tried to get closer to him.


    Henrick then huffed begrudgingly, “Forget it. We‘ll talk about thister. There‘s still much


    you have to learn.”


    “Okay,” Arielle nodded obediently. With eyes rounded and lips parted, she feigned a


    child–like innocence as if she didn‘t know what she had done wrong.


    Right then, the flight attendant approached them, “Good day, Mr. Southhall. ording to your flight


    mileage, we‘re able to give you a free upgrade to first–ss.”


    Henrick deliberately chose economy–ss seats not only out of stinginess but also because


    he knew that they could get a free upgrade.


    Pleased. Henrick beamed as he bounced onto his feet. “Thank you. Please lead the way.”


    Shandie and Cindy stood as well.


    The flight attendant soon noticed Arielle, who was thest to stand. Then he immediately


    exined, “My apologies, sir. You only have enough mileage for three free upgrades. Here, have


    a look.”


    “Three?” Henrick‘s temples started to ache. Then who will go with us to first–ss? Shandie


    or Arielle?


    Seeing that Henrick was conflicted, Cindy chimed in, “I‘m sure you‘ve realized that Arielle


    isn‘t very quick–witted. She won‘t be of much help at all. Plus, we‘re heading to Shandie‘s


    awards ceremony. So why don‘t we give the seat to Shandie this once, hmm?”


    Henrick‘s face turned grim before he finally agreed.


    He promptly turned to Arielle and exined in a matter–of–fact tone, “I can‘t help that there


    are only three seats. We‘ll still see each other once the nends. Ergo, it‘s not all that


    different.”


    Arielle stared intensely at Henrick.


    Disappointment shrouded in her chest, but she couldn‘t show it on her face. She refused to


    let Cindy and Shandie feel triumphant.


    Thus, Arielle pressed her lips into a tight smile and said, “It‘s fine.”


    “Sorry about this,” Henrick uttered while averting her gaze. He then pranced away with Cindy and


    Shandie for the first–ss cabin.


    Shandie intentionally slowed her steps. Once their parents were a good distance away, she taunted in


    a low voice, “It seems like Dad loves me more. You’ll have to work harder to catch up


    now! I‘ll be off to the first–ss cabin, so you rest up here in economy–ss, hmm? There‘s


    actually not much difference between the two cabins, save for the bigger seats and better service


    in mine. But hey, don‘t let that get to you.”


    Arielle gritted her teeth at how Shandie was gloating around like some proud peacock.


    Face twisting into a mocking smile, Arielle motioned towards the first–ss cabin. She then


    provoked, “You‘d better hurry over. Dad might change his mind and let me go with them if you keep


    dilly–dallying.”


    Shandie panicked upon seeing Arielle‘s maliciously gleaming eyes.


    Then she grabbed her bag and shot straight for first–ss, fearing that Arielle would somehow end up


    in the superior cabin instead.


    Soon after, all three Southalls plopped downfortably in their first–ss seats. Shandie


    had even ordered a ss of the cabin‘splimentary red wine.


    In economy–ss.


    Arielle could finally shut her eyes to rest now that Henrick and the others were gone.


    Her chest sank with sorrow at that moment. She was human, after all; she felt sadness like


    every other person on this. However, she was terrified of revealing her emotions and


    vulnerabilities as anyone could use them against her. So she concealed everything, hiding away


    under the guise of an unbothered girl.


    Fake it till you make it, she reminded herself.


    Just as she gotfortable in her newfound peace, a voice suddenly sounded beside her.


    “Excuse me... Are you here by yourself, miss? May I sit next to you?”


    A man had politely asked Arielle that question. He watched her with a set of wide eyes as his throat


    bobbed, gulping anxiously.


    Arielle met his gaze with an icy expression. She turned him down, “Sorry, my family will be back soon.


    These are their seats.”


    The man didn‘t need to be told twice. He turned to leave while letting out a wistful


    sigh. Who am I kidding? I‘m out of her league. There‘s no way I can get a gorgeous girl like her.


    Although, I wonder what kind of man will be able to reel in such a great catch... Not long after the man


    left, someone else approached Arielle. “Excuse me, miss...”


    Arielle‘s head flung upward with a pinched expression. Just as she took in the person‘s face, her mouth


    fell open.


    Isn‘t that person who was reporting stuff to Vinson at the airport?


    The man proceeded to introduce himself, “I‘m Mr. Nightshire‘s assistant. He would like to invite you


    over to his private jet. I‘ve already taken the liberty to rify things with the attendants on your current


    flight, so pleasee with me.”


    Arielle hesitated for a moment, then promptly nodded when she thought about the man


    who approached her earlier.


    There were many people on this flight, and she wasn‘t keen on being interrupted again. “Alright,” said


    Arielle.


    “Follow me then. This way, please.” The man gestured towards ahead.


    They needed to pass through the first–ss cabin to exit the aircraft.


    As they walked by, Shandie immediately took notice.