True Heiress Returns to Her Unemployed Rich Family (Arabella) novel Chapter 606

"Is this really about whether she's special or not?" Florence said, sounding a little exasperated. "She is special, and I want her to be with someone who's even more remarkable. What's so wrong with that?"

"Don't worry about it," Jonathan replied confidently. "You said it yourself—she's exceptional, so she deserves the best. That means whoever ends up with our daughter will be top-tier, no question about it."

"But who out there is more remarkable than Matthew?" Florence shot back.

Originally, the Hamilton-Stewart engagement had been about family ties, but lately, Florence had genuinely come to feel that Matthew and Arabella were perfectly suited.

"Well..." Jonathan hesitated, momentarily stuck for an answer.

Arabella smiled softly. "Mom, even if there isn't anyone 'better,' that's okay. I'm doing just fine on my own."

Seeing Arabella give her a playful wink, Florence tried to keep a stern face, but she couldn't hold back a smile.

"Oh, honey," Florence sighed, her tone affectionate. "You and your ways."

"Hehe." Arabella picked up a bite of food with her fork and placed it on Florence's plate. "Here, Mom, eat up."

Any remaining frustration melted away. Florence smiled warmly. "Alright, you have some too."

However anxious she felt, it was ultimately up to the kids to figure things out for themselves.

Watching Arabella act so completely unfazed about Matthew left Naomi with mixed emotions.

Here was something she had wanted so badly but couldn't have, and Arabella didn't even seem to care.

Naomi had grown up surrounded by love and attention, yet in this moment, she felt incredibly small.

A dull ache settled in her chest. But even feeling this insignificant, Matthew still wouldn't so much as glance her way.

"Naomi, are you feeling okay?" Florence asked, noticing her expression.

"I'm fine." Naomi forced a smile and shook her head gently.

Florence's eyes filled with concern. "You really don't look well, though."

"Maybe Arabella should take a look at you," Ethan suggested.

Naomi instinctively glanced toward Arabella, and their eyes met.

For some reason, Naomi felt as if Arabella could see right through her.

"No, it's okay, really." Naomi shook her head again. "I'm feeling much better already. A good night's rest and I'll be fine by tomorrow."

She just had this feeling that Arabella could somehow see her secret—the one she'd been holding onto.

"If you say you're fine, then that's good," Arabella remarked casually.

Naomi's chest tightened. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more meaning behind Arabella's words.

But when she looked at Arabella, her expression was relaxed, as if she hadn't given it a second thought.

Am I just feeling guilty? Naomi wondered to herself.

Whatever the reason, she couldn't bring herself to act naturally around Arabella.

Is it guilt? Arabella wondered, slightly puzzled.

"That's his problem to figure out," Jonathan said with a shrug. "I didn't say anything false."

Alfred nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

Arabella looked back and forth between them, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Alfred, you really enjoy stirring the pot, don't you?"

"I'm just stating facts," Alfred replied. "Besides, even if he does get upset, what's he really going to do about it?"

The room fell quiet for a moment. Frank and Ethan exchanged a glance. "Good point. Not much."

"Everyone, relax," Jonathan said calmly. "Besides, whatever's going on between Arabella and Matthew isn't official anyway. Who knows—maybe Caleb will get lucky and land a great match for Brielle."

"Dad, Brielle really is a great person," Arabella added with a smile, coming to her friend's defense.

"Fine, fine," Jonathan corrected himself. "So he raised an amazing daughter and might end up with a fantastic son-in-law. That's still a win."

Arabella paused, then let out a soft, helpless laugh. "Dad, describing Mr. Stewart's situation like that isn't really appropriate, is it?"

"Hey, if he becomes my son-in-law, of course he's the best," Jonathan said, keeping a straight face. "If someone else snatches him up, then they're definitely getting a steal."

The whole scene was so absurdly funny that Arabella couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Dad, if Robert ever finds out you talked about his precious grandson that way, he'll probably come after you," Arabella teased, trying to scare him a little.

"Don't worry." Jonathan waved it off casually. "Your grandpa will handle it. He doesn't know the details yet, but if he did, trust me—he'd be even less polite than I am."