True Heiress Returns to Her Unemployed Rich Family (Arabella) novel Chapter 629

"Alright, just act normal," Florence reassured Naomi, gently wiping her tears. "We've watched you grow up right here in this family. You've always been so precious to us. Of course you're a Hamilton."

Ethan nodded along. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself, Naomi. And please don't overthink it. As long as you want to stay with the Hamiltons, no one is going to make you leave."

"Okay," Naomi replied softly, wiping her eyes before giving a firm nod.

"When is the Autumn Gala this year?" Arabella asked.

Jonathan checked his calendar. "The tenth of next month."

"Today's already the twenty-seventh—so it's right around the corner," Arabella noted.

"Exactly," Florence said, thinking it over. "You girls should start planning your outfits. I'll call a designer tomorrow to have something made for each of you."

"Oh, you really don't have to—"

"Thanks, Mom."

Before Arabella could finish declining, Naomi had already spoken up gratefully.

Arabella smiled slightly. "Yeah, thanks Mom." She decided not to push back further.

"It's getting late," Jonathan said, rising from his chair. "Let's all turn in for the night."

With murmured agreements, everyone headed to their rooms.

After a hot shower, Arabella settled into bed.

"The Autumn Gala of the elite families," she whispered to herself with a faint smile. "Should be interesting."

It said a lot about these old-money circles that such a high-profile event wasn't even whispered about outside their own world.

"No wonder they've all lasted this long," she mused quietly, then picked up her phone and texted Colton. "Look into the four major families in Doranor City."

She already knew plenty about the Hamiltons and the Stewarts—it was the other two she needed background on.

Colton replied almost instantly, "On it."

Satisfied, Arabella put her phone down, turned over, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Meanwhile, in Naomi's room...

"We need to speed this up. It has to be done before the tenth of next month," Naomi typed urgently into her phone.

The reply came after a moment. "I'm on it. Doing my best here."

Naomi's expression darkened. "If it's not done by the tenth, then it's all over—and you can forget about getting paid."

There was a long pause on the other end.

Just as Naomi was starting to think they'd gone silent, her screen finally lit up.

"Just wait. It'll be soon."

Naomi gritted her teeth in frustration. "Useless. Can't even handle something this straightforward."

For a second, she even wondered if she'd made a mistake hiring someone so unreliable.

But she didn't have another option. All she could do now was wait.

After all, getting close to Matthew on her own was out of the question.

That night...

Alfred's voice came through the car speakers. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"I'm sure. Just going to see a patient—no need for an escort," Arabella replied calmly.

"Alright. But if anything comes up, call me right away," Alfred insisted.

"Okay, don't worry," she reassured him before hanging up.

She continued on toward Kindwell Hospital.

As she pulled into the hospital parking lot, she happened to run into someone from the company she knew.

After parking, she stepped out and walked briskly toward the entrance.

"Dr. Hamilton, good to see you," Orion greeted her personally just inside.

"Mr. Lawson, please don't trouble yourself. I'm just here on personal business today," Arabella said.

"Understood. Well, if you need anything at all, you know where to find me," Orion replied warmly.

Arabella gave him a nod before making her way to Harper's room.

She knocked lightly, then pushed the door open.

Inside, Harper was sitting up in bed, staring blankly out the window with hollow eyes—completely detached from her surroundings.

Freya spotted Arabella and let out a cold huff. "Arabella—no, Dr. Aletta. What an honor."

"You're welcome," Arabella replied smoothly, pretending not to catch Freya's sarcasm.

"You—!" Freya's face flushed with anger as she glared at Arabella.