Chapter 153

The audience erupted in gasps, then burst into thunderous applause louder than before!

Nathaniel Kingsley stared at Sebastian in shock, his eyes filled with visible concern.

Sebastian remained motionless. An icy aura radiated from his body, so intense it felt like anyone who touched him would freeze instantly.

A spotlight suddenly illuminated Sebastian, casting an eerie glow on his pale features.

"Arabella and Sebastian have been childhood friends who've shared countless memories together. Now they're finally getting married! The Vanderbilt family is delighted to announce this wonderful news at tonight's birthday celebration!"

Margaret gripped Arabella's hand tightly, her joyous expression and lyrical tone making it seem like they were already at the wedding ceremony!

Arabella blushed, her eyes shining with shy happiness.

She gazed lovingly at Sebastian on stage, mistaking his stony expression for nervousness.

Meanwhile, in another location...

Isabella was preparing cream of mushroom soup for Reginald Vanderbilt and Charlotte in the kitchen.

"Oh no! Something terrible has happened!" Charlotte rushed in, her face ghostly pale and hands trembling violently.

What could it be?

"Mr. Vanderbilt! Mr. Vanderbilt has collapsed!" Charlotte was so distraught she nearly burst into tears.

"What?!"

Isabella's pupils constricted as her heart pounded violently. She immediately dropped her utensils and sprinted from the kitchen.

In the living room, Reginald lay sprawled on the floor. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling while his limbs twitched weakly, foam forming at his mouth!

Isabella recognized the symptoms immediately - it was clearly a stroke!

"Mr. Vanderbilt! I've called an ambulance, just hold on!" Lawrence was frantic, on the verge of tears.

"Stay calm, Lawrence! I won't let anything happen to Mr. Vanderbilt!"

Clenching her jaw, Isabella dropped to her knees beside Reginald and began administering emergency treatment.

Lawrence and Charlotte stared in stunned silence. She moved with such medical precision - the only thing missing was a doctor's coat!

"Lawrence, is grandfather's emergency kit still here?" Isabella's forehead glistened with sweat, her voice urgent.

"Yes!"

"Bring it now!"

Isabella took a deep breath, her anxious eyes never leaving Reginald. "We can't wait for the ambulance. Every second counts. I need to treat grandfather during the golden hour!"

She was an expert at battling Death itself.

Back at the banquet...

Arabella and Margaret's announcement had brought the celebration to its climax!

All the women in attendance shot envious, jealous glances at Arabella, who stood on stage looking like a fairy-tale princess.

"How did Arabella get so lucky to marry Mr. Sebastian? I'm green with envy!"

"Look how loose her wedding dress is. Do you think she's pregnant? It's common for wealthy families to get pregnant before marriage!"

"Now that you mention it... When Arabella first appeared, her dress did seem unusually flowy. It's very possible!"

"Pregnant before marriage? That can't be true love. She's taking shortcuts - how despicable."

"If scheming could get me married to Mr. Sebastian, I'd do it too! This is hitting the jackpot!"

Arabella heard every whispered comment from the women below the stage.

Yet she held her head high like a regal swan, unbothered and radiating confidence.

"Keep talking, all of you! My glorious life is just beginning, and you'll always be beneath me!" she thought smugly.

"Seb! Look at this!"

Nathaniel shoved his phone at Sebastian, showing the trending topic on Twitter.

#SebastianAndArabellaEngagement topped the charts.

"Seb, I'm completely lost here," Nathaniel said anxiously. "Didn't you tell me you were breaking up with Arabella? How did Margaret announce your engagement? And it's already trending!"

"Mr. Vanderbilt doesn't seem opposed either. What's going on? Are you two broken up or not?"

Sebastian's ears rang as tension coiled through his back beneath the tailored suit.

The fury building in his chest threatened to explode!

Suddenly—

The massive screen, previously displaying soft pink floral animations, plunged into abrupt darkness.

"What's happening?"

"Is it a power outage? Did the screen malfunction?"

Just as murmurs of confusion spread, the screen flickered back to life.

But now it displayed a photograph of a young girl.

The child in the photo was painfully thin and small, with tangled hair and tattered clothes, her face streaked with tears.

The heartbreaking image made several guests gasp.

"Oh my God! Whose child is this? The poor little thing!"

"Is Ms. Arabella using her birthday to raise charity funds? I'll definitely donate - I'm very passionate about philanthropy!"

Hearing the chatter below, Arabella and Victoria exchanged alarmed glances before turning toward the screen.

"What...what's going on?" Victoria looked stunned.

"Who is this filthy child? How could such a photo appear at my birthday banquet? There must be some mistake!"

Arabella's mouth hung open as she stared blankly at the girl on screen.

Meanwhile, Victoria had gone deathly pale. She leapt from her chair, pointing at the screen and shrieking, "What is this?! Turn it off! Turn the screen off immediately!"

The outburst drew surprised stares from those nearby.

Reginald and Mr. Sterling exchanged confused glances, bewildered by Victoria's extreme reaction to a technical glitch.

"Why turn it off?"

A rough, gravelly voice suddenly cut through the murmurs.

Arabella's head snapped toward the sound.

When she saw the speaker's face, she nearly screamed in terror!

Cold sweat drenched Arabella's expensive designer gown. Her legs trembled uncontrollably as her carefully applied makeup made her face resemble a frozen mask, incapable of expression.

The rugged man stepped into the light, immediately capturing everyone's attention.

"We should be together as a family. While you're all here enjoying fine food and wine, this poor child suffers abuse and humiliation in an orphanage - starving, freezing. As her mother, Arabella, doesn't that break your heart?"