Chapter 99
Arabella was still playing her role as the beloved little princess, smiling at the camera with a twinkle in her eye. "I know everyone is dying to hear what my brothers said. I'll let you in on the secret, but shh, don't tell my brothers."
The fans in the comments went wild. They were buzzing with excitement, showering Arabella with virtual gifts and begging to hear her brothers' voices.
When the audio played, the comment section exploded.
"Dorian is such a boss! Bella, need a sister-in-law?"
"I'm swooning! Brothers, I'm your long-lost sister too!"
"Those saying Arabella isn't a real Hawke, feeling embarrassed yet? They surely know she's family!"
"Exactly, for sure she's blood related, only real siblings would spoil her like this."
"Do you think an adopted sister gets treated like this? Can the rumor mill take a break? Who cares if they don't look exactly alike?"
"I'm shipping Bella with any of her brothers, oops!"
"Hey, you're not alone!"
...
Just then, Arabella was pulled aside for an interview with the show's director.
"There's been some gossip that you aren't a real Hawke. What do you think about that, Bella?" Arabella's face briefly froze, and then she shot the camera a look that said, "Are you kidding me?" "What do you think? My brothers don't know, I don't know, but some stranger does? Were they eavesdropping under my bed at home?
And honestly, even if I wasn't born into the family, my brothers wouldn't leave me. Right, guys?" She winked at the camera playfully. "I wouldn't let them have another sister anyway."
The director chuckled. "Bella, you're too funny."
Arabella's fans flooded the comments.
"Did you hear that? Are you living under her bed or something to know she's not a Hawke?"
"Why are people so eager to spread false rumors about someone not being a real daughter?" "Guess Bella cleared things up, huh?"
"Haha, Bella's possessiveness is something else."
Watching the lively comments, Miranda couldn't help but smile slightly, a hint of amusement playing across her detached features.
She noticed something about Arabella's appearance, though. Her face had undergone some changes, subtly different from before.
Some viewers had pointed it out, but the comments were quickly buried.
"Did she have some work done?"
No wonder Arabella's fans were on a rampage, defending her with her photos against those claiming she belonged to the Zade family.
Just then, William sent her a batch of photos. They were snapshots taken by paparazzi staking out the Zade family, along with pictures of Arabella entering and leaving the police station.
She was heavily disguised, her face hidden, but the Hawke family was with her, so it was obvious who she was even without discerning her features.
Miranda put down her phone and continued watching the stream, which had switched to another celebrity guest.
Yet Arabella's fans were still dominating the comments, causing a clash with the new guest's fanbase.
The Hawke family was also watching the stream, eyes glued to Arabella's debut on the show.
The show also featured Lysander. To support Arabella and out of their usual affection for her, they were all tuned in.
In the Hawke estate, Mrs. Hawke sighed, "That girl really makes herself at home."
Alden uttered, "Didn't you say she's as good as your own? Always part of the Hawke family?"
Mrs. Hawke pouted. "Yes, that's true, but lately I've been uneasy thinking about her not being my biological child. Just look at the Zade family trio, what if genetics really do play a role?"