In such a solemn occasion, a phone ringing can make Finn appear a bit rude.
With people all around, it’s not practical for Finn to answer the phone. But if he ignores it, the phone will keep ringing.
The Dankworth family doesn’t think much of it; everyone makes mistakes, and it’s just a phone call, who knows why someone would call at this time.
Old Burns feels displeased, his face showing anger, urging Finn to deal with it quickly and not waste time.
Old Burns, being somewhat superstitious, chose an auspicious day for the engagement. Every aspect of the day was carefully planned.
Finn murmurs, taking out his phone to silence it. But when he sees the caller ID, he freezes.
The caller is a caregiver overseas looking after Aoife.
The caregiver has never called him before, so this call must be about something serious. Could it be… Aoife is in trouble?
Finn should have hung up the call, but with thoughts of Aoife’s safety, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Ignoring the awkward situation, he answers the call in front of everyone.
“Finn!” Old Burns is furious, but he can’t stop him now.
Lily, one of the key figures today, stands dumbfounded, watching Finn’s worried expression. She has a gut feeling that this call is related to Aoife.
Her intuition was right. Finn, with a low voice, demands, “What happened? Tell me!”
The caregiver, trembling, struggles to speak, “Mr. Snearl, Miss Powell is missing…”
“What are you saying?” Finn’s breath quickens, gripping the phone tightly. “What do you mean she’s missing?”
Anxiety and fear threaten to overwhelm him.
The caregiver stammers, repeating, “I don’t know…”
“I went out for a bit, and when I returned to the room, Miss Powell was gone. The hospital searched everywhere, asked the doctors, at first, I thought she went out for a walk… but…”
Finn’s face turns pale, his other hand clenches into a fist, the joints turning white with the pressure, emitting a squeaky sound.
His emotional turmoil is visible to everyone. Old Burns frowns, observing Finn’s bloodshot eyes, feeling surprised and concerned.
Finn is losing it.
As soon as the call ends, Finn is ready to leave.
Old Burns slams his cane on the table, standing up. “Finn, where do you think you’re going on such an important occasion?”
Finn’s dark mood radiates, his presence imposing. A palpable tension fills the room as many are left speechless.
Finn coldly smiles, “My dog ran away, I’m going to look for it.”
Finn doesn’t really have a dog; the Dankworth family is puzzled. But Old Burns and Lily know the real meaning behind his words.
Old Burns, enraged, had warned Finn earlier not to care too much about something trivial and inappropriate, but Finn seems to have ignored him completely, acting as foolish as Hamish.
In such a crucial moment, with the Dankworth family watching, Finn’s statement and attempt to leave under the pretext of a missing dog provoke Old Burns. He raises his cane, ready to strike Finn’s back.
“You stay right there, today’s matters are not over yet. You’re not allowed to leave!” Old Burns’s tone is harsh. “If you can’t take care of a ‘dog,’ maybe I should just kill the ‘dog’.”
It’s a clear threat. Finn ominously retorts, “I can handle my own ‘dog,’ no need for your interference.”
A fight over a dog at an engagement banquet is unprecedented. This ‘dog’ brings quite the stir.
Ignoring any attempt to stop him, Finn endures five hefty blows from Old Burns before he prepares to leave.
Lily, feeling utterly embarrassed, follows behind Finn, her high heels making it impossible to keep up. She stumbles but manages to shout at Finn’s retreating figure.
“Finn, if you leave, what about me? Are you really going to abandon me at this moment? What about the alliance between our families? Do you still want it, or is Aoife more important than the Burns family? Think clearly, do you want Aoife or the Burns family?”
The last four words are a scream from Lily. She watches Finn go, trying to calm herself but unable to stop trembling.
These words deeply affect Finn. Various images flood his mind, the death of his mother, scavenging through trash for food, abused and locked up by the nanny, unfairly judged and scorned by those around him…
Normally, Finn might not have left, but this time is different. The thought of Aoife in a foreign land, being a patient who’s naïve and vulnerable, unable to comprehend, fills Finn with dread. The uncertainty and danger of her being alone in unfamiliar surroundings shatter something in him.
“I’m sorry, I have to leave. I’ll come back and apologize in person.” Finn’s face is stern, his expression serious, but it sends shivers down one’s spine.
What else can Lily say? What else is there to say? She thought Finn, a selfish man driven by profit, cared little for love. But seeing how he values Aoife so much, she wonders when Aoife became so important to him. He’s even willing to give up a lifetime of planning for her sake.
Finn arranges for a flight, urgently checking the time on his watch. Time is of the essence, and he can’t afford to delay any longer.
With a journey of ten to twenty hours ahead, anything could happen in that time.
Finn’s hurried figure gradually fades from her view. Lily’s face is pale, the pain in her chest stifling her breath. Finn doesn’t love her, that’s why he left so easily without a second glance.
For the first time, Lily tastes the bitterness of jealousy. She never imagined she would envy someone as insignificant as a servant.