The timeline is several years after the ending.

Arnold's perspective.

"Christmas Encounter"

At Christmas time, Arnold took his girlfriend Eileen back to Thorn Bird Manor.

According to Raphael, this is the fifth girlfriend Arnold has dated this year, and the one he has been with the longest. Arnold brought her home for Christmas purely because his father would not bring a girlfriend back.

So vigorously urging marriage.

When they arrived home, Karan was getting ready to leave.

She was going to the hospital to give lectures to patients during Christmas. It was snowing heavily outside, so Raphael offered to give her a ride.

"Are you really not going to meet Arnold's girlfriend?"

"No, I don't want to embarrass both of us."

"Then let's go, I'll see you off. It's not safe to drive in the snow."

Raphael opened the castle door.

Oncoming were Arnold, who was wearing a denim jacket, and Irene, a young girl whose face was red from the cold.

This girl is from the Republic, with red hair, small freckles, very plump, and looks sweet and enthusiastic. She wears a thick white rabbit fur cloak and a long blue plaid scarf, which should belong to Arnold.

Eileen saw two people walking out of the castle, and turned to Arnold in shock and anger: "I heard that after the amendment was overturned, your family will have no black slaves. Are you lying to me!?"

Arnold's expression was very embarrassing.

Raphael looked at Erin calmly: "You should be glad that my father is not here, madam."

Karan just couldn't help laughing.

Raphael took her bag from Karan's hand and helped her down the wet castle steps.

Arnold brings Eileen into the warm castle.

"That's Karan..." His expression was unnatural, "Uh, it's me..." Father's girlfriend?

"Your brother's friends?" Erin asked in horror. "Oh my god, were my words so offensive? Will they be angry?"

"Raphael is obviously angry. But Karan won't be angry, so it doesn't matter."

Arnold poured her a cup of hot tea and took off her scarf that was soaked in snow water.

"Do you want to take a shower? The guest room has been arranged."

"No, no, no, should I go apologize to Karan?"

"No, she won't mind. Just look at her expression just now."

Eileen has always been uneasy.

She didn't adjust to the jet lag, so she woke up exactly in the middle of the night. When she walked out of the guest room and was about to go to the kitchen to find something to eat, she met Karan again in the living room.

"Hey..." Erin walked up and said hello.

Karan was sitting by the warm fireplace with a fleece blanket on his legs and a book in his hand.

In Eileen's eyes, she is a very elegant woman, with a kind of intellectual light from the inside out. Her long black hair reaches her waist, she looks smooth and soft, and she has a wonderful and mysterious temperament.

Eileen felt that she was so stupid for actually mistaking her for a servant.

Karan raised her head and rubbed her eyes. It took a few seconds to remember who she was.

"You're awake!" she said tiredly, "Do you want to eat something? I wanted to call you during dinner, but Arnold said to let you sleep for a while..."

She stood up and walked to the kitchen.

Irene followed her nervously: "I'm sorry, I was..."

"What do you like to eat? My cooking skills are not very good, but there should be something in the refrigerator that I can warm up... I'll look for it."

It's obvious that Karan doesn't need her apology.

Erin was even more embarrassed.

She sat in front of the steaming cheesecake and watched Karan throw a lemon slice into her water glass.

"How did you and Arnold meet?" Karan asked curiously.

"A few years ago, when he was doing community service, he took care of my grandma..."

"You guys met a few years ago?"

"Yes..." I don't know why, Irene was particularly nervous in front of her, "but we have only been together recently. He said he would bring me over for Christmas, and I think it is too fast to meet my parents now..."

"It's okay, his father won't be home on Christmas Day."

Irene knew this, as the elders of the Siouville family were away on a state visit.

That's why Eileen agreed to spend Christmas at Thorn Bird Manor.

"Who are you and Arnold?" Irene asked, wringing her fingers.

"Oh...you don't need to pay attention to me, I already have a lover." Karan raised his hand, wearing a simple silver ring on his middle finger, "My house was recently being ant-free, so Raphael invited me to stay in Thorn Bird temporarily.

manor."

Erin immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Are you and Raphael friends?"

"You can say that..." Karan smiled.

"Have you known each other for a long time?" Erin asked again.

"Yes, it has been several years."

"Then..." Erin swallowed, "Do you know anything about Arnold? I, I only know that he is a child of a big family, and he likes rock music. I don't know anything else... I'm not sure if we are suitable. It is said that

His parents are not easy people to get along with."

"You can ask Arnold to take you to meet Mrs. Tilin. She likes Arnold very much. If Arnold loves you, she will definitely be willing to accept you. As for Mr. Baiyin..." Kalant deliberately used a more distant word.

"He is away from home for at least 300 days a year. You will only see him on the news, so you don't have to think about communicating with him at all."

Erin slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks."

Karan smiled at her again: "Arnold used to be a bad boy who did all kinds of evil. Recently, he has gotten better and better. I think it must be your credit."

Erin blushed.

"Thank you, it was a pleasure getting along with you."

Erin returned to the guest room and fell asleep again.

The next day, after she got up, Raphael had already gone to the city hall. Karan seemed not to be there either, she did not show up at breakfast.

There is only Arnold at home.

He played the guitar for Irene, hummed songs, and took her wandering around in the snow at the manor.

"Did you see this? These twin towers used to be the landmark buildings of the manor. Later, my father burned the towers for Karan. Don't talk about this outside."

Arnold said, pointing to the ruins of the Twin Towers.

There are some vines twining on the tower, covering up the burnt black color.

"Your father...what?" Erin thought she heard wrong, "He and Karan?"

Arnold was stunned: "She didn't say anything? Didn't you say that you talked all night last night?"

Eileen waved her hands, her shocked expression unable to be concealed: "Yes, she solved a lot of my emotional problems! But she didn't talk about herself! She only said she had a lover!!"

She didn't say that this "lover" was Mr. Baiyin.

"Okay..." Arnold seemed a little speechless, "Maybe she doesn't want to put you under pressure. My father usually consults her opinions on important matters such as the marriage of his children. You know what Raphael has done since he was a child.

Was the engagement canceled not long ago? That girl didn't want to get married. She begged her family for a long time to no avail, and finally came to Karan, who talked my father through."

Eileen suddenly felt a mountain of pressure in her heart.

She said with difficulty: "That's it, I'll call her a nigger as soon as we meet her..."

"You didn't call her that, you were angry with me." Arnold comforted her, "And I don't think Karan hates you. Even if she hates you, she won't influence my marriage because of her own opinions.

.”

Erin suddenly blushed: "Why did we suddenly talk about marriage... We are just in love!"

Arnold cleared his throat: "Every love must be for the purpose of getting married. I am not a casual person."

"Yes, you are someone who falls in love seriously five times a year."

"I promise this is the last time..."

"Liar! I won't believe you!"

Irene picked up the snowball and threw it at Arnold. He stood in the snow, his collar filled with cold snow particles, and an indulgent smile appeared on his face.

"Do you think this will be the last time?" Not far away, Karan peeked at the two of them getting along and asked.

Beside her, Mr. Bai Yin, who had just returned, frowned: "I hope not."

"What?" Karan glared at him hard.

"Because I plan to propose to you next year. If this is Arnold's last love, then he should get married next year. I don't want to be with him." Siovel said lazily, while using his robe to wrap Karan
Chapter completed!