Upon hearing Miranda''sment, Hannah and Caius both turned their gaze to the other side. Sure enough, they saw the Hawke family making their entrance.


    Alden and Grace walked arm-in-arm, greeting others with warm smiles. The four Hawke boys were in tow as well, with Arabe tagging along in a pretty princess dress, deliberately positioning herself in the middle like the apple of their eye.


    But today, the Hawke brothers seemed different than usual. They barely acknowledged Arabe. So, when Arabe fell a bit behind, they didn''t wait for her. She was left to awkwardly gather her dress and hurry to catch up.


    As the Hawke family arrived, celebrities and the elite, who typically swarmed around them in the past the moment they spotted the family, kept their distance.


    After all, the four Hawke brothers and their spotlight-stealing sister were social media gold.


    Any association with them could skyrocket one''s exposure, making them a hot ticket for fame-seekers. Hence, each time when the Hawkes had made their entrance, they''d be the center of attention and receive countlesspliments.


    But now, with Miranda present, no one wanted to risk offending the Lancaster Group or Miranda herself by getting too close to the Hawkes.


    Besides, the Hawke family had been the subject of quite a bit of disgraceful scandal recently, with their sons and adopted daughter making tabloid headlines. Nobody wanted to be dragged into that mess. In the lively party atmosphere, the Hawkes found themselvesrgely ignored, and Alden and Grace struggled to maintain a polite facade despite their difort. The Hawke boys wore frowns as well. Arabe, however, seemed oblivious to the situation. She was busy trying to showcase herself, flipping her hair or adjusting her dress, then offering practiced smiles at the cameras.


    Hannah couldn''t hold back any longer. "Are the Hawkes out of their minds bringing her here? Aren''t they embarrassed?"


    Caius frowned. "They''re still treating Arabe like she''s something special, hopeless. Maybe she''s got some dirt on them?""


    The three of them stood amidst a crowd of socialites and heirs, creating an utmost captivating scene in that night''s banquet. Photographers couldn''t stop snapping photos of them, more so than they did of the top celebrities.


    Miranda casually picked up a pastry from a nearby buffet tter, watching the Hawkes as she spoke, "Maybe they''re worried that not bringing Arabe would cause more gossip. Bringing her might be an attempt to smooth things over."


    Given what she knew about Arabe, Miranda was certain Arabe wouldn''t pass up an opportunity to attend such an event. A little y for sympathy and she''d manage to get an approval from Alden and Grace.


    As for leverage, there were definitely some. Arabe and the Hawke family were on the same boat now The Hawkes likely feared that if they didn''t keep Arabe on their good side she might spill the beans about something from two years ago.


    It was clear the family was putting on a show of unity, but it was all for appearances. Dorian and the rest brothers clearly had no interest in engaging with Arabe. Despite her attempts to create a picture of sibling camaraderie, she was met with polite but firm indifference.


    Miranda had always thought the four brothers were


    ?


    no different from


    Arabe masters of self-promotion. With one as a CEO, another awyer, a musical prodigy, and an esports star, they each had their


    own


    careers but loved appearing at events with Arabe.


    If that wasn''t vanity and calcted publicity, what was? The entire Hawke family seemed cut from the same cloth.