The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1470

"What on earth was Serena doing in the basement?" Darren couldn't help but ask.

"Probably heard some noise, or caught one of the staff gossiping. You know how curious she is. Wanted to check it out for herself. Bard already gave those chatterboxes a good talking-to."

Eunice gently rubbed Darren's back, careful not to rile him further.

Darren finally eased up a bit, no longer as stiff as it had been moments ago.

"No wonder the poor girl had nightmares last night." Darren mumbled with newfound clarity, "She's never been exposed to anything like that, and those folks locked up in the basement must've scared her witless."

He remembered how Serena had curled up in a corner of the study the previous night, crying pitifully.

She must have been terrified!

"I should talk to her grandma, have her comfort Serena. Help her forget all this sooner rather than later."

As Darren spoke, a light bulb went off in his head, "Why not have her and Bella head back home first? The holidays are just around the corner. They can go ahead, and we'll join them at Reflections Villa for a reunion once your mom and I are back in fighting shape."

Eunice looked at him, speechless. Was he sure he’s all better now??

Who was it that nearly had a heart attack just a while ago??

"You've got a whole mess of trouble locked up in that basement; just make sure Bella doesn't see." Darren expressed his concern.

Eunice glanced at Bard, a tad worried. If Serena was involved in all this, sending her back would be like freeing the tiger back into the wild.

Bard, sensing her thoughts, reassured her, "Right now, she's all tears and no talk. If it really is her, and she clams up, denying everything, we've got no evidence. We'd have to let her go either way, right?"

They couldn't very well lock up a girl they'd cherished for eighteen years and subject her to a barrage of interrogations, could they?

Besides, Serena's life had always been sheltered, untainted. Given her strength, courage, and connections, it seemed unlikely she'd be involved in any foul play.

Just then, Bard's phone buzzed. After taking the call, he turned to Eunice and said, "Bella's start-up, the Ar-Bl-Clear Group, has just topped the charts, surpassing all the major brands. Their skincare line is now ranked number one."