The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1474

Eunice's smile was gentle and beautiful as she spoke, "I’ve cherished you for eighteen years, honey. You wouldn't leave without even saying a word to me, would you?"

"What exactly are you trying to say, Aunt Eunice?"

"I know you're still a kid at heart, love. There are some things you might not know how to handle, so I thought maybe I could help you."

"You still suspect that I had something to do with what happened last night, don't you?" Serena lifted her gaze, a touch of hurt in her eyes as she bit her lower lip, asking sadly, "Am I right?"

"Is this incident related to you in any way?"

Tears began to stream down Serena's face, her eyes filled with an unbearable sense of injustice. She seemed to be holding back her emotions, but the sense of being wronged made her reveal a hint of resentment.

"Why do you have to think so poorly of me, Aunt Eunice? If my sister had never come back to this family, if there had never been any mix-up, would you still think of me this way?"

Looking into Eunice's eyes with profound sadness, Serena asked, "If I were still your biological niece, if I still shared blood with this family, if I were still the same old Serena I've always been, would you still believe that I was capable of such a thing?"

Eunice remained silent; her beautiful eyes gave nothing away.

"Just because I'm not the flesh and blood of this family, you think you can throw any accusation at me. If one day it turns out that I have nothing to do with this, will you feel even the slightest bit of guilt for how you've treated me today?"

Eunice's gaze fell upon her, but she still said nothing.

"I watched you grow up, thinking I knew you. But it turns out I didn't know you at all; you've become a stranger to me. Since we've come this far, I will ask you straight. Did you do it? Did you kill him?"

Serena closed her eyes in despair, letting the tears fall freely before finally replying, "No, I didn't."

Before Eunice could respond, Serena continued, "No matter if you're straightforward or beating around the bush with your questions, the answer is no. I won't admit to something I didn't do. How he died has nothing to do with me, and if you're only here to talk about that, then there's nothing left for us to discuss."

Eunice looked into her eyes and simply said, "Alright, then we won't discuss it."

Serena was taken aback, looking at her aunt with a mix of surprise and confusion.