The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1535

So Serena began her game of tough love, with her eyes brimming with tears as she confronted Martin. "What is so damn important that you're always busy? If it wasn't for you, those people wouldn't have had the chance to do this to me. I wouldn't be in this mess."

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," Martin admitted, feeling a pang of guilt inside. He had explained the troubles at work to Serena in a gentle drawl on their way home. After getting her back to her place, he had even carried her to bed and, with a sincere expression, handed her a card. "The deposit for this project, including the future revenue, it's all yours."

"I don't want it." Serena pretended to throw the card away, yet waiting for Martin to pick it up for her deep down.

Sure enough, Martin walked over, bent down, picked it up, and placed it back in her hand.

Serena couldn't help feeling smug about it.

"There are a few million in there, and there’ll be more to come. I screwed up tonight." Martin lamented for a while before continuing, "Get some rest, and I'll come check on you tomorrow."

Before leaving, he didn't forget to add, "Send me that person's name. I'll take care of it without leaving a trace."

Serena had been waiting for him to say just that, but she still played the victim. "You're my boyfriend, if someone finds it out. Never mind, I don't want this to drag on."

"How can we let it go? Look at what they did to you?!" Martin was even more persistent than she was. "I won't let her get away with this, don't worry, no one will find out."

Serena said nothing.

"Just send it to me later, get some rest, goodnight." As Martin left, he pulled out his phone and ordered his people to start investigating it, eager to expose whoever was behind this.

When Kenneth and Louisa hurried back, they immediately noticed Serena sitting on the bed, looking utterly disheveled.

"Dad, Mom." Serena cried, looking extremely wronged.

But Louisa didn't comfort her right away; instead, she seemed somewhat indifferent.

"Mom, who told you that." Serena began to defend herself.

But Louisa cut her off, "When we heard you were beaten and bitten by a snake, your father and I were worried sick, ready to defend you. But to our dismay, we then learned about your behavior at the party. Serena, are you still the daughter I know??"

"Mom! You've got it all wrong!!" Serena cried as she tried to explain, "It's Lindsay, she's the one who loves my brother-in-law and tries to usurp my sister's place. You can check if you don't believe me. Tonight, Lindsay was shamelessly cozying up to Grandpa Phillip in front of everyone. It was so obvious as if she had written it on her forehead. And, these scratches on my face? They're her doing."

"Serena, we were shocked to hear about your actions at the party. It's surprising and unbelievable. We'd be more at ease if you hadn't done those things, but we're afraid you've changed into someone we don't recognize." Kenneth was also in disbelief when he heard about his daughter's behavior that evening, "Louisa, she's badly hurt, let her rest for now."

It was well past midnight, and if they kept grilling her, outsiders might think they were mistreating their adopted daughter.

"I will get to the bottom of this, and I'll talk to Bella tomorrow."