The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1536

Louisa was about to leave when Serena grabbed her in a tight embrace, her voice breaking through tears, "Mom, is that no matter what I say, you won't believe me? Lindsay was a close friend of mine a long time ago, but then she went abroad, and we lost touch for years. It was only at tonight's birthday party that we ran into each other again."

Through her sobs, Serena explained, "The engagement between my brother-in-law and me was called off ages ago, but only our families knew about it. When Lindsay asked, I couldn't say the marriage was still on, but I also couldn't tell her it was over. What was I supposed to say?"

With tears streaming down her face, Serena continued, "All I could do was subtly hint to her that it's my sister who is with Romeo now, and I dared not reveal anything else. But Lindsay misunderstood, thinking my sister stole my love and secretly told Madeline."

Serena was utterly distraught, "It's because they gossiped and twisted the story that it reached my sister. That's why I turned so upset and came to confront Lindsay. And can you believe it? Lindsay slapped me right there in front of everyone. You can ask around; I'm not lying to you."

Louisa paused, and her body tensed as she looked at her daughter, who was struggling to speak through her tears. Half skeptical, half sympathetic, she said, "But what I heard was that you were impersonating a student of Queena."

"I was talking about Mr. Quentin, the man who used to teach me the violin. Somehow Lindsay and the others thought I meant Queena, and they blurted it out in front of everyone, which was so embarrassing for me. In the end, to not ruin the party, I had to apologize."

Serena clung to Louisa, her voice filled with a hurt so raw, "Mom, do you think if I'm not your biological daughter, nothing I say matters? Was all the love you showed me over the past eighteen years just for show? Sometimes I'm so jealous of my sister. She's got the Collins family blood. No matter what happens, everyone always takes her side."

Louisa looked at her and felt a pang of compassion.