The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1538

After hanging up the phone, Kenneth quickly asked, "What did she say?"

"She said when Romeo showed up last night, a bunch of girls swarmed him; some even confessed their feelings in public. Before that, Lindsay did make an appearance, cozying up to Phillip with rather obvious intentions."

Hearing this, Kenneth thought of Serena's tear-stained face and couldn't help saying, "Looks like we might have wronged Serena after all."

"That's not necessarily the case. Let's talk to Bella tomorrow," Louisa felt torn inside. On one hand was the child she had doted on for eighteen years, and on the other was the biological daughter she had neglected for just as long. She sat at her vanity, removing her jewelry, her mind wandering through memories of the past.

The next morning.

Arabella came down to the breakfast table to find Serena already seated, having woken up at some unknown hour.

"Morning, sis. Let me get you some oatmeal," Serena offered, standing up, but a sharp pain in her ankle nearly made her lose her balance, and she quickly grabbed the table for support.

Arabella was unsure what Serena was up to; her bowl wasn't even filled yet and Arabella had already picked up a glass of milk, sipping it casually, paying no mind to her sister.

As Serena finished filling the bowl, she carefully set it in front of Arabella, then saying, "We're alone here, and I know you don't like me calling you 'sis'. I'll try to avoid it when no one's around. About last night, I'm sorry. I really messed up."

With that, Serena twisted open a bottle of hot sauce and poured half of it into her glass.

"From now on, I won't do anything to upset you again. Martin and I are planning to get engaged, and if it's okay, I'll move out. I'll stay away from you, away from this house. I hope you can put the past behind us."

Hearing the words "put the past behind us," Arabella raised her lovely eyes, understanding the implication, "So someone's after you? You're afraid I'll say something, hence the hot sauce stunt and the engagement talk, hoping I'll let bygones be bygones?"

Serena didn't expect Arabella to be so astute and to guess her motives right away. Resolute, Serena locked eyes with Arabella and asked directly, "Deal?"

"Then tell me, the person in Aunt Eunice's basement, did you kill him?"