The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1539

Serena froze for a moment, caught off guard by Arabella's seemingly out-of-the-blue question. The haunting memories of that cold, sinister basement still sent shivers down her spine whenever they crept into her mind.

"Is all the danger I faced in Dawnstar somehow connected to you?" Arabella's gaze was piercing as she asked directly.

Serena was taken aback, "What danger?"

"What danger? What are you two talking about??" Louisa walked into the dining room just in time to overhear their conversation about some danger and looked puzzled, "What happened?"

"It's nothing," Serena and Arabella spoke in unison, neither wanting to worry their mother.

"Serena, what happened to your lips? Why are they so swollen? And your face, it's so flushed?" Kenneth asked, bewildered.

Serena started to explain, but a burning sensation in her stomach surged, making her feel nauseous, "I need to go to the bathroom."

Before leaving the table, she glanced at Arabella, unsure whether it was a plea for Arabella to let bygones be bygones or fear that Arabella might reveal something.

Louisa sat down, and once Serena was out of sight, she turned to Arabella, "Bella, I heard you're Queena and Jamie Noelle. Do you know how stunned I was last night when I heard from friends? You've become so accomplished; I can't even find the words to praise you."

"Yeah, you're practically a master in your field. Bella, you must have had a tough time over the years." Kenneth said as he served her a fried egg and topped off her milk, "We always hear about your achievements from others. You're way too modest."