The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1596

"Taking someone's cash by force is called 'robbery,' and 'compensating' means you've got to cough up some dough because you messed something up." Arabella coolly explained, eyeing her with disdain, "Aren't you old enough to know the difference, or are you just retarded?"

Katherine fumed, her cheeks flushing red, "I can't believe it, Carol, siding with others to gang up on me. Just you wait."

"Think you can just leave without paying up? As if," Carol grabbed her arm to pull her back.

"What more do you want? You're gonna rob me in broad daylight? Help! Can't anyone see this? Help me! Mom, Carol's bullying me, Mom!" Katherine's voice was piercing, drawing the immediate attention of a couple of clerks who dashed over, with the fastest being a posh lady.

The lady stormed in, shoving Carol aside with furious strength, "You little brat, you dare to bring trouble to us? Unbelievable!"

She whipped out her phone, trembling with rage, and made a phone call, "Your precious daughter is causing a scene in front of Katherine's boutique, disrupting business! When she demanded cash and Katherine refused, she grabbed Katherine by the collar, ready to throw punches! Her manners are atrocious! What, you don't give her enough allowance? She's so desperate she's resorted to daylight robbery?"

There was a request for Carol to take the call, but the lady barked, "Why should she? So she can spin more lies? I welcomed her and her brother into our home with open arms, treated them like my own, yet this is the thanks I get? She's crossed the line today, and if I don't teach her the lesson her late mom obviously didn't, she'll never learn respect!"

Maureen angrily ended the call, raising her hand to slap Carol.

Carol caught her wrist, her voice ice cold, "You're not the one to discipline me in this house!"

"Your worst nightmare. All these designs could bankrupt you," Arabella stated coldly. QY wasn't known for playing nice. She knew exactly how long the shop had been profiting from their boutique in the mall, and the sum to settle might be more than they could afford, not to mention the impending compensation.

"What's this QY? And what about 'knocking off' designs? These clothes are all my daughter's original creations, so stop trying to confuse everyone!" Maureen was desperate to find an excuse to discipline Carol. But then, the representatives from QY actually arrived!

They bowed respectfully to Arabella, whispering something to her, and then approached Maureen and Katherine.

Upon Katherine realized these were indeed QY's people, her bravado evaporated, replaced by a creeping fear.