The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1682

"I don't have the guts to go alone, but with you leading the way, I can face anything with courage."

"So my purpose is to beef you up?"

"That's called strength in numbers, boss! Because you're tough as nails and care about us, no matter what, you're always the first to jump in and shield us from danger. Now that we've grown up, it's our turn to protect you."

"Like you did last night?" Arabella teased.

Horace chuckled as he remembered being surrounded by thugs with weapons the night before. Arabella's lips curved into a beautiful smile, joining in on the laughter.

7 PM. Horace pulled up to the hotel, but instead of opening the car door for Arabella, he stood in front of it, hemming and hawing, preventing her from getting in.

"Boss." Horace didn't know where to begin, his expression one of troubled hesitation, "Let me go meet Sean tonight. They don't know who the real buyer is anyway, don't know what you look like. I'll just say I'm interested in buying the island. I'll go talk to them alone."

"What's wrong?" Arabella sensed something amiss, "Spit it out."

Horace struggled for a bit before deciding to lay his cards on the table. He knew the boss was capable, that even if he didn't tell her, she would find out anyway.

"They just told me the meeting place, and I found out it's on an island. The island is owned by Sean, infamously known as 'Beast Island.'"

In Belloria, as long as you had a permit, you could privately own dangerous animals.

"They say the island is home to cheetahs, lions, tigers, you name it. All roaming free."

Meaning once they set foot on the island, there was no guarantee they'd meet Sean. They could very well be torn to pieces by the beasts first.