The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1726

Martha elongated her words playfully, toying with Arabella's anticipation. It took a while before she finally said, "Doom."

Martha was from Doom.

"Since when?" Arabella asked, locking her gaze onto Martha's eyes.

"Well, it's a long story. But right now, I'm not in the mood to chat. I'm more interested in carving up your pretty little face."

Martha revealed a maniacal grin, as she discussed with Serena on the video call, "Serena, what do you think about etching 'slut' on her left cheek and 'tramp' on her right? Let her wear her shame for everyone to see, eh?"

Serena, all too eager, quickly piped up with a suggestion, "Or maybe just 'Bitch' on one side and 'Whore' on the other."

"Brilliant!" Martha cackled, her voice sharp as the blade that hovered dangerously close to Arabella's face.

"One last question," Arabella said, her eyes fearless. "The fire years ago. did you plan it?"

"Me?" Martha laughed, genuinely surprised, "Do you think I'm capable of burning down an entire clinic and keeping it a secret for so many years? Arabella, you're giving me too much credit. I don't have that kind of power. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time to seize the opportunity."

In its heyday, Doom's influence spread far and wide, with a reach that was deep and tangled.

On the surface, some of them were deli owners, street vendors, or office workers.

But behind closed doors, they all pledged allegiance to Doom, doing its bidding.

Martha, as an ordinary citizen, was just what Doom needed.

Arabella wondered, could the fire have been Doom's doing, and Martha merely stumbled into joining them? Who then planned the fire?

At the hospital.