The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1958

Romeo and Arabella's brothers bent down to adjust her dress, and then watched her take each step towards the stage with a mix of pride and anticipation.

No one in the crowd had anticipated that Kenneth and Louisa, the town's golden couple, had a daughter who had been lost to the world for eighteen years. And no one could have imagined just how strikingly beautiful she would be. She had a serene grace about her, an air of noble elegance that seemed otherworldly, sparking a buzz of conversation.

"She's absolutely stunning. To think she could look so regal after being away for so long."

"That grace is just unparalleled."

"Royal blood flows in her veins. She was never destined for mediocrity. But where's Serena today? I haven't seen her around."

"Yeah, where is Serena? Could it be she's not their biological child?"

"You think there's some soap opera twist here?"

The chatter reached Arabella's ears, but she didn't show the slightest concern. Instead, she approached her parents with a sweet and compliant demeanor.

Kenneth, unable to hide his excitement, made the introduction. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce our long-lost daughter, Arabella."

As his words faded, the room erupted in enthusiastic applause, a symphony of genuine warmth that was as stirring as a powerful piece of music.

"Bella, why don't you say hello to everyone?" Louisa said, her eyes soft and inviting.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Arabella."

Her voice was as melodious as a string instrument, touching everyone's heart.

Indeed, there had been a terrible fire at a clinic eighteen years ago. No one could have guessed it would be linked to the Collins family.

"A half year ago, we finally found our lost kin, Arabella. Serena's place in our family has weighed heavily on us," Louisa said earnestly. "We'd learned that Serena's biological father was untraceable, and her mother had perished in that very fire. We wanted to keep her, and Bella, with her kind heart, agreed without hesitation."

The crowd was shocked. Arabella and Serena had been living under the same roof for six months.

The Collins family had kept this secret incredibly well.

"Even though we found our flesh and blood, we've never neglected Serena, not in love nor in material terms. We thought we made the right decision, but never did we imagine that this choice would become our deepest regret, the source of our greatest pain!"

When Serena was watching the live broadcast, her face turned ghostly pale, as if she knew what was coming next.