The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 2014

The voice on the phone paused before continuing, "Algernon had been staking out the hospital for days, capturing a video of a victim's family wailing outside the OR, then went online claiming Arabella was a fraud, a quack who had killed a patient. Now the netizens have dug up his identity, found out he was your bodyguard. Today, in his home, he ended his own life. A contact at the station said Algernon sent you a text before he died."

Martin suddenly remembered the incident. He had indeed received a text, but hadn't looked at it closely. Now, he opened it to find just one line: [Mr. Martin, I'll take care of this matter.]

Anyone would think Martin had ordered the suicide.

Both of his men's deaths were pointing back at him.

Just then, someone pushed open the door to the study, their voice tinged with sorrow, "Martin."

He turned to see a girl in a wheelchair, her eyes brimming with tears. He quickly ended the call, "We'll talk later."

After hanging up, he rushed over to her, crouching down, "Why the tears?"

He gently wiped her face, seeing her red, swollen eyes, she looked like a distressed little bunny. His heart ached, "Didn't I ask you to wait a bit? What happened? Why the tears?"

"Do you not want me around anymore?" Serena looked particularly pitiful.

“How could you think that?"

"You used to drop everything just to be with me whenever I needed you."

Hearing this, Martin felt a pang of guilt, "I'm sorry, I really dropped the ball today, neglecting your feelings. What is it you wanted to tell me? I'm all ears now."

Just as Serena began to speak, Martin's phone rang again. She said with a touch of hurt, "Go ahead, take your call."

On the balcony, Martin confronted the caller, "Did you threaten Channing and Algernon into these schemes, driving them to their deaths, and then pinning it on me. What are you after?"

"You promised me three favors; this is the first," the voice on the line, altered by a voice changer, was cold and emotionless, "Take the fall for this, and I'll consider one favor fulfilled."

"I made a vow to the Collins family, to Serena, not to do anything that would hurt the Collins. They have shown her kindness and nurtured her over the years, I can't go through with this."

Admit that he had tampered with those cars to get back at someone for Serena? That would not only smear his and Serena's names, but also break the promise he had made to the Collins family.

"You're balking at the first favor. Remember, Serena's life was saved by me!" The mysterious caller seemed displeased.

"I've said before, I won't engage in murder, arson, or anything against the moral grain," Martin stated firmly, then he ventured a guess, "Do you have a grudge against the Collins? Could you be the mastermind behind the fire years ago? Are you pushing me to take the blame because they're closing in on you?"