The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 2023

"What on earth have you done to her? Who sent you?"

"Martin, what are you doing back? Weren't you supposed to meet with that big-shot business partner today?" Serena, gently placed on the couch by Martin, pushed him away and said, "Don't worry about me. They just need let off some steam on me. You go on back, will you?"

"How can you expect me to leave when you're like this? Where's Dora? Where's June?" Martin had never felt so out of control, his anger barely contained.

Dora and June timidly appeared, one wiping the spilled tea from the wheelchair, the other from Serena's clothes.

"Where the hell have you been?" Martin was livid. He had entrusted Serena to their care, only to return from a brief stint at the office to find her like this?

"Don't blame them. It was my doing. They're just earning their wages. Besides, I can take a hit; it's not the first time I've been roughed up. Don’t worry. Mrs. Cooper and Ms. Cooper here won't really hurt me. They just needed to vent."

"Martin, can't you see she's playing us against each other?" Diana was seething, especially after Serena shot her a provocative glance following her words.

"That's enough!" Martin no longer wanted to hear her speak, "Just because you're my sister, you think you can come here and lay a hand on my girl? Haven't I told you how much I love her? That she means the world to me?"

Fuming, Martin first made sure Serena was safely seated in her wheelchair, and then instructed the maids, "Take her to get changed."

Dora hurried forward to push the wheelchair.

Diana, after being shouted at by her brother, was so upset her eyes reddened. She had never imagined that Martin would be so bewitched by Serena that he would act this irrationally.

Florence was equally incensed. In a sudden movement, she slapped Martin across the face. The slap stunned not just Martin but Diana as well. Their mother, who always adored her son, had now resorted to such violence.

Seemingly not satisfied, Florence raised her hand again and delivered another slap, trembling with anger.

"You ungrateful wretch, do you want to be the death of us? You think you can stand up to us now that you've grown wings? This woman, you may treasure her, but to us, she's worth nothing! You want to be with her? Fine, you might protect her once or twice, but let's see if you can do it for a lifetime! She thinks she can take a hit? Well, I'll make sure to give her one every time I see her!"