The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 2099

But Serena seemed afraid of her own softening heart, her demeanor frosty as she said, "Go get some fresh air."

“Rushing back to the manor to stash your phone away, huh?” Martin didn’t crouch in front of her as he used to when they talked. His tone was strange, tinged with a mix of sarcasm and disbelief.

Serena didn’t have time to ponder his words; all she wanted was to get out of there as quickly as possible.

“I told you, I’d give you anything, anything but that phone.” Serena turned her face away, refusing to look at him, her expression resolute.

Martin, gazing at the face he once loved to the marrow, swallowed his sorrow and asked, “What about your life? Would you give that too?”

“Martin!” Serena, sensing his unreasonable turn, snapped back. “If Arabella demanded my life, would you hand me over? Is my life so worthless to you? Would you trade my life for your mother’s and sister’s?”

“You just said you’d give anything but the phone.” Disappointment and a chill seeped into Martin’s voice, realizing her words might have been hollow.

Yet, as if holding onto a thread of hope, he prodded, “The doctor said Mom won’t last two hours. Can you really bear to watch her die? Arabella said she could save two lives as long as you give her the phone.”

Serena, unaware that Arabella was in the OR saving Florence, snapped impatiently, “Martin, can you not? I’ve said it a thousand times, it’s not happening. I’m not giving her the phone!”

Fitch, egging them on from the sidelines, retorted, “If it wasn’t for Martin saving you back then, you’d be six feet under! He’s sacrificed so much for you, faced utter betrayal, and you can’t hand over a lousy phone?”

“What do you know?” Serena had never liked Fitch, “If you’re so capable, you help!”

As Serena stubbornly wheeled herself away, Martin finally let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

If Arabella hadn’t come, would he have been left to sign the critical condition notice, helplessly watching his mother and sister die?

“I’ll tell you this, if it were you in there, Martin would trade his life for yours in a heartbeat. Before his last breath, he’d make sure everything’s set for you—someone to care for you, money to spend, a life of ease.” Fitch’s words didn’t sway Serena, nor stir any semblance of conscience in her.