The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 2131

Over the years, every mishap at Collins Corporation, every peril Kenneth and Louisa faced on their travels—they were all orchestrated by Lucas and Beverly.

Especially during the early years when Kenneth took over the company, Lucas and Beverly had a number of schemes against him, leading to widespread doubt in his abilities, nearly costing him the position Bernard had entrusted to him.

Frederica and Alma were in disbelief. The idea that their own parents had been secretly sabotaging their uncle and aunt for over a decade was unimaginable.

Additionally, Erik’s will revealed even more shocking details. Eighteen years ago, during the clinic fire, Martha, in her last moments of consciousness, saw Louisa carry away her daughter. But weakened from childbirth and smoke inhalation, she was powerless to stop it, and ultimately, it was Erik who rescued her from the clinic.

It was only after reading the next day's newspaper, which announced that the Collins family matriarch had safely given birth to a daughter, that Erik and Martha realized that their child had been taken by a wealthy family.

At the time, Louisa had given birth to five sons and now had a daughter, but she was unable to nurse. The baby girl refused milk formula and cried incessantly, leaving Louisa no choice but to hire a nanny.

Torn between the need for money and the longing for her daughter, Martha applied for the job.

To everyone's surprise, Serena stopped crying at the sight of Martha and even reached out to be held by her.

After being nourished by Martha's milk, Serena became unusually calm, prompting Louisa to keep Martha on to care for her.

Once Martha's position was secure, she brought Erik in.

Erik gradually worked his way up to the position of butler, earning Kenneth and Louisa's trust.

After being bought off by Lucas and Beverly, Erik spent years feeding them information about Kenneth and Louisa's whereabouts, including their daily lives and social circles.

Lucas and Beverly could never have imagined that Erik had secretly amassed such a comprehensive trove of evidence.

"You knew all along that Serena wasn't my own flesh and blood, yet you hid it from me for eighteen years, forcing Bella to suffer on the outside." Louisa's voice choked with emotion, her eyes bloodshot with fury.

He shook his brother's shoulders, weeping as he questioned, "Haven't I been good to you these years? What have I done to deserve your longing for your elder brother’s death, tell me, what did I do wrong?"

Louisa's tears also fell. From her first day in the Collins family, she treated Lucas and Beverly as her own siblings, even more so than her two brothers who lived abroad; she had never guarded against them.

The betrayal by Serena had hurt her, but now Lucas and Beverly had also wounded her.

Her heart was riddled with pain, struggling to breathe.

"I was pregnant at the time; no matter how much you hated me, the child was innocent."

Louisa sobbed, "How could you bear to harm her. You were her uncle and aunt. If it hadn't been for Bella's luck, being taken in by the Murphy family, if our people hadn't arrived in time, three lives would have been lost that night."