The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 238

Chapter 238 

After dinner, Hans Collins sat on the sofa, occasionally glancing towards the door. 

Serena came over with a plate and a sweet smile on her face. 

“Bro, I made you apple crabs. Cute, huh?” 

She was all smiles and innocence. “I also made pear birds and strawberry Santas. Do they look like what they’re supposed to be?” 

She pointed to the fruits on the plate with her injured finger. 

Hans Collins noticed at once. “You hurt yourself?” 

He took the plate from her and immediately ordered a servant, “Get the first aid kit.” 

The servant rushed off. 

Serena feigned surprise at her finger. “I must’ve nicked it when I was cutting the fruits. It’s nothing; it’s not hurting at all. I didn’t even notice until you pointed it out.” 

“You nicked your finger, and it doesn’t hurt? You’re lying.” Hans Collins knew her too well. 

She’d always been a considerate girl. Once, when she scraped her knee in the garden, she held back her tears to keep everyone else from worrying about her. 

Serena hid her finger behind her back, still smiling innocently. “You’re hardly home, and I wanted to make a special fruit plate for you. But I saw other people doing it so easily that I got all flustered and messed it up. It took me forever to make these few shapes. You’re not going to knock me for it, right?” 

“How could I?” Hans Collins‘ voice was unusually gentle. 

“Even though my shapes look all wonky, I’ll get better if I practice more!” Serena laughed sweetly. “But you’ve got to come home more often; give me more chances to practice. You can’t just come home twice a year, like this year. I’ve been waiting until my neck’s sore!” 

Hans Collins‘ voice was indulgent. “You don’t have to do these little things.” 

“But I want to make yummy food for you! As long as you come home more often, I’ll do anything.” Serena cooed, “You’re not going to stop eating it just because my fruits look ugly, right?” 

Hans Collins skewered a strawberry Santa with a fruit pick and handed it to her first. 

Serena took it happily, grinning from ear to ear. “Thanks, bro. Try one too. It might look ugly, but it’s really sweet.” 

Just then, Martha came over with the first aid kit and squatted down next to Serena. “You have no idea how much she’s been looking forward to your 

return!” 

Hans Collins looked at his sister, and his face softened. 

Martha chuckled as she disinfected the wound. “By the way, she won first place in her piano competition again!” 

She didn’t mention a word about Arabella being Maestro Melody. 

“What would you like as a reward?” Hans Collins asked softly. 

Serena beamed at him. The best reward for me would be you coming home more often.” 

Hans Collins‘ eyes softened. “I’ll come home when work’s not too crazy.”