The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1473

[Come on, everyone has a birthday. If you try to blackmail Bella with that, I swear I'll make a wish at my birthday bash to stop her from taking over your legacy.]

Was it really necessary to be that harsh?!?

Meanwhile, at the other side.

Serena, paralyzed with fear, hadn't even come down for lunch. The help had to bring her meal to her room.

When Eunice reached the door, she heard from the staff that Serena's hands were trembling so badly that she could barely hold her cutlery.

She looked like she was still reeling from last night's ordeal.

"Serena," Eunice knocked on the door and without waiting for a response, she pushed it open, "I'm coming in."

Hearing Eunice's voice, Serena looked up with anxious eyes and uttered timidly, "Aunt Eunice."

"Still not over it?" Eunice asked as she entered, finding Serena curled up on an armchair, her feet not even daring to touch the floor. The fear in her eyes seemed genuine.

"It's so dark in here. Why don't you let some sunshine in?" Eunice walked over to the window and drew back the curtains.

The sound of the curtains sliding sent a shiver through Serena, and as the sunlight streamed in, she squinted, finding it almost blinding and unreal.

Eunice sat down on the sofa opposite her and, noticing the untouched meal on the table, asked casually, "Not hungry?"

“Yeah.” Serena just hugged her knees tighter, her long hair cascading down and framing her overtly startled face.

Serena eyed the stylish woman with the short hair and red lips. Her voice was soft, her smile beautiful, but Serena could sense an underlying warning in her words.

"In business, I'm the same way. I'm willing to give my competitors a chance, but if they don't appreciate it, well, let's just say they won't get a second one," Eunice's smile grew even more enchanting.

Yet Serena dared not meet her eyes.

"I've said before, Bella finally came back to this family, and I just want to make things right for her. She nearly had an accident on my turf, someone tried to have her killed. If I find out who's behind it, what do you think I should do? Expose their deeds for all to see, let them rot in jail for life, or maybe just chop them up and feed them to the fish?"

Serena couldn't quite fathom the woman before her. She was the epitome of elegance and intellect, but her words sent chills down Serena's spine.

"Serena, you've been at Dawnstar for a while now, and we haven't had a proper sit-down chat. You're leaving soon. Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"