The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1859

"Ophelia, you're an absolute catch as well," Hans said with a light chuckle. "You're bound to find someone who really gets you, to share the road ahead."

Sean stood to the side, looking visibly down.

Why didn't he get a compliment?

Doesn't he have any redeeming qualities?

Just as he was about to ask Ophelia, Clark spoke up, "We've been nattering on for ages, let's not hog your time with Bella. Hans, Chasel, Sean, let's make tracks."

Sean hadn't exchanged a single word with Ophelia before she took Arabella's hand and said, "Then show me around, will you?"

Arabella's lips curled into a smile. "Sure thing."

The two walked off, Ophelia's hand in Arabella's, and Sean's chance for a chat vanished into thin air.

"Ophelia is just too adorable. Who'd have thought she'd find so many compliments for me? I'm very pleased," Clark said with clear mischief in his tone, and then he took a bite of a pastry. "But why does it taste less sweet than it did when Ophelia handed it to me?"

Sean fought the urge to punch him.

"We all got praise, except for Sean..." Chasel said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at Sean. "Oh, Sean, what does it say about your charm when a sharp-tongued young lady can't muster a single word of flattery for you?"

Sean clenched his fists even tighter.

"Alright, let's lay off Sean," Hans interjected, giving Sean a sliver of comfort. At least Hans was on his side!

Just as Sean was about to express his gratitude and mention their earlier teasing, he heard Hans add, "Sean really isn't in the same league as that girl."

Sean: ?

The laughter from Chasel and Clark was uncontrollable, the proverbial hammer from Hans striking Sean the hardest blow.

Ophelia was charmed by the gesture and felt truly fortunate to have a friend like Arabella, who was straightforward and didn't beat around the bush.

This kind of demeanor was refreshing and endearing.

"That's plenty, these two will keep me busy enough. Enjoying your food and taking your plants, I'm already being quite impolite."

After Arabella finished digging, she had someone place the plants in Ophelia's car and then washed her hands before they continued their stroll. "What's there to feel awkward about? What's mine is yours."

Hearing this, Ophelia felt a lump in her throat. She remembered when Arabella faced tough times in the Murphy family, how she'd told Arabella more than once that everything the Ophelia family had was hers too, including her parents, ready to share, if only Arabella wanted it!

She had repeatedly urged Arabella to leave the Murphy family and had even convinced her own parents to consider adopting Arabella.

But Arabella had stayed for Grannie Grace's sake, never taking up the offer.

Ophelia never imagined that the words she'd once said would be echoed back to her by Arabella, word for word.