The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 1628

Delicate snowflakes danced down, settling gently onto a girl's long hair.

The girl was on her knees in the snow, her eyes red and swollen as if she had just finished crying.

Betty, startled by the sight, gasped, "Ms. Serena? What on earth are you doing kneeling out here?"

This was right at the main house's front steps, and she had left the guesthouse without permission. Did Mr. and Mrs. Collins know

about this??

"What are you doing?" Betty, seeing Serena steadfast in her kneeling, noticed a long tree branch laid before her in the snow.

Although confused, Betty uttered, "The ground's freezing, please get up."

Serena looked ahead with a blank expression, "Betty, go tell mom and dad that | found this branch. If they're still angry, they can

use it to punishuntil their anger abates."

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Realizing she couldn't persuade Serena, Betty hurried inside to inform Kenneth and Louisa.

At that moment, Louisa was perusing a collection of professional photographs on her phone, discussing with her husband,

"Kenneth, what do you think about hiring this photography team to take a family portrait for the holiday? Look at their past work;

each photo seems so warm and natural."

Before she could finish, Betty rushed in, recounting the scene of Serena kneeling outside.

"Why is she doing that?" Louisa stood up, walking to the window and drawing back the curtains, only to see Serena kneeling in the

snow, her fragile figure looking pitifully crystal-like.

"Ms. Serena was roughed up by someone at our doorstep a few days ago, bitten by a snake, then she took a fall, and ended up

with a fever and a cold. I'm afraid she hasn't fully recovered, and now she's out there, kneeling."

Betty's words caused Louisa's gaze to shift, standing by the window in silence, her thoughts unknown to everyone else.

On such a bitterly cold day, she was kneeling outside. Kenneth saw her in the snow as well. She looked especially pitiable, wrapped

in a fleece nightgown, her hair cascading over her shoulders. But outside, in the icy world covered in snow, the flakes fell heavier

and heavier, and her body began to shiver slightly.

She seemed to be crying, or perhaps repenting. She had always been the apple of everyone's eye, never before had she knelt like

this.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry." Serena's voice broke through the snowy silence, laden with sobs, "I shouldn't have spoken ill of Bella behind

her back, shouldn't have let you down. | know saying sorry a thousand times won't make up for the hurt I've caused her. Here's a

branch in front of me; I'm asking you to punishharshly!"

In the garden, two servants had never imagined Serena would end up in such a state. Even they were bundled up in thick coats

and warm gloves, while Serena was kneeling in the snow in just a thin fleece nightgown, her feet bare.

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Under the blanket of snow, her pale face looked even whiter, clearly frostbitten.

"I heard she badmouthed Ms. Arabella in front of her friends and was sent by Mr. and Mrs. Collins to the next building to reflect."

"When she was sent away, she was bruised and battered, then she got sick, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins didn't even spare her a

glance."

"l always thought she got along well with Ms. Arabella; never imagined she would do such a thing."

"But aren’t Mr. and Mrs. Collins's punishment too harsh? They didn't visit her when she was injured, didn't care for her when she

was sick, and now that she's kneeling out there, they haven't cout to see her right away."

"Serena has always lived a life of luxury; I've never seen her kneel so miserably like this. | do hope Mr. and Mrs. Collins gives her a

chance; she looks so pitiful."

"Ms. Arabella is the real jewel of this family. Serena mistreating her is like openly disrespecting Mr. and Mrs. Collins, isn't it?"

"Dad, Mom, Bella. I'm sorry!!" Serena cried out, tears streaming down her face, "I truly am!!"