The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 1787

Why did he have to mention Serena? It was clear he hadn't thought before he spoke.

After an anxiety-filled dinner, where Steward barely managed to keep his composure, he risked a glance at Sean, who seemed to

have a lightbulb moment and surmised, "Is it about the whole mess with Martha and Bella's kidnapping?"

The others were caught off guard by his quick connection of the dots.

"Indeed, it is related." Kenneth nodded, “Cto the study with me.”

He didn’t want to rehash the footage from that unfinished construction site again. No need to upset the rest.

Sean, sensing the gravity of the situation, stood up to follow his father.

He remembered when he'd gone to that derelict building looking for Bella, they had told him she was dead, had fallen from the

building. He was so enraged; he wanted to blow the place sky-high. But before he could act on that impulse, he had hoped to find

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his sister's body.

At that moment, Martha had fallen from the building. He wondered, why was a servant of the Collins family like Martha even there?

Later, when he learned that Bella was alive and that, aside from his own plans, another group had also rigged the building with

explosives set to detonate soon. He didn't think twice; he just acted to save his sister.

Now, with a moment to reflect, he wondered when had Martha left the Collins family? How did she end up in Belloria, entangled in

Bella's kidnapping?

Steward didn't follow Sean; after all, this was a family matter.

After watching the footage in the study, Sean was seething with rage. He couldn't believe the extent of suffering Bella had endured

before he arrived at the construction site. Slaps, whippings, threats.

What truly sent him over the edge was the conversation between Bella and Martha. He was livid to realize that since the day his

sister had returned home, Martha and Serena had harbored ill intentions, targeting her at every turn. Worse, when Martha decided

to scar Bella's face, Serena didn't intervene. Instead, she ordered Martha to carve deeper and demanded Bella to kneel and bow to

her.

Having seen everything, Sean kicked the desk with explosive fury, like a pressure cooker on the verge of bursting.

"That's what happened," Kenneth concluded, making it clear that not just he but the entire family was deeply disappointed in

Serena. They no longer wanted this adopted daughter and were ready to cast her out.

"Is she in the basement?" Sean asked, anger lacing his voice.

Before Kenneth could answer, Sean stormed out.

Kenneth had a bad feeling and called out, "Sean, where are you going?"

Betty, who was guarding the basement, trembled at the sight of Sean's uncontainable fury,

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"Mr. Collins."

"Open the door," Sean demanded, his face grim.

Betty, frightened, fumbled with the keys as if they had a mind of their own. When the door swung open, Betty saw the girl lying on

the floor, barely clinging to life, fear and surprise flickering in her eyes at the sight of Sean.

"Sean." Serena's voice was weak. She hadn't eaten for a long time; no water, no treatment for her wounds, which had led to a

fever.

Looking at the girl before him, Sean found it impossible to reconcile her with the person from the surveillance footage.

The Serena he remembered was innocent and kind, with a clear and sunny smile, always clinging to Clark and David, rarely coming

to him. Perhaps because he was barely at home, had a temper, and didn't spend much ton personal bond with the family

members. He was more inclined to deal with the family's practical problems.

Of course, he did care for his sister, and he'd always been responsive to her requests.