The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 2038

Martin could only cto the hospital's terrace, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of his father and sister through the distance.

In two separate ICU rooms on this floor lay the two people he cherished most.

The following evening, the annual charity gala was the talk of the town, which was held at the five-star Summerfield Hotel.

When Romeo's car pulled up, the press swarmed like bees to honey. Without the dozens of security personnel maintaining order,

they would have surely broken through the velvet ropes to cluster around Romeo.

Romeo stepped out looking as dashing as ever, the cut of his suit making him appear as if he'd stepped right out of a graphic

with his sharp brows and starry eyes.

The moment he opened the car door and held Arabella's hand, the paparazzi's flashes went into overdrive. Their matching

designer outfits - clearly the work of Maestro Stylish - screamed couple goals.

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They were set to be the talk of the evening.

Reporters went live as Romeo's hand found Arabella's slender waist, the pair making a grand entrance into the hotel.

Trailing behind them, Kenneth and Louisa greeted the crowd with beaming smiles, exuding warmth and charisma.

Meanwhile, Serena had just opened her eyes on the hospital bed when Dora exclaimed with joy, "Serena, you're finally awake."

Lifting her heavy eyelids, Serena's voice cout hoarse and weak, "Where am I?"

"In the ICU."

It was a high-class hospital room equipped with enough medical facilities for constant monitoring, ready for immediate medical

intervention if the patient's condition worsened.

"Mr. Cooper went to speak with the doctor about your condition; he'll be back soon. Are you feeling any better?" Dora asked with

concern.

Serena's face was ashen, and pain shot through her at intervals, leaving her to whisper feebly, "It still hurts. Did the doctors say

what caused it?"

Dora shook her head, "A couple of doctors have already examined you, but none can pinpoint the cause. Mr. Cooper even had last

night's dinner checked - no issues with the food. All the staff's alibis check out, no motives, no opportunities. Nobody seems to

have harmed you."

What in the world was happening then? Neither Dora nor Serena could understand it.

Serena closed her eyes feebly, only to open them again moments later, "Call the nurse, | need painkillers."

The pain was unbearable.

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"You just had a shot half an hour ago; you can only have one per day." Upon seeing Serena in such agony, Dora suggested, "Maybe

I'll turn on the TV, distract you a bit?"

She fumbled with the remote, and the screen lit up with live coverage of tonight's charity gala.

Serena saw Romeo and Arabella's grand appearance, the lavish setting, the press camping out, and Kenneth and Louisa waving

affectionately at the cameras, her heart twisting in agony, a suffocating feeling creeping over her.

"Serena? I'm sorry; I'll change the channel," Dora noticed Serena's distress and quickly flipped through the stations, but it was no

use. The gala was headline news everywhere, and every channel was competing to cover it.

Serena couldn't hold back any longer; a gush of blood spilled from her lips.

Dora panicked, frantically pressing the call button. Diana, sitting on the bench outside, watched as Martin and a flurry of doctors

and nurses rushed toward Serena's room, her own heart sinking further with exasperation.