The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 2093

Sof the images would forever haunt him - the photographs of his parents, gaunt and ghostly, trapped in a dingy cellar, barely

clinging to life. By the date stamped on those photos, they were still alive when he was five, but they looked broken, their

expressions twisted in a way that was nearly inhuman.

"The year you turned five, your mom had already lost her mind," Blade spoke with a tone that was both matter-of-fact and chilling.

"The guards would mess with her for kicks, fooling her into eating filth and drinking urine. Your dad was powerless to stop it, held

down, forced to endure the shumiliation. By the tyou were seven, in order to spare your mom from more suffering, your

dad took her life, and then his own."

Stinger never imagined that his family's tragedy was orchestrated by Erik.

And to think he had loyally followed this man, seeing him as a father figure, doing his bidding all these years.

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"l wasn't directly involved back then; | was just by Erik's side, watching it all unfold. | didn't want to cforward, didn't want to

draw a target on my back. But when | heard Erik was dead, and that someone was still out there, blindly loyal to him just like | used

to be. Well, | thought it was tto show my face. Of course, | got a nice little incentive for my trouble, along with a new identity.

From here on, I'm set for a comfortable life."

After Blade finished his story, his gaze shifted to Jones. "I've told you everything | know. Am | free to go now?"

Arabella gave Jones a subtle nod, and he promptly responded, "You have our word. You're lucky to have dealt with our boss. She

doesn't play games; she says you get a new life, you'll get it."

Blade looked over at Arabella, this young woman with an aura that screamed leadership, then back to Jones, his face etched with

weariness and a hint of sorrow. "You're fortunate to have found a good leader, not everyone's as lucky as you."

After Blade left, Stinger remained in the basement, wailing like a banshee.

Jack couldn't take the ear-piercing, soul-tearing cries anymore, especially as Stinger knelt on the floor, clutching the photographs,

pounding the ground for what seemed like an eternity.

"Look, | get that this truth is a tough pill to swallow, but this ain't the way to handle it. Even if you punch a hole through the floor, it

won't bring your folks back. Dead is dead. Maybe you should start thinking about revenge instead."

Jack was blunt. "My boss went to great lengths so you wouldn't be left in the dark, spending both manpower and a pretty penny.

We're not doing this for kicks. We've helped you out; how about returning the favor? Spill what you know, will ya?"

"No rush," Arabella said calmly, her gaze on the distraught man on the floor. "You can tell us when you're ready."

She signaled for Jack to follow her out. He was confused - they were just going to leave Stinger like this? What if he did something

drastic?

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That evening.

Stinger's emotions had settled, and he spoke up in a raspy voice, "I want to see your boss."

The guard quickly fetched Arabella, and Stinger began to confess to the young woman facing him. "I was the one who gave

Yolanda Murphy the money, along with the hit squad leader's contact info."

He continued, "The poison was supplied by me. After | acquired it, | made sure the maker couldn't tell tales."

"Why?" Arabella asked coolly from the other side of the bars.

"At first, | thought | owed Erik for saving and raising me. | wanted to repay him. After Erik died, he left my contact to his daughter,

Serena Lott. When Serena saw the news about Attlee and Olga's execution, she reached out. She wantedto use Yolanda to get

to you."

A smirk played on Arabella's lips. It was indeed Serena!