The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 2156

Never in a million years did he think that in their father’s heart, his younger brother was the most suitable successor.

“From the tyou both were in preschool until you graduated from college, all the tests were subtly integrated into your daily

lives. The challenges | set for you were the same, and every time, George outperformed you.”

That's why Phillip insisted on choosing George as his successor.

“Hold on a minute.” Cathy interjected, confused, “What does this have to do with the Collins family? And what about that fire from

years ago???”

She felt like she had been listening forever but was still clueless about the connection.

That's when Donna started to speak, her voice tinged with self-deprecating humor, “I had the biggest crush on your father for six

whole years in middle and high school. | worked my butt off to get into the scollege as him, just to spend more taround

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him.”

Everyone was stunned, Cathy included, who was gaping in disbelief.

“The day we started college, | finally mustered the courage to confess my feelings to him, only to be turned down.”

Donna chuckled at the memory, “After that, | confessed year after year, and was rejected just as many times, right up until

graduation. | still couldn't win his heart.”

Now that even Jeffery, Luna, and Cathy were taken aback. They had never imagined their usually quiet and reserved mother had

been so fervently pursuing their father in her youth.

“It was after | had received my degree that Tomas first mentioned the nJennifer to me. He toldto stop wasting my ton

him, saying he only had room in his heart for Jennifer.”

All eyes turned to Jennifer, who herself was surprised by the depth of Tomas' feelings for her.

“But | was young and stubborn, how could | admit defeat to someone else? The more unattainable he was, the more | wanted to

prove myself. On one hand, | felt sorry that he loved someone he couldn't have; on the other hand, | thought | stood a chance, and

then there was a part ofmoved by his deep affection. After that, | went all out to be good to him.”

Donna's voice was laced with the sour tang of old regrets as she continued.

“For him, | interned at McMillian Corporation, starting from the bottom like he did. On the night Phillip announced the successor,

Tomas got drunk for the first time, crying his heart out. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, maybe he just needed someone to

comfort him, but that rainy night led to something indescribable. The next day, he woke up and said he would take responsibility.”

No one could have guessed that was how their parents ctogether.

“At the time, | was so happy, thinking | finally saw the silver lining after all the clouds. Even though | soon found out that all he had

forwas courtesy and a distant companionship, | was willing to be the moth to his flame. When he wanted to start his own

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business, | was right there with him. No matter how hard or exhausting it was, | wanted to show him that even though | was a

pampered miss, spoiled from childhood, | was capable of standing by his side, through thick and thin.”

As Donna spoke, a tearful smile played on her lips.

“Later, when George and Jennifer got married, he got drunk again, mistakingfor her. Then, | got pregnant, and he offereda

home. But after our marriage, | discovered that whenever he was drunk, he’d call out her name. Even after | had our second and

third child, sometimes | could still hear him calling for Jennifer in his dreams.”

Overcwith emotion, Donna could no longer hold back her tears.

All these years, she had made so many sacrifices. for her husband—too much indeed—she transformed from a pampered young

girl to his staunchest ally, a formidable figure in the business world as if she had experienced a rebirth. But in the end, she was still

not comparable to Jennifer!!

There was a place in her husband's heart that, though they were married, though they had children, she still couldn't enter.

The bitter irony that the love of her life, her husband, cherished her brother's wife the most. How could she not feel resentment?