The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 1327

Chapter 1327

What on Earth was going on here?

"Hey, are you okay?" The clerk, seeing she was a girl and probably not up to no good, picked up the dropped cellphone and handed

it over. "Is this yours? How'd you end up in a sack? You should head hquick, alright."

Serena didn't know how long she'd been out of it until the clerk left and her phone started ringing again. That was when she finally

snapped out of it and saw ‘Uncle Bard" flashing on the screen, but she couldn't bring herself to answer.

Sitting in his car, Bard had called Serena three times with no answer, and he was starting to worry. “Could something have

happened?® "You said she called you for help, mentioning she was being bullied?" Eunice asked.

"Yeah, Bard replied, worried his niece might be in danger. He was about to get someone to check on her when his phone rang.

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It was Serena!

Trying to muster strength, Serena stood up against the wall, forcing a smile, and said with a light laugh, “Uncle Bard, you don't

need to cget me. My boyfriend just cby and he's takenback to the hotel safely. I've just finished taking a shower.

Bard, relieved yet surprised, said, "Since when do you have a boyfriend?"

"It's a long story." Serena teased sweetly, avoiding a lengthy explanation, "I'll tell you all about it when we meet tomorrow."

“You mentioned on the phone that you were bullied? What exactly happened? Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?” Bard

asked with concern.

"No, it's not that." Serena didn't want to tarnish Martin's image, especially since he was already no Romeo. To speak ill of him now

would only make him seem worse.

She lied, “My boyfriend's been tied up with work in Dawnstar, busy for a long time. He said he missed me, couldn't get away, and

wantedto csee him."

Serena could feel pain all over, but she endured it, standing and smiling, “I thought, it's been a long tsince I've seen Grandpa

and you, especially since | heard Aunt Eunice is back. | couldn't contain my excitement, wanting to visit you all. | planned to stay at

a hotel tonight and csee you tomorrow, but | didn't expect that as soon as | got to Dawnstar, while waiting for my boyfriend on

the street, sthugs started harassing me."

Bard frowned slightly, "Thugs? What did they do to you? Can you remember what they looked like?"

Serena was afraid Bard would check the surveillance footage and find out that she wasn't harassed by thugs but was, in fact, the

one who got into a scuffle with Arabella and ended up in a sack, taking a beating.

So she lied again, “It wasn't much, they just whistled atand said a few rude things. I've never encountered such people before,

so | got scared. Maybe they got bored when they sawcrying and left."

Bard seemed unconvinced, “Nothing else happened?"

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"Nothing. Uncle Bard, don't worry. I've adjusted my attitude. Please don't tell my parents about this. I'm eighteen now. | should

start facing this complex world. If you tell them secretly, they won't letgo out alone next time."

Bard relaxed, not pressing further, "Alright, as long as you're okay, | promise | won't tell."

Serena felt a lump in her throat and a sudden urge to cry.

“Which hotel are you staying at? Sendthe address, and I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow, Bard offered.

Serena hadn't actually settled on a hotel yet and chuckled, "No need, Uncle Bard, | want to spend smore talone with my

boyfriend. | don't know when I'll be free to visit you. Don't bother coming to get me; my boyfriend will arrange that."

"Then get srest. Now that | know you're safe, | can relax. If you need anything, just call me,” Bard said warmly. "I'm glad you

thought to call me. Will you reach out next tyou're in trouble?"

“Of course,” Serena's voice wavered, and she sniffled, “Well, Uncle Bard, you and Aunt Eunice should get ssleep too."

“Alright; Bard said, finally at ease and hanging up the phone, content that she was safe.