The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 2096

"The nurse said my mother won't last two hours. Can you make it here in two hours?" Martin pleaded earnestly.

"Serena's phone, for two lives. Think it over and letknow," Arabella said, laying down her terms before abruptly ending the call.

Martin was stunned, never expecting the phone to be what Arabella wanted.

But then again, why should she help him for nothing.

Aside from the phone, he had nothing else to offer that could possibly tempt her.

After much contemplation, Martin was about to approach Serena when his phone rang with a call from the enigmatic figure.

"Why haven't you dealt with the girl yet? You promisedaction," the voice on the other end demanded angrily.

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"I need more time. My mother and sister's lives are at stake. They depend on her," Martin tried to pacify the caller.

"There's no more time! | want to hear she's been taken care of by midnight tomorrow, or I'll cfor your family myself!"

"Hello? Hello?" Martin was fuming but couldn't afford to burn bridges just yet, especially since he had no intention of harming

Arabella, hoping to stall for even a split second longer.

Just then, Serena rolled out in her wheelchair to find him. Martin quickly crouched before her, speaking in a tone of negotiation,

"Serena, there's a way we can save mom and sis. Would you be willing to help?"

Serena, sensing the desperate tone in his voice and his expression, had an ominous feeling but still asked with feigned sincerity

and asked, "What's the plan?"

"Arabella wants your phone, in exchange for their lives."

His words made Serena’s smile freeze. Holding back her anger, she managed a smile and asked, "How does she know about the

phone? Did you tell her?"

Seeing Martin stay silent, Serena grew anxious. "Martin, that was our secret. How could you share it with an outsider?"

"With the situation so dire, if we give her the phone, we could save mom and sis. Please?" Martin implored.

Serena's demeanor shifted, "That was the last thing my dad left me. Why should | hand it over?"

"Serena, isn't the phone less important than mom and sis's lives? The nurse said mom has less than two hours, and sis isn't doing

well either."

"Martin, that phone is the only thing | have left of my dad. Who knows what Arabella will do once she gets it? She's a hacker; even

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if | erase everything, she can recover it."

"The guilty have their debts; she's after the mastermind of the hospital fire. Dad’s gone; she won't go after you."

"Martin, | can't." Serena maneuvered her wheelchair to leave, "I won't hand over the phone, no matter what. Anything else, I'd

consider."

"Serena." Martin quickly held onto the wheelchair, stopping her from leaving, "Our mom and sister are lying in there."

"So am | not family to you? Do you disregard my feelings just because | don't share the Cooper blood? In a crisis, you choose them

over me?"

"Serena, what are you talking about? | care about you." Martin hurried to explain, "You're important to me, just as they are, my

family. It's just about prioritizing what's urgent."