The Princess and the Pauper

Chapter 1919

Actually, she didn't have to make a phone call at all.

After finding an excuse to leave, she made her way to the garden.

Romeo had already messaged her, saying he would come over to join her for dinner.

"Bella!"

Suddenly, a voice called out.

Alma caught up to Arabella, "Can we talk?"

She'd noticed earlier that Arabella was bored and didn't want to stay in the living room, hence the

excuse to step outside.

Arabella didn't have much to discuss with her. As she started to walk away, Alma said, "I'm not like

Serena, I don't play her childish games. Let's wipe the slate clean on the past. With Serena out of the

picture, I think we could be great friends."

Before Arabella could respond, Alma presumptuously added, "Even if we can't be good friends, there's

no need to be enemies, right? I really admire you. You and Serena are worlds apart."

Arabella looked up, eyeing her shrewd and confident cousin.

At Mr. Eugene's last birthday, Alma haughtily challenged her to a violin duel, claiming they'd see who

Jamie would take on as a pupil.

They both played a piece that Regan and Jamie had performed together—The Life.

Arabella was clearly superior, but Alma, not accepting defeat, insisted on another round, only to lose

again and had to abide by the bet: she was banned for life from the violin world and could no longer

touch anything related to the violin. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Could they really be friends after that "monumental humiliation"?

"Don't waste your time on me." Arabella walked away without giving her another glance.

"Bella!"

Alma, unwilling to give up, called out again, "After what Serena did to you, and now that she's been

kicked to the curb by the Collins family, don't you want some revenge? I know you always hold yourself

above petty acts behind the back, but I can take care of her for you. I just don't want to be your enemy.

This is my olive branch, whether you believe it or not."

"You think I'd buy that?" Arabella's lips curled coldly. "How you deal with her is your business, don't

drag me into it."

If it weren't for the fact that she was the daughter of the Collins family and held in high regard by the

entire family, Alma would never have come over pretending to want to be friends.

It was because Alma couldn't beat her, she had to retreat in order to advance, to gain her trust on an

emotional level, and then to destroy her.

Truthfully, Arabella disdained even exposing such petty tricks, but Alma didn't know that and mistook

her pride for aloofness.

"Even if I can't touch anything related to the violin for the rest of my life, I've never blamed you. I was

simply outplayed!" Alma shouted after her retreating figure, "Isn't it better to have one more friend than

one more enemy? Arabella, I know you don't trust me, but I truly want to let bygones be bygones. We

are family after all!"

Arabella paused, turning her head slightly, her voice icy, "You and I will never be family."

The blood of the Collins family ran through her veins but they would never truly become a loving family.

Alma was taken aback, not expecting Arabella to be so blunt.

"Keep being ungrateful, and you'll end up just like her." Arabella dropped this line and walked away.

Alma hadn't expected Arabella to be so resistant and wondered what methods her brothers had used

to get close to her.