Romeo and Arabella's brothers bent down to adjust her dress, and then watched her take each step towards the stage with a mix
of pride and anticipation.
No one in the crowd had anticipated that Kenneth and Louisa, the town's golden couple, had a daughter who had been lost to the
world for eighteen years. And no one could have imagined just how strikingly beautiful she would be. She had a serene grace
about her, an air of noble elegance that seemed otherworldly, sparking a buzz of conversation.
"She's absolutely stunning. To think she could look so regal after being away for so long."
"That grace is just unparalleled."
"Royal blood flows in her veins. She was never destined for mediocrity. But where's Serena today? | haven't seen her around."
"Yeah, where is Serena? Could it be she's not their biological child?"
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"You think there's ssoap opera twist here?"
The chatter reached Arabella's ears, but she didn't show the slightest concern. Instead, she approached her parents with a sweet
and compliant demeanor.
Kenneth, unable to hide his excitement, made the introduction. "Ladies and gentlemen, allowto introduce our long-lost
daughter, Arabella."
As his words faded, the room erupted in enthusiastic applause, a symphony of genuine warmth that was as stirring as a powerful
piece of music.
"Bella, why don't you say hello to everyone?" Louisa said, her eyes soft and inviting.
"Hello, everyone. My nis Arabella."
Her voice was as melodious as a string instrument, touching everyone's heart.
She wasn't only a sight to behold, her voice was equally enchanting.
Again, applause filled the room.
Once the applause died down, Louisa began to recount the past events.
"Years ago, | was passing through a small town when my water broke. | gave birth in a local clinic, but then a fire broke out. In the
chaos, | accidentally took someone else's child to the Collins household, and we named her Serena."
Watching the live broadcast, Serena was mortified. Louisa had laid bare her origins, leaving her completely exposed.
Why?
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Why couldn't they leave her even a shred of dignity?
The guests were stunned, not expecting such a backstory.
Indeed, there had been a terrible fire at a clinic eighteen years ago. No one could have guessed it would be linked to the Collins
family.
"A half year ago, we finally found our lost kin, Arabella. Serena's place in our family has weighed heavily on us," Louisa said
earnestly. "We'd learned that Serena's biological father was untraceable, and her mother had perished in that very fire. We wanted
to keep her, and Bella, with her kind heart, agreed without hesitation."
The crowd was shocked. Arabella and Serena had been living under the sroof for six months.
The Collins family had kept this secret incredibly well.
"Even though we found our flesh and blood, we've never neglected Serena, not in love nor in material terms. We thought we made
the right decision, but never did we imagine that this choice would becour deepest regret, the source of our greatest pain!"
When Serena was watching the live broadcast, her face turned ghostly pale, as if she knew what was coming next.