The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 2093

Some of the images would forever haunt him – the photographs of his parents, gaunt and ghostly,

trapped in a dingy cellar, barely clinging to life. By the date stamped on those photos, they were still

alive when he was five, but they looked broken, their expressions twisted in a way that was nearly

inhuman.

"The year you turned five, your mom had already lost her mind," Blade spoke with a tone that was both Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

matter-of-fact and chilling. "The guards would mess with her for kicks, fooling her into eating filth and

drinking urine. Your dad was powerless to stop it, held down, forced to endure the same humiliation. By

the time you were seven, in order to spare your mom from more suffering, your dad took her life, and

then his own."

Stinger never imagined that his family's tragedy was orchestrated by Erik.

And to think he had loyally followed this man, seeing him as a father figure, doing his bidding all these

years.

"I wasn't directly involved back then; I was just by Erik's side, watching it all unfold. I didn't want to

come forward, didn't want to draw a target on my back. But when I heard Erik was dead, and that

someone was still out there, blindly loyal to him just like I used to be. Well, I thought it was time to show

my face. Of course, I got a nice little incentive for my trouble, along with a new identity. From here on,

I'm set for a comfortable life."

After Blade finished his story, his gaze shifted to Jones. "I've told you everything I know. Am I free to go

now?"

Arabella gave Jones a subtle nod, and he promptly responded, "You have our word. You're lucky to

have dealt with our boss. She doesn't play games; she says you get a new life, you'll get it."

Blade looked over at Arabella, this young woman with an aura that screamed leadership, then back to

Jones, his face etched with weariness and a hint of sorrow. "You're fortunate to have found a good

leader, not everyone's as lucky as you."

After Blade left, Stinger remained in the basement, wailing like a banshee.

Jack couldn't take the ear-piercing, soul-tearing cries anymore, especially as Stinger knelt on the floor,

clutching the photographs, pounding the ground for what seemed like an eternity.

"Look, I get that this truth is a tough pill to swallow, but this ain't the way to handle it. Even if you punch

a hole through the floor, it won't bring your folks back. Dead is dead. Maybe you should start thinking

about revenge instead."

Jack was blunt. "My boss went to great lengths so you wouldn't be left in the dark, spending both

manpower and a pretty penny. We're not doing this for kicks. We've helped you out; how about

returning the favor? Spill what you know, will ya?"

"No rush," Arabella said calmly, her gaze on the distraught man on the floor. "You can tell us when

you're ready."

She signaled for Jack to follow her out. He was confused – they were just going to leave Stinger like

this? What if he did something drastic?

That evening.

Stinger's emotions had settled, and he spoke up in a raspy voice, "I want to see your boss."

"Why?" Arabella asked coolly from the other side of the bars. NovelDrama.Org

A smirk played on Arabella's lips. It was indeed Serena!