The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella and Romeo) novel Chapter 1307

Arabella's gaze deepened with intrigue. Who could possibly want her dead?

Before Arabella could voice her thoughts, Jack blurted out, "Boss, who's the knucklehead that put a price on your head? The whole industry knows you're not someone to mess with, given your skills and status. Who'd pull such a bone-headed move?"

Pausing, Jack couldn't help but probe further, "Boss, you tick anyone off lately?"

Arabella's voice carried a lazy drawl, tinged with a hint of nonchalance, "Too many to keep track."

In her line of work, making enemies was par for the course.

Some folks believed in the long game, holding grudges for years. Maybe it was an old adversary stirring trouble.

"But this time, I got a hunch these guys aren't the same ones after Carol. After all, their power's too strong to bother with bounties to take you down."

At the mention of Carol.

Arabella inquired, "How's Carol doing, anyway?"

"She's on the mend. Couple days back, she went solo to apologize to the Temple family. They weren't having any of it, told her to stay gone. Then, there was this one time Celeste was visiting her daughter's grave, got so overwhelmed with grief she passed out. Carol took her to the hospital, left without giving her name."

Arabella was surprised by the turn of events, "What about Celeste's staff?"

"Crystal's grave's close to the Temple estate. Celeste always walks there alone, probably wants some private time to talk to her daughter." Jack speculated.

Arabella probed further, "So, the Temples cooled off yet?"

"It ain't that easy. Though Carol's back in her ancestral fold, there's the issue with her biological family." Jack's voice trailed off, heavy with implication.