The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella and Romeo) novel Chapter 1422

Back at the office, Martin found his company's VP, Steve, looking like a deer caught in headlights. The man was visibly drenched in sweat and seemed to sigh in relief upon seeing Martin as if he was the answer to his prayers.

"Mr. Martin, thank goodness you're here!"

Standing in front of Florence, the vice president was so frightened he barely dared to breathe, let alone move. He stood there, bent over, looking as if he was about to have a panic attack.

Refreshments had been served, coffee and pastries, but Florence hadn’t touched a thing. She sat on the couch with an icy demeanor, stone-faced and silent, as if she had been seething for hours.

Diana was there too, sitting off to the side, completely ignoring Steve. When she saw Martin walk in, she rolled her eyes at her own brother.

"Steve, you can leave us," Martin said, and the VP shot him a look of sheer gratitude, as if Martin had just offered him a lifeline out of a treacherous sea.

As soon as the office door closed behind Steve, Florence tossed a video onto the desk – it was footage of Serena berating a sales clerk on Rodeo Drive. After Martin watched it, Florence recounted the incident on Rodeo Drive and another encounter with Serena at QY.

"I've never seen such vulgar behavior from a lady," she said with disbelief.

Serena’s actions were beyond shocking to her!

And to top it off, this was the woman her son had spent six long years pursuing.

"Let me make myself clear, Martin. You can date her for fun, but if you think about marrying her, I will never allow it," Florence asserted with her usual ferocity. "If you dare have a wedding with her, I’ll jump into Luminescent Brook on your wedding day. You know I always mean what I say."

"Mom." Martin hadn't expected his mother to be so adamantly opposed to Serena, to the point of threatening her own life.