The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella and Romeo) novel Chapter 1480

Once on board the plane, Romeo was still basking in bliss.

He sliced apples for Arabella, holding her close, feeding her piece by piece.

As she listened to him reminisce about his childhood, Arabella learned of the strict upbringing he endured as the heir to his family's fortune - enduring hardships and witnessing the cutthroat nature of high society.

Feuds were commonplace among the elite; siblings turned against each other, and marriages fell apart - all in the name of competition.

From vying for attention as children to battling for wealth as adults, if direct confrontation failed, they resorted to underhanded tactics.

And then, there was the endless one-upmanship - from comparing spouses and children to flaunting designer clothes and extravagant parties.

Having seen it all, and surrounded by people who were either deferential or fawning, Romeo never knew true intimacy until he met Arabella.

He looked down at the girl snuggled in his arms, his eyes softened as he continued to feed her, "You've never really talked about your childhood."

Arabella dredged up her memories, "Do you remember when we first met, you took me out to La Belle Vie, with its retractable roof for stargazing? That night, it reminded me of those days I spent as a kid."

Arabella uttered blandly, "When I was young, Attlee and Olga were always busy, and it was Grannie Grace who spent countless nights with me. Those star-filled evenings are just like that night when we had dinner. Attlee and Olga have never prepared any surprise for me. It wasn't until I returned to the Collins family that I discovered how naturally and freely family can express their love. Attlee and Olga didn’t even have time to be with me, let alone taking me outside to play. It was you who took me to the biggest amusement park in Summerfield, allowing me to relive my childhood."