The Princess and the Pauper

Chapter 1943

Bella had just joined the family group chat, and Phillip couldn't have been more ecstatic as he lounged

on the living room couch. "I'm about to make it rain gift cards for her." he beamed with delight.

Shirley, too, was gripped by her phone, her fingers dancing as she typed in amounts, determined to

send more gifts that would outdo Phillip's. "My storm's gotta be bigger than yours."

"Could you two maybe leave some for the rest of us!" George grumbled, venting to his wife, "How do

their fingers move that fast? I just sent one, and it's like they buried it alive."

"Buried alive? Stop distracting me," Jennifer snapped, even more focused. "Tonight, I'm gonna make

sure Bella feels just how much we value her!"

Tomas and Donna were also busy in the group chat, sending their own gifts.

"You guys need to cool it." Tomas half-joked, "We're getting completely overshadowed here!"

"Yeah, hold off for a bit, will ya? Let us get a few in, okay?"

When Arabella walked into the living room, she was greeted by a scene of six adults, all engrossed in

their phones, fiercely sending gift in the chat.

"Bella's right here, can't we just give her a big one in person?" Romeo, standing next to Arabella, was

somewhat speechless at his relatives' antics.

It dawned on Phillip and Shirley then. Oh right, they'd prepared a hefty gift card for Arabella!

George and Jennifer, Tomas and Donna, all remembered and handed Arabella their generous gifts,

wishing her a Happy New Year.

"Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa," Arabella said, accepting the gift cards and thanking each in turn,

"Thanks."

"Silly girl, no need for formalities with family." Jennifer was overjoyed to see her accept the gifts.

The other adults then distributed gifts to the younger family members. Cathy, upon seeing that her gift

was smaller and less substantial than Arabella's, couldn't help but confront her own parents, "Dad,

Mom, can't you be impartial? How can you be okay with giving such a tiny gift card?"

She was their own daughter, after all!

"Of course we're okay with it," Tomas and Donna responded, not seeing anything amiss.

Cathy then looked pleadingly towards her grandparents.

Her own parents might not dote on her, but surely her grandparents would be more generous. Yet even

they handed over a gift card that was notably modest.

"Bella's new here, so naturally the gift is a bit more generous. You're old enough to appreciate getting

one at all," Phillip said with a bias that might as well have stretched to the Pacific.

She was younger than Arabella!

Cathy felt a sting but then turned to her aunt and uncle.

Cathy was touched but then noticed that Jennifer's gift cards, like the others given to the younger

family members, were different from Arabella's.

"Bella's going to be my daughter-in-law, so I gave a little extra. You don't mind, do you?" Jennifer's

smile didn't waver.

In the past, their family group chat was never this lively, nor did it ever 'rain' gift cards like this.

Seeing Cathy glued to Arabella's side, Romeo couldn't help but tease, "Can't you go count your bounty NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

somewhere else?"