Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Serena, it’s not what you think.” Louisa wanted to tell her that Mirabella had come here to treat a patient at a friend’s request, unexpectedly running into her grandmother and uncle.
And they had come to visit their mother, not expecting to see Mirabella here.
But Serena just smiled, “Mom, I didn’t misunderstand anything. There’s no need to explain. I was just bored, because Martin had some work to do and needed to make a trip to Lidaria, so I came with him.”
“You mean, Martin is outside? Now?” Kenneth was about to get up to invite him in.
“lL asked him to drop me at the door and told him to leave”
“How can you not invite him in for dinner when he’s already at the doorstep? He could sit for a while before leaving.” Kenneth felt somewhat remiss in his hospitality.
But Serena just laughed, looking gracefully charming, “I didn’t even know that you were having dinner here, let alone Martin. It’s okay, he had some work to do anyway. Besides, we already celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas at home.”“It’s good that you celebrated together.” Kenneth nodded repeatedly, but felt a little uncomfortable. It seemed like his daughter was blaming them for having a family reunion and forgetting about her.
“Let’s not talk about it now. Serena has been on the plane for twelve hours. She must be starving.
Come, have some food.” Sampson put some into Serena’s bowl.
Serena looked at the leftover food on the table, her smile deepening, “Thank you, uncle Sampson.”
“These are practically untouched.’ Sampson put down his utensils and ordered again, “Prepare some more dishes: “No need, uncle Sampson. These are enough for me.”
“It’s okay. They’ll get it done pretty soon.’ Sampson said, not forgetting to urge the staff, “Try to be quick.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. Let the staff have some fun. I’ve been traveling all day. I don’t think I’m able to eat much.”
Everyone could tell she was unhappy. Mirabella stood up, “I’ll go to my room.”
“Wait, Bella, have you had enough? You haven’t finished the soup.” Louisa blurted out.
“And your uncle has prepared some shows.” Kenneth kept on, but felt that it was inappropriate to say that at the moment, so he stopped.
“I’m full.” Mirabella had wanted to leave before Serena arrived. She wanted to prepare some gifts for the elders and her brothers before they left.
She hadn’t prepared anything before. Now she wanted to go back to her room, not knowing whether she would make it.Serena thought Mirabella was declaring war on her. She smiled and said, “Bella, you’re not upset because I’m here, are you? If that’s the case, then I won’t eat from here. I’ll leave now.”
“Serena, what nonsense are you talking about?” Chasel spoke up, “Why would Bella think that way?”
“I’m just going back to my room to get gifts. Don’t overthink it.” Mirabella left the dining area, leaving a cold silhouette for everyone.
Serena felt even more indignant. Why, after everything, didn’t Mirabella feel at least a bit guilty?
She was basking in the affection of her parents, her uncle, and her brothers.
Had she ever considered that across the vast ocean, there was a sister in name only, alone without any family?
Even when her sister came here, she still remained unbothered, not even showing a hint of kindness.
Where was her conscience??
At that moment, David, feigning drunkenness, stumbled to his feet, “I’m going to wash my face.”
“When I arrived, you are sober. How did you get drunk so quickly?”
“It must be the alcohol.”
“You don’t want to see me, right?” Serena asked, her smile constant but oppressive, “Did you give the concert tickets to Bella?”
David was taken aback. How did she know? Had she been giving Bella a hard time?
Initially, he didn’t invite Serena along because he was worried she would overthink things, assuming that everyone was revolving around Bella, neglecting her, not valuing her.
Now, his worst fears were coming true.
“Serena, over the years, David has given you plenty of tickets. Bella just returned to this family. It’s not unreasonable for him to invite her to a concert, is it?” Chasel chimed in.
Serena’s smile deepened.Yeah, if David hadn’t sneakily taken those tickets from her to give to Mirabella, it wouldn’t have been an issue.
But what upset her was that David told her there were no tickets, then secretly gave them to Mirabella.
Wasn’t that excessive??
“Do you think I’m wrong?” Serena asked, her smile innocent but everyone felt she had changed. She was no longer the Serena they knew.
She had become somewhat distant.
At that moment, an underling briskly walked in, sensing the tense atmosphere, he wisely retreated to one side.
“What’s the matter?” Sampson sat in his dining chair, still exuding an air of control. No one could tell what he was thinking.
“Sir, the 15% share transfer, a Rolls Royce, a Koenigsegg, ten downtown shops have all been transferred to Ms.Collins’ name.”
This was the gift Darlene’s father offered to Mirabella as an apology.
But to Serena, it sounded like her uncle had given 15% of his shares, two luxury cars, and ten shops to Mirabella!!
Not only did her brothers favor Mirabella, but it seemed like her uncle was also playing favorites.
Despite their constant assurances of considering her as family, in reality, they only favored Mirabella!
“Also there are two more cars, a Pagani, a Bugatti, three villas, and another share transfer, all in Ms.
Collins”name.”
This was the compensation Angela’s father gave to Mirabella.
But to Serena, it sounded incredibly sarcastic, as if they were extravagant gifts from her uncle to Mirabella.
“Alright, you may go.”
Sampson’s expression remained nonchalant, but Serena was seething with jealousy.
She would never forget the day Mirabella first returned to the family, how her parents showered her with pocket money and all those beautiful clothes, shoes, handbags.
Even the fashion company was handed over to their own daughter.
Serena, spoiled by her parents for eighteen years, had never received such treatment!
Now, her uncle was lavishing Mirabella with expensive gifts.
“Let us have a minute.” Sampson leaned back, his aura still overpowering, “I’ll dinner with Serena.”
David wanted to say something, but under his uncle’s gaze, he decided to leave first.
Seeing everyone leave, Serena gave a bitter smile, stirring her soup with a spoon, “Uncle Sampson, you want to criticize me too, right?”
“Why would I criticize you?”
Serena’s eyes widened slightly. Was someone finally different from others?
“You were pampered for eighteen years. Then one day, a girl comes along, and she is the real heiress of this family. You’re told you have no blood ties to this family, and you’re someone else’s child.
Everyone tries to make up for her, treating her well with more affection they once had for you. You can’t say that doesn’t hurt.”It seemed like Sampson could read her mind, causing Serena’s eyes to well up with tears.
“But think about it from her perspective, because of a mistake, she suffered at the Melton family for eighteen years. Now that she’s returned to her biological family, isn’t it normal for everyone to treat her well and make it up to her?”
Serena looked up. It did make sense, but it hurt so much. She felt so much jealousy and sadness.
“Who poses the biggest threat to her position when she returned? Isn’t it you, who was doted upon by the family for eighteen years?” Sampson hit the nail on the head, “But she didn’t kick you out immediately, instead, she allowed you to continue enjoying the luxury that was originally hers.”
Serena was taken aback, suddenly understanding the situation.
“She didn’t resent, get angry or jealous that you stole her family and enjoyed the life that she should have had for the past eighteen years. She didn’t hold these against you. Doesn’t it show that she’s willing to accept you?”
Serena’s tears welled up in her eyes, a bit stunned.
“From your conversation just now, it’s obvious that there are some small frictions between you two. Like just now, even though you were a bit too assertive, she didn’t threaten to kick you out of the house, but calmly explained to you not to overthink. In my understanding of her, she’s already making the biggest compromise.
Where’s yours? I didn’t see it: Serena didn’t say anything, her tears streaming down her face.
“You need to understand that she was the one who was wrongly adopted. The family feels guilty towards her.She could easily use this guilt to kick you out of the house. If she were to say something, how likely do you think it would be for you to stay in this house?”
She had been warned about this before.
She knew her chances were slim, almost nonexistent.
“Serena, you’ve been in the center of the family for too long. You’ve forgotten that this position was originally hers.”
Sampson said in a meaningful tone, “While she was suffering at the Melton family, being treated terribly by her adoptive parents because they took her as a curse, you were enjoying the affection given by her parents, her brothers, her family. If you were in her shoes, could you be as generous as her, allowing her to stay in the family and continue to share your family and wealth?”
Serena bit her lip. She knew she couldn’t.
“Bella is a smart girl. She knew the trouble she was signing up for by letting you stay in this house, she anticipated the mess, yet she did it anyway. She took a step back for you, right to the edge of a cliff.