Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Serena lifted her eyes, looking at her aunt in astonishment.
“I won’t say anymore. Bella has finally come back to this family, and like everyone else, I don’t want her to be mistreated again. Think about what I’ve said.”
With that, Eunice turned and left, bumping into Bard as she exited the tea room.
Bard had just finished applying medicine to his father, who had fallen asleep. Remembering his wife was waiting outside, he went to find her.
He hadn’t expected to walk into the middle of a conversation between his wife and his niece, having overheard everything from the tea room.
He motioned for his wife to talk somewhere more private, away from the tea room. Once they were alone, Bard asked in a low voice, “What’s going on?”
Eunice succinctly recounted the events, leaving Bard in disbelief. When had Serena become so evil?Was it her dragging Darren out for a walk in sub-zero weather just for a Facebook photo? Was it her causing both of them to fall and then instructing the staff to keep quiet about it? Was it her disrespect towards Mirabella, the underhanded tactics?
Bard suddenly felt as if his niece had become a stranger.
Was it because they hadn’t been in touch for so long, or was this who she truly was deep down?
“We’ll have to keep a closer watch,” Eunice said. “Even though we’re just her aunt and uncle and shouldn’t interfere too much, if Serena refuses to mend her ways, her presence is not good for Bella. It might be better to set her up in her own place. She’s eighteen now, an adult.”
Bard nodded, seeing the sense in his wife’s words.
Kenneth and Louisa had cherished Serena like their own daughter for eighteen years, and the love and effort they had invested was not something that could be easily dismissed with a few words.
They heard she was an orphan, all alone in the world, and given the Collins’ family wealth, it wasn’t like they could just turn her out on the streets.
The Collins family was well-off. Taking in one more wasn’t a burden.
So, it wasn’t a surprise that they decided to keep her around.
“You know, as her aunt and uncle, we can only offer advice. In the end, it’s up to her guardians to make the decision, Eunice remarked, glancing toward the garden.
Snowflakes began to fall, and Mirabella was walking alone amidst them when Romeo, who was standing by the front door, noticed her. He quickly handed his umbrella to the doorman to bring out to her.
“Is that Romeo?” A knowing smile played on Eunice’s lips. “Seerns he’s quite taken with our Bella.”
The doorman brought the umbrella to Mirabella, and just as she stepped out, Romeo draped his coat over her shoulders, took the umbrella from her hand, and pulled her into a warm embrace.
“I’ve finally got you in my arms, Romeo couldn’t help but say as he looked down at her.
His fiancée, it seerned, was probably the busiest woman in the world, and catching sight of her had become a rare treat.
Mirabella chuckled, “Well, here I am, seeking you out as soon as I got a moment.”
Romeo gazed into her eyes with a smile, “I thought you might not come. You mentioned on the phone that Grandpa had an accident. What happened? Is it serious?””You sure are getting the hang of calling him ‘Grandpa’? Mirabella teased.
“Wife’ rolls off the tongue even better. Want to hear it?”
“No thanks, Mirabella shot back, “Grandpa’s situation is a long story.”
“Let’s talk in the car then.”
The car was warm, no way he was going to let his girl get cold.
Once Mirabella was settled in the car, she explained the gist of it, leaving Romeo somewhat speechless, “I remember when she used to make soup for grandpa, making his illness worse. In the end, it was you who had to step in and save the day.”
Mirabella recalled the incident when Serena had eagerly bought leftovers from a medicine auction at an insane price to make soup for Grandpa Phillip. The well-intentioned gesture had ended up landing Phillip in the operating room.
“Time’s passed, and she still hasn’t learned’? Romeo said as he drove, “and once again, you’re the one cleaning up the mess.”
“She always feels like I’m going to take everything from her, Mirabella said with a sense of resignation.
“But isn’t everything she has because of you? Your family is her family, her lifestyle is thanks to you.
What does she really have that’s hers?”
“Well, Martin is hers.”
“Martin only knows her because she’s ‘the Collins’ heiress’. If she were from an ordinary background, how could she ever know Martin? So, in the end, it’s still your doing.”
Seeing how blatantly biased he was, Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re quite the defender.””Because you’re worth defending,’ Romeo said, freeing one hand to hold hers.
On the other side of town, Martin was driving Serena around, feeling as if he were living in a dream. It all seemed surreal.
Serena had texted him earlier: [Let’s hang out.
At first, Martin thought he’d read the message wrong. It wasn’t until after he’d reread it dozens of times that he believed it was real.
This was the first tine Serena had ever asked him out!
And it was the first time she had responded to his long-standing affection for her.
“Serena, where would you like to go?” Martin asked gently, glancing at the girl in the passenger seat.
Serena appeared indifferent. “I don’t care.”
She was just bored of hanging around her aunt’s house and was looking for something to kill time.
“Feeling down?” Martin picked up on her mood. ‘Is something bothering you? Did someone upset you?”
Serena didn’t want to answer, and Martin didn’t press. Instead, he suggested, “How about we go to the lavender fields?”
Serena remembered how, a long time ago, Louisa suspected her of having improper thoughts about Romeo. To dispel any doubts, Martha had lied, claiming Serena had a boyfriend.
To keep the lie from unraveling, Serena had even hinted to Martin that there was a new movie she wanted to see.At that time, Martin was dealing with some business at Dawnstar’s subsidiary and, upon hearing her suggestion, had immediately flown back.
He had asked her over the phone if she liked Dawnstar and mentioned that he wanted to take her to see the lavender fields there someday, but Serena had given him a non-committal answer.
Now, Martin was bringing up the lavender again, which surprised Serena. She looked at him. “You remembered?”
“I said I would take you; Martin affirmed, remembering his promise like it was written in crystal.
But Serena’s eyes dimmed. How wonderful it would be if Romeo treated her the same way.
At the Dawnstar lavender fields.
After parking the car, Martin gently tugged on Serena’s sleeve, careful not to hold her hand in case she didn’t like it.
Even though he was being a perfect gentleman, Serena couldn’t help but feel a bit repulsed, though she didn’t show it.
As they approached the entrance, a security guard informed them, “Sorry, the fields are privately booked today.”
Serena was taken aback. How could such vast lavender fields be booked out just like that?
Glancing inside, she saw a dozen bodyguards standing by, and amidst the lavender, there was only one couple – Romeo and Mirabella, by their silhouettes and postures!
Especially Mirabella, who was wearing the same outfit as she had that morning!
Serena’s expression changed instantly. What were they doing here on a date?A few photographers ran towards them, seemingly discussing photo arrangements.
They booked such an expansive field of lavender just for a photoshoot?
Martin conversed fluently in French with the security guard, trying to negotiate. He offered to pay the same private booking fee to use just a small corner of the field, wanting only to take a walk with his girlfriend.
The guard explained it was impossible because the person who had booked the field had a prestigious status, and they couldn’t afford to offend them.
Martin didn’t want to give up and continued to discuss with the guard.
Meanwhile, Serena overheard Romeo’s voice coming through the loudspeakers, “Bella, this piano piece is composed just for you. I’ve said it many times, but at this moment, I still want to tell you, I love you.”
Serena stood frozen, disbelief etching her features as she overheard Romeo’s declaration of love to Mirabella, accompanied by a composition he had crafted just for her.
This was so unlike him!
“I love you so much I want to shout it from the rooftops, yet I’m scared too many eyes might covet your brilliance, fear you might become someone else’s daydream. Bella, I love you, and I want you by my side every single day.”
The gentle melody of the piano ebbed and flowed with the scent of lavender in the air.
It was a recording Romeo had made in advance.
A smile brimmed in Mirabella’s eyes. “Didn’t you already write me a song? What made you think of crafting another?”
“When I’m with you, I’m filled with joy, and I just want to capture that feeling,” Romeo murmured, leaning down to tenderly stroke her face. “Can you hear what my heart is saying?”
Nodding, Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “Il can hear it, though it’s a bit showy, isn’t it?”
“It’s just us here, no tourists,’ Romeo chuckled along. “Maestro Melody, you haven’t given your verdict on this Piece yet.”
“It’s not bad,” she laughed.
“Maestro Melody, what do you decipher from it? A heart-skipping fondness? Or a longing that fills every thought?””It’s your love, overflowing.”
Martin, aware that a romantic scene was unfolding inside, tried unsuccessfully to persuade the security guard at the entrance. Not wanting to force the issue, he turned to Serena, “Shall we find another spot?”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.