Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Maybe it was the sting of pride that led her to take out her phone and dial a familiar number almost subconsciously.
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.
He knew his mother well. She never made empty threats.
“If you don’t mind losing your mother, then go ahead, defy me!”
“Mom, Serena isn’t what you think,” Martin defended, although even he had to admit that Serena’s behavior in the video was quite rude. But it wasn’t enough to warrant such disgust from his mother.
He looked at his sister.
“t’s exactly as I said. If Serena hadn’t acted like that, there would be nothing to discuss. But she did, and it was bizarre.”
Martin knew his sister harbored a strong dislike for Serena, but he had not anticipated her to actually involve their mother.
“Our family is going through trying times, Martin. With a weak link like her, our downfall is inevitable! I will not let some girl drag our entire family into the abyss! We’ve been laying low for years, just for this moment. Her presence is like a bomb, ready to destroy all our years of hard work!””Mom, I can handle it,’ Martin assured her seriously. “Whether it’s our family business or my relationship with her, I’ll manage both”
“One cannot have it all” Florence countered with a wisdom born of experience. “You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Especially not with a woman who’s not fit to stand by our side. The Cooper family doesn’t need her. If you don’t mind cutting ties with us, if you don’t mind us becoming strangers, if you don’t mind burying your own mother, then do as you please.
But let me be clear: you only get one chance.”
After her speech, Florence picked up her purse and headed for the door, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.
“Mom!” Martin stepped in front of her. “Let me arrange a meeting between you and Serena. Talk to her.
You’ll see she has many good qualities.”
“Face-to-face with her? To watch her put on an act?” Florence scoffed dismissively and brushed past her son. “Don’t ever mention her name in front of me again.”
Martin’s mother had a point. He had built his own empire and didn’t need the family money. But the thought of Serena splurging without a care in the world – that was something he still had to consider.
Florence couldn’t control her son with money, nor could she let the world know their family was at odds over a woman. So, aside from threatening to take her own life, she felt her only option was to sever ties.
Martin watched his mother’s resolute figure disappear into the distance, then turned to Diana, “Diana, you just don’t get Serena. She’s genuinely easygoing. At school, everyone says she’s kind-hearted and sensible. Sure, she can be a bit moody at times, but nothing serious. I have no issues with her.”
“Have you been brainwashed or something? You see a freak show, and you treasure it? This is eye-
opening for me! Let me be blunt, if you marry her and Mom decides to jump in the river, I’ll be there playing music and parading her body to your wedding venue. I’ll give Mom a proper send-off and then slash my wrists!”
Martin was shocked his sister would resort to threats, “Can’t you just meet her, get to know her properly?”
“Are you naive? Sometimes, what you see is just a facade, a deliberate act for you! The real her is the one shouting at the sales clerks! I’d rather turn a blind eye than let her into our home and turn it upside down!”
Diana stood up, her heart hardened, “If it’s her you choose, then consider me no longer your sister!”
Martin still wanted to reason with her.
“Oh, and tell her to watch herself. If she crosses me, I won’t be so forgiving!”
With those words, Diana stormed out, slamming the door behind her.Martin stood there, feeling helpless, when his phone pinged with a message from Serena.
[Going out for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa today. Let’s reschedule our date]
She ended the message with a kiss ernoji.
Suddenly, Martin felt all the negativity dissipate. He replied, (Sure, have fun.]
JY Sky Restaurant.
Upon hearing that the big boss Bard was coming for a meal, the restaurant manager had cleared out the best private room with a view and gave it a fresh setup.
Mirabella, led by her grandmother, noticed the opulence of the room immediately—it spanned over 2,000 square feet and even included a beautiful terrace with a stunning view.
“Mr.Darren, Mrs. Belinda.” The manager greeted everyone, “Boss, Ma’am, Miss Serena.”
When it came to Mirabella, he couldn’t recall her name and looked apologetically at Eunice.
“This is my niece, Mirabella Collins;’ Eunice introduced her formally, “In the future, treat her as you would us.”
The manager was taken aback, but quickly replied respectfully, “Miss Bella, it’s your first time here. If there’s anything you need, just ask for me.”
“Thank you,’ Mirabella said with a gentle smile.
The manager noticed that from start to finish, Eunice and Belinda were holding Mirabella’s hand, indicating a deep affection for her.
Who exactly was Miss Bella? She was a new face, suddenly announced as Eunice’s niece.And she bore the surname Collins.
What was the story here?
Eunice leaned in toward the manager with a conspiratorial smile. “Bring out all the dishes my folks love, would you? And toss in a few extra, for good measure.” She added a few of Mirabella and Serena’s favorites into the mix without missing a beat.
Serena shot Mirabella a smug look that seemed to scream. She thought, “Aunt Eunice ordered four dishes for you and four for me. In her eyes, we’re equals”
Meanwhile, Mirabella was engrossed in her phone, thumbing through messages without so much as a glance in Serena’s direction.
But Serena was basking in her moment of triumph. On the patio, she snapped a few selfies before calling out, “Grandma, Grandpa, come take a couple of photos with me, will you?”
Darren and Belinda were deep in conversation, but at the beckon of their granddaughter, they paused their chat to brave the chill and pose for a few shots.
Serena then turned her attention to her uncle and aunt. “Uncle Bard, Aunt Eunice, how about a few snaps with me as well?”
Eunice, while pouring Belinda another cup of tea, feigned annoyance. “Calling everyone but your sister, someone might think you’re doing it on purpose.”
Serena chuckled nervously, “Oh, no way! I was saving the best for last to take photos with her.
Besides, Mirabella wouldn’t overthink it, right?”She sought Mirabella’s eyes, only to find her still busily tapping away on her phone, oblivious to the world around her.
“Let’s just take photos inside where it’s warm,’ Eunice suggested, refilling Darren’s cup.
“Absolutely, indoors is better’ Darren agreed, shifting his chair to Mirabella’s left. “Bella, let’s take a few pictures, shall we?”
“Absolutely, I’ve had my turn with Serena, now it’s Bella’s turn’ Belinda chimed in, scooting her chair to Mirabella’s right.
Mirabella put her phone down and opened a financial report, only to have Darren and Belinda crane their necks to take a peek. They were astounded.
“Bella, you understand French? And these are financial reports? You’re working with Dawnstar?”
Darren asked, incredulous.
“Just a small company I’m involved with, Mirabella replied casually.
The moment the words left her lips, Eunice, who had been peering over, caught sight of the corporate seal on the financial report.
“Bella, what’s your role at Ar-Bl-Clear Group?” Eunice asked, genuinely surprised. Understanding financial reports suggested a role no less than that of a general manager.
“I’m in charge,’ Mirabella stated plainly.
“Did you found Ar-Bl-Clear Group?”
“Yes!The revelation sent waves of surprise through everyone present.
“Ar-Bl-Clear Group is a well-known skincare brand here in Dawnstar. I took notice of it a year ago but had no idea it was your venture.” Bard praised, amazed. “We knew you were fluent in French, but we had no clue you were an entrepreneur here.”
“And to think May always raved about your skincare products. So you’re the brain behind Ar-Bl-Clear Group?” Belinda asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“The primary line, yes.”
Ar-Bl-Clear Group’s flagship products were known for their magical effects on troubled skin—acne disappearing, pores shrinking, blackheads vanishing, leaving the skin smooth and fair.
But all the other lines were developed by her company’s research and development teams, as she owned so many companies, she couldn’t possibly attend to them all.
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.