Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Stop, please, enough already.” Serena was in agony, “What do you want from me?”
They didn’t cease their assault but intensified the beating instead, as if they intended on punishing her to the very brink of endurance.”Stop, I beg of you.” Serena couldn’t help but plead, “Just stop, and we can talk this out.”
They showed no intent of finishing their brutal work, and after a while, tossed something onto her body.
Serena was on the verge of passing out from the pain when she felt something crawling on her.
Something slithered up her neck, accompanied by a sinister hissing sound.
Terrified, Serena ripped the sack from her head to find herself covered in snakes, their numbers astonishing.
She screamed and flailed wildly, but her wrist was promptly bitten several times.
“Ah.”
In utter panic, Serena bolted towards her home.
The assailants had vanished, leaving only the hissing snakes trailing after her.
“Help, somebody help me.” Serena’s terrified cries for help echoed into the night.
Hearing the commotion, the security guards at Reflections Villa rushed to her aid.
Meanwhile, Mirabella was on her way home when she saw Romeo press the answer button on his steering wheel, taking a call.
The caller’s voice resonated through the car’s speakers.
“Boss, it’s done. She’s still alive, but she didn’t get off easy.”
“Got it.”
Romeo ended the call just in time to hear Mirabella ask, “You had her beaten up?”That “her” clearly referred to Serena.
The only woman Romeo seemed to despise this much was, indeed, Serena.
With a dispassionate tone, Romeo replied, “She needs to learn her lesson..”
If it weren’t for the fact that she was Kenneth and Louisa’s daughter, Romeo would make her life a living hell.
A sly smile played on Mirabella’s lips. She had planned to settle the score with Serena herself and give her a taste of her own medicine by beating her to the punch. But it seemed Romeo had taken action first.
That was probably for the best. Romeo’s guys wouldn’t pull punches, and in the end, they had saved her the trouble.
“This doesn’t concern you,” said Romeo as he pulled up to the entrance of Reflections Villa and opened the car door for her, his voice softening, “And they won’t trace it back to us.”
He always had a way of handling his business that left no trace, no loose ends.
“Get a good sleep,” Mirabella said, not blaming him but rather reminding him, “Don’t forget about David’s concert the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll pick you up for it.”
“Alright.”
As soon as Mirabella finished speaking, a servant came running over. “Ms. Bella, it’s terrible—Serena’s been attacked, and bitten by a snake, too! The family doctor won’t be here for another hour. What should we do? The master and mistress are out, and we’re all at a loss.”
“Take her to the hospital.” Romeo surely didn’t want his girl tending to Serena’s wounds, “Bella’s had a long day already.”
“We better hurry and get Serena to the hospital then.” the servant scurried back inside.
A gleam of interest sparkled in Mirabella’s eyes as she looked at Romeo. “Bitten by a snake?”
Did this guy actually have someone scare Serena with a snake?
“It’s not poisonous.”
If it weren’t for the fact that she was still tied to the Collins family, he would have used venomous ones tonight.
A smile curled on Mirabella’s lips. With a flicker of amusement in her expression, she said. “Then I’m heading in.””Right, get some rest,” Romeo patted the young girl’s head. “Don’t worry about her. Even without a doctor, you’re not to treat her.”
She wouldn’t die that quickly.
“Don’t worry, I don’t save just anyone.”
Romeo’s laughter echoed; this was his girl, alright.
Serena was still crying when they arrived at the hospital. Her hair was a mess, her white dress was soiled, and though a coat had been draped over her shoulders, she was still shivering from the cold.
It was winter after all, and snow was falling. The wind whistled through the windows into the emergency room where Serena sat. She looked as wretched as one could be.
Martin hurried over as soon as he heard the news and immediately spotted Serena, who had been crying her eyes out. Her face was bruised, and her exposed skin was covered in cuts and scratches.
He had only been gone for less than an hour—what on earth had happened?
“Serena.”
“It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t made me get out of the car, none of this would’ve happened.” Serena wailed, breaking down. “Get away from me! I don’t want to see you—go away.”
“Miss, please try to stay still,” the nurse said as she disinfected Serena’s wounds. “We’ll need to give you a tetanus shot shortly. Which family member can handle the payment and fetch the medication?”
A servant stepped forward, but Martin quickly said, “I’ll do it.”
Serena kept crying, not even glancing his way.
“Serena, just wait for me. I’ll pay the bill and be right back.””You can also just scan the QR code on the ticket,” the nurse suggested.
“Alright.” Martin looked at Serena briefly before following the instructions.
Serena couldn’t fathom how her life had come to this. If Romeo had been here, the nurses would be bending over backward to please her, and she wouldn’t have to deal with any of this red tape. The hospital director would probably have come rushing over in the middle of the night to attend to her personally.
It was clear; Martin was useless compared to Romeo. With Romeo around, not to mention his bodyguards, Romeo himself would have been enough to protect her and ensure she got home safely.
None of this would have happened.
After Martin paid, the nurse administered the injection and handed over some prescriptions for them to take home.
“These are oral medications. If the pain becomes too much, these can help alleviate it. And these are for external application,” the nurse explained, indicating instructions and dosages.
Martin anxiously inquired, “She has so many injuries. Are they serious? Does she need to be hospitalized? Is there any bone damage?”
“We took her some X-rays, and there’s no bone damage, but she’ll be in pain for a couple of weeks.
There’s quite a bit of bleeding after all.”
The nurse knew at a glance that these wounds weren’t from any fall or accident; they were inflicted by someone with a cruel hand. To beat a young girl into such a state, it was beyond heavy-handed.
When Serena heard she’d be in pain for a good fortnight, the tears started rolling down her cheeks.
She felt so wronged and heartbroken.
“Is there any risk to her life?” Martin asked, his voice laced with concern.
“She was cussing you out with quite the spirit just now, so don’t you worry, she’s not gonna kick the bucket. It’s just some bruises and cuts,” the nurse said, picking up her tray and leaving the room.
Looking at Serena marked with bruises and lacerations, Martin couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy, “Who did this to you?”
Serena remained silent. Yeah, who would do such a thing to her?
Although Lindsay despised her, it didn’t seem like her style to hire thugs to beat someone up on their doorstep.
So, who could it be?
An image of Mirabella popped into her head.
But it couldn’t be Mirabella.
Mirabella was always open and straightforward. If she wanted to fight, she’d do it face-to-face; it was not likely for her to resort to cowardly attacks.
Then who else could it be?
As she pondered, another name came to mind—Alma!It had to be that snake!
Only Alma played nice to one’s face while plotting behind their back. The cake smashed in her face today, the falling off from the swing, the spilled wine, and the assault with a sack over her head. It all had to be Alma’s doing!
Thinking of this, Serena clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles turned white with rage, “It’s her.”
It had to be!
After all, Serena had drenched Alma in champagne and even spat in her glass of champagne..
That must’ve set her off!
“Who?” Martin was determined to stand up for Serena, although he knew she was wrong to impersonate Queena’s disciple, to lie boastfully in front of Lindsay, and to fall out with a former friend.
