Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“There’ll be no more special orders from now on.”
“What did you say?”
“In other words, the chef isn’t going to whip up whatever you fancy anymore.”
Serena hadn’t expected her parents’ punishment to be so severe. Was she now to be denied even the simplest of culinary pleasures? Was she to be relegated to eating plain fare, just like the servants?
Were her parents treating her like one of the help? Wasn’t this punishment a bit too harsh?
Even if she had spoken ill of Mirabella at Mr. Albright’s birthday party, it wasn’t enough to warrant such a severe penalty, was it? And on top of that, she was still nursing her injuries.
“Once you’re done eating, I should get going.” Betty glanced at the time and began to clear the table, “Mrs. Collins only gave me an hour to deliver your meal.”
“You’re leaving too? Am I going to be alone in this house tonight?” Serena felt a twinge of fear. The house was too vast, and come nightfall, it felt rather eerie.
“For the time being, yes. You’ll be on your own here, except during meal times,” Betty confirmed.
“Then who will clean for me? Who will water my plants? Who will do my laundry and hang it up to dry?”
“I’m not sure.”Her responsibility was only to deliver meals.
“Betty,” Serena suddenly grasped her hand, “ever since Martha left, you’ve been the kindest to me in this house. Tell me the truth, how are my parents feeling? Do I have any chance of returning within the next couple of days?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Collins are disappointed and heartbroken by your actions. They hardly touched their dinner, and Edith has been trying to console them.”
Serena quickly seized upon a key name, pressing further, “Edith? Is she attending to my parents this evening?”
“Yes.” Betty was unaware of the underlying tensions and spoke honestly, “Mr. and Mrs. Collins seemed alright before dinner, but afterwards, they looked quite upset, as if they were very angry.”
It must be Edith! With this thought, Serena clenched her fists in anger.
Edith must have taken advantage of her absence, filling her parents’ ears with slander about her. They were close to forgiving her, but after hearing Edith’s words, they had become too upset to eat. Perhaps Edith had even tarnished Martha’s reputation.
With these thoughts, Serena seethed with rage. As soon as she left this confinement, she vowed to make Edith pay.
“Betty, could you possibly ask the chef to prepare a few tastier dishes for me tomorrow? I really can’t stomach such bland food.” Serena cajoled, shaking Betty’s hand, “I can transfer some money to you and the chef. Just name your price.”
“Serena, I can’t do that.” Betty hurriedly explained, “After the chef finishes cooking, Edith has to approve it, making sure the ingredients are simple and unadorned, before I can bring it to you. Mrs.Collins has said that from now on, whatever the chef prepares, that’s what you’ll eat. No more lavish meals.”
Serena fumed, her mother had effectively cut off all her escape routes.
“Can you sneak me those skincare products later, Betty?” Serena tried to negotiate, “Those two helpers are as dumb as they come. They didn’t even remember to bring me toner this afternoon! I need my skincare routine before bed.”
“Mrs. Collins said, Ms. Mirabella Collins doesn’t use all those jars and bottles, and you won’t be needing them either.”
Serena’s face stiffened, “What does it mean?”
“It means that if Ms. Mirabella Collins isn’t using all those skincare products, you don’t need them either.”
Not even her skincare products were spared!!
“What about changing clothes? There are only two outfits upstairs. Don’t tell me, mom only allowed you to bring me two sets?” Serena asked, not ready to accept this.
“Yes, Mrs. Collins said you’re here to reflect, not to enjoy life. You only need enough clothes for two days, the rest are in the main house and we weren’t permitted to bring them over.”
Serena was livid. So, in this guesthouse, she was supposed to live like a guest, without the luxuries of being a part of the Collins family?!
Was that it?! Was that what her mother intended?
This was just too much!!”Ms. Serena Collins, do you need anything else? I only have ten minutes left.” Betty glanced at the clock, growing anxious, “If I go over an hour, I lose ten dollars off my wage for every minute.”
Serena hadn’t imagined her mother would be so ruthless. To discourage the staff from chatting with her, she had even made it a matter of time and money.
“Don’t be too down, Ms. Serena Collins. Maybe one day Mrs. Collins will remember your good qualities, or see that you’ve repented, and she might let you out early.”
At the mention of this, Serena scoffed coldly. Her mother had hardened her heart to this extent, almost leaving her to fend for herself. Hoping for her mother to fondly recall her good traits seemed like waiting for a blue moon.
“In about ten days, both families’ elders will visit. Your grandparents, and all your uncles and brothers, someone will surely speak up for you. Then, Mrs. Collins would consider what they said, and it’ll only be natural for you to join the family reunion.”
Since Martha left, Betty had been the only kind soul to Serena.
Serena thought there was some logic to it. New Year’s Eve was the biggest day for them, all about togetherness.
But with ten days to go, she didn’t even know how to get through these coming days. Especially with the plain meals three times a day, no one to talk to, and no permission to leave the place.
“What if mom only lets me join the dinner on New Year, and then sends me right back here?” Serena worried. That could mean being shut away indefinitely.
“The thing that upset Mrs. Collins the most, the thing she cares about, is that you disrespected Ms.
Mirabella Collins. If you just correct that, considering the eighteen years of affection, she might let youoff the hook. She can’t possibly keep you here after the New Year, especially when school starts again, right?”
Serena felt there was sense in these words.
She hadn’t expected the servant to be so clever, but with school starting, it would be a long time before.
“Oh, right, Mr. Cooper stopped by looking for you, but no one told him you were confined to the annex,”
Betty said as she placed a jar of ointment on the table. “He saw you had scratches on your face and brought this—he said it’ll heal without leaving scars. There are other ointments too, for pain relief and to help wounds heal faster. He marked the instructions on them. Serena, Mr. Cooper sure is good to you.”
Serena looked at the array of medicine boxes, each with a Post-it note in Martin’s handwriting.
She hadn’t expected that being locked away here, the only one who seemed to care about her injuries would be a stranger.
“Did mom and dad know he sent me ointments?” Serena inquired.
“Yes, I pleaded with the lady, told her about Mr. Cooper’s kind gesture. Even if she is upset with you, she couldn’t take it out on Mr. Cooper. After all, we’ll have to keep up appearances with the Cooper family. Anyway, I begged for a while, and she walked away without a word, neither a yes nor a no. So I just mustered up the courage and brought the ointments.”
Betty glanced at the time and added, “Serena, I really must go now, I’m out of time.”
With a nod, Betty hurriedly picked up her meal box and scurried out, fearing she would stay past the allotted time.
The vast house once again grew silent.
Elsewhere.
Mirabella had just gotten home when someone called out to her.”Bella, you’re back.” Louisa rose from the sofa, spotting Mirabella with a stack of papers, and couldn’t help but express her concern, “Still busy this late?”
“What time is it? Have you had dinner?” Kenneth glanced at the clock. It was nearly ten at night. “If not, I can whip up some noodles for you in the kitchen.”
“I’ve eaten already.” Mirabella slipped off her shoes and stepped inside, puzzled to see her parents waiting up for her. “Dad, Mom, why aren’t you asleep?”
“Ah.” Louisa guided her to the couch before explaining, “We just found out tonight from Edith about all the hardships you’ve been enduring in this house. That Debby and Daisy had the nerve to disrespect you.”
“It’s outrageous,” Kenneth added, taking a seat beside Mirabella. “Edith mentioned just a fraction of it.
There’s no telling how much you’ve had to endure from those people when we’re not around.”
“These servants have no sense of their place! Especially that Martha! Taking the master’s money and acting like she owns the place. We’ve had someone give them a good thrashing and blacklisted them in the industry. They won’t find work anywhere now. People like that can’t be left to cause harm to others.”
Mirabella hadn’t expected her parents to secretly avenge her. She smiled and said, “Thanks, Dad, Mom.
It’s okay, it’s all in the past.”
After all, the incident with Debby and Daisy was a long time ago.
“You never tell us anything.” Louisa suddenly embraced Mirabella, her voice becoming hoarse with emotion. “It’s all my fault for being too trusting of them, not keeping a closer eye on them. I’m sorry you had to suffer alone.””I’m to blame as well,” Kenneth confessed. “I’ve gotten used to leaving the household matters to the servants. They’re so polite and respectful, calling me ‘sir’ every day, I never suspected their two-faced behavior behind our backs.”
With over twenty servants in the Collins household, each with their own specific duties, they had never heard of anyone pulling such outrageous stunts before.
It was a real eye-opener for them.
“I’ve already had Serena move to the condo next door to reflect on her actions. After the holidays, we’ll ask her to leave our home for good.”
Louisa’s words caught Mirabella off guard. Was Mom really ready to kick Serena out?
“Eighteen years ago, we mistakenly brought home the wrong child, raising her as our own daughter. To say we felt no affection would be a lie, but after hearing about her antics, we are truly disheartened.”
Louisa patted Mirabella on the back, “In about a week or so, when everyone’s gathered, your true identity will be revealed, and everyone will know that you are our real daughter. As for Serena, she never appreciated what she had, so there’s no point in her staying.”
“Absolutely, let her leave,” Kenneth agreed, feeling the same.
“Do you really want to let her go?” Mirabella asked.
Louisa smiled and explained, “It’s been eighteen years, so to say we can let go completely would be deceiving you. But the way she struts around you, acting all high and mighty, that’s something we can’t stand. You are our real daughter, and she has no clue. To think, after eighteen years, it turns out we’ve been nurturing an ingrate.”
If Serena could find her place and be grateful, there would be room for her in this family. But her jealousy blinded her.
“Our original plan was to take you on a trip, but we’re not sure if you’ll have time over the holidays.”
Kenneth longed for some quality time with his daughter, but ever since she returned home, she was either at school, managing her own ventures, or out on dates with Romeo.
The time left for them was scarce.Aside from sending messages to check on her, welcoming her home, cooking her favorite meals, giving her massages, providing spending money, and customizing clothes and accessories for her, they really didn’t know what else they could do for their daughter.
