Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Sir, Ma’am.”
She really didn’t want to come but had no choice. The person in the basement had been crying all night, her voice hoarse with despair.
She couldn’t bear it anymore and had to come forward, anxiously saying, “The person in the basement, she has some questions, and I think I should tell you. Why, when you took the family portrait, did you only take pictures with Ms. Bella and forget about her.”
“Why, when David came home that one time, did you secretly give Ms. Bella an unlimited credit card and tell her to hide it from Serena. I mean, the person in the basement.”
“Why didn’t you even glance at the foot spa she sent home? You ignored the hints from Martha that it could be used with the herbal packs from Ms. Bella. You only used the gifts from Ms. Bella, not hers.”
“And the expensive skincare she bought for you with her prize money, why did you dismiss it, using it merely as hand cream until Martha reminded you time and again to barely use the gifts she sent.””What’s this about Martha reminding us? What did Martha ever remind us of?” Louisa’s anger flared, but then she had a revelation. So, this was how things between them and that ungrateful girl had deteriorated, amplified by Martha’s behind-the-scenes meddling.
Was that old witch really tarnishing their image behind their backs?
“Damn it.”
They let her off too easy!
“That little witch must’ve squirreled away the package Serena sent us. And Martha, she only coughed it up after we badgered her about it a dozen times.”
“And why we keep that card from Serena? We’re afraid that she thought we were playing favorites.
How much does Bella actually cost us? She’s my flesh and blood, finally back in my arms. Can’t I give her a little spending money?”
“Then there’s the whole family portrait debacle. That little witch was off playing bridesmaid for a friend and didn’t bother to tell us. We wanted her in the picture, but when the photographers showed up, she was nowhere to be found. What were we supposed to do? Ask them to come back another day? Plus, it’s not like we couldn’t have a few extra snaps with our long-lost daughter. Is that so wrong?”
The maid shuddered at the thought – none of this was her fault. She had only overheard the wails and whispers from the basement all night and thought she should relay the message to the master and mistress. fearful they were in the dark, their names being dragged through the mud without their knowledge.
Misunderstandings were clearly brewing between them, likely fanned by Martha’s malicious whispers.
“And I heard the basement dweller say that even Myrna, who hasn’t set foot in the house, didn’t take her seriously. The gifts she received were just Bella’s hand-me-downs.”
“Hand-me-downs? Who said that?” Louisa fumed even more, “The number of gifts Myrna gave to Bella and her were the same. It’s just that they have different tastes and chose different styles, that’s all.”It was only then that she and Kenneth realized that it must have been Martha stirring the pot, egging on the little witch until she bit the bait.
“From now on, we don’t need to hear anything else she has to say,” Kenneth concluded. At this point, words were futile. Even though they suspected Martha was the instigator behind it all, if the girl in the basement remained steadfast and strong-willed, then no amount of gossip could sway her. The trouble was, her heart was already in turmoil, leading her to make one mistake after another.
“That Martha.” Louisa seethed, her head throbbing as darkness danced before her eyes.
She had underestimated the old woman’s spite. If the maid hadn’t come with the message, they would have remained ignorant of the slander they’d been subjected to over the past six months.
Damn it.
The maid made her way to the basement, conveying the message through the door to Serena.
Serena’s eyes were wide and unfocused with disbelief, tears streaming down her face.
Had Martha lied to her??
It seemed impossible.
Every time Martha spoke of these things, she did so with righteous indignation, as if her parents had been so biased that she’s not their daughter. Martha seemed to be fighting for justice on her behalf.
But with things having gotten this far, there was no reason for her parents to lie to her.
So who was lying?
Why would Martha want her to hate her parents, to drive a wedge between them?
What did Martha stand to gain??Meanwhile.
Kenneth, supporting Louisa’s shoulders, led her towards the helipad’s grassy expanse.
Bard and Eunice were already there waiting for them.
Upon seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Louisa couldn’t help but spill her concerns, “In that surveillance footage Bella sent, when she was being bullied, there was someone calling her ‘Boss’ and sticking up for her like they’d take the beating for her. Does Bella have some other identity we don’t know about? Why would she have lackeys? Should we look into this, or wait for Bella to come home and ask her ourselves?”
Eunice glanced at Bard with a sense of urgency in her eyes.
Bard, realizing the futility of further secrecy, laid bare the truth.
It was only then that Kenneth and Louisa learned that their beloved daughter had endured hardships in the so-called “triangular zone” long ago, narrowly escaping death before emerging as the renowned Boss.
Tears welled up in their eyes in unison.
“She’s been back for so long, never once mentioned it.” Louisa wiped away her tears, her voice laden with heartache, “She was just a child when she went to that dreadful place.”
The helplessness she must have felt, the despair.
Her skills, honed in such harsh conditions.
No wonder she always seemed as cold as ice.
Having danced with the Grim Reaper for so long, witnessed the darkest sides of humanity, and still grown into such a fine person with unshakable principles. it was nothing short of miraculous!
“We only knew of the hardships she faced with the Meltons; we had no idea the extent of her suffering was even greater than we imagined,” Kenneth said, tears streaming down his face despite his efforts to wipe them away.
Louisa was similarly distressed, covering her face with her hands as she sobbed, “I knew she was sensible, kind, and clever, but I never imagined that every one of her virtues was hard-won.”. The title she bore was a testament to her blood and tears, known only to her.
“There, there, Bella didn’t tell you because she didn’t want you to worry or feel guilty,” Eunice soothed, patting Louisa’s back gently, “She didn’t even tell me. If it weren’t for a twist of fate that led Bard to ask about her, which in turn led him to tell me, I’d be just as in the dark as you are.”
She, too, had only learned of Bella’s other identity through Bard.
Such a child, having faced so much difficulty from such a young age, was truly heartbreaking.
“I’ve failed her so badly.” Louisa couldn’t stop thinking about her daughter enduring hardships while Serena lived a life of luxury with the Collins family. It was as if her heart was being pierced by countless blades, the pain nearly suffocating her.
Just then, the sound of an airplane grew from a distant hum to a nearby roar.
Eunice looked up, “Looks like Mom and Dad have arrived. Dry your eyes; we don’t want them getting upset seeing you like this.”
Eunice helped Louisa dab away her tears. To Louisa, Eunice was like an elder sister, always there to care for her.
Despite her efforts, Louisa’s tears refused to stop. She fought to calm herself, taking deep breaths until finally managing a smile.
The plane slowed to a halt on the runway, and the door opened. Darren, holding his wife Belinda’s hand, stepped out, both looking dignified yet visibly aged.
Their somber presence could be felt even from a distance.”Mom, Dad.”
Smiling, the group greeted them and climbed the stairs to welcome the elderly pair.
Darren and Belinda managed smiles, but it was clear they were forced, their faces etched with sorrow and humility.
“We’ve been looking forward to seeing you.” Louisa stepped forward to hug her father, then her mother.
Sharp-eyed Belinda noticed right away, “Have you been crying? Is it because of Serena?”
Before coming to Reflections Villa, Eunice had briefed them on Serena’s actions. They had been shocked to the core, fainting from the emotional overload. Once recovered, they had dressed and made their way here.
As tears welled up in Louisa’s eyes again, she quickly reached up to wipe them away. “Why bring her up? I’m just heartbroken over Bella’s situation.”
She revealed the truth about Bella being the leader of Mafia Flame, and the grandparents couldn’t believe that their granddaughter was someone so significant.
It was a reputation hard-earned through blood and tears.
All those loyal people following her showed how she was worthy of their love and respect.
Their granddaughter was truly remarkable.
It was heart-wrenching.
The grandparents silently wiped away their tears, proud and yet just as pained for their granddaughter’s plight as Louisa.
“Where has she gone? Why don’t I see her?” Belinda scanned the room, not spotting her beloved granddaughter.
If she wasn’t busy, she would have definitely been here to greet them.
“She’s on her way back from overseas, should be here in a few hours. Let’s go inside to talk,” Louisa suggested, taking coats from the servants and helping her mother and father put them on.
Eunice wrapped the scarves she had prepared around their necks.
The weather was getting colder, and they linked arms with the elders, guiding them into the main house where a fireplace warmed the room.Darren, having weathered many storms over the years, sipped his tea before asking, “What’s to be done about that child?”
Louisa knew he was referring to Serena and glanced at her sister-in-law.
Eunice nodded, encouraging her to speak. Louisa began, “Mom, Dad, you’ve already heard about her character from my sister-in-law, but what I’m about to tell you might be too much to bear. I hope you’re prepared.”
“Could there be anything worse?”
Belinda had been shocked and furious upon learning of the child’s actions the day before, and now, judging by her daughter’s expression, there seemed to be more severe issues they were unaware of.
Louisa signaled to a servant, who immediately went to fetch the family doctor to wait in the nearby parlor.
Once the doctor was on standby, Louisa played the security footage that Bella had sent. It showed Martha’s people kidnapping Mirabella, Serena not only refusing to help but also wanting to carve words into Mirabella’s face, making her kneel and beg.