Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Even if you linger around for a day or two, I won’t release her. Get that through your head.” She said coldly and wearily, not desiring to make any interactions with him, “Go home, Martin. You’re a decent man, and I have no intention of having someone escort you out. There’s no room for negotiation with me about that girl, so don’t waste your energy.”
Martin looked to the other elders for support, but they remained silent, evidently in agreement with Louisa.
He knew further words were futile, “My apologies for upsetting you, Mrs. Collins.”
He bowed once more, his voice as polite and respectful as ever, “I’ll bring Erik back as soon as possible to trade for Serena. It’s late; I won’t disturb your rest any longer. Goodbye.”
He knew he couldn’t use force to get her, especially with Bard and Eunice here, their clout partially extended to this place.The holidays were approaching, and Serena’s brothers would be returning home. The Collins family had deep roots in this city. Outnumbered and outgunned, Martin knew that brute force was neither his preferred method nor his style.
There was only one way left: to capture Erik. Erik held the truth about the clinic fire that the Collins family wanted to know. Even if Erik fell into their hands, he wouldn’t be killed outright – he’d likely suffer some physical pain at most.
But Serena was a different story. She had been without food and water for two days and nights, wounded, and he didn’t know how much longer she could last.
Watching Martin’s retreating figure, Kenneth sighed, “Why doesn’t the kid see? Is that girl really worth all this trouble?”
“The Cooper family have raised him too well. A person with such heart and soul is rare these days. It’s a shame, but Serena is destined to break his heart,” Bard remarked regretfully.
“If that girl survives, with her temperament, she’s bound for trouble.” Eunice added, “She and Martin won’t last, and the Cooper family wouldn’t welcome someone like her into their family. Let’s not worry needlessly. We’ve done what we could; the rest is up to him.”
“Two days have passed, and Erik is still nowhere to be seen,” Louisa’s concern was barely concealed.
Just then, a servant came with urgent news, “Mr. and Mrs. Collins, there’s been no sound from the girl in the basement. When I opened the door, she was lying there, motionless and cold to the touch, with a burning fever. Her breathing’s almost gone. I had to check for a long time before I could feel a faint breath.”
The servant’s voice trembled with fear. With New Year around the corner, they dreaded the thought of a death in the house.”Why don’t we have the doctor take a look? Then we’ll know her condition.” Eunice suggested, and then looked around, “Let’s see how much longer she can hold out.”
Without food or drink and injured, she probably had a day or two, at most three, left to live.
If Erik continued to be absent., having her die in the house would indeed be an ill omen.
After examining her, the family doctor rushed with her medical bag to the stone table in the garden.
“Mr. and Mrs. Collins, the person in the basement, her infection is gotten nasty, fever’s through the roof, and I reckon she won’t last another 24 hours at this rate.”
The faces around the room soured, as everyone realized the situation had taken a turn for the worse.
“What do you think? Should we give her some meds or clean up the wound a bit? There’s still time to save her if we act now, but waiting until tomorrow might be too late, even for Ms. Collins.”
After all, Ms. Collins was the doctor she’d met who was renowned for her exceptional medical skills.
If Serena’s condition worsened by tomorrow, not even Ms. Collins could perform miracles.
“Just leave it be and go,” Louisa steeled herself. If her own father could be heartless, why should they, mere strangers without blood ties, act any differently?
“I bet that Erik is banking on us to save her. He’s willing to let her suffer another day rather than show his face and get caught. Can’t believe there’s a father out there who cares so little about his child.
Cruel, just cruel,” Kenneth scoffed in disdain.
“We’re known for doting on our kids. Compared to her siblings, everyone knows she’s the darling of the family. Erik’s gambling on that, thinking that after eighteen years, we couldn’t possibly stand by and do nothing.” Louisa said, her anger flaring, “But this time, we’re going to disappoint him! If he doesn’t care about his own daughter, neither will we!”
“Better off dead. We’ll just dump the body outside; let Erik find it. He’ll at least have to claim his own daughter’s body, right? That way, catching him will just be a matter of days,” Eunice spoke with a chilling indifference.
The doctor said Serena had less than 24 hours left. They could even throw her out three or four hours early; Erik would surely come for her. It all hinged on Kenneth and Louisa’s final decision.”Enough of this for now. It’s getting late; everyone should head off to bed,” Bard suggested, rising as the night air grew cooler.
The group dispersed, each with their own thoughts, leaving the person in the basement lying on the cold ground.
The next morning.
Sean stormed straight into the McMllian Corporation’s reception room. Romeo had just finished a morning meeting and was surprised to hear that Mr. Sean Collins had arrived. Why had he come?
In the lounge, Sean was as arrogantly self-assured as ever. Just sitting there, his intimidating presence was enough to make the young secretary tremble, barely able to hold the coffee steady.
“Mr. Sean Collins, your coffee,” the secretary avoided eye contact as she placed the coffee in front of him with shaky hands.
The rumors about Sean’s escapades were less than flattering, spreading tales of his unpredictable moods and brutal nature. The fact that he kept a collection of wild animals as pets was terrifying enough.
“Got Parkinson’s so young? Hands shaking that badly.”
And the stutter? Who on earth was Romeo hiring? How could someone like this even be a secretary??
“Or am I really that intimidating?”
Sean’s question left his assistant on the verge of tears, stuttering, “No, no, not at all.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
His words struck terror into her heart, and with a trembling hand, the coffee she was bringing to Steward spilled all over the plush carpet.
Both Sean and Steward were speechless, so as Carl and Romeo who just walked into the room.
Poor girl was absolutely petrified. She frantically grabbed some napkins to clean up, but before she could even make a dent, Mr. McMillian and Carl walked in. Tears welled up as she stammered, “I’m so, so sorry, Mr. McMillian. I just messed up.”
It was her fifth day as an intern, and the last thing she wanted was to lose her job over this.
Seeing the commotion, Sean couldn’t help but think, “What kind of bogeyman is Romeo, scaring the daylights out of a secretary? Is he always this harsh with the young ladies? Not a shred of gentleness?”
With this in mind, he raised an eyebrow, all the better to save his soft side for his sister.
“You can go,” Carl interjected, coming to her rescue.
The secretary quickly bowed in apology to everyone before making a swift exit.
“My apologies, Sean, Steward. She’s new. I’ll bring in fresh coffee in a moment. You guys go ahead and talk.”
While the secretary was a bundle of nerves, Carl was the epitome of composure. After he closed the door behind him, Romeo’s gaze shifted to Sean. Before he could even greet him, Sean cut to thechase.
“Have a seat.” Sean had the air of someone who owned the place, his presence commanding as he lounged on the sofa with casual authority, “I’ll get straight to the point. I have a sister who was lost to us and found half a year ago. You aware of that?”
Romeo nodded, her tone gentle, “I’ve heard.”
“Then you must know about your engagement?”
“Yes.”
“Have you met her before?”
“We have.”
“My sister is a real gem – smart as a whip, quick on her feet, a beauty with brains, talented, knowledgeable, there’s nothing she can’t do.” Sean rattled off his sister’s virtues without pausing for breath, “And you.”
Romeo braced himself for what was coming, sensing Sean’s visit might not be the best news. Was Sean here to say he wasn’t good enough for Bella? To break them apart?
Sean leaned back, eyeing Romeo with a scrutinizing look, “You’ll do, I suppose.”
Passable. Decent height, good looks, not a bad presence.
He might not wear as many hats as his sister, but being at the helm of the McMillian Corporation made him a fair match for Bella.
“I want you to win my sister’s heart.”As Sean’s words hung in the air, surprise flickered in Romeo’s eyes, “Sean, you want me and Bella together?”
There was a hint of surprise in Sean’s gaze. This guy was quick on the uptake, calling him by his first name, referring to his sister as Bella.
“It’s only natural for you to chase after her, isn’t it? Our families have an arrangement, and besides, you’re not interested in that Serena impostor, are you?”
Before Romeo could respond, Sean answered his own question, “That’s something only a lapdog from the Cooper family could fall for. Your taste can’t be that bad.”
“Sean.”
“To be with my sister is your blessing.” Sean cut him off, “My sister is a paragon of talent and skill, unmatched in this world. Anyway, you’re going to ask her out, and I expect to see some real progress.”
Romeo was puzzled. A date with Bella? Was he really getting this lucky? He knew that Sean was the fastest among the Collins brothers to approve of him and Bella together.
Still, Romeo felt the need to clarify things.
“Sean, you might have gotten the wrong idea. Bella and I…”
“Just give it to me straight, man. Are you seeing someone else on the sly?”
“No.”
Absolutely not!
“Do you want to be with her?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Of course, he did!
He wished he could spend every single minute of every single day with Bella!
“Can you surprise her? Make her happy? Be tender and considerate? Cut out all the distractions and focus on her alone?”
“No problem.”