Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Keep them in line,” Clark said. Losing interest in questioning them, he left these words behind as he and Mirabella walked away.
The hitmen exchanged covert glances and had seemingly made a decision.
Once out of the basement.
Mirabella smirked, “They fell for it.”
“Always the smart one, sis,” Clark knew that even though the hitmen were quick on their feet, they weren’t the brightest bulbs, “and your audio extraction was spot-on, no background noise, sounded just like Erik coughing up a storm.”
“I’ve already had the head of security beef up the watch on Erik’s room. Those hitmen won’t be able to get him out, they’ll have to retreat.”The hitmen who escaped would surely be interrogated by the mastermind behind all this. As long as they insisted that their boss was still alive, the mastermind would have to believe it to some extent…
This would increase the chances of the mastermind showing up…
“You’re brilliant, Bella.”
Clark patted Mirabella’s head just as Sean came back from the garden and saw them.
“Where have you two been?” Sean couldn’t help but ask when he saw their closeness.
“Sean, you’re still up?” Mirabella was surprised, thinking that with Ophelia’s condition stable, Sean would relax and get some rest.
“I noticed your friend’s flowerpot was tipped over, so I topped it off with soil and picked up some toiletries for her.”
Sean’s comment drew a sly grin from Clark, “Since when you start shopping, and gardening? Guess the saying ‘love turns one into a superhero’ is true.”
“That was your line, wasn’t it? Only you would say something that dumb,” Sean’s gaze returned to his sister, which was filled with concern, “Where have you been so late at night?”
“Just couldn’t fall sleep, and went for a walk with sis to clear our heads,” Clark boasted slightly.
“A walk, you two??”
“Is there a problem??” Clark couldn’t help but show off, “When you weren’t around, sis and I used to walk all the time. Not just walks, we’d go shopping, eat out, and travel abroad.”
Having not realized that they’d done so much together, Sean sounded a bit miffed, “Well, I guess it’s my turn now.””Don’t you have Ophelia?” Mirabella countered playfully.
“Isn’t that gross?”
Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, knock it off, you two. Clark, Sean, you should get some rest.
I’m heading upstairs.”
As he watched her sister’s retreating figure, Clark couldn’t help saying, “See? The moment you show up, sis bails!”
Sean: ??? How is that my fault???
The next morning.
Ophelia woke to find herself in a beautiful bed, and the surrounding was unfamiliar yet cozy.
She sat up abruptly. Where was she? How did she end up here??
And her clothes had been changed into pajamas.
She glanced down and, to her horror, realized she was bra-less under the pajamas.
Oh no, what had happened last night? She didn’t let someone take advantage of her, did she?!
She remembered the group from last night, and the footsteps that got closer and closer. Had she really been compromised??
Because she hadn’t seen all of the Collins family guest rooms, she wasn’t sure where she was. She feared she had been kidnapped by those people from the night before and they had done something to her.
With that thought, she intended to get out of bed and leave.Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a cellphone on the nightstand. It was her own!
She grabbed it hastily, intending to call for help.
But as the screen unlocked, she saw a message from Bella.
[Morning, you’re at my place. Come down for breakfast when you’re up.]
This was Bella’s house??
She looked around the room again. It was indeed welcoming and stylish.
Even the pajamas she wore seemed like something Bella might design.
She walked to the window and sure enough, she could see the Collins family’s garden below, with the staff already bustling about.
Realizing she was safe, Ophelia let out a sigh of relief and felt her tension finally easing.
She made her way to the bathroom and found that Bella had gotten everything set for her; the toothpaste and toothbrush were prepared, and even the cut on her forehead had been carefully treated.
But why was she at Bella’s in the first place??
She recalled last night when she was under the bridge, being chased by several cars and accidentally crashing into a pillar, then being shot at. After sending a message to Bella, everything became a blur.
It seemed like someone had carried her out of the car.
The face she remembered was Sean’s.But how could Sean have saved her?
It would be surprising enough if Sean didn’t give her a hard time or block her projects, let alone save her life.
If it wasn’t Sean, then how did she end up at the Collins family’s place??
Could it have been Bella who came to her rescue last night.
Maybe she was just hallucinating, mistaking Sean for someone else.
It had to be Bella!
Only Bella would care for her so deeply, even tending to her wounds with such care.
After freshening up, Ophelia went downstairs.
Mirabella had been sitting at the dining table and waiting. She knew exactly when Ophelia would wake up and finish washing up, so she had been there in advance, just waiting for her.
Sure enough, as the servant led Ophelia to her, Mirabella smiled warmly and said, “Good morning.”
“Bella!”
Ophelia’s smile widened as she saw her friend, and she pulled up a chair to sit beside her. “Did you change my clothes last night?”
“Who else would have done that?”
“Thanks a bunch!” Ophelia playfully tapped her friend’s cheek, her voice bubbling with gratitude. “And you even got that adorable towel and toothbrush set.”
“That was Sean’s doing.”
At the mention of Mirabella’s words, Ophelia’s hand, which was holding a bite-sized piece of a sandwich, froze in mid-air.
“They are a bit childish.” Mirabella said with a smile. “Sean thought all girls would like cute patterns.”
Ophelia hadn’t expected it to be him.
“Crap!” Suddenly, something occurred to Ophelia, and she hurriedly fished out her phone. “I forgot to check in with my folks.”
She hadn’t been home all night, and her parents must have been worried sick!
“Don’t sweat it. I’ve already called your mom. Calm down.” Mirabella poured her a glass of milk and set it before her, then began recounting the events of the previous night.
“You’re always on top of things, Bella. So reliable.” Ophelia took a sip of the milk and sighed contentedly. “This milk is so creamy~”
After another bite of her sandwich, she felt curiosity getting the better of her. “But really, what’s the deal with those guys from last night?”Why were they after her?
Could it be that her enemies from abroad had followed her here?
“It’s a long story.” Mirabella thought about how to keep it short and sweet as she gave an overview of the past events, and then continued, “So, Erik’s guys split into two groups. One broke in to rescue him, and the other went after you, in case the first group failed. They were planning to use you as a bargaining chip to exchange for their boss.”
“So that’s it. I thought it was weird they suddenly started tailing me and were so persistent.” Ophelia chuckled. “For a moment, I thought my overseas enemies had tracked me down here. So, you’re saying you came to my rescue last night??”
“The one who saved you was Sean.”
Mirabella’s revelation caused Ophelia’s smile to freeze on her face.
Really him?
How could that be?
“When the first group barged in, me and a few of the guys were dealing with them. Then it hit me that you might be in danger, so I sent Sean to check on you. Sean said when he got there, about a dozen hitmen were shooting at your car, and turning it into swiss cheese.”
Mirabella loaded Ophelia’s plate with a lavish breakfast spread and continued, “Under such circumstances, you were still sending me voice messages, and worrying about whether the flowers will survive and whether the soil had spilled. In the message, you cared about my issues with Romeo, but did not mention a word about your own safety.”The night before, Ophelia had not revealed to Mirabella how dire her situation had been, as well as how alone and vulnerable she felt.
She hadn’t told Mirabella that she feared she might never see her parents again.