Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
They had been shortsighted, thinking the valedictorian was merely interested in medicine.Little did they know, she was already in a position to collaborate with none other than President Beck of Westerly College.
And then, comments started pouring in on the trending topic online. [I’m Mirabella’s university classmate. Though we weren’t in the same class, I was there when she led our team in the intercollegiate competition. Someone challenged her, and she stepped up and dissected a cadaver right before us! Everyone was stunned. She was so calm, so professional, I couldn’t help but admire her!]
Another classmate chimed in, [Back then, professors from the Summerfield College Department of Medicine wanted to snatch her up as their student. Members from the Summerfield and Solterra Medical Research Councils all invited her! They said she was a rare medical prodigy.]
Another message read, [Many of us thought she was not only brilliant and beautiful but also down-to-
earth and full of character. Students with stubborn colds or fevers would seek her out for acupuncture.
She was like a young miracle worker!]
At the banquet hall.
The reporter then approached President Beck of Westerly College. “Earlier, Phillip claimed that his and his wife’s ailments were cured by Mirabella. What are your thoughts on that?”
Beck Barton was less than pleased. What was there to think?
“What, those minor aches and pains? As if they could trouble my star student, Dr. Bell?”
The reporter was taken aback. “You mean, Mirabella is the legendary Dr. Bell who’s rumored to revive the dead? But isn’t Dr. Bell supposed to be a man?”Brandy chuckled, “That secret is out. Just look around—how many here owe their health to Bella’s healing hands?”
Barton glanced around, acknowledging the truth. Many of the guests present owed their well-being to Mirabella’s remarkable skills.
Everyone in the room was so stunned they could hardly speak.
Mirabella was both Queena and the violin virtuoso Jamie Noelle?
Who on earth was this celestial being?
“Today’s Bella’s homecoming feast, and you old coots just have to vie for her attention, huh? She’s better off with me. My cooking skills—if I pass them on to her, she could whip up delicious meals for herself every day! Now that’s what I call a serious lifestyle upgrade!”
Uriah’s declaration earned an eye roll from Regan. “The stuff Bella makes is leagues tastier than your grub. Besides, you think Romeo would let her step into the kitchen? The girl’s got top-notch chefs at her beck and call.”
“Think a bunch of chefs can hold a candle to me?” Uriah huffed, his pride bruised. After all, he was a maestro in the kitchen!
If Mirabella were to inherit his culinary mantle, both her cooking prowess and her agility would skyrocket her standard of living!
“Enough, enough, no more squabbling. Bella’s the rightful heir to my legacy,” Thomas interjected to mediate.
“And what? Spend her days tinkering with your gadgets and racing cars? Or turn into a hacker?”
Regan’s comment ruffled Thomas’s feathers. “Racing cars is a stress-buster! It’s super cool for a girl to drive a race car. Just ask the live stream viewers. And what’s wrong with hacking? Fancy hacking any computer on a whim.”“Zip it, will you? Some viewers are still kids, don’t lead them astray! And cool? How is it cool to put a girl in danger by racing cars? Ask the viewers if they’d want such a sweet, smart, and sensible young lady risking her neck.”
“Alright, alright, I can’t win with you guys. Bella—” Thomas called Mirabella over, playing the victim, “They’re picking on me!”
“Oh come on, you old fox, playing the sympathy card in front of Bella?”
“Bella, did you hear that? He insulted me. Ever since you returned to the Collins family, they’ve been bullying me in your absence!”
Mirabella watched them nearly ready to flip the table and bicker, a playful smirk on her lips. “Are we still eating, then?”
All the old men promptly responded, “Yes.”
“This is your homecoming party, after all. We should at least have one peaceful meal.”
“Exactly, we’ll finish every dish!”“Oh, spare me. Who was it just now clamoring for Bella to inherit his legacy? You’re passing the buck so fast.” “Enough, all of you.”
“Come on, eat your food properly, or I won’t be inviting you all next time.”
With just one sentence from Mirabella, seven grumpy old men instantly picked up their cutlery and started eating like well-behaved children.
“That’s more like it. Isn’t it nicer when everyone gets along?”
Another quip from Mirabella, and the old guys began passing dishes to each other with exaggerated politeness and fake smiles.
The reporter on the sidelines couldn’t believe that the spat between these venerable gentlemen had been defused so easily by a young lady.
It really took Mirabella to step in; moments ago, she and the photographer were too scared to make a peep.
The live chat was going wild. Mirabella had managed to get seven feisty old men to toe the line.
[Bella’s incredible, I’m officially a fan now! Bella, you’re my idol!]
[These old dudes are hilarious, I could watch them bicker all day.]
[I’m so jealous of Mirabella, pampered and doted on by so many grandpas. Meanwhile, I just got yanked out of bed by my mom for oversleeping.]
Seeing that they were finally eating peacefully, Mirabella was about to head back to her own table when she caught sight of friends from two tables waving at her.
“Bella, over here, cheers to you!” Kelly called out, wine glass in hand, beckoning Mirabella over.Ophelia, the sleek-haired BFF Deborah, the tomboyish Fanny with her jagged bangs, the elegant Freda with her collarbone-length hair, and the guy friends Hayes, Magee, Burgess, they all waved at Mirabella with smiles on their faces.
“All here?” Mirabella responded with a bright smile, walking over and taking the glass of red wine from Kelly. “I’m touched everyone could make it to my homecoming party. Here’s to you all for making the time.”
“Whoa, my dear lady, this formal politeness is new. I might need a moment to adjust,” chuckled Hayes, his earring glinting. He remembered when Mirabella and Kelly visited his newly opened club, which went into complete disarray thanks to Zachary and Yolanda .
“It’s us who should be toasting to you,” Ophelia said with a smile, leading the others to stand and raise their glasses. “Congratulations on your big reveal. From now on, we’re all looking forward to you showing us the good life.”
“Deal, no problem.”
They all laughed and clinked glasses with Mirabella.
After Mirabella took a sip, Hayes quickly took her glass away. “That’s enough, just a sip. No need to down it all. You’ve hardly had anything to eat. Go on, eat up. Did those old timers start bickering again?
Came to you to mediate?”
Mirabella smiled lightly, “That’s just how they are. I’m used to it by now.”
“Bella!” Joyce called out excitedly from another table, “Come over here.””Bella,” Barry said, after serving Joyce her food and noticing Mirabella approach. He picked up his glass and stood up, “Let’s have a toast.” “When did you two get together?” Mirabella asked with a teasing smile.
It was kind of unexpected how things turned out. Mirabella found that her roommate Mya was dating Adair, a local rich kid with a reputation for fast cars and faster living. But here they were, Mirabella caught Mya and Adair exchanging secret handholds beneath the dinner table.
“We’ve been together for just about three days. Bella, you’ve been swamped, so we haven’t had the chance to fill you in,” Adair explained with a sheepish grin, standing up. “I’ll take a penalty of three shots for that!”
“No need, you’ve got to drive Mya home later.”
Mirabella clinked her glass—a stand-in for a shot glass—with theirs. From the corner of the room, a chorus of voices beckoned her.
Horace, Jeff, Jack, and Tom, among others, were all there.
“Boss, we’re not good with fancy words, but congrats! Damn, we’ve been waiting for this day forever,”
Jack blurted out, only to be chided by the others for his lack of decorum.
“Today of all days, can’t you be a bit more refined?”
“Yeah, yeah, congrats, Boss. Finally, the day has come.”
They kept their voices low when shouting “Boss,” wary of drawing too much attention.
Everyone raised their glasses to Mirabella, downing their drinks with gusto, and she encouraged them to help themselves to more food.
Over at the “staff table,” there was Jaime, the head honcho of QY, along with various presidents and vice presidents from different industries, all offering their blessings.Mirabella made her rounds, acknowledging each table, until her gaze landed on one where Grannie Grace’s dearest friend, Grandma Stacy, sat. The memory of Grandma Stacy crying her heart out on the floor at Grannie Grace’s funeral was still vivid. Now, as Mirabella’s lineage was publicly acknowledged, Grandma Stacy stood, tears of joy brimming in her eyes.
Mirabella had barely approached when she was enveloped in a tight embrace.
“I’ve lived to see this day for your grandmother,” Grandma Stacy said, her voice quivering with emotion.
“Tonight, I’ll tell her in my dream about your accomplishments, that your place in the world is recognized, and you’re doing wonderfully. She can rest easy now.”
“Thank you, Grandma Stacy,” Mirabella replied, touched, gently patting her back. “I appreciate all your care over the years, and I’m so glad you could be here today.”
Someone passed a tissue to Mirabella—it was Caden, alongside his grandfather, James.
She hadn’t expected him to show.
He looked different—handsomer, more commanding, though noticeably leaner, not in an unhealthy way, though.
Mirabella nodded to Caden and Grandpa James in greeting and took the tissue, intending to wipe away Grandma Stacy’s tears.”Thank you,” Mirabella said softly. “Grannie Grace was lucky to have a friend like you.”
to Draмa?ovеls.cом
“Sweetheart!” KiKi wrapped her in a bear hug, “You finally came around. I’m over the moon seeing you here. Let’s toast to this moment. You stick with water instead of booze, you haven’t had a proper meal, and don’t drown yourself in that lemonade.”
Mirabella’s smile beamed. She knew Ms. Kiki truly cared for her, so she clinked glasses filled with water in place of wine.
“Bella, when are you going to have a drink with me?” Erlinda called out from another table, her laughter rich with the allure of a woman who had made it big.
After excusing herself from Ms. Kiki, Mirabella made her way over to Erlinda.
Once Mirabella left, the journalists swarmed Ms. Kiki.
“Ms. Kiki, can we ask you a few questions? You seem very close to Mirabella, are you two friends outside of work?”