Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
The crowd was buzzing with disbelief and shock.
[Serena, of all people, still has suitors? Is her allure really that irresistible?]
[Who the heck is Martin? Never heard of this guy before.]
[Does anyone have the scoop? I’m drawing a blank here.]
[Good heavens, you don’t know about the Coopers? The Cooper family owns department stores all over the world, with over six thousand locations and a workforce of over two hundred thousand. Martin leveraged his family’s resources to start his own logistics company. Just last year, he successfully raised funds, acquired a fleet of fifty cargo planes, and secured exclusive air routes. His business reaches every corner of the country, setting the pace in the industry, and it’s seriously outperforming the competition. That delivery service you all love when you shop online? Yeah, that’s his baby!]
With the Coopers and Martin’s momentum, it seemed likely they could outpace the Collins family within five to seven years.
And then, the blogger dropped a photo of Martin.
[Goodness, is Martin that handsome? He’s got this wealthy heir vibe but also looks so composed.]
[Is he blind? Why would he go for someone like Serena?]
[How did Serena get so lucky to land a guy like him?]
[I went to middle school with Serena. Martin has been chasing her since the seventh grade, all the way through our freshman year of college, a whopping six and a half years. Everyone at our school knew he was head over heels for her.][So, did Martin orchestrate this whole thing? Did he see Mirabella’s grand comeback party and decide to get revenge on behalf of his girlfriend by tampering with the award-winning car. That’s just terrifying!]
Meanwhile, Florence was fuming as she scrolled through the online comment, especially the cringeworthy video of Serena hugging a tree during her confession of love.
She was about to call her son when, the next second, he called her.
“Mom, I need to talk to you.” Martin didn’t wait for her to speak, “I want to get engaged to Serena as soon as possible. I want to give her a home, and I hope you and Dad can bless this.”
“Mom, the past is the past. Serena said she’ll change. Let’s give her a chance.” Martin’s plea was cut off.
“Not a chance! The Cooper family will never welcome someone like her. I’ve told you, if you dare marry her, I’ll jump into the river on your wedding day—I didn’t raise you to be trampled on by others!” Reаd at
Martin endured his mother’s tirade with a stoic silence, waiting for her to finish before speaking calmly, “Mom, don’t get yourself worked up over this. I really love her, and I only want to spend my life with her.”
“And you couldn’t fall for someone decent? With your status, you could have any woman you want! If you fancied a beggar on the street, as long as she was kind-hearted and grateful, I wouldn’t stand in your way! But look at that Serena, is she behaving like a decent person? I knew she was trouble the moment I met her at the Dawnstar boutique!”
“Mom, please don’t insult her,” Martin couldn’t stand anyone bad-mouthing her, even if it was his own mother. It still grated on his ears.
“I’m at the office right now, there are some things I need to handle. Cool off, and I’ll find time to have a proper talk with you tonight.”
Florence, seething with rage, her voice tinged with anger retorted, “If you’re thinking of brainwashing us, save your breath. I’ll publicly denounce her in front of the media. I’ll never let her step foot into the Cooper family!”
After hanging up abruptly, she collapsed onto the couch.
“Mom, are you okay?” Diana was terrified, quickly fetching a bottle of pills from the drawer. She handed one to her mother along with a glass of water, “Take this pill. Don’t get so agitated. She’s not worth it.”
Florence was livid, her hands shaking too much to even hold the glass, finally taking the pill with her daughter’s help.
“Diana,” Florence steadied herself after a while, standing up unsteadily, “Come with me to the estate, I want to have a word with this woman myself!””Alright,” Diana rushed to support her, “But please, don’t lose your temper, otherwise, we’ll be heading to the hospital before we even reach the estate. Don’t worry, I won’t let her into our family. Just take a deep breath.”
Diana still remembered how Serena had commanded the salesclerk to snatch dresses from Mirabella’s hands at the Style Plaza. When it turned out Mirabella had connections, Serena was thrown out of the store.
The entire Style Plaza was afraid to serve her, so she stood in front of the shop hurling insults, calling the clerk worthless trash.
Years of good breeding made it difficult for Diana to even utter those words – it was just too vulgar.
And the worst part? After berating the clerk, Serena had the audacity to smirk, as if she had gotten something off her chest.
Going on about who she was, how much she had spent at another shop, and if anyone knew who Kenneth was.
It was a public embarrassment, completely unbecoming.
Later, when accompanying her parents to scout land, Diana stumbled upon Martin’s car parked there.
She didn’t tell her parents but made an excuse to check it out, only to find Martin taking Serena on a date to the lavender fields.In short, she was a drama queen.
So, Diana had not a shred of good impression of Serena! If someone like Serena were to marry into the Cooper family, it wasn’t just Martin’s future at stake; she could potentially ruin the future of the entire Cooper family.
Back when Serena was still the heiress of the Collins family, she loved to pick on Martin, recklessly swiping his cards.
Marrying into the Cooper family? No way!
Martin had always been a model student, a paragon of academic excellence with dashing looks and an honest intelligence. Why would he need someone like Serena?
In the last six months, Serena’s actions towards Mirabella were publicly exposed by Louisa during the family’s grand reunion. After eighteen years of nurturing Serena, the Collins treated her with nothing but kindness, yet she showed no gratitude, repeatedly attempting to bring Mirabella down.
How could such a person be welcomed into the Cooper family?
If the Collins couldn’t warm her heart in eighteen years, what chance would the Coopers have?
With those thoughts, Diana helped her mother into the car, and half an hour later, they arrived at the estate.
The sight of the estate’s name alone was enough to infuriate Florence, but she reminded herself to stay calm, stay calm!
Serena, assisted by the maid Dora, sipped her afternoon tea in the lounge, visibly pleased with herself.
Just then, June rushed in, “Serena, Mr. Martin’s mother and sister are here. They seem pretty riled up, and I think they’re here for you.”
Serena smirked, her lips curling in disdain. Just an hour ago, she had discussed engagement plans with Martin, and now the Coopers couldn’t wait to confront her?What speedy reaction.
Pretending to be worried, Serena said, “Martin just talked about getting engaged to me, and he wanted to inform his family. It seems they disagree and have come to persuade me to leave Martin. The current gossip about me is unfavorable, and if they dislike me because of it and want to push me away.”
Serena’s voice trembled with feigned concern, “I heard that Martin’s mother has a heart condition; it would be terrible if she had an episode. If they tell Martin I’ve been bullying them, I’d be doomed, even if I jumped into the river, I couldn’t cleanse myself. Dora, June, only you can help me now!”
She clutched the maids’ hands earnestly, pleading, “If anything happens, you must record it, to prove I haven’t bullied them. Also, call Martin to come home quickly. I’m in a wheelchair now. I simply can’t deal with them.”
The maids nodded, a mix of nervousness and sympathy in their eyes; June left to make the call.In the past, she had some of a rich girl’s elegance, draped in exorbitantly priced clothes and jewelry, standing tall and graceful. But now, she looked utterly ordinary. This woman, how could she ever be a part of the esteemed Cooper family?
No way!
“Martin’s not here, so you can drop the act.” Florence towered over her with an air of superiority, “I want you away from my son. Pack your things and get out of this house.”
Serena stared back at the woman before her, a sense of familiarity washing over her. It clicked, “You’re the lady from Dawnstar.”
Back then, she hadn’t known who the woman was, so she’d been curt and dismissive. And now, fate had a wicked sense of humor – the woman was Martin’s mother.
She had made a terrible first impression without even realizing it.
“Since you remember, you should know the Cooper family won’t accept someone who is disrespectful, self-centered, malevolent, and two-faced into our family. Take the clothes and jewelry Martin gave you, but from now on, you’re forbidden to come anywhere near my son!”
Florence declared her ultimatum and settled onto the couch with her daughter, waiting for Serena to leave.
Serena’s inner fury brought a sardonic smile to her lips, but she kept up a gentle fa?ade, “Dora, would you fetch us some tea and pastries?”
Dora nodded and was about to step away when Florence interjected, her voice airy and dismissive, “My staff doesn’t take orders from you. Dora, two cups of coffee, please. It’s time to cool off.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dora hurriedly bowed and retreated from the explosive situation.
Serena pressed a button on her wheelchair, facing the matriarch head-on.
“At the Dawnstar Style Plaza boutique, you snatched away every piece Mirabella had her eye on.”
Diana spoke up, her tone flat, “And I saw the whole time how you tormented my brother in the lavenderfields.”
“If you saw everything, then why lie? Your brother clearly enjoyed it. Didn’t you see him smiling all day?”
Diana was taken aback by Serena’s audacity; the latter was unafraid and didn’t take them seriously even when confronted by both of them.
“My relationship with Martin is our business; you two don’t have to concern it. And this manor is already in my name. If anyone should leave, it’s you,” Serena’s smile was a blend of sweetness and provocation.
Florence and Diana were shocked and enraged. The manor, worth over ten million, was in her name?
That fool!!
Florence was stunned by the girl’s shamelessness and superciliousness.
Diana fumed, “You’re not even part of the family yet, and you’re already so bold? Do you really think you can marry Martin? Entering the Cooper family isn’t just up to him!”
At that moment, Serena watched as Dora approached with two steaming cups of coffee, while June followed close behind with a platter of pastries.
She flashed a warm, polite smile, “Mrs. Cooper, Ms. Cooper, please have some coffee and snacks to start.”
Dora had just set the coffee in front of Florence when, in a fit of rage, Florence slapped the cup away.
The scalding liquid flew toward Serena, soaking her clothes. Dora was petrified with fear.
“Serena,” she rushed over, frantically dabbing away the stains with napkins.
“It’s fine, just go on, both of you.”
It was the dead of winter, and Serena was bundled up in thick clothing that easily shrugged off the coffee’s heat, leaving her with nothing more than a wet garment.
Yet, she feigned a look of helpless pain, as if scalded, sending the maids away in a grand gesture of protecting the innocent. Alone, she would face the wrath.
