Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
While keeping the company running like a well–oiled machine, she still finds time to indulge in her hobbies and participate in contests.
“Bella’s going to a design competition.” Kenneth was taken aback.
“I heard her mention it. I didn’t realize she could manage a company and do design too.” Louisa was proud and happy for her daughter, but she was also worried about her. She was so young, yet carrying such heavy responsibilities.
She needed to show Bella more support.
She should find time to ask Bella if she was happy with her current job. If not, she should let go and enjoy life. That’s what mattered most.
Design competition?
Hans Collins suddenly remembered Julian’s words about being invited to be a judge in a design competition.
But he was too busy and turned it down.
“By the way, have your brothers been in touch with you recently?” Louisa took a sip of her wine and continued, “Have they mentioned when they’re coming back? It’s been several days, and no one has called me!”
“No.” Hans Collins didn’t communicate much with his brothers. They occasionally sent messages, especially the youngest one, who was a chatterbox. But he rarely replied, being too busy with work most of the time.
He had been very busy abroad in the past two years, trying to expand the group and break into foreign markets. Some places were unfriendly to foreigners, causing him lots of difficulties. Some other places had powerful influences, making them hard to handle.
Thankfully, through his efforts, the group had grown more than twice its size since Kenneth handed it over to him. Besides work, he rested.
His family knew his routines, so they didn’t find it strange if he didn’t respond to their messages.
“I heard our R&D department has made a new breakthrough, and many foreign powers are interested. Be careful.”
Kenneth trusted his son’s abilities, but some powers were not just local but international competition, just not openly contested.
“I don’t know how many obstacles they will put in your way or how many unethical things they will do.” Kenneth was a bit worried. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”
Hearing his son’s assurance, Kenneth felt a bit relieved. “I know you’re capable. You’ve been the most worry–free since you were a kid, but don’t push yourself too hard. Remember to rest.”
“Since it’s not easy for our son to come back this time, let’s not talk about work anymore.” Louisa served Hans Collins some food and said, “Here, eat more. This is your favorite.”
Villa Cascada.
Mirabella stored the extracted Jade Leaf in liquid form at a low temperature of minus eighteen degrees Celsius.
The surrounding scientists and experts were in disbelief, expressing their admiration.
“We’ve finally succeeded!”
“Ms. Bennett, you’re amazing! In such a short time, you managed to extract the Jade Leaf with such high purity. I’m really impressed.”
“We’ve been trying for days without success. But with Ms. Bennett here, this tough problem is solved! Ha–ha, now we can finally take a good rest.” “But there are other herbs. Only by combining them can we maximize the level of acetylcholine in the brain.”
That was even more challenging than extracting Jade Leaf.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Mirabella checked the time. It was already eight in the evening. She used computer simulations to design and synthesize according to the internal structure of a dozen herbs, then started the actual experiment to see what kind of effect it would produce.
After dinner, Hans Collins sat on the sofa, occasionally glancing towards the door.
Serena came over with a plate and a sweet smile on her face.
“Bro, I made you apple crabs. Cute, huh?”
She was all smiles and innocence. “I also made pear birds and strawberry Santas. Do they look like what they’re supposed to be?”
She pointed to the fruits on the plate with her injured finger.
Hans Collins noticed at once. “You hurt yourself?”
He took the plate from her and immediately ordered a servant, “Get the first aid kit.”
The servant rushed off.
Serena feigned surprise at her finger. “I must’ve nicked it when I was cutting the fruits. It’s nothing; it’s not hurting at all. I didn’t even notice until you pointed it out.”
“You nicked your finger, and it doesn’t hurt? You’re lying.” Hans Collins knew her too well.
She’d always been a considerate girl. Once, when she scraped her knee in the garden, she held back her tears to keep everyone else from worrying about her.
Serena hid her finger behind her back, still smiling innocently. “You’re hardly home, and I wanted to make a special fruit plate for you. But I saw other people doing it so easily that I got all flustered and messed it up. It took me forever to make these few shapes. You’re not going to knock me for it, right?”
“How could I?” Hans Collins‘ voice was unusually gentle.
“Even though my shapes look all wonky, I’ll get better if I practice more!” Serena laughed sweetly. “But you’ve got to come home more often; give me more chances to practice. You can’t just come home twice a year, like this year. I’ve been waiting until my neck’s sore!”
Hans Collins‘ voice was indulgent. “You don’t have to do these little things.”
“But I want to make yummy food for you! As long as you come home more often, I’ll do anything.” Serena cooed, “You’re not going to stop eating it just because my fruits look ugly, right?”
Hans Collins skewered a strawberry Santa with a fruit pick and handed it to her first.
Serena took it happily, grinning from ear to ear. “Thanks, bro. Try one too. It might look ugly, but it’s really sweet.”
Just then, Martha came over with the first aid kit and squatted down next to Serena. “You have no idea how much she’s been looking forward to your return!”
Hans Collins looked at his sister, and his face softened.
Martha chuckled as she disinfected the wound. “By the way, she won first place in her piano competition again!”
She didn’t mention a word about Mirabella being Maestro Melody.
“What would you like as a reward?” Hans Collins asked softly.
Serena beamed at him. The best reward for me would be you coming home more often.”
Hans Collins‘ eyes softened. “I’ll come home when work’s not too crazy.”
“So that means you’re agreeing? Awesome! I knew you loved me most!” Serena was as happy as a kid who had just gotten candy.
Hans Collins chatted with her for a while before he finally got up to go upstairs when it was time.
Serena and Martha exchanged a knowing look. They were both pleased. It seemed Hans Collins still cared about his sister.
He did not just care; she was pretty important to him.
After all, she had been living with this family for eighteen years. Before Mirabella showed up, everyone in the family treated her like a little princess!
This deep bond of affection was something Mirabella couldn’t change in a mere few days!
Once Serena and Martha left, the maids started whispering among themselves.
“Why else would the boss hand over the conglomerate to him? Out of five sons, he’s the only one with the most self–discipline, the coolest head, and the most meticulous mind.”
“Don’t you guys find this rigid lifestyle suffocating?”
“What are you talking about? That’s discipline! A man with such perseverance, he’s just so irresistible!”
“I think he’s essentially a very clear–headed person!”
“I agree!”
Once Hans Collins finished his bath, he busied himself in his study until bedtime, then he headed to his bedroom.
On the corner table in the bedroom, there lay a tiny, delicate gift box.
Hans Collins glanced at it, knowing that his sister hadn’t come back yet. He turned off the lights and went to sleep.
Mirabella didn’t get home until eleven at night. After bathing and attending to some private matters on her phone, she hurried off to the lab early the next morning.
Last night’s drug synthesis didn’t go as planned; many problems arose during the research process; several experts studied till dawn; and Mirabella, so as not to worry her parents, came home late last night and left for the lab before dawn.
When Hans Collins got up, he was a bit surprised to hear that his sister had left early.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.