Chapter 170 – Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family

Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family

Martha watched them leave, feeling like a deflated balloon

“Martha, are you okay?” Serena quickly reached out to steady her.

“There was no surveillance there, right? Could it be, like Mirabella said, that she has some all–seeing tech? Is Overwatch that wicked and able to capture everything. so clearly?”

Martha felt screwed. She’d been careless, thinking there were no cameras there. She had no clue about something like Overwatch!

“We’ve got to get her to delete that video! We can’t let it go viral!” Serena feared she would be dragged into it.

“But Mirabella isn’t exactly a pushover! She said she has a backup!”

Wasn’t she just using this to blackmail them? That’s so low!,

“Martha, you don’t know; that thing can’t capture what’s inside buildings. We could take action there.”

Martha didn’t expect Serena to suddenly become so cunning, even coming up with this plan. “Alright, as long as we can delete it, we can breathe easy.”

“Ms. Bella, you’re so freaking smart!” As Edith followed Mirabella downstairs, she couldn’t help but ask, “If you have the evidence, why not confront Serena? She must be related to this!”

Martha must be acting on Serena’s orders!

“This evidence only proves Martha’s involvement. If she insists it was her idea and it has nothing to do with Serena, plus Serena’s good at playing the victim, maybe even cry a river in front of our parents.”

Then, at most, it would just be a servant getting fired!

There’s a good chance Serena wouldn’t be kicked out; at most, she’d get a slap on the wrist.

“With this thing in my hand, it’s like a leash. I can use it to warn them; if they’re feeling brave or restless, they’ll definitely try to pressure me to delete it.”

Then they’ll slip up, and she can catch Serena in a big mistake!

Only then can she convince their parents to give up on her for good.

“Ms. Bella, you’re so freaking smart!” Edith caught on and admired Mirabella to the point of prostration: “You think things through so thoroughly.”

“Enough.” Mirabella signaled for her to stop talking as they entered the dining room:

Edith quickly shut up.

During dinner, Serena didn’t dare look at Mirabella, kept her head down, and almost spilled the soup a few times.

Martha kept her head down, not daring to look at Mirabella, silently tending to Serena.

“How are your grandparents holding up lately?” Hans asked after serving Mirabella some food, shifting his focus to his parents.

He’s been either busy with the company or rushing home to keep his sister company. It’s been a week since he got back, but he hadn’t checked on his grandparents yet.

“Your Grandma woke up once on the day of the award ceremony but then fell into a coma again,” Louisa said with a heavy heart. “God knows when she’ll pull through.”

“What caused it?” Mirabella asked coolly.

She heard their health wasn’t great, just like her other grandparents, who were getting on in years, but she never asked for specifics.

“Your grandparents both love to stay active. A month ago, they went mountain climbing. Grandma took a tumble, and Grandpa fell down a dozen steps trying to catch her. They both blacked out and were in a deep coma by the time they were rushed to the hospital.”

Louisa could still picture the scene as if it had just happened.

“The CT scan showed that Grandma had a fractured skull and brain bruise, along with multiple broken bones. Grandpa’s condition was even worse. He broke several bones while protecting her. Fluid accumulated in his feft chest cavity, and there was intracranial hemorrhage. Both their lives were at risk.”

Louisa still felt a chill, remembering, “Grandpa went into shock during the examination, and Grandma suffered acute respiratory failure. It scared the living daylights out of us.”

They were both in critical condition with internal bleeding that couldn’t be operated on, so they were transferred to the ICU.

“They’ve been in the ICU until now. Grandma has woken up twice, but Greandpa hasn’t woken up at all.”

Louisa’s mood darkened as she spoke: “They have a whole host of complications. The doctors say the intracranial hemorrhage has caused extensive damage to their central nervous system. They both have trouble coughing and expectorating, so the doctors performed a tracheotomy to help them breathe.”

Their condition sounded dire–a step away from the grave.

Kenneth also spoke gravely: “The entire ICU team has been tackling all sorts of issues, from respiratory failure, shock, respiratory tract infection, anemia, and electrolyte imbalance. Each day brings a new set of challenges. We don’t know when they’ll recover, but we’re holding out hope.”

“Are they at Hope Hospital?” Mirabella asked.

“No.”

Although Hope Hospital was the best public hospital in Summerfield, known especially for treating heart diseases, private hospitals provided more attentive care. “How are your other grandparents doing?” Hans asked solemnly.

“Their condition hasn’t improved either. Your uncle has contacted top experts abroad. They’ve already left the country for treatment.

Hearing that his other grandparents‘ condition wasn’t any better than his grandparents, Hans sank deeper into gloom.

“Let’s not talk about this during dinner.” Worried about the somber mood, Kenneth served Mirabella a piece of pork loin. “Eat up, Bella. You’ve been back for almost a month, right?”

“Yes.” Mirabella obediently took the food her father served her.

“Are your college entrance exam results out soon?“.

“We can check the day after tomorrow.”

“Great! Do you have any universities you want to apply to?” Kenneth asked with a smile, “Just so you know, I’ll support you no matter where you want to go! Of course, I won’t force you if you don’t want to go to college. Your happiness is what matters most.”

“Thanks, dad.”

Serena on the side was green with envy!

Hans turned to the girl next to him, his voice gentle: “You nervous?”

Mirabella: “What?”

It’s just college entrance exam results; what’s there to be nervous about?

If Hans knew what she was capable of, he wouldn’t have asked such a question.

But to keep him from worrying, she obediently answered, “I’m good.”

Hans didn’t see any nervousness or anxiety in her eyes. Was she confident in her results?

“I’m leaving for abroad in two days. After work tomorrow, I’ll take you to see Grandma and Grandpa, okay?”

This was the last deadline he could push! His work at Dawnstar was always pressing. Tomorrow was his last day with his sister, and thinking about it, he felt a bit reluctant.

Though Kenneth and Louisa also wished the elders could see their granddaughter, they have been in a coma, which was why they didn’t arrange for them to meet Mirabella.

A cunning glint passed through Serena’s eyes. If Grandma and Grandpa didn’t wake up, then there was no point in Mirabella going. Without their approval, she’d have made a wasted trip!

But if Grandma and Grandpa suddenly woke up and saw Mirabella which caused them too much excitement, their bodies might not be able to handle it. If anything happened, then Mirabella would be the scapegoat!

The Collins family would never accept someone who caused their grandparents‘ deaths!

She just couldn’t miss this drama!

So she gently said, “Dad, mom, brother, I also want to visit Grandma and Grandpa.”

“Should we all go together?” Kenneth thought. If the entire family went, perhaps the elders would suddenly wake up upon hearing their voices.

“Bella, I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.” Hans lightly patted Mirabella’s head. “Let’s eat first, or the food will get cold.”

“Okay.” Mirabella thought, Someone’s about to get jealous again; she’s always being ignored these days.

Thankfully, they owned a hospital, so Grandma and Grandpa could receive proper treatment. If they were an average family, it would cost them two thousand dollars a day, and by the end of the month, they would be bankrupt.

Caden once said he had seen through human nature. He had witnessed countless life–and–death moments in the ER. Some family members wanted to pull the plug on their loved ones as soon as they were admitted to the ICU, giving up on treatment.

Some did it because they had no money, others because they were impatient.

In general, human nature was laid bare here, causing one to sigh.

“Bella, what are you thinking about?” Hans added another bowl of soup for her. He noticed she was calm earlier, but now she was deep in thought. Was she worrying about her college entrance exam results?

She was still a child, unable to completely hide her feelings.

Thinking of this, Hans gently said, “Don’t worry, whether it’s your college entrance exam results or anything else, I’m here for you.”

As for Summerfield University, who would dare refuse a member of the Collins family?

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