Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Clark, I’ve caught a few people who might be related to Carol’s disappearance.” Mirabella, always a woman of few words, spoke while driving, “They’re with me now, but I’d rather keep my location a secret, so don’t spread the word. I’m coming to pick you up at theReflections Villa. Can you meet me there?”
“Sure, how long will you be?” Hearing that this was related to Carol’s disappearance, Clark felt his heart tighten.
Was his sister out catching culprits today?
What sort of people could be related to Carol’s disappearance?
Didn’t Carol leave because she fell in love with someone else? How did it turn into a “disappearance;’
in Mirabella’s words?
Too many questions popped up, giving him a bad premonition.
“I’ll be there in about three minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you by the main gate.” Clark closed the car door and turned to Serena, “Serena, something came up. I’ll accompany you to the mall some other time.”
“Clark…” Serena rushed after him as he hurried away, “Clark, what happened?”
“I have to go out with Bella. Stay here like a good girl, or calla friend to accompany you. Buy whatever you like, and I’ll pay you back later. Be good.” Clark patted her on the head and quickly left.
“Clark.” Serena was extremely upset. Why could Mirabella summon Clark away with a single call?
Mirabella must have done it on purpose!
She chose to call precisely when Clark was about to accompany her shopping!Clark was too much. He had promised to accompany her shopping, but he stood her up to go out with Mirabella.
In the distance, Serena saw Mirabella’s car parked outside the villa.
Clark quickly got in, and the car soon disappeared.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Upon returning to the living room of the main building, she saw Edith arranging a bouquet of flowers.
The several servants around were complimenting her on her arrangement.
Looking at the flowers in front of her, Edith smiled, “I hope these flowers can bring Ms. Bella some joy.
I’ll put them in her room: Martha rolled her eyes and turned to see Serena storming back.
She couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Hadn’t Serena gone shopping with Clark?
Why did she return alone?
Edith’s smile and the flowers in her hand fully pricked Serena’s heart. She blocked Edith’s way, “Was it you? Did you tell Bella that Clark was going shopping with me?”
“Ms. Serena?” Edith held a vase, perplexed. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“You must have tipped her off! That’s why she suddenly called and whisked Clark away; Serena fumed.
“Everyone in this house knows you’re her lapdog!”
“Serena, looking after Ms. Bella was a task assigned to me by the lady of the house. I’m just doing my job. How have I become a ‘lapdog’ in your eyes, unworthy even of being a human? I wasn’t aware of Clark’s sudden change of plans, and I believe it has nothing to do with Ms. Bella. It’s just a coincidence.”
“You’re still arguing!”
That damn servant! Not only was she defending herself, but she was also defending Mirabella!
What had Mirabella done to bewitch her?
“Clark was about to get into the car, and then that conveniently timed call came through, and he left?
There were plenty of other times throughout the day to call. Why that exact moment?”
Edith felt wronged. “You should be asking Clark, and he’s the one involved. I don’t know anything.
You’re blaming the wrong person.”
“What, now you’re using Clark to pressure me?” Serena looked at Edith and the few trembling servants behind her. She couldn’t help but sneer. “That’s right, you all think you’re something special now, climbing up Bella’s big tree, not giving a damn about anyone else.”
“Serena, I’ve never thought that way. Whether in the eyes of the master and mistress or us servants, you’re always the lady of this house.””Who among you has ever treated me like a real lady?” Serena was so furious she knocked the vase out of Edith’s hands.
The vase fell to the floor, shattering with a crisp sound. The junior maids were frightened and hid behind Edith, not daring to look up.
Edith was startled and thought Serena was being unreasonable today and too much.
What was she doing knocking over her flowers?
They were intended for Ms. Bella.
The last time she had a cold for several days, feeling miserable all over, Ms. Bella gave her a few pills, and she was better in no time.
That’s why she splurged today, buying a bouquet for Ms. Bella to express her gratitude, but it ended up being knocked to the floor by Serena.
“Serena, calm down.’ At this moment, Martha stepped forward and pulled Serena aside. “Some people are short-sighted, thinking they can enjoy the shade by clinging to a big tree. Don’t let it get to you.
Who knows who will have the last laugh?”
After speaking, she glared at Edith. “We’ll see!”
“So that’s why Serena’s personality has changed so drastically. It’s all because of your instigation.’
Edith glared at Martha. “Most people guide their children on the right path. Only you are leading Serena astray. You’re only going to ruin her.”
“It was you who bullied Serena first, and I haven’t even mentioned that! You must have tipped off Ms.
Bella to call Clark and lure him away. You’re so cunning, so good at playing your games. You can’teven guide Ms. Bella on the right path, yet you have the audacity to criticize my parenting? Where do you get off?”
“Are you out of your mind? Clark probably stood Serena up because he had something more important to handle.”
“Oh, so you’re saying that going out with Ms. Bella is more important than going out with Serena? In the end, Ms. Bella is the most important in this house, is that it?”
Tonight, Kenneth and Louisa had gone to a dinner party and weren’t home, so Martha’s aggression was unchecked.
The servants had never seen such a situation and were scared out of their wits.
“You’re completely unreasonable!”
It was like a scholar meeting a soldier, unable to reason with her.
“Indeed, Bella has the Collins’ family blood coursing through her veins, but don’t get too excited yet.
For the past eighteen years, the true apple of the Lady’s eye has been Serena, and the one cherished by her five brothers is also Serena! The depth of their affection for her over these years is beyond words. You all know that deep down!”
Martha, supporting Serena, spoke with words that were like a knife to their hearts.
“With such profound affection, Serena has more than enough power to kick you all out of here! If you dare to plot against her behind her back, none of you will be able to stay in this family.”
“Whether we can stay or not isn’t up to you alone; said Edith, looking at Serena with disappointment.
“Serena, over the years, I’ve watched you grow up. I know you’re not inherently bad. At eighteen, you need to understand right from wrong. Don’t let your future be swayed by those with malicious intentions.”
With that, Edith bent down to pick up the flowers from the ground.
She had spent thirty dollars on these flowers, and now they were desecrated and trampled on. She couldn’t possibly give them to Bella now.
It was really a pity. These beautiful flowers could have brightened Bella’s day, but instead, they were ruined by these two.
“Clean up the mess,’ Edith instructed the maids as she exited, holding the damaged flowers.
To her surprise, this action provoked Martha.”Oh, look at you, ordering people around. You’re just a servant, but you’re acting as if you run the place. You think you’re something special just because you’re clinging to Bella? Stop putting on airs in front of us!”
Edith did not want to waste her words on Martha, as it would be like arguing with the stubborn, there was no reasoning with her.
She placed her hope on Serena, “Ms. Serena, it’s Ms. Bella approved that you were allowed to stay in this family. If she had any resentment towards you, she could have made use of her parents’ guilt and had you leave right from the start, but she didn’t.”
Edith spoke from her conscience, “When your parents and your brothers were being kind to you, Bella didn’t interfere, she didn’t sabotage you, she didn’t speak ill of you in front of them.”
Edith continued, “Bella has been busy all day. Maybe she encountered some tricky issues and needed Clark’s help. They’re both doctors, right? If it’s a matter of life and death, it’s only reasonable that Clark would drop his shopping to help. Bella is straightforward. She says what’s on her mind, she doesn’t beat around the bush.”
Seeing Serena silent, Edith felt she had taken some of it in, so she added, “Think about it.”
After Edith left, the maids began cleaning up the mess in silence.
“What’s with the slow pace? Are you here to slack off?” Martha couldn’t help but reprimand, “In the Lady’s heart, Serena is the most important one. You short-sighted fools, you’ll get what’s coming for you.”
One of the maids couldn’t help but say, “Martha, we were all watching Edith arrange the flowers just now. She didn’t use her cell phone to contact Bella, and you misunderstood her.””You’re still defending her? It seems like you really want to leave.”
The maids were scared out of their wits and quickly cleaned up and left.
“Those blind fools! I need to teach them a lesson someday, or they’ll forget who’s in charge in this house!”
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.