Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
But then, the fireworks that burst into the night sky, each word they spelled, deeply pierced her heart.
“Welcome home.”
“Merry Christmas Eve.”“Happy Christmas.”
“Bella, be happy.”
“Stay healthy and safe.”
Every single word was a sign of care and blessings for Mirabella!
Not a single word was meant for her!!
Everyone centered around Mirabella, trying their best to make her happy.
Nobody cared about the feelings of her, the adopted daughter!
As the fireworks painted the night sky, they formed marigolds, Mirabella’s favourite flower.
Everyone in the family knew Mirabella loved marigolds. The brothers had even planted a bunch of them at Reflections Villa.
In the night sky, the marigolds became a sea of flowers, with a long-haired girl standing in the midst of them.
In the finale of the fireworks display, there were scenes of five brothers and a sister. One brother holding an umbrella for his sister, one bending down to tie his sister’s shoelaces, one bending over to make his sister laugh, one presenting his sister a bouquet of flowers, and another holding a sword as if to protect his sister.
This scene deeply hurt Serena.
Did all her brothers only see one sister??
What about her, Serena??She wasn’t allowed to be part of their lives, and now, she didn’t even have a place in the fireworks display??
Tears once again rolled down Serena’s face, her smile growing more bitter and her heart heavier.
Her parents and brothers had always reassured her that they considered her part of the family and would treat her the same as before.
But now, everyone had kept her in the dark while they secretly prepared such an extravagant surprise for Mirabella, leaving her alone at home.
How could they?!
How could they be so unfair?!
Was the eighteen years of affection all just a sham??
Could it really not compare to the blood relation??
It must have been Uncle Sampson’s idea. There wasn’t a single servant in the garden, and they must have gone inside to dine, joining in the gaiety.
Serena pushed open the intricately carved gate, alone walking in the garden.
She remembered, when she was in elementary school, one winter break, she had come here.
Just like now, it was snowing then, spotless snow flakes drifting endlessly. The garden was so vast that she couldn’t see the end of it. She ran around in the garden for a long time, even throwing snowballs at her uncle.
Her uncle would play along, smiling gently, looking at her with indulgent eyes.
That moment was so beautiful, all the maids were smiling, saying that Sampson liked her the most, and she was the only one in the world who dared to throw snowballs at him.
Another year, in the autumn, she came with her parents to visit her uncle, picking numerous precious flowers and plants from the garden.
Back then she didn’t know the value of those plants. She just thought they were pretty. Louisa scolded her, but Sampson indulgently said, ‘It’s nothing. As long as Serena likes them, the whole garden, eventhe whole villa can be given to her: Everything in the past was so beautiful, and it was heart-wrenching to think about it.
At that moment, a few maids passed by in the garden.
“Tonight’s dinner was really lavish. Ms. Collins is so lucky to have so many family members dote on her.”
“Even the gift wrapping paper was studded with crystals, it must have been expensive, right?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Collins were so generous, a private island and the world’s largest castle-themed amusement park!”
“Ms. Collins’ brothers are generous also, making a special trip to give her a surprise and such costly gifts.”
“There were private yacht and private plane. David even gave away his favorite luxury cars, three in total.”
“The villa is also quite valuable. I heard it ranks among the world’s luxury home.”
Serena laughed even more bitterly, more painful.
Tears streamed down her face, and her heart felt as if it was pierced by a thousand arrows. The more she laughed, the more she wanted to cry; the more she laughed, the more she felt on the verge of collapse.
When her parents were giving Mirabella such expensive gifts, did they ever think of their daughter they had taised for eighteen years?
When Sampson was giving gifts to please Mirabella, did he ever think of his other niece?And her brothers, usually tied up to work, all managed to find time today just to give Mirabella a surprise?
As for Hans, a stiff and cold workaholic like him wouldn’t make exceptions for anyone. Even if he didn’t have work on Christmas Eve, his strict routines would never allow him to be here, let alone fooling around with the other brothers.
“Let alone the value of the gifts, just the fact that these brothers could spare the time and fly here to give Ms.
Collins a surprise, to sing and dance for her, to prepare fireworks for her, these movements are really touching!”
“Isn’t that the truth? Having such brothers is truly wonderful. My brother only ever cheats me out of my allowance, and whenever he does something wrong, he would throw me under the bus because he knows our parents dote on me and wouldn’t scold me.
“After all, this is Ms. Collins’ first time visiting Sampson’s place, and her first time celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas, it should be a grand event, shouldn’t it?”
Tears streamed down Serena’s face once again, her smile more bitter. She looked more heartbroken.
Neither on Christmas Eve nor on Christmas did she receive a gift from her uncle.
Considering all the shopping her uncle did with Mirabella, she was trying to manage not to feel aggrieved.
But did recognizing his biological niece mean that he could abandon her, his adopted niece whom he had cared for eighteen years, once and for all?
She heard from the maid that her brothers even sang and danced for Mirabella.
Not to mention the others, even Hans, it was totally out of character for him!
What kind of magic did Mirabella possess, to change Hans so completely that he’s willing to do such foolish things!
How did she do it??
That mom and dad would don Santa suits to amuse Mirabella didn’t surprise her at all.
Yet her uncle, usually so dignified, was willing to go along with it.
She was so jealous, so angry!!!
At the dinner table, Mirabella said, “I’m full. You quys enjoy.”
“Dont, don’t go.” David grabbed the hem of her dress, “The concert I invited you to is in four days. You’ll come, right?”“Let go, don’t ruin her dress!” Clark swatted David’s hand away, “What’s so great about your lousy concert? Bella could learn more by studying in the lab.”
“It’s called warming up, RAP dopamine, not lousy!” David corrected him, “And if this dress can be ruined so easily, it must be the material!”
“Bella, he’s saying the material of the dress you designed isn’t good.” Chasel deliberately added fuel to the fire.
“What? Bella designed this?” David’s eyes widened as he took a closer look, “I knew it. How could there be such a beautiful dress, from the moment I saw this dress. I knew, the person who designed it must be very talented, very assertive, very creative.”
“Well, isn’t this a lively scene.”
At that moment, a melancholy voice came from outside the door.
Everyone looked towards the voice, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief.
“Serena, how come you’re here?”
Before David could finish his sentence, Serena put on a smile and retorted, “Why, should I not be here?
Did my presence spoil the fun?”
“What David meant was, you didn’t give us a heads up. I could have sent a car for you.” Sampson immediately ordered someone, “Bring an extra chair and set of utensils. Serena, you haven’t had dinner right? Come join us.”
Serena’s gaze scanned everyone in the room, finally landing on Mirabella.
Mirabella’s eyes were as calm as ever, no surprise, no unease, just looking at her peacefully.For the first time in her life, Serena didn’t put on a show in front of everyone, didn’t sweetly call out “Bella”, because she didn’t feel the need to humble herself before Mirabella anymore.
The maid brought a chair. Serena sat down, pouring herself a glass of wine.
“Serena.” Sampson was about to stop her from drinking.
But Serena chuckled, “It’s okay. I’m eighteen now. This toast is for my mom and dad, my uncle Sampson, my brothers, and Mirabella, my sister, and to myself. Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas to us all.”
She drained her glass in one go, setting it down gracefully as if nothing had happened.
But those eyes of hers, they looked even brighter than usual, as if they had been washed by tears.