Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“So, she didn’t threaten to cut off all contact with you if you didn’t break up with her.” Sylvia, clinging onto the last thread of hope, asked “Did she?”
“We were never in a relationship, so how could we break up?”
With this confirmation, the ladies felt their spirits deflate. They couldn’t believe that Serena was capable of such deceit.
They had known each other for so many years and considered each other as sisters.
But Serena had lied to them!
When Serena woke up, the first thing she saw was a video message from Sylvia, filmed in her own backyard.
In the video, Romeo and Mirabella were acting cozy, looking every bit the infatuated couple.
Serena’s mind reeled. Why was Sylvia at her house? Why was Mirabella home on a day she normally wasn’t? And why on earth was Romeo there?
After sending the video, Sylvia added a note: [Serena, you were napping and didn’t see how deeply Romeo cares for you. He deliberately brought this girl to your garden, showing off their closeness to provoke you, hoping to win you back. Maybe you should reconsider returning to him. Seeing him like this, I can’t help but feel bad for him.]
This was a disaster!
If Sylvia found out Mirabella was actually the heiress of the house, and Romeo was Mirabella’s fiancé, then Serena’s true identity as the adopted daughter would be revealed!
In her rush to get out of bed, tangled in the duvet, Serena fell and banged her knee hard on the floor.
Ignoring the pain, she raced to the garden.
Not just Sylvia, but Antonia, Melissa, Una, Christine, they were all there!
Standing face to face with them were Romeo, Mirabella, and Hans, looking as though they were in a standoff.Serena’s heart dropped. Did her best friends know her real identity? Why was Hans there too? Had Mirabella called him?
Serena’s mind went blank.
Just then, Edith came up to her and said, “Serena, Hans would like to see you.”
Only when she looked around, did she notice everyone’s eyes on her, their expressions complex.
Serena felt weak, unsure of how she would get through this.
The last time she lied to her friend Delia, saying that Mirabella had charmed Kenneth and Louisa with her looks and good grades, becoming their goddaughter and a part of the family.
But Chasel’s girlfriend Myrna had called her out on it. That day, Myrna not only called Chasel, but also tricked her into going to Westerly College, saying Chasel wanted to have lunch with her.
When she got there in the sweltering heat, there were Delia and her friends, and Myrna.
She faked fainting on the spot.
But Chasel and Myrna saw through her, even suggesting Mirabella should examine her.
Eventually, the truth came out, and Delia and her friends stopped talking to her.
Should she fake fainting again this time? But Hans, being as astute as he was, would undoubtedly see through her.
What should she do?
What should she do?Out of all her brothers, Hans was the hardest to deal with.
“Serena, Hans and Mr. McMillian are aware of everything. It’s best if you just confess and stop fighting it.”
Edith’s kindly advice only served to make Serena clench her fists. Even a servant dared to trample over her now?
“Serena, come here.”
From a distance, Hans called out to her, his expression cold.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Serena knew her tricks wouldn’t work anymore. So she mustered up the courage and walked over.
“Why did you lie?” Sylvia was the first to confront her as she approached. Her eyes were tear-streaked, and she questioned angrily, “I’ve always considered you my best friend, sharing all my secrets with you! In my heart, you’ve always been a pure and innocent girl. Why have you changed so much?”
Antonia expressed her disappointment as well, “We know everything now, Serena.”
“You’ve completely changed. You’re unrecognizable to us now.” Melissa also asked, evidently disappointed, “When did you start to change? How did we not notice?”
“It was not your fault that you were switched at birth,’ Una began, “Hans still treats you like a sister, and you are still the lady of this house. Your living standards and privileges have remained the same as before. There was no need for these lies.”
“Yes, we used to envy your status, envying the limited edition designer clothes in your closet, and how everything revolved around you like stars around the moon. But we were not just after the benefits youcould offer. We wouldn’t stop being friends just because you’re not a Collins by blood.” Christine added.
Although they were indeed hoping to benefit from Serena today. Some limited edition bags and shoes were hard to come by with their connections.
But for Serena, she had too many. More than she could ever wear or use.
Serena had often given them older models with tags still attached. Those were limited editions, and they were more than happy to accept.
To them, it was a sharing between best friends. They too had given Serena branded items.
Even though they weren’t as expensive as what Serena gave them.
Overall, even if Serena no longer had the ability to send them anything in the future, their years of friendship were real.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have stepped in for her earlier, wanting to put Mirabella in her place.
“I’m sorry.”
Suddenly, Serena bowed deeply to them. When she raised her face, tears were already at the corners of her eyes.
“lL actually guessed that you knew everything when I saw you standing here from afar. To be honest, I feel relieved now. I’m glad I don’t have to lie anymore”
As Serena said this, she smiled sadly, tears streaming down her face.
“You may not understand how insecure, uneasy, and frightened I felt when someone suddenly appeared who could potentially take away everything I had.”Before Serena could finish, Sylvia cried out, “But what you enjoyed was her life! You should give it back!”
The other girls nodded in agreement.
“Mirabella didn’t ask you to return it. She let you continue to enjoy this life. Shouldn’t you be grateful?
Instead, you secretly slandered her. Honestly, Serena, I’m very disappointed in you. We shouldn’t be friends anymore. Don’t contact me.”
Sylvia turned to leave, but suddenly something seemed to occur to her. She stopped, looking back at Serena.
Serena thought she had changed her mind.
But the next second, her gaze moved to Mirabella, and she walked over to her, bowing respectfully, “I’m sorry. I blamed you without knowing the whole truth. I even insulted you. I was wrong.”
The other girls also apologized to Mirabella one after another.
“Looks like you’ve been led astray too, huh? Never mind.”
Mirabella didn’t hold a grudge against them. Instead, she felt sorry for Serena.
To have so many friends who truly cared for her, yet to not appreciate them. Instead, Serena treated them as playthings, to be manipulated and discarded.
Serena’s disregard for their affection was as if she was stomping all over their hearts.
Seeing their genuine regret, Romeo nodded in approval, choosing not to hold it against them.
Serena’s face still bore the tracks of her tears, never expecting herself to end up so alone.
Back in Westerly College, her lies had been exposed and her friends, Delia and Maggie, had all turned away.
Before that, she had deceived her best friend, Brooklyn.
Including today, five more of her girlfriends had left her, cutting all ties.
She was left without a single good friend now!
“Apologize to Bella,’ Hans suddenly demanded coldly.
“Hans.” Serena’s tears started rolling down her cheeks. In the past, Hans would never have asked her to apologize to anyone.
“No need,’ Mirabella interrupted Serena’s apology, ‘I don’t think you’re genuinely remorseful.”
She turned to Romeo, “Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.”Serena watched in disbelief as Mirabella turned her back and left. Since when did this little minx dare to show her up in front of everyone?
Was she being arrogant because she was in the right and had Hans backing her up?
“Hans, listen to me.” Serena tried to make excuses through her tears.
“Serena.” Hans’s voice was laced with disappointment, “Until you understand what you’ve done, you won’t need to join us for dinner tonight.”
“Hans?” Serena’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. Hans had never acted like this before. Was he really going to punish her by making her go hungry over such a trivial thing?
What kind of era was this, to still have such punishments?
“Hans, listen to me.”
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.