Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“And the girl is gorgeous too! Aren’t they the couple who had the private event at the top of the skyscraper?”
“Yeah, that’s them! That guy really spares no expense for his girl!”
“They’re so cute together.”
Some of the passengers on the boat couldn’t help but tease, “Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!”
Through the glass, Mirabella could vaguely hear their chants. Marry him?
What was happening?
With a smile, Romeo looked at Mirabella, “Will you marry me?”
Just then, a bubbly girl called out, “If you don’t marry such a great guy, I do!”
Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh.
Amid the continuous jeers from across the way, Romeo sent a message and booked the entire dinner service on that boat.
The people on the boat paused for a half-second when the captain announced the news, then, realizing what had happened, they erupted in cheers, wishing the couple a lifetime of happiness and hoping for the pitter-patter of little feet soon. Some even jokingly suggested they have their honeymoon right there.
Romeo looked at Mirabella with a doting smile, “They seem more anxious than I am.”
The teasing grew louder.
Serena’s face grew gloomier by the second.
Why was she always outshone by them?
The ordinary dinner in front of her, the raucous little boat, and Martin, who always fell short compared to Romeo.
It all grated on her!
Why!
Why was Mirabella always happier than her!“Don’t mind them,’ Martin tried to soothe her, noticing her mood, “Next time I’ll plan something even better for you.”
Serena was at her wit’s end, not in the mood to talk.
At that moment, another boat with transparent walls glided towards them, a violinist aboard playing a captivating tune. His gentle gaze fell on Serena as if performing just for her.
Serena was taken aback. Could this be Martin’s surprise?
The violinist’s gaze made Serena increasingly certain that this must be Martin’s surprise!
“Who planned this surprise?” someone wondered.
“Could it be that couple at the bow? So romantic.”
“I heard renting a boat and hiring a violinist for one song costs around one grand.”
“That’s so expensive!”
Just as Serena thought she had made a comeback, nodding to the violinist on the boat, her smile froze when in the next second, the violinist’s attention moved to other passengers, nodding to each one. His boat brushed past theirs and slowly moved towards Romeo’s boat.
Serena’s smile completely stiffened in disbelief. Could it be that this was also a surprise from Romeo for Mirabella?
“Serena, do you like the violin?”
Martin’s words plunged Serena’s heart into an icy abyss. The surprise wasn’t for her after all.
The glass boat kept pace with Romeo’s, the violinist serenading Mirabella with a symphony of joy.Many of the passengers were lost in the beautiful music, not wanting the moment to end.
“How many surprises did you prepare?” Mirabella asked, surprised and yet teasing, “Isn’t it exhausting to go out with me?”
Planning ahead, figuring out how to delight her, making her happy.
“Exhausted? With you by my side, I’m too happy to be tired,” Romeo pulled her close, sharing the melodious music with her, “I just wish time would slow down.”
Then, he could stay with her a little longer.
“Did you enjoy dinner tonight?” Romeo whispered.
“Did you go out of your way to hire a chef just for me again?” Mirabella looked up and said, “You don’t have to go to all that trouble next time. When we go out, even grabbing something on the street is fine.
The most important thing is that we are together”
Romeo and Mirabella intertwined their fingers, his gaze filled with affection, “I just don’t want to leave you with any regrets.”
“We’ll never have any regrets between us.”
Romeo’s gaze faltered for a moment, and it looked as if stars had suddenly appeared in his eyes.
“You’ve planned it all so well, Mirabella said with a smile that could light up the night sky. “Every time I’m out with you, it’s a joy, but today has been truly special.”
Romeo was visibly touched, and he couldn’t resist leaning down to press his lips against hers.
The violin’s melody was drifting to a close, and the night sky erupted in a symphony of fireworks.
Tourists around them were gobsmacked, their faces lit up by the unexpected display. They whipped out their smartphones to capture the moment.
“What’s the occasion today?”
“Is it another one of those surprise things that quy sets up for his girl?”
“That girl is so lucky to have a boyfriend who dotes on her like that.”
“She must be the happiest person in the world, right?”
Mirabella looked up at the fireworks, knowing without a doubt that Romeo was behind this magic.
“I never realized before how beautiful the world around me could be,’ Mirabella remarked, her eyes following the lights above. “Since I’ve been with you, I’ve come to appreciate these slowed-down moments. The things I never noticed before—a flower, a tree, the earth and sea—they’re all so breathtaking.”“It’s all about the company, Romeo said, gazing at her with adoration. “Being with you, my mood lifts, and everything looks beautiful, everything tastes amazing, and everything we do feels joyful.”
“That does seem to make sense,’ Mirabella said, sharing a laugh with him before snuggling closer into his embrace.
Ten minutes later.
Mirabella had fallen asleep in his arms.
“Bella, knowing you have someone to take care of you eases my mind’ a familiar voice whispered.
Mirabella stirred from her slumber only to find, standing before her, Grannie Grace.
“Grannie,’ Mirabella felt the tears well up immediately. She reached for her grandmother’s hand, the touch so real that her tears spilled out as she choked up, “You’re back!”
She hugged the elderly woman tightly, sobbing, “I was so wrong last time. I couldn’t save you”
“There, there, my child, why the tears?” Grannie Grace tenderly wiped away the tears on Mirabella’s face, smiling warmly. “It was my time, my dear. It had nothing to do with you. I know you’ve been haunted by that surgery, living in guilt and pain. How can I rest in peace with you like this?”
Hearing “rest in peace,’ Mirabella looked at her grandmother incredulously, struggling to discern if she was alive or dead. Mirabella couldn’t make the judgment.
“What’s past is past. Life moves on, and I am at peace now. But you, my dear. I was always worried about who would look after you. Now that you have Romeo, I see he’s a good lad. You will be happy with him.”
Mirabella’s tears flowed anew.“I can go now, knowing you’ll be alright.”
“No, please don’t.”
Mirabella reached instinctively for Grannie Grace’s pulse but felt nothing. She froze, realizing this might all be a dream. Was Grannie here in her dream?
The Luminescent Brook around them turned into a foggy haze, the boat drifting through the mist, and the image of her grandmother began to fade.
“Stop blaming yourself? the fading voice said.
“Grannie.”
“Be happy.”
“No, don’t go.” Mirabella reached out, but there was nothing to grasp.
“Having a granddaughter like you makes me proud. In the next life, we’ll be family again. I promise you, next time I won’t leave so soon. I want to be there to see you married off”
And with those final words, Grannie Grace dissolved completely into the mist, leaving Mirabella alone with her memories and the promise of a lifetime.
The figure dissolved into a mist and slowly dispersed into the air.
Mirabella couldn’t grab hold of anything and burst into heartbreaking sobs right there.
“Bella, Bella’ Romeo said softly, unable to bear the sight of her tear-streaked face. “Can you hear me?”
Opening her tear-filled eyes, Mirabella realized she was still nestled in Romeo’s arms, the boat gently gliding along Luminescent Brook, with the Emerald Tower, the surrounding buildings, and other boats all still in place.
What was missing was Grannie Grace.
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.