Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
The two men exchanged a glance, both with a shadow crossing their eyes.
Eunice went out to greet Romeo and, spotting Martin, she expressed surprise, “Are you here for Serena?”
“I texted Serena, called her, but got no reply. I heard she had a little drink at the dinner table, so I got some sobering tea prepared in case she couldn’t handle it.”
Noting the bottle in his hand, Eunice softened, “She did have a little wine.
Come on in.”
It warmed her heart to see someone so genuinely concerned for Serena.
“Thanks, Mrs. Griffith.”Martin hurried in, worried about Serena, but remained courteous.
“Romeo, come on in,’ Eunice said, her authoritative tone mixed with an elder’s warmth and gentleness.
“Mrs. Griffith,” Romeo greeted her, his arms laden with various gift bags.
Martin glanced at the bags Romeo was carrying and felt a pang of neglect; he’d been so focused on Serena that he’d forgotten to bring presents to the elders.
“From now on, no gifts when you come here,’ Eunice said.
Martin looked at her gratefully, his eyes conveying his thanks. Next time, he had to prepare more gifts to show his respect.
“Just wait here for a moment. Darren wants to have a tea party in the garden.
I’ll wheel him over and call Bella and Serena too”
“Thanks, Mrs. Griffith,” Romeo and Martin said in unison.
Eunice hadn’t been gone long when a servant chased after Serena, calling out, “Serena, Serena.”
“Romeo, you came for me.” Serena, completely out of her senses, lunged forward, wrapping her arms around a large tree, “I knew you liked me.
Romeo, I like you too, so much.”
Romeo, sitting beside her, was speechless.
So was Martin.”Serena, you’re hugging a tree, not Mr. McMillian” the servant pleaded, “Please let go, you’re barely dressed. Let me take you back to your room before you catch a cold”
“Get off me, you tramp! Romeo is mine, don’t even think about seducing him.”
Serena slapped the servant hard, leaving her on the brink of tears.
“Romeo, I knew it, you do like me. I always thought, what’s so special about my sister? She’s so boring, so dull, so cold, she never cares about you, but I do.
Serena nestled into the tree’s embrace. “I knew you’d choose me in the end.
What’s that? You like me too? You can’t stand my sister’s dullness?”
Martin couldn’t sit still any longer. He strode over, grabbed Serena’s hand, and said, “You’re drunk. I’ve brought you some sobering tea.”
“Let go! Stop dragging me. What are you trying to do in front of Romeo?”
Martin’s complexion soured, and even the nearby servant couldn’t help but whisper, “Serena, this is Martin, your boyfriend”
“What boyfriend? I only have one boyfriend, and that’s Romeo! Who does this Martin think he is, fit to be my boyfriend?”
Martin’s heart felt as if it had been struck hard.
The servant quickly covered Serena’s mouth, murmuring, “Serena, you are drunk. Let’s get you back to your room to rest.”
“What are you doing? Let go of me! I want to be with Romeo. Don’t drag me.”
Serena struggled vehemently.
“Serena.” Martin’s voice was hoarse, “Please drink this tea to sober up.”
Serena glanced at the bottle of tea in his hand and instantly swatted it away, “Who needs your stuff.
Get lost, don’t interrupt my date with Romeo.”
Martin felt his heart shatter into pieces.
“Romeo.” Serena pretended to wrap her arms around “Romeo’s’ neck, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his “lips; so passionate and so focused.
Martin’s heart churned with mixed emotions, especially since the real Romeo was standing right there, witnessing it all.He picked up the bottle of tea from the ground, thankful it hadn’t broken, and handed it back to the servant, saying coldly, “Make sure she drinks it. Tell Mrs. Griffith I had to leave. I’ll come by another time to apologize-“
“Mr. Cooper.”
The servant wanted to follow him, but Serena snapped, “What are you shouting for? Can’t you see I’m busy with Romeo? Move aside or I’ll slap you!”
The servant timidly covered half of her face, still burning from Serena’s earlier slap.
She dared not approach again, but whispered, “Serena, the real Mr. McMillian is to your front left.
Serena paused, looked at the tree in front of her and then to the man on the left who looked just like Romeo. He was really Romeo.
“Romeo.”
Overjoyed, Serena rushed towards him, “You like someone who stands out, how about I show you a table-splitting act?”
She extended her hand and fiercely aimed at the small round table in front of her.
The table remained intact, but her hand was nearly broken.
In an effort to impress Romeo, she kept chopping at the table.
The servant was terrified and quickly went to call Eunice.
When Eunice arrived, she saw Serena treating a slender tree as if it were a “stripper pole” performing a pole dance for Romeo.Unable to persuade Serena, Eunice could only turn apologetically ta Romeo, “Romeo, sorry about this.
Maybe you should head home.”
Romeo knew that the tea party was ruined, so he got up and said, “Mrs.
Griffith, I’ll visit another day.”
“Alright” Once he’d left, Eunice didn’t hesitate to grab a cup of water from the table and splash it onto Serena’s face.
The cold shock brought Serena to a momentary pause before she accused, “You witch, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?”
Eunice said flatly, “Take her back to her room; I’ll go find Bella.”
As Serena was dragged to her room, she kept shouting, “I’ve been wronged, I’ve been framed by villains. Let me go, let me go.
Eunice sighed heavily.
Later, when Mirabella heard about Serena’s antics, it left her somewhat shocked.
“Ms. Bella, thank heavens you’re here at last,” the housemaid gasped, flinging the door wide open as Bella arrived.
At that moment, Serena was no longer in bed. She had been tossing everything from table lamps to vases at the servants, and in a blink, she had dashed to the edge of the balcony, threatening loudly, “If you don’t let me see Romeo, I’ll jump right off this ledge!”
Everyone was speechless.
Darren, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, was petrified.
“Serena, what on Earth are you doing? Get down from there, it’s dangerous!”
Serena paused, her eyes locking onto his, recognition flickering.
“Let’s talk this out downstairs, come on. You’re giving me a heart attack here.”
It was Darren’s first time witnessing his granddaughter’s drunken tantrums, and it was a terrifying sight.
Without warning, Serena vaulted over the railing and ran towards Darren, wrapping her arms around him with joy, “Romeo, you’ve finally come! They wouldn’t let us be together. They locked me up! Did you come to rescue me?
I knew you would”
“Serena, what are you thinking, I’m your grandfather!” Darren exclaimed, pulling back as Serena moved in to kiss him, “What are you all waiting for?
Help me out here!”Serena’s drunken frenzy was downright horrifying.
Belinda had just arrived at the scene and was shocked to see Serena squinting her eyes, ready to smother Darren with kisses.
She was frightened and quickly grabbed Serena’s hand, saying, “Serena, what are you doing? He’s your grandfather”
“Mirabella? You again, you wretch! Romeo doesn’t even like you, why are you here?” Serena shoved Belinda away fiercely.
Belinda staggered backward several steps and would have fallen if Bella hadn’t caught her in time.
“What in the world has gotten into this child? A glass of wine and she’s this wasted?” Belinda asked, still in shock.