Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“You mean, someone drugged my drink?” Serena’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“At your restaurant, who would dare? Did you find out who it was? Was it the whiskey? Or the food?
Did any of you get affected too?”
“You really don’t know anything?” Eunice’s tone suggested she wasn’t easily fooled.
But Serena insisted, “Eunice, why would I drug myself? What’s in it for me?”
“What if you meant to harm someone else but ended up harming yourself by mistake?”Eunice’s suggestion left Serena stunned and in disbelief.
Eunice always had an air of cool authority, and right now, her gaze was piercing.
Facing Eunice’s imposing demeanor, Serena felt the weight of her gaze.
Eunice was Serena’s elder, her presence and intensity outmatching Serena’s.
Just then, Serena faintly heard her grandfather’s footsteps descending the stairs, and tears welled up as she asked with a hoarse, aggrieved voice, “What are you implying, Eunice? Everyone at the dinner table last night is family. Not to mention the years we’ve spent together, even my sister, who’s only been back in the family for half a year, has given me precious gifts and shown me nothing but kindness. How could I harm anyone? Why would I harm you all?”
Darren was stretching leisurely when he came down the stairs, only to hear the choked sobs of Serena.
Instinctively, he quickened his pace. Reaching the bottom, he saw her eyes, red and swollen with tears.
“What on earth happened here?”
He glanced from Serena who seemed pitiful, to the imposing Eunice, who sat at the head of the table, completely baffled by the scene.
Had the two argued?
“Serena, you’re awake. And what’s with the cast on your arm? Eunice, what’s going on here?”
Serena’s tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed, “Grandpa, do you really think I would harm you? Last night, I just started feeling sick all of a sudden. I mentioned it in the car, didn’t 1? I felt like I was going to be sick, and after we got out. I don’t know, I started hallucinating.”
She continued through her tears, “I can’t remember what happened next. If it weren’t for the servants telling me, I wouldn’t believe I did all those bizarre things last night. I’m covered in bruises, and I have no idea how I got them.
How could this possibly be related to being drugged?”
“Being drugged? What are you talking about? Eunice, you suspect that Serena drugged herself?”
Darren asked, confused, “Does that even make sense? There’s no benefit to her in doing that.”
“What if she meant to drug someone else and accidentally took it herself?”
Eunice asked coldly.”So in your eyes, I’m that kind of venomous person? We were having such a lovely family dinner last night; who would I possibly want to harm? Why would I want to harm any of you? After eighteen years, do you really see me as a heartless monster?”
Just then, Belinda, drawn by the commotion, asked in bewilderment, “What’s all this noise about? Why the commotion so early in the morning?”
“Aunt Eunice, if you prefer Bella because she’s blood-related and wants to get rid of me, just say it.
Why accuse me unfairly? I’m a victim here! I’m humiliated in front of my boyfriend. I’d rather be dead!
Now you also misunderstand me.”
Serena’s tears flowed as she clung to Belinda’s neck, weeping bitterly.
Belinda had never seen her granddaughter so devastated, crying in her embrace. Serena had always been the darling of the family, never allowed to shed a tear.
“So what’s the deal now? I’m still not clear on it. Eunice, you think Serena tried to poison us, but accidentally hurt herself? Is that it? Do you have any proof?” Belinda asked, lifting her head.
Eunice, of course, had no evidence. Her intention was to rattle Serena with psychological tactics to see if she would slip up.
But Serena, perhaps sensing support had arrived, burst into tears, which made Eunice suspect her even more.
Innocent people don’t need such dramatics, nor do they need someone to back them up.
Serena’s reaction seemed a bit like a cover-up.
“L have no proof” Eunice admitted, but her gaze at Serena was inscrutable, as if trying to see through her.“If there’s no evidence’ Belinda was at a loss for words. The situation was bizarre, but without proof, it was wrong to accuse Serena. What if they were wrong about her?
“If you believe someone is behind this, trying to harm our family, then I implore you, Grandma, and Grandpa to investigate thoroughly and clear my name!” Serena was emphatic, her words strong despite the tears, “Even though I’m not a natural-born Collins, I would never harm you! I’m not heartless. In my eyes, you will always be my dearest and most cherished family!”
Seeing her so earnest, Belinda and Darren felt a stab of guilt. It seemed they had indeed wronged Serena.
Her expression was so innocent, her eyes welled up in tears. They had never seen her so wronged and angry before.
It couldn’t have been Serena; if it were, why would she insist on an investigation to prove her innocence?
“Serena, your aunt was just asking casually; she meant no harm,” Belinda comforted, “She too wants to uncover the truth quickly to clear the air for everyone. Maybe she was a bit abrupt in her approach, but don’t take it to heart. It’s not just your aunt; your grandfather and I will make sure there’s a thorough investigation. We won’t let the person who’s trying to harm us get away! If you’re innocent, I’ll definitely do you justice”
“Thanks, Grandma,” Serena said, her tears turning into a smile as she spoke endearingly, “Grandma, my hand reaily hurts.”
She showed her hand to Belinda, revealing cuts and one palm even wrapped in a cast.
“Justin, how’s Serena’s injury?” Belinda asked with concern.
“She’s got a minor fracture and will need about two weeks of recovery. I’ve prescribed some medication, and unless there’s something else, I should get going”
Justin felt a bit uneasy, knowing too well the discomfort of being privy to another family’s issues.
“Thanks for your help. Someone escort Dr. Justin out, please.”
After Justin left, Serena continued to play up her charm in front of her grandparents, apologizing for her behavior the night before, claiming she drank too much and had no recollection, insisting it wasn’t intentional.Eunice realized why Mirabella hadn’t publicly accused Serena of possibly drugging her drink the night before—there was no evidence.
Sharing an unsubstantiated claim with others would at best lead to half-hearted belief; no one would take it seriously.
Eunice rose with her tablet in hand to return to her room, just as she received a report from one of her aides.
“Ma’am, the drug you asked me to look into hasn’t turned up in Oakridge City and other cities. It might take a bit longer to find any leads.”
“Expand the search. Check the neighboring countries, especially Solterra, and do it thoroughly.
She felt more and more convinced that Serena was involved in this matter.
“Yes, ma’‘am.”
Back in the living room.
After placating Darren and Belinda, Serena recalled Martha’s words and a glint of luck flashed in her eyes.
Martha had said she’d covered her tracks well, leaving no trail for anyone to find.
It didn’t matter what Darren, Belinda, Eunice, or Mirabella did in their investigation.
Because the dealer was already dead!
Dead men tell no tales!Even if by some miracle someone traced an indirect connection between Martha and dealer, there was no evidence to suggest Martha had slipped the drug into Mirabella’s drink, and Martha had no clear motive.
The number of people involved, even an organization, was not something Mirabella could simply uncover!
With this thought, Serena’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.
Serena had only been back in her room for a short while when she heard a knock at the door.
She ran to answer it, only to have Mirabella kick her right in the stomach.
“Qof.” Serena crashed to the floor, wincing in pain, “Mirabella, have you lost your mind?”
With the door shut firmly behind her, Mirabella strode over with icy composure, grabbed Serena’s collar, and hissed, “Heard you woke up, huh? Time to settle some scores.”
Before Serena could get a word out, Mirabella slapped in her face.
Caught off guard, Serena was bombarded with slap after slap, feeling dizzy and tasting blood at the corner of her mouth.
Finally, Mirabella kicked her again. Serena felt a familiar sensation, in the exact same spot, prompting an epiphany from Serena, “You. you were the Snow Queen from last night”.
She vaguely remembered a Snow Queen kicking her in the stomach with the same force, at the same spot. There was no mistaking it; it was Mirabella.
“Well, aren’t you the bright one?” Mirabella hoisted Serena up for another kick, “Since you have such a good memory, make sure you remember this lesson well.
So she wouldn’t foolishly cross Mirabella again and suffer for it.
Serena hit the ground hard, her plaster-wrapped crushing to the floor, agony ripping through her.
That damn Mirabella.Chattering through the pain, Serena threatened, “I’ll expose you to grandma and grandpa and let then see who you really are. You wretch, daring to hit me”.
Mirabella’s lips curled into a frosty smirk. A wretch?
Glancing around the room, her eyes fell on a vanity stool. She picked it up and walked over to Serena.
Too hurt to stand, Serena scrambled back, shouting, “Mirabella, you wouldn’t dare! When grandma and grandpa see my bruises, what will they think of you? Aren’t you afraid of ruining the image you’ve worked so hard to build?”
“If they knew you drugged me, they’d think I went too easy on you.”