Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Stopping like that looked bad.Seeing Mirabella smile and act nonchalant, Romeo finally relaxed, caressing her face, “You scared me. I was about to drag you to my friend’s place to vouch for me.”
He had no extra feelings for Natalie, not even a sliver.
“If I do that, I’ll lose face in front of your friends. They’ll think I’m a shrew.”
“It’s my own choice to steer clear of flirts, nothing to do with you. Besides,” Romeo gazed into her eyes, “I like it when you’re in charge.”
Feeling her concern, he knew he was cherished.
Just then, his friend called again. Romeo tapped the answer button without hesitation, “You got a death wish? You think I’m too busy to deal with you? If you dare play messenger for someone else again, we’ll see if I let you off the hook.”
“Does your fiancée know about your temper?” The voice on the other end of the phone struggled to suppress a chuckle.
“Ha, she loves everything about me.”
“Even your affairs?”
“Man, you’re really asking for a smack.”
“Hahaha.” The guy on the phone burst into laughter, “I was totally strong-armed into calling, man. Is she there? I need to clear the air with her.”
“Just beat it, will ya? Don’t bother my fiancée.”
“Just let me say a few words to her, I promise.”
“Your voice is too gruff; I don’t want to scare her.”
“Gruff? Me? Are you kidding? Maybe you’re losing your hearing. Forget it, just hand her the phone, bro.
I need to explain.”
“Beat it.” Romeo hung up directly.
Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “Your friend’s quite the character.”
“He’s just a pain in the neck when he’s not looking for a beating. Otherwise, he’s a decent guy.”
Smiling, Mirabella asked, “So, what’s next on the agenda?”
“There’s a McMllian Corporation airstrip nearby.” Romeo glanced at her, “That girl is a friend’s sister.
Their family went generations with only sons until this little princess popped out. So, she’s prettyspoiled. My buddy indulges her, and sometimes even drags her along to gatherings so she won’t feel left out.”
Mirabella nodded in understanding, “So, the guy on the phone, he’s her brother?”
“Nope. Her brother knows I don’t have feeling towards her, so he never helps her with this. She ropes in his friends to do it for her, and she’s tried every trick in the book with them. When their family was caught up in some inheritance drama, they were worried she might be in danger. They made up a story about her going missing, but in reality, they stashed her at our place. My parents were abroad and swamped with work, so they couldn’t look after her. It was just me and her at home.”
Mirabella nodded, “Ah, that explains her crush on you.”
In times of turmoil, it was not strange for someone to fall for the person who offered them a sense of security, especially someone with Romeo’s good looks.
With that thought, Mirabella’s gaze shifted to the man beside her. Even his profile was flawless, especially those bright, piercing eyes.
“She didn’t stay long. Once her family sorted out their issues, they whisked her away. That was years ago.”
Romeo couldn’t remember exactly how many years. He’d never really cared.
Natalie, however, had developed a soft spot for him after staying with him.
“Did she ever confess her feelings to you?” Mirabella inquired.
“She did, but I made it clear I wasn’t interested. I only saw her as a sister.”Honestly, not even a sister. Still, Natalie kept bombarding him with messages. Out of respect for his friend, he’d never blocked her, but he rarely replied.
Unless it was something about his friend getting hurt or a birthday- that kind of stuff would get his attention.
“Bella, you’re the first person I’ve ever truly loved.” Romeo said, looking at her earnestly, “I’ve never thought about spending my life with anyone but you. You’re the first and the last.”
From the moment he saw her, he couldn’t look away.
He couldn’t believe how much he could like someone, to the point of no return.
“You’re my first, too.”
Mirabella’s simple words caught Romeo off guard, and then he realized she was responding to him.
He was her first love. His lips curled into a smile, his eyes filled with surprise and joy. All the worry and unease vanished, replaced by pure sweetness.
Once on board the plane, Romeo was still basking in bliss.
He sliced apples for Mirabella, holding her close, feeding her piece by piece.
As she listened to him reminisce about his childhood, Mirabella learned of the strict upbringing he endured as the heir to his family’s fortune – enduring hardships and witnessing the cutthroat nature of high society.
Feuds were commonplace among the elite; siblings turned against each other, and marriages fell apart – all in the name of competition.
From vying for attention as children to battling for wealth as adults, if direct confrontation failed, they resorted to underhanded tactics.
And then, there was the endless one-upmanship – from comparing spouses and children to flaunting designer clothes and extravagant parties.
Having seen it all, and surrounded by people who were either deferential or fawning, Romeo never knew true intimacy until he met Mirabella.
He looked down at the girl snuggled in his arms, his eyes softened as he continued to feed her, “You’ve never really talked about your childhood.”
Mirabella dredged up her memories, “Do you remember when we first met, you took me out to La Belle Vie, with its retractable roof for stargazing? That night, it reminded me of those days I spent as a kid.”
Mirabella uttered blandly, “When I was young, Demetrius and Olga were always busy, and it was Grannie Grace who spent countless nights with me. Those star-filled evenings are just like that night when we had dinner. Demetrius and Olga have never prepared any surprise for me. It wasn’t until I returned to the Collins family that I discovered how naturally and freely family can express their love. Demetrius and Olgadidn’t even have time to be with me, let alone taking me outside to play. It was you who took me to the biggest amusement park in Summerfield, allowing me to relive my childhood.”
Romeo chuckled, reminiscing, “Back then, to get closer to you, I rode the carousel with you on the same horse, and we took so many photos which I’ve kept in my phone. And during that haunted house visit, there were those ‘assassins’ after me.”
“Those goons were no match for you,” Mirabella had been baffled at the time, wondering where those people got the nerve to take the job.
Romeo talked with her a lot about the past until she fell asleep in his arms, and he gently carried her to her room, tucking her in.
The plane soon landed at Reflections Villa.
Serena hadn’t quite made her mark when she saw Romeo’s plane arrive, feeling a twinge of jealousy.
“My darling, you’re finally back.” Louisa hadn’t seen her beloved daughter for days and embraced her tightly, “How was your stay with your uncle and aunt? Settling in alright?”
“They were so kind to me, and my grandparents adored me.” Mirabella replied obediently, “The meals were always to my liking.”
Louisa’s affection for her grew with her docile demeanor, “Your aunt has been singing your praises! We wouldn’t have known that you are the one who founded the Ar-Bl-Clear Group if it wasn’t for her. You’re juggling so much; these years must have been exhausting.”
“Romeo’s here too.” Kenneth smiled, patting Romeo’s shoulder, “Thanks for bringing Bella home. I heard from Bard that you went out of your way to Dawnstar for Bella. Good lad, it eases my mind knowing she’s under your care.””It’s no trouble at all. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring Bella back,” Romeo replied politely.
“You must stay for dinner tonight.” Kenneth insisted warmly, “Bella was new to Dawnstar, a stranger in town, but luckily you were there. Anyway, let’s not chat out here in the cold, let’s go inside.”
“Yes, let’s head inside, Romeo. I’ve got some snacks and drinks ready for you guys. Come on in,”
Louisa said warmly, linking arms with Mirabella as they walked, chatting with Romeo about their memories in Dawnstar and reminding Mirabella to check in with her uncle.
The coffee table was adorned with an assortment of pastries, coffee and tea.
“Bella, your mom made all these. They might not look like much, but I’ve tasted them, and they’re pretty decent.” Kenneth said with a smile, picking up a plate of the best-looking lemon bars and presenting them to Romeo and Mirabella, “Give them a try.”
“And we’ve got some lavender shortbread too!” Louisa reached for another plate of treats. But before she could bring it over, Kenneth intercepted, “Let the kids try the lemon bars first.”
“Why not let them try the shortbread too?”
“They can have a piece later on.”
“They could have a bite of the lemon bars and then the shortbread. It won’t hurt.”
“There’s no rush.”
Despite Kenneth’s cheerful demeanor, Mirabella could tell from his expression that the lavender shortbread might not be up to par.
“Then how about trying my rose puffed pastry?” Louisa brought over another plate of sweets.
Once again, Kenneth took over, saying, “Let them finish the lemon bars first, no hurry. Romeo, Bella, how are they? The texture’s alright, isn’t it?”
Mirabella found the treat a bit tough to swallow but nodded anyway, “Sure.”Romeo also offered praise, “Delicious, with a unique twist from Mrs. Collins.”
“Really? I managed to put a personal spin on lemon bars?” Louisa’s joy was evident, and she didn’t forget to serve her homemade fruit tea, “Try this. I cut every piece of fruit myself. See if it’s to your liking.”
“She’s been a bit idle at home these days and stumbled upon some videos on her phone about moms getting creative with their kids’ meals. She felt like she wasn’t doing enough for her kids, so she’s been experimenting with recipes, turning everyone at home into guinea pigs,” Kenneth explained.
Some of the staff had initially suffered some digestive repercussions. Better left unsaid.
Mirabella took a sip of the fruit tea and almost choked. She nodded, “It’s not bad. There’s still room for improvement.”
Louisa looked expectantly at Romeo.