Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
However, She was stopped as the servant instructed via earpiece all the other servants to block her path. Soon enough, Serena was brought to Mirabella.
“Did you tell Lindsay that you and Romeo were in love? That I was the one who came between you?”
Mirabella asked with a hint of amusement, facing the liar before her.
In front of Romeo, Serena dared not lie, but with all the guests watching, she didn’t want to be humiliated either.
Getting a brainstorm all of a sudden, she slapped Lindsay across the face.
Lindsay was stunned. What was happening??
Even Lindsay’s father, Bruno, was confused, “What’s wrong with you? You think just because you’re the Collins heiress you can do whatever you like? Lindsay is my precious girl, it’s not your place to slap her.”
“Lindsay, I can’t believe you’d go this far!” Serena lashed out in feigned anger.
Lindsay felt like she was caught in a tornado of confusion and disbelief.
“I just pretended to be a disciple of Queena to fool you, and because of that, you doubt our friendship?
So that’s why you wanted revenge and spread wild rumors and lies about me out there? How could you?!”
Lindsay was at a loss for words.
“I’m so disappointed in you,” Serena said, her tone dripping with disillusionment. She then turned to Romeo and the other guests, “I’m so sorry, everyone. This evening’s mess is on me. I apologize for causing such a scene. I know my presence will only spoil the mood, and I’m sure none of you want me here. I’ll take my leave now. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Hold on a second.” Lindsay finally pieced together what was happening. It hit her like a lightning bolt—
Serena had claimed to be Queena’s disciple, and now, she was pinning the blame on her for the lies about Jamie Noelle intervening in her romance.
It had been Serena who tearfully told her the story. How come it suddenly become a sheer fabrication?
Could it be that Jamie Noelle never interfered, and Serena was lying again?
Realizing this possibility, Lindsay was about to explode with anger when Serena shouted, “I must have been blind to befriend someone like you. We’re done!”
Lindsay was dumbstruck.
Fuming, Serena pushed through the crowd and intended on leaving, when Romeo said, “Who said you could go?”Serena almost called him “brother-in-law” but stopped herself, fearing that the guests would question her relationship with Romeo, and even more, that her faux heiress identity would be betrayed. She feigned innocence, “I honestly had no idea she would make up such nonsense behind my back.”
Lindsay was livid, “Who’s making things up? You’re the one who told me Jamie Noelle ruined your love life.
“I’ve hardly ever met Serena in my life, let alone had any kind of relationship,” Romeo clarified in front of everyone, “My heart belongs only to the lady by my side.”
With that, he reached for Mirabella’s hand in a gesture that seemed to touch everyone there.
The guests were moved by his action, and many were utterly shocked.
Hadn’t Romeo and Serena grown up together? How come they met each other so rarely?
It seemed like they had no connection at all.
Yet Serena had often posted on Facebook about visiting the McMillian estate, playing chess with Phillip. It looked like she had become a beloved figure in the McMillian family.
What was the truth?
It appeared that Serena was just blowing her own trumpet and Romeo had never really cared about her.
Lindsay finally got it—Romeo and Serena had never been involved. They were practically strangers, and everything was a fabrication by Serena.
“You liar!”
Before Lindsay could finish, Romeo said, “All three of you owe her an apology.”He was referring to Mirabella. After all, the rumors had been spread by them.
Serena was the first to apologize, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I won’t do it again.”
Her apology came so quickly that it seemed almost comical.
Madeline hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. She was unclear whether it was Lindsay or Serena who was lying, but now being scared, she said, “I’m sorry, it was my mistake for speaking without knowing the whole truth. I won’t be so reckless again.”
Although angry, Lindsay knew she had to apologize to Mirabella, “I’m sorry, it was my fault for listening to a deceiver.”
At that moment, a servant came hurrying over, “Mr. McMillian, Ms. Bella, Mr. Eugene would like to have a word with you.”
Mirabella drawled, “Let’s go.”
She’ll settle the score with Serena later.
Romeo glanced at Serena before taking Mirabella’s hand and leaving the scene.
No sooner had they left Lindsay smacked Serena hard across the face in front of the guests who were still lingering, “You vain little creature, spilling your filth on me. I must’ve been blind to befriend someone like you.”
“Ow! What are you doing?” Serena shrieked, feeling her cheek sting from Lindsay’s nails. What if it left scars? The thought panicked her, and she quickly covered her face.
“Enough!” Martin stepped forward to intervene.
But Bluno blocked him immediately, “What’s this? She slapped my daughter and threw mud at her, and my girl can’t hit back?”
“There must be some misunderstanding,” Martin said, pulling Serena into his arms when he saw she was at a disadvantage.
Serena had been slapped twice, her hair a mess, and her face scratched, even bleeding a little.
The surrounding guests were surprised to see two heiresses come to blows.
The scandals of the wealthy families were indeed juicy.
“Serena, befriending you is like a curse! You know what lies you’ve spread. The real disappointment is you. From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine! Dad, let’s leave!””You think you can slap someone and just walk away?” Serena was still fuming but Martin pulled her back into his embrace.
The onlookers continued to gossip.
“What are you looking at!” Serena snapped angrily.
The guests dispersed in twos and threes.
Serena touched her face, feeling that the beads of blood were still seething.
“It’s okay, it won’t scar. I’ll have a doctor prescribe some ointment for you; it’ll heal in a few days,” Martin said, noticing something off but deciding not to press the issue, “Shall we head back?”
“I told you to go back earlier, and you didn’t listen!” Serena pushed him away angrily and stormed out of the garden first.
On his way to find Mr. Eugene, Romeo pulled out his phone and gave some instructions.
Soon after, while driving, Martin received a call.
“Now?” Martin was clearly troubled, “Ask them to wait. What did you say? Alright, I’ll rush over, does it have to be now? Okay, got it.”
After hanging up, Martin said to Serena, who was in the passenger seat, “I’ll drop you off just ahead;
you can walk the rest of the way. I’ve got an urgent situation to handle, it’s extremely pressing. Is it ok if I bring you the ointment after I’m done?”
Serena despised his frantic manner. He wasn’t Romeo, nor did he land a big deal. Even in the face of big troubles, Romeo wouldn’t neglect Mirabella, let alone leave her to walk home alone. Romeo would never show his urgency to her.Compared to him, Martin was just not up to scratch.
“Just pull over and let me out.”
Martin could tell she was upset, “I’ll make it up to you after I sort this out, okay?”
“No need.” She didn’t care for his little favors. Unbuckling her seat belt, she got out of the car and slammed the door behind her.
Martin, really pressed for time, turned around and sped off to his destination.
Serena hadn’t expected this guy to start neglecting her after winning her over!
It must be that she’d been too nice to him. It was time to give him the cold shoulder for a few days!
As she was mulling this over, suddenly a large sack was thrown over her head. Serena’s scream was cut short as she was dragged into the nearby woods and beaten mercilessly.
“Ah, who are you? What the hell!” Serena screamed, her voice sharp with shock. She couldn’t believe that, for the second time in a month, she found herself being bagged and beaten to a pulp.
The assailants didn’t utter a word in response. Instead, they doubled their efforts, raining down blows on her with a ferocity that seemed to multiply with each hit. Through the thick fabric of the sack, Serena could sense at least seven or eight people surrounding her.
“I’m Serena Collins, the Collins family heiress! This is right outside Reflections Villa.”
She thought dropping her prestigious family name would deter them, but their punches only grew more ruthless.
Instinctively, Serena curled up, trying to protect her head, but kicks landed hard against her sides. The pain was so severe that she started to see stars and nearly passed out.
“Who sent you? How much are they paying you? I’ll double it, triple it, hell—I’ll pay ten times, twenty times more.”
The group seemed to sneer at her offer, their fists and feet not showing the slightest sign of mercy.
Serena could do nothing but curl into a tighter ball.
It felt like her shoulders were being trampled into the ground, her limbs almost snapped from the force of the stomping, and her front and back bruised from countless kicks. This feeling of helplessness and fear was all too familiar, a nightmarish echo of the last time she was beaten by her aunt.
