Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Noticing the scars on Martha’s wrists as she wiped her tears, Serena asked with concern, “You never told me, how did you get all these injuries?”
Unable to hide the truth any longer, Martha spoke in a hoarse whisper, “I was taking out the trash tonight, and out of nowhere, I got jumped. They left me in the dump, and it took me forever to crawl out.”
Just recalling the incident made Martha feel nauseated.
The open dump, where the neighborhood discarded their garbage, would only be cleared by the sanitation trucks the next morning.
It was during the stench-filled evening hours that Martha had been attacked and tossed into the refuse.
The mix of vile odors was enough to make her retch repeatedly.”I had no clue what was going on until I heard that Debby and Daisy got the same treatment today.
Then it hit me. Maybe it’s because they picked on those servants Mirabella was protecting, and I got thrown out for trying to sabotage Mirabella with that oil spill.”
“Could it be that all three of us had wronged her, and that’s why Mrs. Collins couldn’t let it go and ordered this payback?”
Serena was shocked to learn about Debby and Daisy’s ordeal, “Now I remember, before mom and dad shipped me off here, they blamed you for leading me astray. They must think you’re the bad influence, and that’s why they’re taking it out on you, and settling scores with Debby and Daisy as well.”
Thinking it over, Serena felt a surge of indignation on their behalf.
“That oil spill. We were the ones who got hurt, not Mirabella. They docked your pay, kicked you out, and now, after all this time, they have someone beat you up? That’s just too much! And Debby and Daisy were just trying to put those uppity servants in their place because they were so unbearable. But mom and dad still want to settle old scores.”
“Serena, haven’t you noticed? When the lady of the house adored you, we basked in your glow. Now that you’ve been relegated to the guest quarters, it’s no wonder we’re.”
Serena hadn’t realized that falling out of favor herself had dragged down her once loyal servants, “Mom and Dad also said that if I don’t reflect on my behavior and dare to disrespect Mirabella again, then I don’t deserve to carry the Collins name.”
“What did you say?” Martha was in disbelief.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it?” Serena laughed bitterly, the pain clear in her voice. Her parents, who had cherished her for eighteen years, were now ready to strip her of her family name just because of their biological daughter’s arrival.”They’ve gone too far!” Martha never imagined the lady of the house could be so cold-hearted.
Eighteen years of love for her daughter, and yet, as if uprooting a cherished tree, they were ready to deny even her name to such a splendid person.
“Oh, right! It wasn’t until I saw David’s concert tonight that I realized Mirabella is actually Summer—the world-renowned superstar.”
“That little minx, how could she possibly have so many identities?” Martha clearly didn’t believe it, “Each one is more impressive than the last. How old is she even? Serena, don’t you find this all a bit suspicious?”
Even though Serena also found it hard to believe, she recounted honestly, “I watched the live stream of the concert tonight, and those eyes were definitely hers. And when she was warming up the crowd, her voice sounded just like it always does.”
As Serena spoke, she remembered scrolling through social media earlier, searching for clues about whether ‘The Coat Couple’ were Romeo and Mirabella. There was a buzz online, people asking who the masked pair were, commenting on their refined air, and how even behind masks, their attractiveness shone through.
Some said they were a match made in heaven.
“That little minx claims to be a piano prodigy, a world-famous healer, an artist with a magic brush, and a chess champion, and now you’re telling me she’s an international pop queen. She’s becoming god-like at this point. Maybe the masked singing is just her gimmick, her unique selling point. Perhaps she can’t even sing and just lip-syncs to a pre-recorded track,” Martha speculated.
Serena suddenly remembered the concert from earlier in the evening. When Mirabella was singing, there was indeed no interaction with the fans.
She would finish a whole song before speaking to the audience.
During that time, it was entirely possible she could have been faking it, just mouthing the words.After all, plenty of big-name artists have done that before. It was not unusual in the industry.
“You were coddled by your parents since you were young, showered with the best instructors in every field. You’ve trained your whole life and never reached the pinnacle of any industry. How could she, a child neglected by the Meltons, become a prodigy just by studying with a few old men?” Martha was clearly skeptical, “Maybe those old men paid to fabricate her fame, just so she could secure her standing when she returned to the Collins family!”
Serena started to see the logic.
Yeah, Mirabella might really know how to play chess, and play better than most, but she couldn’t possibly be at ‘Queena’s’ level!
And her art, maybe those live paintings were practiced and copied countless times in private. The uninitiated might think she was just spontaneously creating them.
And her piano compositions, who could prove she had written them all by herself?
Not to mention the medicines she developed for her grandparents, how could anyone know if there wasn’t some old mastermind behind it all? She might just be copying.
With these thoughts, Serena felt a sigh of relief and a bit more at ease.
She used to feel completely overshadowed by Mirabella, almost suffocated by the comparison.
But now, it seemed, not so much.
“It’s just that little minx doesn’t seem like the type to gossip behind people’s backs. What on earth could have prompted the old man and the lady to suddenly order a beating for me and Debby and Daisy.”
Martha was puzzled over this incident.”It must be because of Edith!” Serena had an epiphany, “I heard from the servants that Mom and Dad were in decent spirits until Edith served them dinner. After that, they were so upset they couldn’t even eat, and then you, Debby and Daisy got a thrashing. It has to be because of her!”
Serena thought, “If not for her, Mom and Dad would never have found out. Mirabella isn’t the sort to waste time on idle chatter. It had to be Edith!”
“That old snake, daring to play dirty behind my back. She really thinks I can’t touch her now that I’m out of the Collins family, right?” A flash of hatred sparkled in Martha’s eyes, quickly replaced by a comforting tone, “At this point, Serena, you need to find a way to leave this place and get back to the main house. Otherwise, that old snake and the rest of the servants will be gossiping up a storm, delighted by our misfortune. And Mirabella, I bet she’s grinning from ear to ear.”
“But it’s like I’ve been ‘imprisoned’ here by my parents. I can’t get close to the main house, and I can’t even leave.”
At this moment, Serena didn’t want to stir up any further displeasure.
Looking to leave?
Guess that would have to wait until New Year’s Eve.
“Listen to me.” Martha began to strategize for Serena again.
A spark lit up in Serena’s eyes. Yes, that was a plan worth trying.
Meanwhile.
Hans was about to hit the sack when his phone buzzed with a breaking news alert, [The Most Charming Matchmaker, David.]
Puzzled, he tapped on the notification and discovered that during a concert segment, David played cupid, helping his fans propose successfully, even distributing wedding favors to the crowd.
His brother was more fun than he thought. Hans was about to close the app when he caught a glimpse of a couple in the corner of a photo that looked strikingly like Romeo and his sister.
Curious, he clicked through several news articles, each offering different snapshots and even some live footage. Upon viewing the videos, there was no doubt—it was Romeo and his sister.
Even in the dim light and with their masks on, their silhouettes and the vibe of their movements were unmistakable.
His little sister had actually joined Romeo in such a childish escapade.
Watching Romeo kneel like the other male fans, slipping a ring on his sister’s finger and then the two of them kissing in blissful union, Hans suddenly felt a jolt—as if his precious little sister had become someone else’s treasure.[You played matchmaker for our sister?] Hans shot a message to David.
By then, David was shaking in his boots. Not just from Hans, but he’d also received messages from Chasel and Clark, teasing him about his successful matchmaking stint, even giving away his own sister.
And David was grinning ear to ear.
[If it weren’t for that guy being so darn good to Bella, heart and soul, I’d never have agreed to this match!] David could only reply to his brothers, [He truly adores Bella, nearly wearing his heart on his sleeve. Let’s not stand in their way, making sure our sister’s happiness is our ultimate goal.]
After a shower, Mirabella video-chatted with Romeo until she fell asleep, not even bothering to cover herself with a blanket. Romeo wished he was there to take care of her, to pull the covers over her.
So he messaged Edith, asking if she was still awake, saying Bella had dozed off without a blanket, and he was worried she’d catch a cold in this freezing weather.
Though the house was heated, the chill was still biting.
Luckily, Edith was still up. Praising Romeo for his thoughtfulness, she tiptoed to Mirabella’s room, gently opened the door, and quietly tucked her in.
Seeing that their video call was still connected, Edith inwardly swooned at how sweet they were. She hadn’t realized Ms. Bella needed to video chat with Mr. McMillian every night before sleeping.
After leaving a nightlight on, she slipped out quietly.
Romeo watched the peaceful face of the girl, who must have been exhausted, not even stirring when Edith came and went.In the past, the slightest noise would have woken her.
What he didn’t realize was that it was his presence, his voice, that gave Mirabella a sense of security.
The next morning dawned crisp and cold, with Serena gazing out at the manicured lawn of her family’s estate. The serenity was undeniable, yet the vast house felt empty. She was alone, save for the occasional presence of the staff.
At last, Betty, the housekeeper, arrived with a basket, interrupting Serena’s solitude. “Hey, Betty.”
Serena called out, a hopeful lilt in her voice.
“Why are you waiting out here, Serena? It’s chilly—come inside,” Betty chided gently.
Inside, Betty set down the breakfast tray, arranging the simple, yet familiar, toast, eggs, and bacon.
Serena eyed the modest fare with a mix of gratitude and resignation, then sat down to eat.
“Betty, the main house was so lively last night. Was there something to celebrate?” Serena inquired, probing for gossip.
“Oh, have you heard of Summer? The internationally famous singer? For three years, her fans have adored her music without ever seeing her face. She’s the most enigmatic figure on the global stage and a genius songwriter from Solterra. Guess what? That person is Ms. Bella!” Betty exclaimed.
Serena feigned shock, her eyes wide with mock surprise.
“Last night, all the staff were after her for autographs and photos. Even Mr. and Mrs. Collins have become fans. They were all praising Ms. Bella, and when she went to shower, they were singing her songs in the living room, laughing and having a grand old time.”
“I thought I heard singing and cheering.” Serena mused, her heart sinking. She was enduring hardship here, while they were having fun, and her parents were amongst them, smiling.
The staff were insufferable, fawning over Mirabella, clinging to her coattails.When it had only been Serena, everyone had scrambled to please her.
Such turncoats!
After finishing her breakfast, Serena took out her own creations, placing them into the basket one by one.