Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Suddenly, Martha’s eyes flashed with a fierce glint, scrutinizing Mirabella.
“Are you recording this? Or is there a hidden camera on you? I’ve been feeling something’s off since the start. With your defiant spirit, you wouldn’t surrender so easily, and you’ve been fishing for my words. Search for her! And not just her! Search that loyal pup of hers thoroughly!”
With a cold snort, Mirabella’s lips curled into a mocking smile, “So, I’m that formidable in your eyes, huh?”
“Shut it!” Martha snapped, flustered and infuriated.
Two of Martha’s guys took turns patting Mirabella down. They tugged at her bun, finding nothing but lush hair, and the hair tie was just an ordinary one, adorned with a tiny diamond tiara.Her clothes were casual, pockets in her hoodie, and trousers were all checked—no suspicious items.
Horace, too, was searched from head to toe repeatedly, and still, nothing out of the ordinary was found.
Even his shoes were taken off, and the insoles flipped, revealing nothing hidden.
Martha eyed Mirabella suspiciously and asked, “What kind of game are you playing?”
“I’m tied up, my phone’s been smashed, and my only ally is in your capture. Surrounded by over a dozen of your armed men, so what tricks could I possibly play?”
Hearing this, Martha’s triumphant smirk returned, her earlier doubts subsiding, replaced by a vindictive grin.
“If you had been this compliant from the get-go, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” Martha’s venomous gaze fell upon Mirabella, “But you just had to act all high and mighty.”
It was so irritating!
“When have I ever been high and mighty? Don’t those words suit your daughter more?” Mirabella couldn’t help but laugh, “For eighteen years, your daughter basked in luxury under my name. When I came back, I didn’t make a fuss. I let her stay and continue living in opulence. Shouldn’t you be grateful?”
“Grateful to you?” Martha scoffed as if she heard the most absurd thing, her laugh cold, “Had you been friendly and humble with Serena, I indeed would have spared you. But what did you do? You hurt her time and again.”
Mirabella was confused. When had she ever hurt Serena?From the day she returned to the house, it was Serena who had been hurting her with backhanded comments like, “Sis, up so early? You don’t have to change your habits on our account—feel free to sleep in as you did at your place.”
“You probably haven’t been to many fancy occasions, huh? It’s normal to get butterflies. I know Grandpa Phillip’s ways and temper very well. If you slip up or do something wrong, I’m right there to smooth things over. Come on, take me with you.”
Serena had a way with words, that much was certain.
Aside from her gossiping, her actions often left others speechless.
Take, for instance, the time when the family was enjoying afternoon tea together. Serena, thinking she had the inside track on her parents’ tastes after all these years, made a show of it right in front of her.
She’d pour Dad and Mom each a cup of tea. When it came grudgingly to serving Mirabella, noticing she was wearing a white dress, Serena even considered scalding her.
When Dad asked about which college she wanted to apply to, Serena jumped in with “I’m aiming for Summerfield College,” flaunting her academic prowess in front of Mirabella.
In front of everyone, Serena clung to Dad, Mom, and her brothers, acting all cutesy. To the outside, it seemed like the family orbited solely around Serena. Eighteen years old and still acting like a child.
Then there was the time Serena knew Mirabella wanted to go out, so Serena raced her for the driver, offering in a mock-generous tone, “If you’re really in a hurry, I suppose you can take the car first.”
When Romeo came looking for Mirabella and she hadn’t yet gotten out of bed, Serena dolled herself up, slipped into something revealing, and made a show of bending over and placing a hand on Romeo’s knee, the curves of her chest on full display as she confessed her feelings. After he turned her down, she had the gall to show up at his office, stalking him in secret.
She even had Holly pretend to trip and spill water down her front, making sure she was soaked right in front of Romeo, hoping to stir something in him.When Romeo was at Mirabella’s beck and call, Serena had the nerve to tell him, “You can’t always spoil your girlfriend.”
She even lied to her best friend, claiming that Mirabella had stolen her fiancé.
The list went on and on.
From the day Mirabella returned to the family, Serena had never intended to live in harmony with her.
Later, after being scolded by Hans and Chasel, Serena seemed to change a bit, but it wasn’t long before she was led astray again by Martha.
Mirabella aired these grievances, her gaze landing on Martha, “And you, ever since I came back home, you’ve never shown me an ounce of respect.”
In front of Mirabella’s parents, Martha would play the angel, but in private, she wouldn’t even acknowledge Mirabella’s presence.
She’d encourage Serena to get closer to Romeo whenever Mirabella wasn’t around.
It was Martha’s conspiratorial glances that emboldened Serena to act so recklessly.
“And then there was that night, Mom called me down for soup, and you, you spiked it with something nasty.”
Martha bristled at the memory, “You ungrateful little wretch, I’d nearly forgotten. You had the nerve to make me eat it. I was sick all night!”
“That’s called getting a taste of your own medicine,” Mirabella retorted, looking straight into Martha’s eyes, fearless. “Just like when you spilled oil all over the floor hoping I’d slip, and you and your daughter ended up taking the fall instead.”Martha, reminded of these humiliations, grew even angrier. “You’re really asking for it.”
She snatched a leather whip from one of her men and lashed it across Mirabella’s back.
“Boss—” Horace struggled frantically, “Damn it, leave her alone! Come at me!”
Martha lashed out at Horace with a vicious crack of her whip, “Think you’re going to get away with this?
Somebody grab him and beat him!”
Two burly men immediately grabbed Horace’s chair, ready to drag him away.
“Let go of me, you sons of bitches. Touch my boss and I swear I’ll haunt you to your graves.”
“What’s the point of going after Horace? Even if he ends up unrecognizable, it won’t help you vent your anger. Come at me instead. Whatever you plan for him, I’ll take it on his behalf.”
“You’re protective of your pup.” Martha hadn’t expected that even now, at this critical moment, Mirabella wouldn’t show a hint of fear. Clearly, she was toughened by life’s rough and tumble; her mental fortitude was just different.
“Now, what shall I do first? Ruin that pretty face of yours or chop off those talented hands?”
Martha pinched Mirabella’s chin and was taken aback to find her skin so smooth and soft.
She remembered applying a facial mask to Serena, and even with all the pampering and care Serena had received from childhood, her skin couldn’t hold a candle to Mirabella’s.
Mirabella’s skin was like delicate, creamy porcelain, so flawless that it could inspire envy.
“If I slash it up, would Romeo still fancy you, you freak? Your hands, able to play the piano, to paint, to heal—what if I chop them off? Let’s see you try anything then! And maybe I should cut off your feet too, leave you a cripple? Hahahaha.”
An idea suddenly struck Martha, and she pulled out her phone to send a video call request.
It wasn’t long before the person on the other end picked up.”Serena, guess who this is?” Martha held Mirabella’s face like a trophy.
Serena was stunned, “Martha, you. you’ve kidnapped her.”
It was Mirabella.
Martha had kidnapped Mirabella.
Serena quickly lowered her voice and made sure all doors and windows were shut. For good measure, she drew the curtains and found a corner to watch from, shocked yet somewhat thrilled.
It was Mirabella.
Really Mirabella.
Martha had brought a whole crew to kidnap Mirabella.
But amidst her glee, Serena was worried, “Martha, if our family finds out.”
“Nobody will ever know. Once I scar her face, chop off her limbs, and throw her from the 18th floor. and then cut her piece by piece, grind it up, and pour it down the drain. the Collins family will never find her, hahahahaha.”
Mirabella noticed that she talked a lot, going on and on about things that were of no use.
“But what if.” Serena feared being discovered. Not to mention the affection and importance the Collins family placed on Mirabella, and the power of her brothers—if one day it came out. she and Martha would be doomed!
“No one knows she’s here, and no one knows what she’s going through. Serena, watch closely how I take revenge for you!”With that, Martha viciously slapped Mirabella.
The sharp, crisp sound sent Serena’s heart racing, and she couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle any noise.
Martha had slapped Mirabella.
She really slapped her.
At that moment, Mirabella was like a prisoner at the mercy of her captor, utterly powerless to resist.
Mirabella was kidnapped!
Mirabella couldn’t break free now, could she?
Was she really about to die?
If she did, without a daughter, would the Collins family finally turn their affection back to her, their adopted girl?
And, the outside world was still in the dark about the Collins family having a biological daughter. They only knew of her, Serena, as the sole heiress. Mirabella had come and gone like a gust of wind, but in the end, it was Serena who graced the public eye wearing the crown jewel title of the Collins family.
Would that mean her engagement to Romeo could resume?
The mere thought of everything returning to how it used to be sent a thrill of excitement through Serena.
This was just too good.
It felt like a dream.
“Today, I’ll vent your anger for you. However she used to bully you in the past, I’ll make her pay back tenfold, a hundredfold!” Martha spat out, delivering another fierce slap to Mirabella’s cheek.