Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
She had killed Martha!!
Martha’s death had been so cruel, so tragic.
Serena wept bitterly, her hands clutching her knees, her face buried in them, crying as though her heart was breaking.
She knew no one would ever love her like Martha did.
Nobody would ever be so considerate of her again.
Nobody would ever risk their life to protect her.
Just then, the door burst open.
Serena, startled, lifted her tear-stained face, taken aback to see a dozen uninvited guests before her.
Her cheeks glistened with the trails of fresh tears, eyes rimmed red, unable to comprehend why Edith had suddenly brought so many people.
“Ms. Serena.” Betty began, noticing her tears and initially moved to comfort her. But remembering the things Serena had done, her voice trailed off, disappointment evident as she looked away, silent once more.
Not only was the lady disheartened, but even the servants, having seen the evidence, found Serena to be malicious and terrifying.
They had been blind to trust in her supposed kindness and innocence.
“Madam requests your presence at the main house,” Edith announced without any term of endearment, her face stern as if summoning a criminal.
A bad feeling washed over Serena as she eyed the group warily. “Did Mother say what she wants to see me for?”
“You’ll find out when you get there,” Edith replied coldly. “Are you going to walk on your own, or shall these gentlemen behind me have to escort you?”Serena’s heart raced with panic. Could her parents have already learned about Martha kidnapping Mirabella??
. It seemed impossible.
Mirabella’s phone had been tossed from the eighteenth floor by Martha.
Without a means to communicate, how could the news have spread so quickly.
Even though Martha had fallen from the eighteenth floor, with hundreds of underlings seeking revenge, Mirabella, no matter how tough, couldn’t have fought her way out so quickly.
Perhaps she died in there, and her parents got wind of it and came to question her.
After all, Martha was her nanny.
If that was the case, as long as she kept her mouth shut, this would all blow over soon.
She could return to being Ms. Collins, the darling daughter.
Her engagement to Romeo could continue.
With these thoughts, she wiped away the last of her tears and stood up, saying obediently, “I’ll come with you.”
Perhaps she had sat crying for too long because, as she took a step, she felt dizzy. Her body swayed, and she nearly fell.
Edith glanced at her, suspecting that this wretched girl might have sensed something and was feigning illness to avoid punishment.After all the despicable things she had done to Ms. Bella, did she think she could play the frail card to escape? Not on Edith’s watch.
Serena steadied herself, took a moment to gather her balance, and then followed Edith without further protest.
Edith’s demeanor today was unusually cold. In the past, no matter how much she disliked her, she would always greet her with a respectful “Ms. Serena”.
But today, the chill was excessive. Serena racked her brain for Edith’s motives and eyed the crowd she had brought with her. They were just supposed to escort her to the main house, so why the need for so many people?
It was as if they were afraid she might run.
What could her mother possibly want to talk about so urgently?
Could it be that Mirabella was dead, and that was why everyone’s attitude toward her was less warm than before?
The thought that Mirabella might be dead brought a twisted sense of relief to Serena’s heart.
That wretch deserved it.
Meanwhile, Eunice pressed the remote control with a languid grace. “Also,” she began, in a voice as calm as a still lake, “I’ve looked into the gifts you’ve lavished on her over the years—designer clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, properties, cars, even the boutique shops—everything’s been sold. Martha took them all to international auctions to avoid your suspicion.”
Kenneth and Louisa were stunned into silence, their shock morphing into stone.
“Perhaps fearing domestic sales would catch your attention, they took their business abroad. Most of the items have been sold off.” Eunice added casually.
Exchanging worried glances, Kenneth and Louisa felt a chill run down their spines.
Putting aside Serena’s urgent need for cash—even if she did need it, she had over ten million dollars in her account. And if that wasn’t enough, why sell so many assets?
What was she planning?
Why did she suddenly need all that money?
Louisa’s mind raced to a recent memory. “No wonder last month I stumbled upon Martha organizing a pile of Serena’s unworn clothes and accessories. When I asked, she told me Serena wanted to donate them to the less fortunate in rural areas. At that time, I thought.what a kind-hearted child.”
But in reality, Martha had been secretly selling them off to line her own pockets.
It was utterly repugnant!
“What does she need all that money for?” Kenneth asked Eunice, his voice barely concealing his disappointment.Eunice replied with a serene detachment, “My guess? She probably feels that with Bella back in the picture, eventually everything will go to her. As the adoptive daughter, her share will diminish. So, she’s cashing in while her title still has value.”
It seemed that to Serena, only the money in hand was truly hers.
“Is this the same girl we raised for eighteen years, protected and cherished as our own?” Louisa turned to Kenneth, her eyes brimming with a sad, bitter smile.
They had treated her like their own flesh and blood, yet she saw them merely as ATMs, monkeys to be played, fools to be duped!
“No wonder she’s been coming up with excuses lately—good grades, piano progress, praise from tutors—to get rewarded. One moment she wants an island abroad, the next a villa. She’s been eager to liquidate.” Kenneth’s heart was too heavy for words.
They had indeed raised a ‘fine daughter.’
When Serena entered the living room, following Edith, the sight of Eunice sitting elegantly on the couch, as imposing and intellectual as ever, struck her. Uncle Bard looked at her with the eyes of a stranger, his thoughts inscrutable.
But it was her mother Louisa, her eyes shut in a mix of grief and anger, who caught her attention. After a long moment, Louisa wiped away a tear that had escaped her control.
And her father Kenneth, with a hand pressed against his temple, seemed troubled and weary.
“Uncle, Auntie, you’ve come?” Serena greeted them with her usual sweet and sensible smile. “I’m so happy to see you. This year’s going to be livelier than ever.”Bard didn’t respond, and Eunice merely lifted her teacup to sip her tea, disregarding the presence before her.
Serena, puzzled by their coldness, turned to Louisa and asked with a forced smile, “Mom, why are you crying? Did something happen? Dad, are you not feeling well? Headache? Shall I help you with that?”
Louisa wiped her tears and struggled to compose herself. After a brief pause, she stood up and walked towards Serena.
The girl standing before them still wore that innocent, clear smile, her attitude sincere, her eyes bright with unfeigned innocence.
If it weren’t for the evidence they had just seen, the numerous things Eunice had revealed, Louisa would never have believed that this sweet girl could be so heartlessly cruel, so petty and vindictive.
With a resounding slap, Louisa’s hand struck Serena, knocking her to the floor.
Serena fell, her mind a blank, looking up in confusion and fear at the woman she had always called mother.
Why would Mother hit her??
“Mom, what’s wrong. Did I do something wrong??”
Never before, even when she had made the gravest mistakes, had her mother laid a hand on her.
What was different today??
“Look at the mess you’ve made—” Louisa, seething with anger, pointed at the projection on the wall.
Eunice had set up a slideshow, and only now did Serena realize with utter shock that there was a projection on the wall!!
As the list of her past misdeeds unfolded before her eyes, including fighting with Mirabella over a dress, splashing wine on Mirabella, slipping a drug into Mirabella’s drink, and even hiding the truth about a killer’s death.
The more Serena saw, the colder and shakier she felt. Was this why Mother was confronting her?
Was it Eunice?!
Had Eunice gathered this evidence and presented it to her parents?
Why would Eunice want to hurt her??
Yes, it had to be Eunice. Only Eunice would do this because Eunice adored Mirabella and disliked Serena, the outsider!
Serena’s gaze was one of shocked disbelief, mixed with resentment, as she turned to look at Eunice, who sat on the couch still exuding her usual charm.”I told you, give me a few days to wrap up some business, and I’d come for you.”
Eunice’s words sent a chill down Serena’s spine, leaving her mind utterly blank.
What to do??
How could she explain herself??