Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Sis.” Sean was dying to ask if it wasn’t too late to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness.
In the chilly air, Steward was continuously wiping sweat from his brow, “Ms. Collins, you’ve got it all wrong. Sean’s been digging into that clinic fire all along. Some folks are sly as foxes, hiding their tails.
Just as we were closing in on some clues, you went and rescued that kid from the cage. Truth is, if you hadn’t stepped in, Sean would’ve ordered us to save the kid. We were just waiting for the key suspect to show, and the very next second, we’d have made our move!”
“So, I screwed up your plan?” Mirabella quipped, clearly amused.
Steward was a nervous wreck, thinking, man, Ms. Collins can be intimidating. He glanced at Sean, mentally tossing the ball into his court as if to say, “I’ve lost my voice, man. Your turn.”
Sean, panicking, didn’t know what to say and snapped at Steward, “What are you talking about? We’re the ones who scared her! Besides, she was investigating the fire too, doing her part in secret. She’s the unsung hero of the family!”
Turning to Mirabella after that, Sean tried to appease her with a desperate charm, “It’s all my fault. Hey, you’ve got those boxing gloves in hand – take a swing at me.”
Mirabella couldn’t help but suppress a smile, pretending to stay silent.
If only his sis would agree to hit him, that’d be fine. But what if she stayed quiet like this? He was tempted to wire another five million dollars to David and beg for advice on how to soothe his sister’s anger.”I wasn’t there to investigate the clinic fire,” Mirabella finally threw him a lifeline.
Sean grabbed the chance, “Then what were you doing there?”
What else could it be if she was spotted in a place as chaotic as the Demon Ring?
“I went to get a medicinal herb, I just happened to see you with someone.”
Hearing this, Sean cut her off, “Sis, let me explain; it’s not what you think!”
Steward was beyond mortified, thinking Sean’s reputation was beyond saving – even a miracle worker couldn’t fix this mess.
“There’s no need to explain your personal life to me, Sean.”
“No, that woman was trying to drug me; she’s a hitman; she wanted to kill me.”
“That exciting, huh?”
Sean was baffled. Exciting? His sister truly was one of a kind.
“Ms. Collins, Sean’s got a lot of enemies out there. He might come off as a bit of a jerk, but that’s just his armor.”
Sean thought, “Who are you calling a jerk? Don’t think I can’t hit you with my sister’s presence.”
Steward racked his brain to rehabilitate Sean’s image, “Ms. Collins, you didn’t see him when we thought you were kidnapped. He ripped out his IV and raced to the abandoned building. When they tricked Sean into believing you were dead, the grief on his face was enough to make even a tough guy like me want to cry. He really cares about you!”
“Shut up,” Sean cringed at the cheesiness. Would his sister think it was as cringe-worthy as he did?Hearing that Martha’s people had lied to Sean about her death, Mirabella looked at him and saw a vulnerability that was so unlike his usual confident demeanor.
“Alright.” Mirabella said, lightening up, “Let’s call it water under the bridge.”
Both Sean and Steward exchanged glances, barely containing their urge to jump up and celebrate.
Had his sis forgiven him? Was she really not holding a grudge?
Sean felt, once again, that his sister was the best!
“Hey, you two, wash up. Dinner’s ready. Steward, you join us!” Louisa called out from the kitchen.
“C’mon, it’s chow time!” Sean said with a skip in his step, trailing behind Mirabella, his face lit up with excitement.
Steward let out a sigh of relief and a smile spread across his face.
At the dinner table, everyone gathered around as Sean ladled some soup for Mirabella and set the bowl in front of her. At the same time, Mirabella scooped up a portion of the mashed potatoes that the housekeeper brought out and placed it in front of Sean.
This simple exchange touched Sean deeply. How could his sister be so sweet, so caring!
“Thanks, sis.”
“Alright, let’s dig in, everyone. Sean and Steward have been out in the cold for too long, eat up and get warm. Bella, make sure you have plenty too!” Kenneth beamed cheerfully.
“Let’s have a toast first, shall we? It’s been ages since mom and dad, and my brother and his wife have come over for dinner. It’s so nice to have everyone together,” Louisa lifted her wine glass in the air.
The others promptly raised their glasses in agreement.
Sean picked up an empty glass, poured some lemonade for his sister, and took away the wine glass in front of her, “Kids shouldn’t drink alcohol.”
The clinking of glasses filled the room, and once they were empty, Darren served some food, bending over to place them in Mirabella’s bowl.Sean had just set a piece of chicken on Mirabella’s plate when he noticed that everyone had instinctively served her first. By the time his turn came, her plate was piled up like a little mountain, and his piece of chicken had no space to rest – it would just roll off.
Steward couldn’t help but notice how much affection Ms. Collins received from her family. The simple act of serving food clearly showed that she was treated like a princess.
“Is that for me?” Mirabella reached out with her spoon.
Sean happily placed the chicken on her spoon, “For you. What else would you like? I’ll get it for you.”
“It’s okay. I already have plenty and can’t finish it. Why don’t you eat while it’s still warm.” Mirabella responded, then turned her attention to Steward, “Help yourself to more.”
“Thanks, Ms. Collins, I surely will,” Steward replied, not expecting to be dining at the table with them.
After the journey with Sean, he was famished.
As Sean took a bite of mashed potatoes, Louisa teased, “So, how does it taste, eating a meal served by Dr. Bell, Maestro Melody, Mirabelle, and Labella?”
Upon hearing it, Sean froze. Steward, mid-bite with cheeks puffed, stared wide-eyed. Ms. Collins was what?
Beyond being Dr. Bell, she had all these other titles? That was seriously impressive.
Sitting there feeling like a fish out of water, Steward wondered if he even deserved to be at this table.
Was it too late to retreat to a corner with his plate?
Sean looked incredulously at his sister as everyone else laughed.”That’s what you get for not coming home. Your sister’s accomplishments are overwhelming, aren’t they?”
“Let me tell you, her credentials go way beyond these. You’ll find out in time.”
“Don’t tell him everything yet. Let him figure out the rest on his own.”
“Exactly.”
Sean suddenly felt he didn’t deserve even passing the mashed potatoes to his sister at the dinner table.
It finally dawned on Steward why Ms. Collins carried herself with such aloof pride when she first walked in – she had the chops to back it up.
“Sean’s no slouch either. He’s got a Midas touch with international economies, a sharp eye for investments, and he’s got connections in the legal field and the underground world. Plus, he’s into racing, skydiving, rock climbing, you name it, he does it. Extreme sports are like kids’ play to him. Birds of a feather flock together, right? Hahaha.”
Steward meant to sing Sean’s praises, but a look from Sean shut him up. That look said it all, “Zip it!”
Compared to his sister, who was a top dog in every field, his hobbies sounded frivolously unserious.
“Always fooling around with this and that. You’re her brother, time to show some gravitas,” Louisa chided gently yet fondly told Mirabella, “Bella, have some more.”
“Sean’s already making waves back in Belloria, his reputation’s thunderous – puts my younger self to shame,” Bard lifted his glass to drink with his nephew, eyes shimmering with pride and recognition.
“The achievements I and Bard had at our age, Sean’s managed at his – and all by himself,” Eunice arched her crimson lips into a stunning smile, drinking with Sean. How many could make the legal and underground worlds stand at attention at such a young age?
“I think Sean’s quite remarkable too,” Mirabella picked up her glass of lemonade for a toast, “Here’s to Sean.”
Sean hadn’t expected such praise and acknowledgment from his sister, and he drained his glass in one happy gulp.”Every Collins is a diamond in the rough,” Darren said with a beaming grin.
“Absolutely, whether men or women, each one is a young achiever,” Belinda’s smile was full of contentment.
“Including Ms. Serena Collins, who, under Mr. Kenneth Collins and Mrs. Louisa Collins’s meticulous guidance, has been exceptional since she was little.”
Steward’s comment, out of the blue, caused Kenneth and Louisa’s smiles to freeze on their faces. Not just them. Even Darren, Belinda, Bard, and Eunice lost their smiles. The harmonious and joyful atmosphere vanished, replaced by a strange silence.
Steward had intended to compliment them on their excellent upbringing; even the adopted daughter was raised so well, but seeing this scene, he was completely taken aback.
What’s going on? Did he say something wrong? Was Serena off-limits?
He looked at Sean, as if asking, “What’s happening here?”
Sean’s face said, “How would I know?”
“She’s no longer part of this family,” Louisa suddenly declared.
Steward’s eyes bulged, baffled. What did that mean? Kicked out of the family? Sean looked equally surprised.
“Let’s talk about this after dinner,” Louisa said, not wishing to dampen the mood over her.
“Come on, let’s eat,” Darren tried to lift the spirits, reaching for the roast chicken first.
Others followed suit, picking at their food, sipping their soup. Although there was still conversation and laughter, the vibe had shifted palpably from before.Steward shivered slightly, suddenly finding his food tasteless. Ever since Serena’s name was mentioned, a shadow seemed to fall over the gathering.
It was all because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut!
Why did he have to mention Serena? It was clear he hadn’t thought before he spoke.
After an anxiety-filled dinner, where Steward barely managed to keep his composure, he risked a glance at Sean, who seemed to have a lightbulb moment and surmised, “Is it about the whole mess with Martha and Bella’s kidnapping?”