Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Mirabella’s lips curled up slightly, as if in on some secret pact with him.
She didn’t really care. As long as David needed her, she was willing to be tied to his rising star, even if it meant his fame would hit new heights.
At For·ena Villa, Serena cried herself to sleep in Martin’s arms.
The next morning, she woke up to find only Dora and an unnamed servant by her bedside.”Serena, you’re awake?” Dora was the first to notice, her young face beaming with a cute smile, “Shall I help you freshen up?”
Noticing Serena’s gaze on the other servant, Dora cheerfully introduced, “This is June, she’ll be looking after you with me.”
Serena nodded and then asked, “Where’s Martin?”
“Mr. Martin had some urgent business but don’t worry, today’s New Year and he’ll definitely be back to join you for the dinner!”
Dora and June quickly brought in warm water, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
“Serena, you can’t get the bandage on your hand wet, let me help you brush your teeth,” Dora offered.
After she finished, June approached with a warm towel, “Serena, let me wash your face for you. Does this hurt?”
Her touch was feather-light, and Serena shook her head, letting them fuss over her.
Once she was all cleaned up, Dora and June wheeled over a couple of clothes racks.
“It’s New Year, which outfit would you like to wear?” Dora showed Serena the options, “The master picked these out for you, he was choosing them one by one on his phone and had them delivered here, all cleaned and ready.”
“You know, Mr. Martin really cares for you.” June couldn’t help but praise, “We’ve never seen Mr. Martin so taken with anyone before. You’re the first.”
Serena’s eyes flicked over the beautiful clothes before her, recalling how the Collins family had always had the most gorgeous outfits tailored for every New Year.Compared to the custom-made garments from the Collins family, these ready-made designer pieces clearly fell short, not crafted to fit her figure like the haute couture she was used to.
Martin probably didn’t understand all this. Forget an average family; even wealthy households didn’t flaunt their wealth like the Collins family, celebrating every holiday with such pomp and splendor, demanding each outfit to be unique.
Compared to the happiness and excitement of years past, this year’s Serena felt disinterested, her voice tinged with melancholy, “Never mind.”
She didn’t want to change.
With her current disheveled appearance, what difference did a beautiful dress make?
This year, there wouldn’t be a circle of girlfriends around her, complimenting her beauty and envying her couture life.
Nor would there be any admirers dazzled by her glamorous look.
Nobody would be fawning over her, gathering around to please her.
“Let’s try something different, honey. This dress would look stunning on you, Serena. Why don’t you give it a go?”
With a gentle nudge from Dora, Serena eventually slipped into a crisp white New Year’s outfit.
The reason for avoiding a colorful one was a somber one; her biological parents had passed away not too long ago.
June knelt down to help her into a pair of chic new shoes.
Serena was surprised that Martin even knew her shoe size.
With the help of Dora and June, she settled into her wheelchair, and they wheeled her down to the dining room for breakfast.
After they finished, Dora casually suggested, “Serena, Mr. Martin isn’t back yet. How about I push you out to the garden for some fresh air, maybe take in the garden a bit?”
Serena nodded. Upon reaching the garden, she was astonished to find flower beds brimming with blooms as exquisite as those found in the Collins family’s estate.
“How did Martin know I loved these flowers?”
She was bewildered. Could it be that he had paid particular attention during his visits to the Collins’?
But that couldn’t be right. The Collins estate housed countless plants; how could he possibly discern which ones she favored?”Mr. Martin said these were discarded by the Collins family, just left outside. He picked them up.” Dora spoke truthfully. “That same night, along with these flowers, there were many other things delivered, all related to you, Serena.”
“What?” Serena’s eyes widened in shock. “Show me.”
Dora pushed the wheelchair to a guest room. As the door swung open, Serena’s gaze fell upon the shelves lined with trophies, medals, and certificates she had earned throughout her life.
These things, once thrown away by the Collins family, had reappeared here, spotless, as if this was where they truly belonged.
Among them were gifts she had given to the Collins’ over the years: drawings for her brother, letters, handmade birthday cards.
Not a single thing was missing; they were all here.
“Is everything here discarded by the Collins?” Tears streamed down Serena’s cheeks as she was unable to believe that they had thrown it all away.
With her trembling fingers, she picked up a drawing she had made for her brother. Probably because it had been left outside, the drawing was stained with marks that couldn’t be erased.
They could never be reclaimed, just like the happy memories with her brothers.
Everything was ruined.
“Yes,” Dora confirmed. “They threw these away. It was Mr. Martin who sent for them to be collected.”
Serena gazed at the things she had once gifted to the Collins family: watches, lighters, trinkets.
Memories of the past enveloped her.Her tears flowed unchecked—how could they do this? How could they bear to?
Even if she had made mistakes, her kindness as a child was genuine and heartfelt.
They could reject the person she had become, but how could they deny her past innocence and purity, when all she had in her eyes and heart was them?
Back then, she truly saw them as family. Whether it was those drawings or the handmade birthday cards, it was all her sincere affection.
How could they trample on it like this?
“What’s wrong?”
Martin had rushed over as soon as he finished his business, and upon seeing Serena clutching her old paintings, sobbing her heart out, he couldn’t help but scold the servants nearby, “Who thought it was a good idea to bring Serena here?”
These things were part of Serena’s cherished memories, and he couldn’t bear the thought of the Collins family tossing them away like trash. He didn’t want Serena to see them discarded, so he had kept them safe for her.
He had planned to wait until Serena was feeling better before he broke the news to her.
But the servants had brought her here too soon. Wasn’t this just rubbing salt in her wounds, making her feel even worse?
“I’m so sorry, sir, we had no idea these things would upset Serena.” Dora and June quickly apologized sincerely with regret.
“Everyone, out.” Martin didn’t want to see them anymore. He knelt gently in front of Serena, tenderly wiping away her tears, at a loss for words.
Serena gazed at her childhood painting of a sunflower, remembering how Sean had proudly displayed it on his bedroom wall, treasuring it so dearly.
But now, Sean just abandoned it.
Between sobs, Serena also discovered the gifts she had once given to her grandparents – emerald rings and bracelets, all piled up here.”Did they throw these away, too?” Serena’s heart ached unbearably. They just disposed of such precious, high-quality jewels without a second thought.
Had even her grandparents given up on her completely?
In the past, these things were inseparable from her grandparents, who cherished them daily, always wearing them.
But now…
“They auctioned them off, donating all the proceeds to charity, saying they wanted to do something good.” Though it pained him, Martin revealed the truth, “I had someone bid on these for me.”
It was inappropriate for him to appear in person.
At the auction two days ago, he had made sure to buy back all these things.
Serena hadn’t realized Martin had done so much for her behind the scenes and couldn’t help but embrace him.
In the whole wide world, it seemed no one else could love her like he did.
After crying for a while, as if all hope was lost, she finally said resignedly, “Martin, when you have time, help me take all the identification info and certificate I have at the Collins family.”
At this point, she no longer wanted to stay where she was unwelcome.
By leaving on her own terms, she could at least maintain some dignity.
“It’s already been done. To be precise, it was Mr. and Mrs. Collins who removed you first.”
Serena’s eyes widened in disbelief, not knowing about this at all.”Also, your bank accounts have been frozen. The Collins family said they’ve given you enough over the years, and that money was theirs. They’re going to leave it to Mirabella.”
Serena was utterly shocked. She never imagined that all the money from selling her properties, cars, clothes, bags, and more, painstakingly handled by her and Martha, was now frozen, and eventually, it would all go to Mirabella.
Was she now left with nothing?
“But don’t worry, you can use my cards. Every dime I earn is yours.” Martin reassured her.
Serena stood numbly in the dimly lit room, her mind a chaotic swirl of disbelief and betrayal. The Collins family, to whom she had given her loyalty and love, had cut her off without a second thought upon discovering she was not their flesh and blood. It was more than she could bear.
After what felt like an eternity, she managed to lift her gaze towards Martin and asked with a voice tinged with desperation, “Is there anything else you’re keeping from me? What else don’t I know?”