Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Ever since she had woken up to this nightmare, it had been one shocking revelation after another. She felt like she was living in a bad dream, her reality crumbling around her.
Martin hesitated, knowing the fragility of Serena’s state. Finally, he locked eyes with her and confessed, “There is one more thing. Do you remember when you thought Alma had you beaten up, shoved into a sack? Well, I had someone take care of her in return, but her wounds healed, and her mother’s been digging around. She confronted me recently.”
“Beverly came after you? Does she know you did it?” Serena couldn’t imagine how Beverly, despite her cunning, had managed to trace it back to Martin so quickly.
“Not exactly,” he replied. “She just told me it wasn’t Alma who had you beaten up. We got the wrong person.”
Serena scoffed in disbelief. Who else could despise her enough to do such a thing?
After a moment, Martin added gravely, “She claimed it was Romeo who ordered it.”
The room spun as Serena tried to process what she’d just heard. It couldn’t be true.
“She said there’s proof, it was Romeo,” Martin continued, watching her closely, concerned she might crumble under the weight of this revelation. She had loved Romeo so passionately.”No, it can’t be.” Serena shook her head, refusing to accept it. How could Romeo, who she had adored, be behind such a cruel act?
“That night, you upset Mirabella, and Romeo wanted revenge for her. It’s not surprising.”
Martin recalled the incident, knowing that even with his influence, he couldn’t touch Romeo. Besides, Serena had been in the wrong.
“Is it really him?” Serena’s hands, like heavy paws, clung to Martin as she sought a sliver of hope, “Is the evidence real?”
Martin nodded solemnly, confirming her worst fears.
Serena’s hands fell limp by her side, the harsh truth sinking in. Romeo’s disdain for her ran so deep.
She had once thought it was Mirabella who kept Romeo at arm’s length, but now she understood the bitter truth. It was her own presence that he detested.
“Given the past ties between the Collins and the McMillian families, Romeo never confronted you openly. But things are different now. You’ve severed ties with the Collins. We need to keep a low profile and focus on healing. Let the past go,” Martin advised gently, guiding her away from the room that symbolized her pain.
As he locked the door behind them, he added, “I’m locking away your past. From now on, you must look forward.”
Tears streamed down Serena’s cheeks, her emotions indescribable.
At Reflections Villa, Mirabella had brought joy to her brothers and the staff the evening before, distributing skincare products and ointments like treasures. Their gratitude and happiness were a stark contrast to Serena’s heartache.
This morning, Mirabella woke to a chorus of voices echoing through the grand foyer of the mansion.
“Miss Bella’s awake!”
“Miss Bella’s getting up!”
“Miss Bella’s donning her New Year’s outfit!”
Confusion danced across Mirabella’s mind. She was greeted by a servant beaming with excitement, “Miss Bella, could you please join us on the terrace? Everyone’s waiting for you!”
With a subtle curve of her lips, Mirabella replied, “Sure.”
Dressed in her festive attire, Mirabella stepped onto the sprawling terrace where her grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, and five brothers—all decked out in matching red holiday sweaters—were waiting for her with smiles that could light up the night sky.
Their outfits varied in style, but the vivid color unified them, exuding an aura of joy and celebration.
“Bella looks so adorable in that outfit!”
“Our little sis can make any look work. She’s stunning without even trying. Imagine the splash she’ll make when we reveal her identity tomorrow.”
“Good morning, Bella.”
“Come over here, they’re about to arrive!”
The family parted, granting Mirabella the center stage at the very front of the terrace.In her view stretched two long lines of firecrackers, spanning from the top of the villa all the way to the gates.
At the signal, the servants outside ignited the firecrackers, and the crackling sounds swiftly filled the air with the essence of the New Year.
David covered his sister’s ears, concerned the noise might be too loud for her.
A chilly breeze whisked by, and Hans slipped a pair of warm gloves onto Mirabella’s hands—one of which was playfully snatched by Chasel to help her with the other.
Clark wrapped a cozy scarf around Mirabella’s neck.
Sean shrugged off his coat and draped it over his sister to shield her from the cold.
As the firecrackers burned their way to the end, music filled the air, heralding the arrival of two dance troupes. The performers, clad in their vibrant costumes, danced through the thick smoke left by the firecrackers, making a majestic entrance through the mansion gates.
Mirabella had not expected to witness a dance celebration at this time of year. The dancers leaped and moved with rhythm and grace, executing acrobatic feats that drew laughter and cheers from the spectating family.
The dancers approached, dancing beneath them, bringing with them blessings for the new year.
Louisa watched, utterly captivated, her applause echoing, “This is spectacular, Bella, isn’t it amazing?”
“It is,” Mirabella responded, her eyes wide with wonder. It was a stark contrast to the quiet New Year celebrations she had with Grannie Grace back at the Melton household.
Such grandeur and festivity were a first for her.The dancers simultaneously unfurled banners with New Year’s greetings.
The applause erupted once more.
As the dance concluded, the performers removed their costumes with a sense of ceremony and called out to those on the second-floor terrace, “We wish you all happy New Year, and all the best.”
“Thank you!” Louisa beamed, her smile so wide her cheeks might split. She motioned to the servants to hand out the New Year’s bonuses.
Then they went into the house.
“Bella, cool or what?” David squeezed in beside Mirabella to her left, asking, “Mom and Dad said you probably haven’t seen a traditional dance before, so they arranged a special show right at our doorstep.”
“Bella hasn’t missed out on much,” Clark interjected from her right, “Hungry? Let’s head down for some breakfast.”
Mirabella could sense the festive spirit and the bustle. She smiled softly and asked, “Why’s everyone up so early today? Did you plot this together?”
She herself wasn’t one to sleep in, and she had risen quite early today, only to find everyone else was up even earlier.
“We made a pact to wear matching family outfits as a surprise for you.” David chuckled, “You wouldn’t believe how hard it used to be to get them to wear matching outfits in the past! But now, wanting to look more like a family with you, they couldn’t wait to put them on! Clark was up at the crack of dawn, even took a shower, just to slip into these new threads.”
“Like you didn’t shower,” Clark laughed, “but the real shocker must be Hans and Sean. You could have held a knife to their throats in years past and they still wouldn’t have worn matching outfits. Especially not in such a bright color. But this year, without any arm-twisting, Mom and Dad managed to get them into the gear.””I look mighty spry in this get-up, don’t I?” Cornelia smoothly edged Clark aside, linking arms with Mirabella, “Don’t I look dapper?”
Mirabella’s gaze fell on her grandmother and said to her, “You look stunning.”
“Told you! That outfit would get compliments anywhere. It really is a winner, no foolin’.” Belinda also nudged David aside, taking Mirabella’s other arm as she spoke to Cornelia, “See, even Bella agrees.
She wouldn’t lie. You truly look fabulous!”
“I think you look even more charming, so elegant and fitting.” Cornelia lavished praise in return.
David and Clark, seeing the mutual admiration fest, were at a loss for words. Why push them out of the way to compliment each other?
But then, Louisa squeezed in front of them, eager to be closer to her daughter. “Bella, what do you think of my outfit?”
“And mine! You haven’t complimented me yet!” Kenneth elbowed his two sons even further away.
Eventually, all the elders surrounded Mirabella, insisting on riding the elevator with her.
Outside, the five brothers were left waiting, resigned to catch the next one.
“Hans, don’t you think our elevator’s a bit on the small side? Should we get a bigger one installed?” one joked.
“I’m taking the stairs. I’m sitting next to Bella for breakfast!”
“Wait for me, I’m coming too!”
As David and Clark sprinted down, Hans remarked dryly, “Lucky if we’re not squeezed out to the kids’
table, let alone sit next to Bella.”Sure enough.
By the time David and Clark made it downstairs, the seats around Mirabella were already claimed by Cornelia and Belinda.
Kenneth and Louisa aimed to sit beside the two, but two even older relatives had beat them to it.
“Ah, I’m finally close to Bella,” Bernard said with a twinkle in his eye. “I don’t get much time with Bella usually. Gotta take these few days to spoil our darling, serve her a bit more.”
“We can’t be sitting too far off, else reaching over to Bella will be quite the stretch…” Darren added.
With no choice left, Kenneth and Louisa tried to sit next to them, only to hear Eunice say, “We’re not often around, and as uncles and aunts, we ought to be near our niece, shouldn’t we? The rest of you lot have plenty of chances to dote on Bella, right?”
In the end, Kenneth and Louisa could only snag seats further away.
David and Clark exchanged a look, both utterly dumbfounded.
All they wanted was to join Bella for a casual breakfast. Was it really necessary to compete for seats like this?
Sean wasn’t ready to back down. He stepped forward and said, “Grandpa, at your age, it’s impressive enough that you can serve yourself. Let me help Bella with her plate.”
“You little rascal, using your concern for my age just to snag a better seat.” Bernard feigned anger.
“I meant you should just serve yourself…”