Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
The scars on her forehead, chin, palms, backs of her hands, and knees required laser treatments. Six months of continuous sessions were needed before the prominent scars would begin to fade.
Her left leg, fractured, demanded about three months to heal properly, and her knee needed half a year before she could ditch the wheelchair. But to walk unaided again, she’d have to endure another three months of grueling physical therapy.
In the end, she might only regain seventy to eighty percent of her mobility, a shadow of her former self.
Even if one handed her a pencil, she couldn’t produce the sketches and art she used to.
Her life felt like it had plummeted into an abyss, filled with agony and torment.
Gone was the beauty she cherished, the talents diminished, her reputation tarnished, and her social standing obliterated; even her bank account had been drained dry!
All the while, Mirabella was lifted to the skies, pampered like a princess by the entire family!
How could Serena let go of such disparity? Why did her once-beloved family treat her this way? Why did fate have to be so cruel?
Was she, Serena, destined to be trampled under Mirabella’s feet for all her life? Was she fated to always be less than Mirabella?At Reflections Villa.
Mirabella eyed the grand feast spread out on the table, as each family member vied to serve her.
“Bella, try the dish I made, will you?”
“Have a taste of mine first! Does it still suit your palate?”
“How about the one I made?”
“Give my specialty a try.”
“Everyone, quiet down.” David couldn’t help but interject, “Let Bella take her time to savor each dish, no need to rush her.”
“Exactly, let Bella eat at her own pace. Don’t want her choking now,” Louisa agreed.
With every bite Mirabella took, all eyes were fixed on her, awaiting her verdict.
If she declared it delicious, the cook would beam with joy, urging her to have more.
“You all should eat too,” Mirabella was not accustomed to being the center of such attention. To her, the true spirit of a feast was in sharing the meal together.
“We’ll dig in after you’ve given your thoughts on everything,” no one seemed in a hurry, all eager for Mirabella’s reviews.
“The texture’s rich, and the flavors are exquisite. This dish is both visually appealing and tasty.”
“This dish is a work of art in its presentation, a harmony of color, aroma, and taste. Delicious.”
“Dad’s dish has an exceptional balance of texture and flavor.”Mirabella lightly touched upon each dish, leaving everyone with satisfied smiles.
“And you haven’t tasted Romeo’s two creations yet,” Grandma spun the lazy Susan, bringing Romeo’s dishes in front of Mirabella.
As Mirabella sampled the first dish, her nose tingled with emotion.
Seeing her silent for an extended period, the others sensed something amiss. They exchanged glances, confusion written on their faces, unsure of what had just unfolded.
“How on earth did you manage to make this?” Mirabella looked up at Romeo, “Every New Year, Grannie Grace would make them for me. They were a symbol of togetherness, of everything ending perfectly.
This tastes just like hers.”
It was as if they were identical.
Everyone was caught off guard by this revelation, their gazes shifting to Romeo.
Romeo explained, “A few days ago, I got in touch with the old cook from the Melton household. I asked her about the dishes that were traditionally served at Christmas and New Year dinner, and that’s how I found out what Grace used to make for you.”
His eyes softened as he continued, “Before she was hospitalized, she sensed something was wrong with her health. Back then, she handwrote several recipes for the cook, all your favorites. But after she was admitted to the hospital, under Olga’s pressure, the cook was too scared to make any decent meals for you. That cookbook Grace had handwritten was tucked away. Thankfully, it wasn’t thrown out. I managed to get my hands on that cookbook.”
With that, Romeo handed Mirabella a small black notebook.
As Mirabella opened it, she saw Granny Grace’s handwriting outlining each recipe’s ingredients, measurements, and even her own preferences, detailed to a T.
Turning to the last pages, it was evident that Granny Grace’s health had been declining – her writing became shaky, but she persisted in finishing the last recipe.
She even included notes on Mirabella’s tastes, reminding whoever was cooking to add a bit more of this, a little less of that.
Mirabella’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, touched by Granny Grace’s behind-the-scenes efforts.”This dish,” Romeo said, “I made it on behalf of Grace. Her blessing for your New Year isn’t just for the past; it will be with you every year to come. You should be happy in the new year. Everyone who cares about you wants to see you doing well.”
“Absolutely, Romeo’s right.” Kenneth agreed, “Grace is always with us. Her love for you can’t be expressed face to face, but Romeo has conveyed it through his food.”
“Romeo, you’re so thoughtful.” Louisa’s voice cracked slightly with tears, “Your dad is right. Grace has never left us. Her care for you has penetrated every aspect of life.”
Mirabella lifted her moist eyes to look at Romeo, “Thank you.”
Although a ‘thank you’ seemed too formal after six months of dating, at that moment, Mirabella truly wanted to express her gratitude for his thoughtfulness, for the ways he tried to ease the regret, guilt, and remorse she felt for not being able to save Grannie Grace.
Such a man had warmed countless moments of her life, bringing her endless touches of emotion.
“There’s another dish you haven’t tried yet,” Romeo looked at her indulgently, his gaze tender.
He had made two dishes: one on behalf of Grannie Grace, and one on behalf of himself.
The fish was shaped into a five-layer cake, with carrots carved into hearts, stars, flowers, and other cute garnishes. The whole plate was both aesthetically pleasing and filled with childlike innocence.
Mirabella took a bite, finding the flavor and texture perfectly executed, leaving a lingering taste that beckoned for more.
She smiled at Romeo, nodding in approval, “Delicious.”
Romeo’s face broke into a knowing smile.”Let’s all eat together,” Mirabella called out.
“I’ll try this pearl meatballs from Grannie Grace.” David took a bite, his expression one of amazement, “So delicious! It tastes like home.”
“Let me have a go.” Clark also took one, nodding as he chewed, “Mmm, not bad. It seems that with Grannie Grace around, Bella was quite lucky.”
Laughter and chatter filled the room as everyone served each other.
Mirabella and Romeo exchanged a knowing glance. Just then, the chef approached, “Ms. Mirabella Collins, the dish you prepared is ready. I’ve turned off the heat. Shall I bring it out?”
Everyone suddenly remembered that Mirabella had been bustling around in the kitchen. Given its vast size and each person engrossed with their own culinary creations, hoping to impress Mirabella, they had no clue what she had whipped up for them.
The dish presented at the table was a particularly rare and expensive lobster, larger than life, its price tag dwarfing that of other well-known varieties. Originally, the chef had been tasked with preparing this lobster, but Mirabella had spotted it earlier in the afternoon and volunteered to take over.
She transformed it into a dish of exquisite beauty, so tantalizing it instantly whetted everyone’s appetite.
“Whoa, sis, you can cook lobster???” Clark was utterly astounded, hastily pulling out his phone to snap a flurry of photos.
“Sis, is there anything in this world you can’t do?”
Before David could finish his thought, he felt a sharp pinch from Mom on his arm and a stealthy stomp from Dad under the table, all while receiving a barrage of warning glares from around the table.
Confused and in pain, David wondered what he had said wrong.
“It’s okay.” Mirabella just smiled calmly, “Why don’t you all give it a try?”
With that, everyone eagerly reached for their forks, chuckling and chatting.
“If Bella made it, it’s got to be delicious.”
“This is definitely chef-level work.”
The chef, overhearing their praises, immediately concurred, “Even a chef with three to five years of experience might not handle a lobster this perfectly, this delicately. Ms. Mirabella Collins’s culinary skillsare truly humbling.”
“To hear that from Daniel…” Grandma Belinda said with a beaming smile, “means it’s truly high praise.
Bella, your cooking is definitely top-notch.”
David was still puzzled about what he had done wrong until he caught Clark’s eye. Clark discreetly sent him a text message.
“The only thing sis couldn’t do was save Grannie Grace. Let’s not bring that up again.”
David’s mind buzzed with realization; he had inadvertently rubbed salt into his sister’s wounds. But his sister didn’t blame him. Seeing that he hadn’t started eating, she even got up to place a succulent piece of lobster onto his plate.
“Try it, David.”
Her face remained serene and sweet, just as gentle and endearing as ever.
David was overwhelmed with guilt, cursing his thoughtless chatter. He resolved never to mention it again.
“Oh, by the way, you boys, why didn’t you bring your girlfriends over for dinner tonight?” Grandma Belinda suddenly asked.
Earlier, Louisa had suggested the boys visit their girlfriends’ families first to show respect, and then bring them over to join the festive dinner.
“Myrna’s family went up to the mountains for a memorial service. They’ll have dinner at the ancestral home. It’s a long trip, and I didn’t want her to have to travel back and forth,” Chasel explained first.
“I also agreed with Carol that we’d keep it simple for dinner, and I’ll visit her place later,” Clark added.Hans nodded in agreement, “Same for me.”
The attention then turned to the two bachelors of the group.