Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
David, who had been enjoying his meal heartily, looked up as the elder’s gazes settled on him. After swallowing his bite, he said, “Sean is ahead of me in line. Nudge him first!”
He couldn’t resist adding, “And Sean, when are you going to bring Ophelia home for dinner? Oh, wait, I should ask, when are you going to win Ophelia over?”
“Zip it! Eat your dinner.” Sean was clearly irked.
“If you don’t know how to woo a lady, just hire me to teach you. I’ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve,”
David said with a mischievous grin.
“Oh yeah? How come you’re still flying solo?”
“I just don’t want a girlfriend right now.”
“Enough!” Louisa interjected sharply. “Both of you better bring home girlfriends next year, or I’m keeping Bella away from you!”
“That harsh?” Sean and David said in unison, taken aback by how their mother had them by the short hairs.
Meanwhile, Mirabella sat to the side, her lips curled into a gentle smile.
The meal ended in high spirits.
Looking at the clock, Mirabella noted it was just past six.
“Bella, before you and Romeo head over to Fairfield Manor, I want to give you a gift for the New Year,”
Louisa said, pulling out two bank cards. “Here’s yours, may the New Year bring you success and take you to new heights. And Romeo, this is for you, wishing you prosperity and advancement in the coming year.”
Romeo hadn’t expected to be included and thanked her softly.
“Here’s mine!” Kenneth also handed them each a bank card. “May all your dreams come true in the New Year, may your worries vanish, and may your days be merry and free.”The other relatives presented their prepared gifts, one for Mirabella and one for Romeo.
“Wishing you both health and safety year after year.”
“May your hearts’ desires be fulfilled and good luck follow you.”
Mirabella flashed a warm smile. “I’ve also prepared some New Year’s gifts for you all. Just give me a moment. I’ll go get them.”
She turned and went upstairs.
Romeo then brought his gifts and began to distribute them.
“We can’t accept this, dear,” Cornelia protested. “We’re the elders. We can’t take money from the younger generation.”
“Grandma, it’s just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it and give me the chance to honor you,” Romeo insisted, holding out the gift.
“You’re too thoughtful. but we really can’t take it. It wouldn’t feel right.”
“Nothing to feel bad about, it’s from your grandson-in-law. Just take it,” David interjected, snatching the gift from Romeo’s hand and slipping it into Cornelia’s pocket. He then helped Romeo hand out the rest to the elders, winking at Romeo, “What about mine?”
“Every brother has one.” Romeo passed out the gifts, offering New Year’s blessings to each.
David hadn’t expected to receive a gift from Romeo this year.
But why’s it a toy? And just a toy? For him?Romeo couldn’t be that stingy, can he?
Wait, there’s something in it..
While everyone was busy chatting with Romeo, David turned away and sneakily peeked inside the toy, only to find a check for ten thousand bucks!
A ten-thousand-dollar gift for the New Year!
Romeo really didn’t hold back when it came to Mirabella’s family.
“Here comes Mirabella.” Clark noticed his sister descending the stairs with an armful of gift boxes and hurried to help her carry them.
Sean strode toward Mirabella, reaching out to take the gift box from her hands, “Why didn’t you ask me to come with you? If I had known you were carrying so much, I would’ve helped you upstairs.”
“It’s no big deal, not heavy.” Mirabella distributed gifts one by one, “Grandma and Grandpa, this is for you. Wishing you a year of good health and everything going your way.”
As she handed out the presents and shared her blessings, each elder was visibly delighted.
“When did you manage to sneak all this preparation, hiding it so well that even the cleaning staff didn’t notice.” Louisa was surprised to see Mirabella bringing out so many gifts.
“You’ve put so much thought into this.” Grandma Belinda repeatedly praised, “This year has been so meaningful.”
Sean opened his gift box to find a brand-new men’s wristwatch inside.
He had lost the watch Serena gave him, and he hadn’t anticipated that his sister would notice and buy him a new one.
It had to be said, Mirabella’s taste was definitely better than Serena’s. That old watch he lost? It was worth losing now!
The other brothers received similarly valuable men’s watches, each with a different design, be it gold-
trimmed, black-edged, silver-bordered, and so on.
David couldn’t wait to put his watch on, and after a session of admiring clicks.
“Bella, this watch is gorgeous. I’ll wear it forever.”
“This watch is way nicer than my old one.””Thank you, my dear sister.”
Mirabella handed the remaining gift box to Romeo. He was surprised. He got one too?
The brothers crowded around, curious about his gift. When Romeo opened it, it was indeed a men’s watch, but clearly different from what the others had received.
“Why does his look so much nicer?” David couldn’t hide his envy. “Romeo, let’s trade.”
“Everyone has their own style, so the watches reflect that,” Romeo wasn’t about to let his be traded away so easily.
Mirabella helped Romeo put on his watch, which only made David more envious. If he had known, he wouldn’t have been so quick to put on his own.
Romeo’s so lazy, he even needed Bella to help him with his watch.
After helping Romeo, Mirabella then brought other gifts, handing the first to Edith.
“Edith, thank you for looking after me all these months. I wish you health and that all your wishes come true in the new year.”
“Miss Bella, I have a gift, too?” Edith’s face lit up with joy and surprise as she took the gift, repeating her thanks, “Thank you, Miss Bella, thank you.”
“The rest of these, please distribute them to everyone else at Reflections Villa. Everyone gets one,”
Mirabella instructed as she passed the rest to Edith.
“Would you also mind handing these out for me?” Romeo presented his own gifts to Edith. “Make sure everyone gets one.””Thank you, Mr. McMillian, thank you, Miss Bella. Remembering all of us at Reflections Villa, I’m sure they’ll be thrilled!”
With a warm smile, Mirabella spoke up, “Well, Dad, Mom, I’m off to accompany Romeo to Fairfield Manor now.”
“Have fun, dear.” Louisa said affectionately.
“Oh, and we’ve prepared some New Year’s gifts for the McMillian family. Please take them with you,”
Kenneth immediately instructed someone to load the car.
Romeo was about to decline, but Mirabella interjected, “Take them, it’s from my mom and dad.” “Drive safely, and take it slow,” Louisa called out, waving them off from the driveway.
Fairfield Manor.
Phillip glanced at his watch; it was nearly seven o’clock. Here he was again, standing at the front gate, craning his neck in anticipation, but the one he was waiting for was nowhere to be seen.
Why hasn’t Bella arrived yet.
“Mr. Phillip, you might want to head inside. It’s quite chilly out here.” Brodie suggested with a smile, standing nearby. “As soon as Romeo’s car arrives, I’ll come and let you know.”
“I’ll wait a bit longer.” Phillip stood for another ten minutes, but still no sign of Mirabella. He muttered to himself, “Wonder if they’ve even set off yet.”
He couldn’t just text Romeo. He didn’t want the Collins family to think they were being rushed.
But oh, how he longed to see Bella.
It had been such a long time since she last visited.
“Still not here?”
At that moment, Shirley stepped forward to drape a coat over Phillip, following his gaze into the empty street. Not a car in sight.
“Your hands are a bit cold, aren’t they?” Phillip turned and took Shirley’s hands into his, noticing the chill. “You go on inside. I’ll let you know when they arrive.”
“It’s alright, I’m not cold.”
“Well, let me warm them up for you.” Phillip held her hands, tucking them into his pockets.Back in the living room.
A young heiress, bored of scrolling through her smartphone, complained, “She’s not even a member of the McMillian family and she’s already pulling rank, making all of us wait on her. If she gets any more comfortable, her head will be in the clouds.”