Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“Dude,” Sean couldn’t believe this Romeo guy had the nerve to snatch a kiss from their little sister right on their doorstep.
“Sean, you get back here.” David grabbed Sean’s shirt, trying to keep him from storming out. “Don’t ruin their moment, man.”
“This is fantastic. I reckon we’ll be handing out their wedding candy before the year’s out!” Grandma Cornelia was overjoyed at the sight.
“If we could throw a big engagement party this year, that would be something,” Grandpa Bernard said with a twinkle in his eye.Kenneth felt a tug at his heart, torn between reluctance to let his little girl go and hope for her happiness.
“Are they ever gonna stop kissing.”
Sean’s grumbling earned him a stern look from the elders.
“That hypocritical man.” Sean muttered under his breath, watching the lengthy kiss unfold.
“What did you just say?” Louisa raised her hand to swat at him, but Sean quickly dodged with a nimble sidestep.
Romeo held onto the girl in front of him, the haze of enchantment still lingering in his eyes, his voice a smooth caress.
“Tomorrow, everyone will know you’re my fiancée.”
With that, he couldn’t resist but to lean in and kiss her jelly-like lips, whispering, “I’ve been waiting for this day forever.”
“See you tomorrow,” Mirabella said as she started to head inside.
But Romeo pulled her back for another tight embrace. “I’ll be there earlier than any of them.”
“There’s no need to come early. Just meet me at the venue,” she replied.
“No way, this is a huge moment in our lives. I want to be there with you, to experience it together.”
Romeo gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Get some rest tonight, I’ll text you when I get home.”
“Alright.”
Just then, the lights at Reflections Villa dimmed, and the night sky erupted with dozens of brilliant fireworks, their booming echoes deafening.
“How about that? Setting off the fireworks now was a perfect touch, right? It’ll give them an unforgettable memory.” Louisa had been monitoring the entire scene, watching the young couple gaze up at the fireworks. “Can someone capture this moment for me? It’s just too beautiful!”Because the sky was lit up, the grounds were shadowed, the surveillance feed only showed their elongated silhouettes and the way they looked up at the sky.
The scene was stunning, and David had already whipped out his phone to snap a photo.
Firework after firework exploded in the sky, a relentless cascade of color and light, until the last one had faded and Reflections Villa came alive with cheerful music. Spotlights illuminated the villa, and they started playing a montage of happy family videos from the past six months.
It was like a movie, frame by frame, scene by scene, a dazzling light show playing out for Mirabella, choreographed to the warmth of a family she never expected to have.
With Romeo’s hand in hers, he glanced at her and saw the warm glow in her eyes, his own smile mirroring hers.
The light show, synced to the rhythm of the music, displayed all the joy Mirabella had experienced over the last six months. She realized that, with her family’s company, she smiled more often and more brilliantly than she ever remembered.
As the light show concluded and the music faded, the video ended with her entire family’s cheerful blessings: “Bella, Happy New Year!”
Each family member’s smiling face appeared in the video.”Bella, Happy New Year!”
Mirabella smiled, her eyes glistening with a hint of moisture.
“Your outfit for tomorrow is all set, I will show you,” Sean chimed in, grabbing his sister’s wrist.
Mirabella didn’t forget to turn back to Romeo, “Drive home safe, and take it slow.”
On the other side of town, Dora and June had just helped Serena out of the bath. They dressed her in comfortable clothes and wheeled her over to the vanity.
Looking at her reflection, Serena’s eyes traced the swollen redness of her cheeks, a harsh reminder of the recent confrontations. Memories of Eunice dousing her with iced tea, Louisa’s stinging slap, and Sean having someone do the same flooded back to her. Just thinking about it made her ears buzz with pain, and a wave of sadness washed over her.
“Serena, let me take care of your skin,” Dora offered with a smile, picking up a bottle of toner. “These skincare products were personally picked out by Mr. Cooper himself. I recognize this brand—it’s top of the line.”
“Serena, you are really lucky,” June chimed in softly as she brushed Serena’s hair. “Mr. Cooper treats you so well.”
Serena’s eyes landed on the skincare brand’s logo, her voice empty as she said, “Actually, the best brand is UO. It’s not sold in stores. Only a select few can get their hands on it. I’ve used it before. It was quite good.”
Dora was taken aback, feeling a bit out of the loop. All this time she thought Martin had bought the best and most expensive, not realizing Serena had experienced even better.
Serena’s gaze drifted to the clock on the wall; it was almost midnight, and Martin still hadn’t returned.
Since Martin had been called away by a family phone call, she had been eating lunch and dinner alone.
The usually bustling New Year was eerily quiet as if the whole world had left her behind.
All day long, not a single message or call from Martin.She knew he cared for her, and it wasn’t like him to leave her hanging. It had to be the pressure from the Cooper family.
Noticing the dimness in Serena’s eyes, Dora suggested with understanding, “Mr. Cooper must be tied up with something. But look, it’s almost midnight. Why don’t we stay up with you and ring in the New Year?”
The mention of staying up brought back memories for Serena. Back when the Collins family would gather together, laughing and chatting, waiting until after 12 AM to sleep. The two large lights outside the villa had to stay lit all night, symbolizing the ‘New Year’s Fire’—the belief that as long as the fire didn’t go out, the family’s good fortune would continue.
How warm and beautiful those times were.
This year, Clark had posted a photo on Facebook: fifteen hands reaching for a dish.
All sleeves were a festive red, signaling they were wearing matching family outfits.
In past years, she would have joined Kenneth and Louisa in wearing coordinated clothes for the photo op, showcasing their wealth and status with glimpses of luxurious home decor, famous paintings on the walls, lavish gifts, money, and even the number of servants—all subtly included in the shot.
But this year, she was dependent on the kindness of others, alone and cold, while the Collins family was lavishing Mirabella with a memorable New Year in matching outfits.
Even her brothers were part of it.
How could she not be envious? The Collins family seemed to favor Mirabella so much more.”Serena, besides staying up, we can do something else with you. Is there anything specific you want to do?” June asked gently.
“There is something I can’t do it now,” Serena’s voice faded. “I want to pay tribute to my parents, but my mother’s remains are lost, and I’ve never seen my father’s body.”
“Actually, your parents have a memorial set up in the house. Mr. Cooper had a master set it up for them.” Dora revealed softly, hoping to offer some comfort on this lonely New Year.
Serena’s eyes lit up in an instant when she heard June’s words. “What did you say?”
“There’s a room. It has your parents’ memorial plaques. But Mr. Cooper didn’t want to upset you, so he didn’t tell you.”
“Take me there now!”
June didn’t dare delay, and wheeled Serena into the elevator, descending to the basement level.
The door opened, and Serena saw the memorial plaques of her biological father and mother hanging on the wall, complete with their photographs. On the table below were flowers.
Tears streamed down her face as she hadn’t expected Martin to be so thoughtful, to set aside such a space in the mansion!
“Mr. Cooper has always kept you in his heart, treating your late parents with genuine respect.”
“He instructed us to refresh the flowers every day. Just this morning, Mr. Cooper even paid his respects.”
“Mr. Cooper is really good to you.”
Serena couldn’t stop her tears. Eventually, with the help of the servants, she put another batch of flowers and bowed deeply.
“Dad, Mom, forgive me for not being able to kneel before you. All these years you’ve endured so much, working in silence to give me a better life. I swear here, I will avenge you! Those two villains will pay!”
After Serena silently finished her vow, tears flooded her eyes once more as she gazed at her parents’
plaques, her resolve for revenge growing even stronger.Reflections Villa.
After Kenneth and Louisa finished discussing the next day’s plans with Mirabella, the family stayed up until half-past midnight, and then Mirabella went to take a shower.
She emerged to find messages from Romeo, saying he’d made it home, and several gifts from her grandfathers, sent hours ago. She had been so busy, she’d only just noticed the messages.
In Grandpa Beck’s living room, the 3D holographic fireplace flickered endlessly with its artificial flames.
The grandfathers were gathered together for warmth, some lying on rocking chairs, others leaning on the couch, and some snacking.
Without exception, each of them checked their phones, hoping for a reply from their darling girl.
Grandpa Beck, once again, unlocked his phone only to be met with disappointment, and couldn’t help asking the others, “Has Bella accepted the gifts we sent?”
Grandpa Charles replied immediately, “Not yet,” his expression slightly forlorn.
The other grandfathers also reported that Mirabella hadn’t replied to their messages for a while, let alone accepted their gifts.
“Word has it Bella was bringing the McMillian boy home for dinner, then had to accompany him to the McMillian estate. She’s probably just got back home to celebrate the New Year with her own family.”
Grandpa Jarvis remarked with a lack of enthusiasm, “The New Year doesn’t feel quite right without the youngster around.”
“Now Bella is so busy she doesn’t even have time to accept our gifts, let alone join us for dinner.”
Grandpa Charles suddenly felt nostalgic for the past when Grannie Grace brought the girl to join themfor the holiday meals, and one year, she even spent New Year’s Eve with them alone.
Those were days of happiness, so distant and so dearly missed.
“Bella has more people caring for her now, her New Year’s is busier than ever. We should be happy for her!” Grandpa Eugene chimed in optimistically, “Besides, we’re in her heart, and once she’s done, she’ll surely accept our gifts.”
