SWNOVELS Chapter 1121-1140
Chapter 1121
“Alright, you may go.”
Sampson’s expression remained nonchalant, but Serena was seething with
jealousy.
She would never forget the day Arabella first returned to the family, how her
parents showered her with pocket money and all those beautiful clothes, shoes,
handbags.
Even the fashion company was handed over to their own daughter.
Enter title…
Serena, spoiled by her parents for eighteen years, had never received such
treatment!
Now, her uncle was lavishing Arabella with expensive gifts.
“Let us have a minute.” Sampson leaned back, his aura still overpowering, “I’ll
dinner with Serena.”
David wanted to say something, but under his uncle’s gaze, he decided to leave
first.
Seeing everyone leave, Serena gave a bitter smile, stirring her soup with a
spoon, “Uncle Sampson, you want to criticize me too, right?”
“Why would I criticize you?”
Serena’s eyes widened slightly. Was someone finally different from others?
“You were pampered for eighteen years. Then one day, a girl comes along, and
she is the real heiress of this family. You’re told you have no blood ties to this
family, and you’re someone else’s child. Everyone tries to make up for her,
treating her well with more affection they once had for you. You can’t say that
doesn’t hurt.”
It seemed like Sampson could read her mind, causing Serena’s eyes to well up
with tears.
“But think about it from her perspective, because of a mistake, she suffered at
the Murphy family for eighteen years. Now that she’s returned to her biological
family, isn’t it normal for everyone to treat her well and make it up to her?”
Serena looked up. It did make sense, but it hurt so much. She felt so much
jealousy and sadness.
“Who poses the biggest threat to her position when she returned? Isn’t it you,
who was doted upon by the family for eighteen years?” Sampson hit the nail on
the head, “But she didn’t kick you out immediately, instead, she allowed you to
continue enjoying the luxury that was originally hers.”
Serena was taken aback, suddenly understanding the situation.
“She didn’t resent, get angry or jealous that you stole her family and enjoyed the
life that she should have had for the past eighteen years. She didn’t hold these
against you. Doesn’t it show that she’s willing to accept you?”
Serena’s tears welled up in her eyes, a bit stunned.
“From your conversation just now, it’s obvious that there are some small frictions
between you two. Like just now, even though you were a bit too assertive, she
didn’t threaten to kick you out of the house, but calmly explained to you not to
overthink. In my understanding of her, she’s already making the biggest
compromise.
Where’s yours? I didn’t see it: Serena didn’t say anything, her tears streaming
down her face.
“You need to understand that she was the one who was wrongly adopted. The
family feels guilty towards her.
She could easily use this guilt to kick you out of the house. If she were to say
something, how likely do you think it would be for you to stay in this house?”
She had been warned about this before.
She knew her chances were slim, almost nonexistent.
“Serena, you’ve been in the center of the family for too long. You’ve forgotten
that this position was originally hers.”
Sampson said in a meaningful tone, “While she was suffering at the Murphy
family, being treated terribly by her adoptive parents because they took her as a
curse, you were enjoying the affection given by her parents, her brothers, her
family. If you were in her shoes, could you be as generous as her, allowing her
to stay in the family and continue to share your family and wealth?”
Serena bit her lip. She knew she couldn’t. Chapter 1122
“Bella is a smart girl. She knew the trouble she was signing up for by letting you
stay in this house, she anticipated the mess, yet she did it anyway. She took a
step back for you, right to the edge of a cliff. You can’t just push her off.
Serena’s eyes widened in shock, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Dr. Mark is in charge of grandma’s condition. You should know that.” Sampson
explained on Bella’s behalf, “He calls Bella ‘Professor’, and when he has tricky
cases, he consults her. Out of respect for him, she came to see the patient. I
didn’t even know that the girl in front of me was my own niece.”
Enter title…
Serena hadn’t expected that it wasn’t her parents secretly bringing Bella to meet
her grandma and uncle, but Dr.
Mark had invited Bella.
Because Bella was Dr. Bell!
She had a solution for all the tricky cases!
“Only when your parents arrived and saw Bella with me did I realize how grown
my niece was.” Sampson smiled warmly, “Before that, she even saved me.”
Serena was surprised. She hadn’t expected things to work out so coincidentally.
Her uncle was a man of integrity. He wouldn’t lie.
So, her parents hadn’t deceived her. It was her overthinking?
Yes, this was not excessive.
But why did all of this seem so infuriating earlier.
“From childhood to adulthood, everyone has spent eighteen Christmases and
Christmas Eves with you, but Bella only has this one, and yet you came to
cause trouble.”
Sampson laughed, but Serena couldn’t arque.
Indeed, it was her arrival that upset everyone.
“I heard from Clark that they had already given you gifts before sending Bella
hers.”
Last time, Clark promised to go shopping with Serena, but he bailed on her last
minute because of Carol.
Afterwards, Martha said Serena had bought Christmas gifts for each family
member in advance.
Without a second thought, Clark transferred $3 million into Serena’s account,
telling her to buy more for herself and not to be thrifty.
Although Serena said she didn’t need more Christmas gifts since she already
received so many over the years and asked Clark to buy for Bella.
But Clark told her, both she and Bella are his sisters, and he wouldn’t leave out
either of them.
So before coming to Lidaria, he had already arranged for the gifts to be
delivered to Serena.
But Serena was taken aback, all five brothers sent her gifts? Why didn’t she
receive any???
“Don’t be fooled by the price tag on Bella’s gifts this time.” Sampson smiled at
her, “The gifts you’ve received over the past eighteen years aren’t light either”
Serena felt embarrassed.
“Do you like the gift from me?”
Upon hearing this, Serena was shocked again. Her uncle had sent her a gift
too??
Why didn’t she see it??
“Haven’t you unwrapped it?” Sampson chuckled again, looking gentlemanly and
graceful, “Go home and take a look. Let me know if you don’t like it”
Serena really hadn’t received any gifts. Were they collected by the servants and
put in her room?
Why didn’t they tell her?
She thought she had been forgotten by everyone.
“Also.” Sampson suddenly remembered something and added, “Your parents
have prepared a surprise for you too. If you hadn’t shown up here, you would
probably be watching fireworks at Reflections Villa by now.” Chapter 1123
Serena’s eyes widened in surprise. She also had fireworks to watch? Fireworks
that belonged only to her?
Suddenly, her feelings were all over the place, not knowing whether to feel
happy or guilty.
May gave the French window a slight knock, flashing a mischievous smile, “Sir,
Ms. Collins is…”
Her words trailed off as she noticed Serena seated across from Sampson. She
was taken aback. When did Serena arrive? Why was she here? Was she here
to stir trouble??
Enter title…
“What about Bella?” Sampson lifted his gaze in Bella’s direction, his tone as
casual as ever.
The man was truly remarkable, maintaining his calm in such a situation.
“Ms. Collins is distributing presents in the living room.’ May said, worry for Bella
subtly reflected in her voice.
She feared Serena might give Bella a hard time.
“Let’s go.” Sampson stood up, his hand resting on the back of Serena’s chair.
He spoke in a gentle tone, “I’ve arranged some shows. It would be a shame to
miss them”
Serena nodded, rising to match his pace.
“Don’t mind if Bella hasn’t prepared a gift for you. Considering your tone towards
her earlier wasn’t exactly friendly.” Sampson reminded as he led the way.
Serena felt a bit embarrassed and nodded again, “Uncle Sampson, I won’t be as
childish as just now.”
Although she had previously picked out a Christmas gift for Arabella in a
pretentious manner and had it sent to Arabella’s room.
But it was just a cheap bracelet.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t even wear it.
Even if Arabella didn’t present in return, she wouldn’t feel anything.
“Dad, mom, this is for you.” Arabella, as the artist Mirabelle, had drawn two
paintings in a row and, under the guise of calligraphy master Labella, penned a
calligraphy piece for Hans to hang in his office or study room.
“Chasel, this is yours.” Arabella handed Chasel a small note.
Sympathetic glances were thrown in Chasel’s direction, for the note was pitifully
small!
Chasel hadn’t expected that he wouldn’t even receive a painting, just this small
note.
But it was a gift from his sister after all, so he was still moved. He ruffled
Arabella’s hair gently and said, “Thank you, silly girl”
He then unfolded the note and was astonished to find several leads he’d been
recently looking into.
How could Bella have information on such confidential matters and even provide
him with clues.
At that moment, Arabella laughed, her smile bright and clear, “You’ve got a
painting too.”
She had deliberately hidden it earlier, just to see Chasel’s disappointed
expression. She hadn’t expected Chasel to be so indulgent with her.
Even when she gave him just a small note, Chasel didn’t blame her.
She tiptoed and whispered into Chasel’s ear, “I’ve found out that Myrna’s dad
likes Mirabelle’s paintings.”
Hearing this, Chasel was deeply moved.
“What are you two whispering about? I want to hear too.” David came closer,
and Arabella handed him two tolled-up sheets of A4 paper.
The surrounding maids chuckled, beginning to feel sorry for David.
David’s heart dropped a beat, a chill creeping up his spine. Even Hans and
Chasel had gotten paintings, and he was stuck with two sheets of A4 paper??
But when he unrolled them, he found two freshly written songs.
They were custom-made for him by Bella!!
He couldn’t help humming them. The melody was catchy, and he was sure it
would be a hit!Chapter 1124
“You’re simply a treasure, sis.” David was over the moon, unable to resist
ruffling Arabella’s hair.
“What about mine?” Clark was eager, wondering what gift his sister had in store
for him. A painting, perhaps? Or something else?
“Check your WhatsApp.”
WhatsApp?
Clark was puzzled, but upon checking it, he found a clue.
Enter title…
Bella had already traced Carol’s birth family to Summerfield. In no time, they
believed they would have a lead.
“There’s also this.” Arabella handed over a small vial, “You’re a forensic
pathologist. Sometimes during autopsies, you might inhale toxic gases or
accidentally get poisoned. You can use what’s in here. There are detailed
instructions on the label.”
There had been incidents where people committed suicide in sealed spaces
using toxic liquids, evaporating the harmful substances into the air. A forensic
pathologist had once inhaled such toxic fumes during an autopsy and by the
time he was taken to the hospital, it was too late to save him.
“I’ll always carry this with me.” Clark hadn’t expected his sister to be so
considerate, and he was deeply moved.
“I’m not sure what Sean likes, so I just sketched a picture. I’ll ask Hans to pass it
on.’ Arabella handed another artwork to Hans.
“Bella” Sampson sauntered over, a warm smile on his face.
“Let’s see what my darling niece has got me. Is this a painting by Mirabelle?”
Upon seeing the powerful artwork and the stroke details, Sampson knew it was
the work of Mirabelle. He was both surprised and concerned about his niece’s
expenditure.
“Silly girl, you’ve spent too much.”
Sampson was well aware of the hefty price tag of Mirabelle’s artwork. It wasn’t
something money could simply buy.
May, who was standing nearby, playfully reminded, “Sir, if you look closer, does
the paper seem familiar?”
On further inspection, Sampson realized it was indeed the spare paper from his
study. Only May had the liberty to enter his study anytime.
So, the paper must have been taken by May. But how did this grand artwork end
up on it?
“Bella painted it!” May couldn’t help but blurt out, laughing.
What? Sampson was stunned.
Kenneth, while admiring the artwork his daughter had gifted him, casually
remarked, “Oh, Bella is Mirabelle. She paints really fast. She can finish three or
four pieces in an hour”
Sampson was taken aback. He looked at his brother-in-law and sister, then at
his nephews. It seemed like they all knew about Bella’s identity.
So, the renowned Mirabelle was right in front of him all along?
Mirabelle was considered a master in the art world, with unmatched skills known
far and wide.
The person hailed as the ‘Scribe of Astronisia’, the ‘Master of Painting’, was his
very own niece!
“Bella, you truly are extraordinary.” Sampson praised her genuinely.
Clark chimed in, “Uncle Sampson, you better keep this safe. Bella’s artwork is
worth a fortune. Many people would kill to get their hands on it.”
“If you think the paper is too ordinary, you can give it to me or sell it to me at a
high price.”
David looked on eagerly as Sampson carefully put away the painting, “Dream
on.”
Despite its quick creation, Arabella’s fluid strokes and bold style achieved a
perfect blend of form and spirit, creating a lively and dynamic effect.
True to the reputation of Master Mirabelle, she managed to capture the most
challenging aspects of form and spirit in such a short time.
Arabella then walked over to Serena, handing her a gift.
“Do I have one too?” Serena was surprised.
Upon opening it, she saw the words penned by Arabella: “Contentment brings
happiness: Knowing that Arabella was indeed Labella, she knew that these
words were nothing less than a rare treasure.Chapter 1124
“You’re simply a treasure, sis.” David was over the moon, unable to resist
ruffling Arabella’s hair.
“What about mine?” Clark was eager, wondering what gift his sister had in store
for him. A painting, perhaps? Or something else?
“Check your WhatsApp.”
WhatsApp?
Clark was puzzled, but upon checking it, he found a clue.
Enter title…
Bella had already traced Carol’s birth family to Summerfield. In no time, they
believed they would have a lead.
“There’s also this.” Arabella handed over a small vial, “You’re a forensic
pathologist. Sometimes during autopsies, you might inhale toxic gases or
accidentally get poisoned. You can use what’s in here. There are detailed
instructions on the label.”
There had been incidents where people committed suicide in sealed spaces
using toxic liquids, evaporating the harmful substances into the air. A forensic
pathologist had once inhaled such toxic fumes during an autopsy and by the
time he was taken to the hospital, it was too late to save him.
“I’ll always carry this with me.” Clark hadn’t expected his sister to be so
considerate, and he was deeply moved.
“I’m not sure what Sean likes, so I just sketched a picture. I’ll ask Hans to pass it
on.’ Arabella handed another artwork to Hans.
“Bella” Sampson sauntered over, a warm smile on his face.
“Let’s see what my darling niece has got me. Is this a painting by Mirabelle?”
Upon seeing the powerful artwork and the stroke details, Sampson knew it was
the work of Mirabelle. He was both surprised and concerned about his niece’s
expenditure.
“Silly girl, you’ve spent too much.”
Sampson was well aware of the hefty price tag of Mirabelle’s artwork. It wasn’t
something money could simply buy.
May, who was standing nearby, playfully reminded, “Sir, if you look closer, does
the paper seem familiar?”
On further inspection, Sampson realized it was indeed the spare paper from his
study. Only May had the liberty to enter his study anytime.
So, the paper must have been taken by May. But how did this grand artwork end
up on it?
“Bella painted it!” May couldn’t help but blurt out, laughing.
What? Sampson was stunned.
Kenneth, while admiring the artwork his daughter had gifted him, casually
remarked, “Oh, Bella is Mirabelle. She paints really fast. She can finish three or
four pieces in an hour”
Sampson was taken aback. He looked at his brother-in-law and sister, then at
his nephews. It seemed like they all knew about Bella’s identity.
So, the renowned Mirabelle was right in front of him all along?
Mirabelle was considered a master in the art world, with unmatched skills known
far and wide.
The person hailed as the ‘Scribe of Astronisia’, the ‘Master of Painting’, was his
very own niece!
“Bella, you truly are extraordinary.” Sampson praised her genuinely.
Clark chimed in, “Uncle Sampson, you better keep this safe. Bella’s artwork is
worth a fortune. Many people would kill to get their hands on it.”
“If you think the paper is too ordinary, you can give it to me or sell it to me at a
high price.”
David looked on eagerly as Sampson carefully put away the painting, “Dream
on.”
Despite its quick creation, Arabella’s fluid strokes and bold style achieved a
perfect blend of form and spirit, creating a lively and dynamic effect.
True to the reputation of Master Mirabelle, she managed to capture the most
challenging aspects of form and spirit in such a short time.
Arabella then walked over to Serena, handing her a gift.
“Do I have one too?” Serena was surprised.
Upon opening it, she saw the words penned by Arabella: “Contentment brings
happiness: Knowing that Arabella was indeed Labella, she knew that these
words were nothing less than a rare treasure. Chapter 1124
“You’re simply a treasure, sis.” David was over the moon, unable to resist
ruffling Arabella’s hair.
“What about mine?” Clark was eager, wondering what gift his sister had in store
for him. A painting, perhaps? Or something else?
“Check your WhatsApp.”
WhatsApp?
Clark was puzzled, but upon checking it, he found a clue.
Enter title…
Bella had already traced Carol’s birth family to Summerfield. In no time, they
believed they would have a lead.
“There’s also this.” Arabella handed over a small vial, “You’re a forensic
pathologist. Sometimes during autopsies, you might inhale toxic gases or
accidentally get poisoned. You can use what’s in here. There are detailed
instructions on the label.”
There had been incidents where people committed suicide in sealed spaces
using toxic liquids, evaporating the harmful substances into the air. A forensic
pathologist had once inhaled such toxic fumes during an autopsy and by the
time he was taken to the hospital, it was too late to save him.
“I’ll always carry this with me.” Clark hadn’t expected his sister to be so
considerate, and he was deeply moved.
“I’m not sure what Sean likes, so I just sketched a picture. I’ll ask Hans to pass it
on.’ Arabella handed another artwork to Hans.
“Bella” Sampson sauntered over, a warm smile on his face.
“Let’s see what my darling niece has got me. Is this a painting by Mirabelle?”
Upon seeing the powerful artwork and the stroke details, Sampson knew it was
the work of Mirabelle. He was both surprised and concerned about his niece’s
expenditure.
“Silly girl, you’ve spent too much.”
Sampson was well aware of the hefty price tag of Mirabelle’s artwork. It wasn’t
something money could simply buy.
May, who was standing nearby, playfully reminded, “Sir, if you look closer, does
the paper seem familiar?”
On further inspection, Sampson realized it was indeed the spare paper from his
study. Only May had the liberty to enter his study anytime.
So, the paper must have been taken by May. But how did this grand artwork end
up on it?
“Bella painted it!” May couldn’t help but blurt out, laughing.
What? Sampson was stunned.
Kenneth, while admiring the artwork his daughter had gifted him, casually
remarked, “Oh, Bella is Mirabelle. She paints really fast. She can finish three or
four pieces in an hour”
Sampson was taken aback. He looked at his brother-in-law and sister, then at
his nephews. It seemed like they all knew about Bella’s identity.
So, the renowned Mirabelle was right in front of him all along?
Mirabelle was considered a master in the art world, with unmatched skills known
far and wide.
The person hailed as the ‘Scribe of Astronisia’, the ‘Master of Painting’, was his
very own niece!
“Bella, you truly are extraordinary.” Sampson praised her genuinely.
Clark chimed in, “Uncle Sampson, you better keep this safe. Bella’s artwork is
worth a fortune. Many people would kill to get their hands on it.”
“If you think the paper is too ordinary, you can give it to me or sell it to me at a
high price.”
David looked on eagerly as Sampson carefully put away the painting, “Dream
on.”
Despite its quick creation, Arabella’s fluid strokes and bold style achieved a
perfect blend of form and spirit, creating a lively and dynamic effect.
True to the reputation of Master Mirabelle, she managed to capture the most
challenging aspects of form and spirit in such a short time.
Arabella then walked over to Serena, handing her a gift.
“Do I have one too?” Serena was surprised.
Upon opening it, she saw the words penned by Arabella: “Contentment brings
happiness: Knowing that Arabella was indeed Labella, she knew that these
words were nothing less than a rare treasure.Chapter 1125
Recalling the meaning of those words, and thinking about the inexpensive
bracelet she had given to Arabella, along with some advice from her uncle.
A shade of embarrassment crossed Serena’s face.
“Thank you, Arabella.”
There was a hint of guilt in her heart.
Everyone was surprised that Arabella had a gift for Serena as well, their gazes
towards her softened.
The atmosphere seemed to instantly become more harmonious.
Enter title…
Sampson noticed that the handwriting seemed familiar, as if it was from Labella.
“Forgot to mention, Bella is Labella.”
Sampson looked at his sister incredulously, “What did you say?”
It took Sampson a while to digest this fact.
He hadn’t expected his niece to be so talented and have so many identities.
Next, everyone sat on the couch, Sampson clapped his hands, and the
entertainment started rolling in.
Ballet dancers gracefully performed their routines.
A magician appeared in the middle of the living room, showing off his fantastic
tricks.
There were clowns, skit performers and so on.
At that point, Arabella checked the time, it was almost nine. She remembered
her promise to Romeo to spend a little time with him.
[Where are you?] Arabella sent Romeo a message on WhatsApp.
Romeo, whose hands were freezing cold, replied as quickly as possible, [Done
with your work? I’m nearby, whenever you’re free, I’ll come pick you up.]
[Now.] Arabella sent the message then quietly informed her uncle, [I’ll be out for
a bit.]
Sampson thought she meant going out to get some fresh air in the garden, he
nodded and asked, “Do you need your uncle to accompany you?”
“No need.”
Romeo got into his car and had it driven to the opposite side of the mansion.
The heater inside the car was very warm, the driver couldn’t help feeling happy
for Romeo.
He thought, “Mr. McMillian was finally remembered! We no longer had to stand
outside in the cold! We could finally leave this dreadful place!”
After a while, Romeo got out of the car and walked towards the mansion.
A beautiful girl exited the mansion, her features were exquisite, her clear eyes
were like stars in the sky.
So, she was the one Mr. McMillian had been waiting for.
Such a beautiful girl, she looked several years younger than Mr. McMillian. The
driver wondered if she was even eighteen yet.
So, Mr. McMillian wasn’t staring at the mansion earlier, but at the girl he was in
love with!
Finally, Romeo saw the girl he had been longing for. He pulled her into his
embrace and whispered in her ear, “Merry Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas-”
White snowflakes fell from the sky, like a light mist.
“Your present.’ Arabella had drawn an extra picture just before.
Since she was at her uncle’s house, she couldn’t do much else but draw
something quickly on paper.
“Do I get another gift?” Romeo’s eyes lit up with joy. He opened it to see a
snow-filled sky with a couple tightly embracing each other.
The couple’s figures and outfits were clearly them.
Romeo was beyond happy, he touched the girl’s face, excitedly saying, “I love
this gift so much. Did you spend a long time preparing it?”
Arabella didn’t dare to admit that it took less than 20 minuteChapter 1126
“It must have taken you a while,’ Romeo noted, emotion welling up in him as he
realized Arabella’s silence.
“Have you been carrying it with you all this time?”
Arabella didn’t dare to admit that she had just drawn it on the spot.
“How can you be so endearing?” Romeo was deeply moved, “I have a gift for
you too.”
From behind, he hugged her and handed her a small remote control. “Press it.”
Enter title…
Arabella pressed the button, and thousands of drones flew towards them in an
orderly manner, like a shower of stars in the night sky.
In the night, they formed a spectacular message: Bella, I love you.
“Mr. Sampson! Mr. Sampson!”
In the garden, May saw this scene and rushed into the house.
Sampson, seeing her panic, immediately stopped his performance and asked
calmly, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Ms. Bella.” May was panting heavily.
All the family members stood up anxiously and asked, “What happened to her?”
“Someone confessed to her, taking up the whole night sky!”
Everyone rushed out of the house, only to see the night sky filled with drones,
forming the words: Bella, I love you.
David was the first to react to the grand confession, “It must be Romeo. Only he
could pull off something like this.”
“You mean Romeo is here? Where is he?” Kenneth looked towards the direction
of the mansion, but didn’t see anyone.
“This kid thinks he can win our Bella over with a little romance? Clark watched
the drones in the sky, suddenly feeling that the surprise he had prepared for
Carol wasn’t surprising at all.
At least not as romantic as this.
“It’s so tech-savvy and creative!” May looked at the night sky and couldn’t help
but exclaim, “So, does Ms. Bella have a boyfriend now? He seems to love her a
lot.”
The drones split apart, forming a shape of a couple embracing, followed by a
line of text: I want to spend every day, every hour, every minute with you.
Then, the drones shifted positions again.
Many of the servants called out in surprise.
“Are you kidding me? If every day, every hour, every minute is given to him,
what about us?”
“This kid must be nearby.”
“Where’s Bella?”
“She said she was going out for a bit, could it be Romeo’s here?”
Was she with Romeo?
Everyone realized what was going on.
The drones in the night sky formed various romantic patterns, then turned into a
large bouquet of flowers, delivered into a girl’s hand.
“Is this your Christmas gift to me?” Arabella turned her face just in time to catch
a kiss. She smiled, her eyes softening, “I love it, thank you~”
“There’s more.”
Romeo took out a ring box from his pocket, inside was a beautiful heart-shaped
diamond ring.
“This ring is different from the others.”
Romeo took it out and placed it on her slender finger.
It was a rare blue diamond.
The largest purity natural colored blue diamond in the world, weighing 39 carats.
Long ago, it was purchased by the royal family for 80 million dollars, but now it
was in Romeo’s possession, having paid an even higher price, and shaped into
a heart.
“I want to take you somewhere.” Romeo took her hand and they got into the car.
Along the way, all the skyscrapers belonging to the McMllian Corporation began
to put on one light show after another. Chapter 1127
The man, crafted from lights, striding over skyscrapers, extended a bouquet of
flowers to a girl.
The lights shifted, morphing into the words, “I Love You”.
The girl accepted the flowers, and they embraced.
The lights formed another word, “Bella”.
Passersby stopped and captured the moment with their smartphones,
speculating about the girl’s identity and her extraordinary luck.
Enter title…
To be able to commandeer the McMillian Corporation’s skyscrapers for such a
romantic display was astonishing.
As the car traversed through the city streets, Arabella watched one dazzling light
show after another, each unique in its presentation.
Finally, they arrived at a resort owned by the McMillian Corporation.
The place had been transformed into a sea of flowers. Hundreds of pink heartshaped balloons, three stories high, floated above the flower bed, tethered by
strings. The flower sea stretched as far as the eye could see.
There were also giant plush toys, roses made of fresh flowers, romantic swings,
and more.
As Romeo helped Arabella out of the car, a shower of flower petals fell from the
sky. With the backdrop of a water curtain from the fountain, the couple appeared
to be traversing through the seasons.
It was a romantic scene projected by lights.
“Such a beautiful sight. Isn’t anyone going to take our picture?” Arabella asked
with a smile.
“There is.” Romeo had hired several photographers.
As the snow and flower petals fell around them, Romeo and Arabella shared a
passionate kiss, photographed from every angle.
Meanwhile, several text messages arrived on Romeo’s WhatsApp from
Arabella’s brothers.
[Where have you taken my sister?]
[She’s not answering her calls or texts. Is she with you?]
[Where are you guys? Dad wants you to come over if you can.]
And so on.
At the same time, their romantic light show had made the news and was
causing quite a stir online.
Everyone was curious about who this “Bella” was.
To have the McMillian Corporation’s skyscrapers at her disposal was
unbelievable!
The resort owned by the McMillian Corporation was suspected to be the
playground of a rich kid trying to impress his girlfriend. The sea of flowers alone
would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, all decorated with fresh
flowers.
Then there were the giant toys and the gigantic roses. They were all made of
fresh flowers.
It was clear that this guy was sparing no expense to win his girlfriend’s heart.
David came across the news, “It’s got to be Romeo, didn’t think the guy had it in
him to be so romantic.”
“Probably followed her from home,” Hans speculated.
“He’s genuinely in love with Bella” Chasel commented.
Meanwhile, Serena sat in a corner, enviously scrolling through the trending
news on her phone. She had no idea that Romeo could love someone so
intensely.
After a long time, she texted Martha on WhatsApp.
[Martha, have you or any of your staff seen my brothers, or the gifts my uncle
sent?]
Serena thought for a moment before adding, [They said they sent them before I
left for Lidaria, but I haven’t seen them yet.]
[I’m not sure.] Martha responded quickly, [Let me check the security footage.
Don’t worry.]
[Okay, thank you, Martha.]
[Serena, you’re being formal again!] Martha replied with a laugh. [By the way,
did you like the gift I sent?]
Before Serena left for Lidaria, Martha had sent her a gift, but she had been in
such a rush that she hadn’t had time to open it.
[I’ll open it when I get back. I’m sure I’ll love anything from you, Martha!] Chapter 1128
[Serena, found the gifts!] Martha replied, [We had a ton of deliveries that day,
none of you were home, so the staff put them in the storage room. There were
quite a few boxes with your name on them.]
[Why don’t you open them and snap a picture for me? I’m curious to see what
they sent.] Serena sent a voice message to Martha, [If I hadn’t stormed off to
Lidaria in a huff, I would’ve seen the fireworks my parents prepared for me. It
was my impulsiveness that made me miss their kindness.]
Martha suddenly remembered the grand fireworks last night. Many of the staff
had taken out their phones to take pictures.
Enter title…
At the time she was wondering who was so ostentatious to set off such grand
fireworks. It wasn’t just the whole villa area, even vehicles and pedestrians
passing by the villa area could see it.
The message spelled out in the fireworks was “Peace and Joy”. It was a great
sentiment, so many people took out their phones to take pictures, record videos
and post them online.
It caused quite a stir on the internet.
The idea actually came from Louisa, copied from her son.
She heard that David was going to prepare a firework display for Bella, and
thinking of Serena all alone at home, she decided to put on a grand firework
display too, trying to be fair to both.
[Martha, did you see the fireworks last night?]
Martha vaguely replied, [I heard the noise, but didn’t go out to see]
[I wonder if any of the staff saw it and recorded it, I’ll ask on WhatsApp later.]
Serena really wanted to see what the firework display her parents had prepared
for her looked like.
She thought about her parents not forgetting her, still treating her as their
daughter.
A sweet feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.
Although Martha didn’t want to take pictures and send them to her, the young
masters and Sampson told Serena that they had already prepared Christmas
gifts for her.
After a while, Serena received the photos Martha sent.
Her uncle, parents, and brothers all sent her valuable gifts, including limited
edition handbags, dresses, fancy high heels, and expensive jewelry she wanted
but couldn’t get.
Her brothers even wrote her handwritten cards, treating her as their sister, their
tone as doting as ever.
Especially David, who mentioned the concert tickets again in the card, saying
that all the tickets he had were taken by his manager for networking, leaving
only two.
Because Bella and Romeo had never been to his concert, and she had given
away many tickets to classmates, thinking she didn’t care about these.
So he gave the tickets to Bella and Romeo first, and only received her call later
when he had run out of tickets.
His sincere tone made Serena feel a bit ashamed.
Because tonight, she had lost her temper with David at the dinner table, blaming
him for giving the tickets to Arabella first.
It turned out she had overthought it. David had given out the tickets first, then
said he didn’t have any.
He didn’t mean to lie to her.
“Serena, what did they give to Ms. Bella?” Martha suddenly asked.
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters! They can’t just give her a villa and only give you a
necklace. The disparity would be too big!”Chapter 1129
“Martha, over these past eighteen years, the total worth of the gifts I’ve received
is not a paltry sum.”
“Serena, have you been brainwashed by sorneone again? You mustn’t believe
their nonsense. You’re just a foster daughter now, an outsider to the Collins
family. Of course they’ll want to fob you off with as little money as possible”
Serena was firm, “I believe Uncle Sampson doesn’t think like that.”
“Was it your uncle who brainwashed you?” Martha knew she shouldn’t have let
Serena go out alone. She was too innocent, too susceptible to manipulation.
Enter title…
“Martha, I think Uncle Sampson’s right. Arabella suffered for eighteen years
growing up in the Murphy family. It’s only natural that everyone wants to make it
up to her now that she’s back with her biological parents”
“You’re sympathizing with her now?” Martha was frustrated. She hadn’t
expected Sampson to change Serena’s mind so easily with just a few words.
“She’s part of this family. She didn’t kick me out the moment she came back, but
let me stay, enjoying the wealth and luxury that should have been hers. It’s like
she’s sharing her fortune and her family with me.”
“Foolish girl, this is not sharing. You’ve been with the family for eighteen years.
They’re willing to pay for this bond. The gifts they give, the care they show, have
nothing to do with Arabella. It’s due to the bond formed over these eighteen
years that they’re willing to do this for you.”
“But Martha, she was switched at birth. The family feels guilty about her. If she
asked to get rid of me using this quilt, there’s a high chance the family would
agree.”
“Sweetheart, even if they let you leave, they would still worry about you. They
would still take care of you in their own ways. Do you know why? Because for
the past eighteen years, they’ve loved you like their own daughter!
This bond, formed over eighteen years, can’t be severed just because Arabella
says so.”
Serena lowered her head, remaining silent for a while before speaking, “But
Martha, I still think Uncle Sampson makes sense.”
Her parents still treated her as their daughter, throwing her grand feasts.
Her brothers still treated her as their sister, gifting her things she liked.
And Uncle Sampson wasn’t biased. The worth of his gift was the same as
previous years.
Serena put herself in Arabella’s shoes, “If I were her, I couldn’t be as
magnanimous as she is, allowing me to stay and share her status, wealth and
family. She’s already very generous.”
“Oh dear.” Hearing Serena say this, Martha sighed heavily, “When you’re bullied
by Arabella again, you’ll understand that I’m looking out for you.”
“Martha, she also gave me a gift.”
“What?” Martha was taken aback.
“She gave me a Christmas gift. It’s a calligraphy piece.” Serena described the
scene as it happened.
Upon hearing what Arabella had written, Martha scoffed, ‘She’s warning you not
to be too greedy. I knew she was up to no good. She’s trying to win over the
family by giving you a gift, while subtly implying something else.”
“But she’s Labella after all. Each of her characters is worth a fortune. What I
gave her in return was just a cheap bracelet.”
Normally, Serena would disdain such a bracelet, but Arabella didn’t mind. She
even reciprocated with a valuable gift.
If they could be real sisters, that wouldn’t be so bad.
“it was just a thought.” Serena knew Arabella wouldn’t be friends with anyone.
In her eyes, it seemed that there was only room for ambition.Chapter 1130
Martha wasn’t quite sure what to say, it took her a moment to finally ask, “So,
what did Mr. McMillian gift Arabella? Did you hear anything?”
Serena truthfully replied, “He used a swarm of drones to confess his love to her,
even orchestrated a light show on all of McMillian Corporation’s skyscrapers in
Lidaria. Word is there were fields of flowers too.”
Some resort guests saw it, even took pictures, and posted them online.
Although the couple were too far away to see clearly, the woman’s outfit was
identical to what Arabella wore that day.
Enter title…
The silhouette, the aura, it was undoubtedly Arabella.
“And what about Mr. Martin? What did he gift you?” Martha couldn’t help but
inquire.
“He gave me a ring on Christmas Eve, and a necklace for Christmas.”
“Are they expensive?”
“Both combined, probably around $200,000.”
Martha breathed a sigh of relief, at least it was more valuable than what Romeo
prepared for Arabella.
That light show was merely a waste of electricity.
Those flowers were just some worthless blooms.
“It seems like Mr. McMillian is losing interest in her, putting up a show but not
willing to actually spend money.”
Upon hearing this, Serena was somewhat surprised, “Really? I thought Romeo
seemed pretty smitten with her.”
“Is Romeo short of cash?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t he buy a priceless ring or necklace for Arabella? If he’s so
smitten, why is he reluctant to spend money?”
“But girls find these surprises romantic.”
On the contrary, Serena felt Martin was too rigid, didn’t know how to be
romantic. The designs of his gifts weren’t as appealing as the ones her brothers
gave her.
And he just handed them over, without any element of surprise.
“By the way, there’s a significant decrease in online posts and videos about
‘Sampson taking his girlfriend shopping’. Unless you specifically search for it,
there are no related topics popping up. I guess your uncle used his connections
to suppress the hype. He probably didn’t want you to see it, I bet he’s feeling
guilty”
Martha couldn’t help but add fuel to the fire, “If you ask me, he’s just being
unfair, buying all those things for Arabella. I heard that in about ten hours, a
plane will land directly at Reflections Villa. It’s filled with gifts your uncle bought
for Arabella, and they even told us to bring more people to unload, claiming
there’s plenty of stuff.”
Serena’s response was much more subdued, “Well, I did see a comment or two
from mall employees saying that it was Arabella who bought lots of QY items for
my uncle, and he was merely reciprocating. Their familial relationship was also
clarified, leaving the only trolls with no ammunition, which is probably why the
hype slowly died down.”
Martha noticed that Serena was consistently defending Arabella tonight, which
made her anxious.
She thought, “This naive girl is brainwashed and she doesn’t even realize!”
She had worked hard to steer the child on the right path, only for the
manipulative Collins family to lead her astray again!
At that moment, Serena heard a commotion downstairs, followed by someone
rushing up to knock on her door.
“Serena, Serena, are you resting? Your grandma is awake!”
Upon hearing this, Serena quickly bid Martha goodbye, hung up the phone, and
rushed downstairs.
At the same time, upon receiving news of her grandmother’s awakening,
Arabella immediately rushed back to the villa.
“Once Grandma’s condition stabilizes a bit, I’ll go visit her.” Romeo patted
Arabella’s head, already feeling contented.
Tonight, Arabella had spent an entire hour with him.
Much more than he had anticipated.
With her grandmother’s current condition, Arabella’s presence was needed, for
they still needed to recognize each other.Chapter 1131
Romeo knew his presence was not well-suited for the moment.
“I’ll head in first then? Arabella nodded, turning towards the villa.
Romeo watched her silhouette disappear into the house before pulling out his
cell phone to reply to his brothers’ messages.
Old Mrs. Griffith on the sickbed was emotionally stirred, several times opening
her mouth to speak, only to be too overcome to utter a word. Her hand was
trembling, as if trying to grasp onto something.
Enter title…
“Mom, I know what you’re trying to say. Just take a moment to calm down, take
it easy.” Louisa, holding her mother’s hand, urged anxiously. “Just relax.”
“Yeah, Grandma, take it easy. Don’t rush.’ Serena chimed in.
Old Mrs. Griffith looked around the room filled with her family: her daughter and
son-in-law, her son, her grandchildren, and her most cherished granddaughter
Serena, whom she had adored for eighteen years.
Tears welled up in her eyes and flowed down silently.
“Mom, why are you crying?” Kenneth quickly reached for a tissue to wipe her
tears. “Are you feeling unwell?”
Old Mrs. Griffith gazed at Serena with tear-filled eyes, keeping her thoughts to
herself.
Serena, too, was on the verge of tears. She knew her grandmother loved her
the most. Among her five brothers, she was the one mast pampered.
When she was a child, if her brothers misbehaved, their grandmother would
scold them. But when Serena made a mess, her grandmother would only laugh
heartily.
Rumor had it, her mother had already told her grandmother the truth.
Were her grandmother’s tears regret for the eighteen years of love she had
given her, or were they because she couldn’t bear to part with her beloved
granddaughter?
Perhaps due to the emotional upheaval, Old Mrs. Griffith suddenly found herself
gasping for breath. Her panting was heavy and exaggerated, like a fish out of
water.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Mom.” Louisa was immediately thrown into a panic.
“Quick, get the nurse.”
As soon as Sampson finished speaking, May piped up, “The nurse went to take
a shower. I told her I could keep an eye on things here. I didn’t expect the Lady
to wake up all of a sudden”
May regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth.
Old Mrs. Griffith’s face had turned a shade of red from oxygen deprivation. Her
emotional outburst, coupled with the lack of oxygen, had caused her to
hyperventilate, making her body shake uncontrollably.
“Everybody, step back!”
A voice rang out urgently.
Upon hearing Arabella’s voice, everyone felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted
off their chests.
The crowd parted to make way for Arabella. Seeing the state Old Mrs. Griffith
was in, Arabella immediately instructed, “May, go get my acupuncture kit from
my room.”
“Right away!” May dashed off to her room.
Arabella quickly pressed a few acupressure points on Old Mrs. Griffith. When
May returned with the acupuncture kit, Arabella swiftly applied the needles.
Soon, Old Mrs. Griffith’s hyperventilation ceased, and her body slowly calmed
down. Her eyes, however, filled with tears again as she looked at Arabella.
“Bella, is Grandma going to be okay?” Louisa asked worriedly.
“She’s fine, it’s just too crowded here, and she got too emotional,’ Arabella took
Old Mrs. Griffith’s pulse and continued, “It’s not serious.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Louisa let out a sigh of relief.
Just as Arabella was about to withdraw her hand, Old Mrs. Griffith on the bed
suddenly gripped her wrist.
Arabella looked at her in surprise, only to see Old Mrs. Griffith’s tear-filled eyes
staring at her.
Arabella could see a myriad of emotions flickering in her grandmother’s eyes.
She gently started, “Grandma, since this is the first time we’ve met since you
woke up, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arabella, and I’ve been back
in this family for about half a year now”Chapter 1132
Belinda Griffith’s eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling as she
whispered, “The second time.”
Arabella furrowed her brows in confusion.
“The first time, you saved me by the roadside.” Belinda’s voice quivered, her
tears trickling down her cheeks. “I remember you, it was you who saved me.”
Of all the cars that whizzed past, not one stopped to help, only Arabella had
extended a helping hand.
Enter title…
Belinda still remembered how weak she had felt, barely able to keep her eyes
open due to lack of oxygen, her head spinning with discomfort.
Yet, Arabella’s appearance was like a breath of fresh air, a sight for sore eyes.
This girl, she was incredibly beautiful, much like her daughter in her younger
days.
However, this child had a stronger aura than her young daughter did, and her
features were even more stunning.
Arabella’s eyes softened, it was unexpected that her grandma had noticed her
back then.
“No wonder Mom told me she saw a girl who looked a lot like me.” Louisa
suddenly realized, “She was talking about Bella, not hallucinating.”
“All of us missed you, Mom.” Kenneth grinned, “We’re really overjoyed that
you’ve woken up.”
“Yeah, once again Bella saved you.’ Sampson chimed in with a smile, “Including
this time, she saved you four times”
“Four times?” Belinda was taken aback. Wasn’t it only twice? When were the
other two times that she had no recollection of?
“The first time was by the roadside.”
“The second time she came here, took your pulse, and prescribed medication.”
“The third time was when you learn about the baby mix-up, and you fainted in
shock.”
“The fourth time was just now.”
Belinda was surprised. She hadn’t expected her own granddaughter to have
saved her four times.
“Do you know that she’s the renowned Dr. Bell that everyone’s been talking
about?”
As soon as Sampson finished speaking, Belinda was even more surprised.
She had heard the name Dr. Bell countless times during her search for
treatment.
She hadn’t expected such a mysterious figure in the medical field to be her own
granddaughter.
“Bella is an exceptional doctor. She’s confident she can cure your disease.”
Sampson’s words once again left Belinda in disbelief. She knew very well how
serious her condition was.
But her granddaughter could.
“Really?” Belinda turned to Arabella, her eyes wide in disbelief, as if waiting for
an answer.
Everyone around her was smiling, including her grandsons.
“Grandma, you may not believe what other quacks say, but everyone’s
witnessed Bella’s medical skills.”
“If she says it’s possible, then there’s definitely no problem.”
“Don’t be fooled by her young age, she knows a lot.”
“You’ll realize, after spending some time with her, that she is a treasure trove of
knowledge.”
“Alright, stop babbling, let Grandma have a good chat with Bella.” Louisa
chided.
Belinda hadn’t expected her grandsons to hold such high regard for Arabella. It
seemed that they all got along quite well over the past days.
“Are you a medical student?” Belinda asked.Chapter 1133
“I learned from an elder member of our community,’ Arabella began gently, “I
won’t claim to be able to perform miracles, but I can handle basic medical
emergencies without a hitch.”
“Are you still in school?” Belinda inquired.
“Speaking of school; Arabella replied, “Your granddaughter here scored perfect
grades on her national exams.
She’s been courted by prestigious schools from across the country but chose to
attend Westerly College.”
Enter title…
“She’s a freshman at Westerly College now. They’ve given her a lot of leeway,
allowing her to attend classes at her own pace.”
“Her talents don’t stop at academics. She’s also quite gifted in arts. She led her
team in a competition against other prestigious schools and emerged as the
star, creating quite a buzz.”
“In short, we could go on for days about your granddaughter’s virtues.”
Her brothers all chimed in, singing Arabella’s praises.
Belinda was taken aback by the excellence of her long-lost granddaughter.
Looking at Arabella’s sweet, beautiful face, her eyes brimmed with tears again.
“lL heard from Louisa that you’ve had a tough time over the past eighteen
years,’ Belinda said, her heart aching.
“It’s all in the past,’ Arabella dismissed, brushing off the hardships of the past
eighteen years with ease.
Belinda felt the maturity and resilience in her words. What a wonderful child.
She couldn’t help but squeeze Arabella’s hand, “I’m glad you’re back. It proves
there’s justice in the world. With the Collins family and your aunt and uncles
around, you won’t have to suffer anymore.”
“I’m fine.”
“If there’s anything you’re uncomfortable with in the house, just let us know.”
“Everything’s great.”
“Bella is easy-going. She doesn’t fuss about anything,’ Clark said with a smile,
“She never asks for anything.
When we insist on buying her stuff, she claims it’s wasteful.”
“She’s always thinking about saving us money.”
“We’ve said it before, the list of her virtues could go on and on.”
Louisa listened to her sons, feeling gratified to have such a considerate and
well-behaved child.
“I haven’t had time to prepare a present for our first meeting. Maybe when
Christmas Eve arrives.”
Before Belinda could finish her sentence, David laughed, “Grandma, Christmas
Eve has passed. It’s past midnight now. It’s Christmas Day: “It’s Christmas
already?” Belinda hadn’t realized how quickly time had passed.
Arabella smiled, “Grandma, waking up is the best gift you could give me.
Material wealth is secondary. My Parents, uncles, and brothers have already
given me so much.”
“That’s not the same!” Belinda immediately countered, “The sentiment from your
grandmother is different. Let me think of a suitable gift to give you.”
And she set about pondering seriously.
“Why don’t you rest a bit? Bella has been running about a lot because of your
illness,’ Louisa said with a smile, “Once you rest, everyone else can too.”
After all, Bella must have sacrificed a lot of her own work to take care of things
here. If her grandmother could recover soon, it would ease Bella’s burdens.
“Now that you’re awake, shall I give you your medicine?” Arabella asked,
signaling May to bring the herbal concoction from the kitchen.
“It’s Christmas, maybe I could skip it today.” Belinda caught a whiff of the strong
medicine from afar.
Ever since she fell ill, she had been consuming all sorts of medicine to the point
where she was somewhat reluctant now.
“This medicine is good for you.” Arabella took the bowl of medicine and gently
coaxed her.
Thinking about how the prescription was written by her own granddaughter,
Belinda decided to brave it out, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
“Here, drink it slowly” Arabella spoon-fed her the medicine.
Serena, who was watching from the side, was amazed at how naturally and
harmoniously they seemed to get along. Chapter 1134
Was it because of the good impression Arabella left on Grandma during their
first meeting, then saving her three times, and with her brothers constantly
singing her praises?
Was that why Grandma adored her so much?
Although Serena understood, it was natural for Arabella’s own grandmother to
treat her well after she returned home.
However, Serena felt a hint of emptiness and loss. She had been standing by
the bed for a while now, but ever since Arabella appeared, Grandma couldn’t
take her eyes off her.
Enter title…
Belinda showered Arabella with concern.
She didn’t even glance at Serena.
At last, after finishing her medicine, Belinda commented with a cheerful smile, “I
didn’t expect Bella’s medicine to be not bitter at all, much better than other
doctors. After one sip, I can tell she’s highly skilled”
She even gave Arabella a thumbs-up, singing her praises.
Everyone saw Belinda’s furrowed eyebrows relax. They couldn’t help but laugh.
This adorable old lady didn’t bother to prepare her fibs.
“Grandma, I’m so glad to see you awake, but I have to go back to my homeland
for some business.” Clark stepped forward, gently taking Grandma’s hand in his
own, “I’ll come to visit you another day.”
“You little rascal, what are you off to again? I hardly see you throughout the
year.” Before Louisa finished, another son interrupted.
“Grandma, you rest and recover. I have some urgent matters and need to head
back home too. You must follow Bella’s advice. Whatever she says you can eat,
you do. Whatever she says you can’t, you don’t”
“Hans, you’re leaving too?” Louisa was slightly annoyed, “Today is Christmas,
instead of spending it with your sister, you all are rushing off to do what? No
one’s leaving until you explain!”
It was a rare occasion to have everyone gathered, yet not even half a day had
passed and they were about to scatter.
“Um, Mom, Grandma, I have sore matters to attend to as well, I’m catching a
flight back with Hans.”
Everyone turned to look at the speaker, it was Chasel.
Louisa was about to explode.
“Mom. Arabella spoke up with a smile, “Hans, Chasel, and Clark have already
spent Christmas with me ahead of time. I’ve received the surprises and gifts,
and I’m very touched and happy. This is the first time in eighteen years that so
many people have celebrated with me, giving me so many surprises and
touching moments. I’m already very content.”
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a pang of sympathy.
They’d given Serena these surprises and companionship for eighteen years, yet
Arabella only had half a day.
“Let them go. They must have other work that’s been held up.”
Arabella’s magnanimity made Louisa even more displeased with her three sons,
“Look at your sister. How understanding and considerate she is to speak up for
you at every turn, yet you guys…”
“Mom, calm down.” David immediately went over, slinging an arm over her
shoulder with a cheeky grin, “You still have me, right? Those three blockheads
don’t know the first thing about cheering up a sister. All three of them combined
aren’t as good as me!”
The three brothers sent him warning glances, as if to say: Dare to badmouth us
in front of our sister? Just try it!
David chose to ignore them, “Without them, we have more time to spend with
Bella, with Grandma, isn’t that better? They’ll have more time to spend with our
sister undistracted once they’re done with their work, that’s great! Let me make
it clear, all of you!”
He thought, “Man, why do you guys look so scary when I’m speaking up for
you?”
David plucked up his courage, “Anyway, all of us must make time during the
holidays. We’re a big family, we can’t do without anyone! We’re all spending this
Christmas together!”
“Agreed!” The first to respond was Grandma from her sickbed.
Sampson also agreed.
Hans agreed readily, “No problem.”apter 1135
Chasel and Clark were on board too. They’d been planning to give Bella a huge
surprise.
Once they left, Louisa remained a bit dissatisfied. Kenneth comforted her while
Grandma Belinda had a long chat with Arabella, only glancing at Serena when
she grew tired.
Louisa had already discussed Serena staying with the family.
Belinda spoke kindly, “Serena, now that your sister’s back, you two need to get
along.”
Enter title…
Serena nodded, replying gracefully, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I really like Bella.
She even gave me a present tonight.”
“Oh, really?” Belinda nodded, smiling, “That’s good. I’m a bit tired, off to bed
now.
She was still holding Arabella’s hand, “Let’s chat more tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Arabella helped her to bed, turned off the lights, and left Grandma’s
room.
Before leaving, she reminded the caregivers and servants to keep a close
watch.
Although Serena felt a bit disappointed, she returned to her room and made a
Facebook post.
[Didn’t expect Mom and Dad to prepare such a grand surprise for me.
Unfortunately, I was overseas creating a surprise for them and didn’t witness
these beautiful fireworks. The video was from the servants. For 18 years, I’ve
kept all the love from my family close to my heart. Love you guys.]
She added a heart emoji at the end of the post.
The fireworks video she obtained from the servants was particularly brilliant and
beautiful.
At the end of the video, she added several photos of the gifts her family gave
her.
She even wrote the names of each family member who gave her gifts, like
Hans, Chasel, and so on.
To prevent her family from thinking she was showing off, she didn’t make the
post visible to them.
Everyone else saw her Facebook post.
Within two minutes of posting, she received over a hundred likes.
Dozens of comments appeared immediately, and the number continued to rise.
[OMG, what kind of fairy-tale family is this? Fireworks and presents. All limited
edition!]
[I passed by Reflections Villa last night and shot a video. I was wondering which
wealthy man prepared this surprise for his girlfriend. I didn’t expect such a
romantic idea came from your parents. So cool.]
[I don’t need a dozen of these family members, just one is enough.]
[Serena is so lucky, living in such a happy environment and enjoying every
single day.]
[Serena, you’re so fortunate to have a loving family and us, your loving friends.]
When Serena saw their praises and envy, her mood improved once again.
Meanwhile, Arabella left Grandma’s room and saw May sitting at the junction of
the living room and garden, engrossed in her phone. Arabella approached and
heard her mutter something like, “How could this happen!”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but she seemed to be complaining.
Arabella asked with a smirk, “Still not going to bed?”
“Ms. Bella?” May turned back, asking in surprise, “You’re not going to bed yet.Chapter 1136
“Hey, just stepped out of Grandma’s room, what about you?” Arabella asked in a
gentle whisper.
“I’m well, I’m not tired yet.”
“What were you mumbling about on your phone earlier?”
“Well.” Seeing no one was around, May moved closer to Arabella and
whispered, “It was Serena’s post on Facebook, a bit too showy if you ask me.
She wanted to flaunt the expensive gifts she received from her family and even
posted pictures of them. For each gift, she attached a note mentioning who it
was from, too obvious.”
Enter title…
“What’s wrong with that?” Arabella laughed. Wasn’t it just like Serena’s style?
She had always been this way. If she didn’t flaunt the gifts, it would be unlike
her.
“But you’re the famous calligrapher Labella! Your words are worth their weight in
gold. She wanted to show off the value of the gift but didn’t want to give you due
credit. Look at the photo, she just wrote ‘sister, without specifying which sister.
Who knows who she’s referring to?”
This meant Serena merely wanted to show off the value of the gifts, not her real
relationship with Arabella.
“It feels a bit manipulative.” May couldn’t help expressing indignation on
Arabella’s behalf, “Either don’t flaunt it at all, or mention who it’s from.”
“Enough, go to sleep.” Arabella didn’t seem to mind. She had never taken
Serena seriously, not in the past, not now.
Meanwhile, in a luxury car, a rich young lad scrolling through Facebook couldn’t
help teasing his friend. “Martin, your darling is showing off her gifts. How come I
don’t see anything from you?”
There were gifts from her parents, uncle, sister, and several brothers.
Only Martin was missing.
He was nowhere in the text, nor in the pictures. Going through Serena’s
previous Facebook posts, it seemed like Martin had never been mentioned.
“Do people still not know you’re her boyfriend?” The rich lad leaned back
nonchalantly, phone in hand, casually asking, “That ring and necklace, I
remember you having a hard time getting them. But they are nowhere to be
found on her Facebook. She most likely considers you a backup.”
Beside him, a young man with neatly cropped hair and clear eyes exuded a
charm and maturity beyond his years. Despite being dressed in a suit, his youth
and upbringing were evident.
Such an upbringing shaped by wealth from a young age, his every move
radiated elegance.
His name was Martin, who had accompanied Serena to Lidaria today on the
pretext of work.
After Serena went to her uncle’s house, he met up with some friends. Now, they
were planning to stay overnight at a friend’s hotel.
“All the gifts from family members have been displayed except yours.” The rich
lad hadn’t finished his sentence.
Martin calmly interjected, “I haven’t passed the test yet. I’m not considered her
real family.”
“Why do you care so much?” The rich lad couldn’t help but put his phone away,
staring at him in disbelief. “It’s just a girl. How can she mess with your mind like
this? Listen to my advice, if she’s keeping you hidden, let’s find someone else.
There’s plenty of women, why let her have you wrapped around her finger?”
It was then Martin looked at him, “I don’t want to hear this from you again.”
The rich lad was taken aback, “Do you enjoy being a lapdog?”
“I just like her, doesn’t matter what I am to her.”
Previously, she was engaged to Romeo, and all he could do was watch from
afar. Later, it was rumored that the engagement was called off privately.
As for the reason, he wasn’t sure.
The fact that she was willing to be with him was more than enough.Chapter 1137
At this moment, Martin pulled out his phone, found her Facebook post and
watched the entire video diligently.
He liked the post and even left a comment.
[Your family sure knows how to create surprises and romance. There’s much I
can learn from them.] When the wealthy lad saw Martin had typed such a long
sentence, his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.
“So, you’re on Facebook too? I thought you didn’t use it. I mean, you’re on
Facebook but you never like any of my posts.”
Enter title…
“You’re not her.” Martin put away his phone, his expression somewhat
dismissive. “Besides, why on earth would a grown man post on Facebook,
wanting likes?”
“Fine, my bad!”
Serena saw that the number of comments had exceeded two hundred and she
was overjoyed. Then, upon seeing Martin’s comment, her face fell.
Hmph, so he finally admitted he had a lot to learn!
When Romeo had prepared such a grand surprise for Arabella, and then there
was him, simply handing it over without an ounce of surprise. He was so frugal
and rigid!
Totally uninteresting!
So, Serena responded to many people but deliberately ignored him.
After a while, Serena could not resist clicking on the fireworks video again. At
the time, many of the staff at Reflections Villa had looked up at the night sky,
taking photos and videos with their cell phones, gasping in amazement. They
were all guessing who had arranged the fireworks display and how much it must
have cost.
Serena felt a sweet sensation in her heart. She was watching the video when,
unexpectedly, the camera panned over and she thought she saw Martha’s
figure. She was standing by a large tree, seemingly watching the fireworks.
Because the camera moved so quickly, the figure was a bit blurry even when
she paused the video, but Serena could vaguely guess that it was Martha.
Martha had mentioned that she had heard the fireworks last night but didn’t go
out to watch them.
If she was in the garden at the time, why would she lie about it?
Could it be that Martha, being of old age, had forgotten after watching the
fireworks?
Was there something wrong with her health?
Or had Martha seen the news and thought that the fireworks display was not as
grand as the one her brothers had prepared for Arabellla? So was it because
she didn’t want Serena to feel upset and deliberately kept it a secret?
Thinking this, Serena felt grateful for Martha, who always thought about her.
The next morning.
Belinda woke up in a daze, hearing someone speaking.
It sounded like her great-granddaughter’s gentle, soft voice.
She was asking the caregiver if anything unusual had happened the previous
night. Then it was Arabella’s voice, checking the monitor. She looked at the
data, and spoke with the caregiver for a while.
After a moment, a pair of soft hands rested on Belinda’s leg.
Arabella sat by the bed, gently massaging her grandmother’s leg while
discussing the medical condition with the caregiver. She also spoke to the other
staff about the day’s precautions and a change in the prescription, replacing one
of the herbs with red lotus seeds.
Belinda was already awake, but the comfortable massage made her relax and
drift back to sleep.
She hadn’t slept this comfortably in a long time.Chapter 1138
Not sure how long she had slept, Belinda woke to a world of pure white.
The snow had ceased, everything was draped in white, as far as the eye could
see.
Arabella sat by the bed massaging Belinda. Seeing her awake, her eyes
softened, “Grandma, you’re awake.”
“Bella. How long have I been asleep? What time is it?”
“12 aclock.” Arabella carefully helped her up, “Be careful, take it slow.
Enter title…
Belinda managed to sit up, her gaze never leaving Arabella, her tone filled with
concern, “Have you had lunch?
Have you been massaging me all morning? My silly girl. Your hands must be
sore! Let me rub them for you.”
She had vaguely heard her granddaughter talking to the maid earlier in the
morning, even helping her massage.
Time had quickly passed.
“I’m not hungry, nor tired.” Arabella smiled softly, “But you can eat something
light today. How about I wheel you over to join everyone for lunch?”
Today was Christmas. It was more lively when everyone gathered together.
“Sounds good.” Belinda agreed, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she
looked at her granddaughter. Such a thoughtful, considerate, and sensible girl.
Arabella assisted her, while the maid hurriedly came over to help.
“Miss Bella has been taking care of you all morning, none of us can replace her.
She just wants to do something for you personally.”
Hearing noises from the room, Serena, whe had been waiting outside, hurried
in.
“Grandma, you’re awake. Lunch is ready, let’s eat together. It’s been a while
since we had a meal together.”
Seeing Arabella pushing the wheelchair, she smiled, “Arabella, let me do it.
You’ve been working all morning.”
“It’s okay.” Arabella’s tone was indifferent.
The maid wanted to remind Serena to not overstep. In the eyes of Belinda, Bella
had massaged her all morning without any complaints, while Serena had just
walked in with sweet words, trying to take credit without doing anything.
It wasn’t very appropriate.
Unaware of what had transpired, Serena stayed beside Belinda, smiling sweetly.
“Grandma, I dreamed so many times about this day. Finally, it’s come true.
You’re awake and we can all have a meal together.”
Before she could finish, there was a loud bang that scared her into shrieking
and stepping back.
A smart robot about a meter high had unexpectedly exploded, scattering debris
everywhere. Arabella immediately shielded Belinda on the wheelchair with her
back, blocking the sudden danger.
Several people were shocked.
Belinda was startled as well, and Arabella hurriedly comforted, “Grandma, it’s
okay. It’s just a robot that suddenly exploded. Take deep breaths, exhale slowly,
relax.”
Belinda first worried about Arabella’s condition, “Are you okay? Is your back
hurt?”
“I just saw some debris hit Miss Bella’s back.” The maid was quite frightened,
the incident happened so suddenly, so quickly, she hadn’t had time to react and
debris had hit Bella’s back.
She was worried about Bella getting injured and hurriedly went to get help.
“Let me see!” Belinda grabbed Arabella’s arm, insisting to see her back.
Arabella turned around, “It’s okay, I was just hit, it doesn’t hurt.”
“You silly girl. You just rushing in like that.”
“Are you injured anywhere?” Arabella carefully checked, thankfully it was winter,
they were wearing thick clothes and she had protected her, so the debris hadn’t
hurt BelindaChapter 1138
Not sure how long she had slept, Belinda woke to a world of pure white.
The snow had ceased, everything was draped in white, as far as the eye could
see.
Arabella sat by the bed massaging Belinda. Seeing her awake, her eyes
softened, “Grandma, you’re awake.”
“Bella. How long have I been asleep? What time is it?”
“12 aclock.” Arabella carefully helped her up, “Be careful, take it slow.
Enter title…
Belinda managed to sit up, her gaze never leaving Arabella, her tone filled with
concern, “Have you had lunch?
Have you been massaging me all morning? My silly girl. Your hands must be
sore! Let me rub them for you.”
She had vaguely heard her granddaughter talking to the maid earlier in the
morning, even helping her massage.
Time had quickly passed.
“I’m not hungry, nor tired.” Arabella smiled softly, “But you can eat something
light today. How about I wheel you over to join everyone for lunch?”
Today was Christmas. It was more lively when everyone gathered together.
“Sounds good.” Belinda agreed, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she
looked at her granddaughter. Such a thoughtful, considerate, and sensible girl.
Arabella assisted her, while the maid hurriedly came over to help.
“Miss Bella has been taking care of you all morning, none of us can replace her.
She just wants to do something for you personally.”
Hearing noises from the room, Serena, whe had been waiting outside, hurried
in.
“Grandma, you’re awake. Lunch is ready, let’s eat together. It’s been a while
since we had a meal together.”
Seeing Arabella pushing the wheelchair, she smiled, “Arabella, let me do it.
You’ve been working all morning.”
“It’s okay.” Arabella’s tone was indifferent.
The maid wanted to remind Serena to not overstep. In the eyes of Belinda, Bella
had massaged her all morning without any complaints, while Serena had just
walked in with sweet words, trying to take credit without doing anything.
It wasn’t very appropriate.
Unaware of what had transpired, Serena stayed beside Belinda, smiling sweetly.
“Grandma, I dreamed so many times about this day. Finally, it’s come true.
You’re awake and we can all have a meal together.”
Before she could finish, there was a loud bang that scared her into shrieking
and stepping back.
A smart robot about a meter high had unexpectedly exploded, scattering debris
everywhere. Arabella immediately shielded Belinda on the wheelchair with her
back, blocking the sudden danger.
Several people were shocked.
Belinda was startled as well, and Arabella hurriedly comforted, “Grandma, it’s
okay. It’s just a robot that suddenly exploded. Take deep breaths, exhale slowly,
relax.”
Belinda first worried about Arabella’s condition, “Are you okay? Is your back
hurt?”
“I just saw some debris hit Miss Bella’s back.” The maid was quite frightened,
the incident happened so suddenly, so quickly, she hadn’t had time to react and
debris had hit Bella’s back.
She was worried about Bella getting injured and hurriedly went to get help.
“Let me see!” Belinda grabbed Arabella’s arm, insisting to see her back.
Arabella turned around, “It’s okay, I was just hit, it doesn’t hurt.”
“You silly girl. You just rushing in like that.”
“Are you injured anywhere?” Arabella carefully checked, thankfully it was winter,
they were wearing thick clothes and she had protected her, so the debris hadn’t
hurt Belinda.Chapter 1139
Serena was dumbfounded, only snapping out of it when Arabella stepped
forward to inspect the robot. She quickly rushed to Belinda’s side, crouching
down and asking, “Grandma, are you alright?”
“I’m fine”
A shiver ran down Serena’s spine as she realized her own fear. She had
instinctively stepped back, unlike Arabella who had immediately rushed to
protect their grandmother, showing concern for her wellbeing.
Would Grandma think she was a coward, that she preferred her own
granddaughter more?
Enter title…
If that was the case, then she had been negligent!
“Bella!”
At that moment, a crowd of people rushed towards Arabella, all inquiring about
her injuries.
But Arabella was calmly inspecting the fragments of the robot, “This robot is a
knockoff. It looks like the popular high-end intelligent robot CX203, but it’s made
up of substandard parts inside, and the explosion was due to the poor quality of
these components.”
The crowd was astonished. How could a substandard product appear in
Sampson’s house?
At that moment, a servant knelt down, crying in fear, “Yes, I’m sorry, Mr.
Sampson. I didn’t check properly when this batch of robots arrived. It almost
injured Ms. Bella and Old Mrs. Griffith. I’m really sorry.”
“It already has.” Sampson’s eyes darkened, but when he looked at Arabella,
they softened, “I’ll have a nurse check you over, and if necessary, we’ll go to the
hospital.”
“Yes, yes, we should go. I didn’t even react when the explosion happened, and
Bella had already thrown herself on me to protect me.” Belinda was particularly
moved. She hadn’t expected the child to risk her own life to protect her.
“It’s fine. I’m a doctor.” Arabella was confident, “I just got hit, but I have many
layers on, I’m alright.”
“Really? You cant lie to me.’ Louisa was still very worried.
“Really, I’m fine.” Arabella walked over to her grandmother, pushing her
wheelchair, “Let’s go have dinner.”
“Have someone thoroughly investigate where this originated from.” Sampson
instructed.
Was it someone daring enough to sell him a knockoff armong a batch of real
ones?
Or had someone secretly switched the genuine one out?
Or was it due to some other reason?
“Find it out”
“Yes.” The butler was terrified, relieved that Ms. Bella hadn’t been injured or
bleeding, otherwise, he’d be in trouble for his lack of oversight!
After this incident, Belinda had Arabella sit next to her, with David shamelessly
sitting on Arabella’s other side.
Sampson voiced his concern, “You have plenty of time to eat with your sister at
home. I’m only here for a few days, won’t you get up?”
“Uncle Sampson, you’re an elder, and you’re fighting for a seat with your junior.”
David refused to budge, “If you want to have dinner with Bella, you can visit her
at home.”
“I will visit more often in the future.”
“Forget it, Sampson, I’ve never won a fight for a seat next to Bella, let’s sit
together.” Kenneth pulled Sampson down to sit.
“David, your eleventh global tour concert is in Lidaria, right?”
The implication behind Sampson’s words was: you still have time to change
your mind.
“Uncle Sampson, I understand!” David chuckled, “You’ll definitely bring a crowd
to support me, right? You’ll handle all the venue and equipment issues, won’t
you? Thanks, Uncle Sampson. Here’s to you.” Chapter 1140
Belinda laughed heartily, it had been a while since the whole family had sat
down for a meal together.
She reached out to serve Arabella.
“No need, Grandma, I can do it myself.”
Arabella took the initiative to serve food to the elders, David held out his bowl
expectantly.
“What would David like?”
“Whatever you feel like serving, I’m not picky.”
Enter title…
As long as it was served by his beloved sister, even a clove of garlic or a slice of
onion, he would finish it all!
Arabella chuckled and served him a shrimp. David was over the moon,
immediately took out his phone to snap a photo, and posted it on Twitter, [This is
the most delicious shrimp I’ve eaten in my entire life.] He even teased his
brothers in a group chat.
[Bella’s shrimp, it’s big, fresh, and sweet] Hans: Knife.jpg Chasel: Beating jpg
Clark: Roll.jpg David’s mood got even better, and he ate with gusto.
Serena felt like a thorn in a cushion. She felt like an outsider. Everyone was
chatting with Arabella and hardly anyone noticed her.
She kept consoling herself: Uncle Sampson and Grandma just recognized
Arabella. They were curious about her, so naturally, they would ask her more
questions, care about her, and talk to her.
But on a second thought, Mom, Dad, and even David, who had been with
Arabella for such a long time, were ignoring her, which was quite unreasonable.
“Serena, try this.” Sampson noticed that Serena was unusually quiet today, and
served her some food.
“Thank you, Uncle Sampson.”
Arabella was oblivious to the fact that this type of shrimp had sold out in the
market.
Seafood vendors didn’t understand, “Why are so many people buying this type
of shrimp today? Some have run around several markets and couldn’t find it, so
they came to buy from me.”
“Because this is the same type of shrimp David had!” A fan took out her phone,
showed the photo David had posted, and said excitedly, “We want this type of
shrimp! David said it was the most delicious shrimp he’s ever eaten, we want to
try it too!”
“Oh, so that’s why” The vendor still didn’t understand. A superstar takes a bite of
shrimp, and it causes such a stir?
“I’ll take the rest, pack them all for me!” A fan said generously.
“No, no, we are all David’s fans, could you leave me two pounds of shrimp, sis?”
“A pound is enough for me.”
“Or, how about we eat together at noon? Then we can take a picture and post it
on Twitter @David.”
“That sounds great!”
Meanwhile, several major grocery shopping apps also quickly launched this type
of shrimp: Delivered to your home within an hour. David’s exact type of shrimp,
$59.9 per pound, $100 for two pounds.
After dinner.
Arabella took her grandma for a walk in the garden, Serena mustered up the
courage to approach, “Arabella, let me do it”
From the moment Grandma woke up, Arabella had been monopolizing her for a
long time.
She also wanted to get closer to her grandma, afraid that her grandma would
grow distant from her, the granddaughter with no blood ties, now that she had a
biological granddaughter.
But Belinda kindly said, “Let Bella accompany me for a while longer, you go rest
first.”
“Grandma, I’m not tired. I was waiting outside the door this morning, when I
heard you woke up, I rushed in. I want to accompany you too.”
“I need to talk to your sister.”
Only then did Serena say somewhat awkwardly, “Then Arabella, when you’re
tired, call me, and I’ll take care of Grandma.”
“Alright.” Arabella agreed.
Serena left the garden somewhat dejectedly, just now at the dinner table,
Grandma and Arabella had talked so much, and they still had more to say.
How could there be so much to talk about!
It must be because of the robot incident, Grandma thought she was a coward,
thought Arabella, the biological granddaughter, was more reliable.
She hated herself, she should have been braver, reacted faster. Then she
wouldn’t have been upstaged by Arabella!