SWNOVELS Chapter 821-840
Chapter 821
There was a mountain of gifts piled up under the table. Clark handed one over
to Serena, “This one’s for you.”
“Thank you, Clark.”
“The rest are for Bella.” Clark hefted up a stack of a dozen or so gifts, “Don’t be
jealous. I’ve given you plenty before.”
Serena couldn’t help but laugh at his words, “Clark, you make it sound like I’m
petty.”
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“Oh no! Neither of my sisters is petty!” Clark announced. Then, carrying the pile
of gifts, he turned to Arabella, “I’ll bring these to your room.”
“Clark, this is too much.” Arabella eyed the towering stack of gifts, which nearly
reached his nose. “Thank you, Clark.”
“Sweetie, no need to thank me. Wait until I bring these to your room and then
you can slowly unwrap them. If you find anything you don’t like, just toss it. No
need to force yourself to keep it. I just want you to be happy. Seeing you happy
makes me happy.”
Louisa, seeing her son’s thoughtful gesture, couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
No wonder he had left Bella’s presents in the car.
Carrying all these would indeed be inconvenient.
After the kids left, Kenneth couldn’t help asking, “Honey, do you think our gift for
Bella is too mundane? No surprise and romance.”
“We’ll have to plan something grand.” Kenneth felt outdone by his son’s surprise
today, so he decided he had to think about what to get next time.
Clark, carrying the gifts to Arabella’s bedroom door, asked, “May I come in?”
“Sure; Arabella replied generously.
“Can I put these here? This way you can sit and unwrap them.’ After getting his
sister’s approval, Clark placed the gifts on her coffee table. He then pulled out a
bank card and handed it over, “This is pocket money from me. Buy whatever
you like.”
Arabella, who had just been thinking that at least one of her brothers hadn’t
given her a bank card, was taken aback.
“Clark, that’s not necessary. You should keep it.”
“Take it. It’s a little gift from me.’ Clark insisted, pushing the card into her hand. “I
don’t really know what girls like. If I bought the wrong thing, you can buy
something you like or tell me, and I’ll get it for you. Feel free to use it whenever
you see something you like.
If the money runs out, I’ll transfer more.”
“You really don’t need to, Clark.”
“What I give you, you must accept. No refusing, got it?” Clark insisted she keep
it. When they were alone, he asked, “Who taught you hacking?”
Arabella quickly explained about those old men, leaving Clark amazed. “You
have quite the talent to reach that level with just a little guidance. You’re really
impressive.”
Certainly more so than him.
“You’re self-taught. That’s even more impressive.”
Great, he didn’t even know how to hack a firewall.
In front of his sister, he was feeling quite outmatched.
“Actually, all you need to do is.” Arabella, standing on her toes, whispered
something into Clark’s ear.
Suddenly, it clicked for Clark. So that’s how it works. Brute force was not the
answer. You He had to find a weak point.
He didn’t expect his sister to tell him her hacking secret. This showed that her
hacking skills were indeed superior to hisChapter 822.
Emerging from his sister’s room, Clark found himself lost in thought.
His sister was a hacker, known as Alex, who easily made a minimum of five
million dollars per task. Did that mean the pocket money he gave her was
insufficient? Should he consider transferring more?
His phone buzzed, drawing his attention to messages from his buddies.
[Have you seen your sister yet?]
[Isn’t she adorable?
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[Don’t wait for her to start a conversation. Be proactive and shower her with
warmth]
[Be gentle and courteous when speaking to her.]
[She doesn’t like physical touch, don’t pat her head or touch her shoulder
without her consent.]
[No matter what happens, always put her feelings first.]
Clark replied with a smirk, [Do I really need your advice?]
He was about to go downstairs when Edith suddenly rushed up the stairs,
panting heavily.
“Ms. Bella, your grandfather has woken up. Would you like to visit him in the
hospital? Did you get some rest, Ms. Bella?”
Edith was knocking on Arabella’s door and didn’t notice Clark standing nearby.
Arabella opened the door, greeted Clark politely, and then turned to Edith,
“Grandfather’s awake?”
It was then that Edith noticed Clark, “Yes, the hospital just called.
He just opened his eyes.”
“Clark, would you like to come with me?” Arabella asked, turning her gaze
towards Clark.
This was the first time his sister had invited him, and his eyes softened, “Sure,
let’s go together”
His trip home was not only to see his sister but also to check on his
grandparents.
Half an hour later.
When Arabella and the others arrived at the hospital, a nurse rushed up to her.
“Ms. Bella, it’s good you’re here. Your grandpa suddenly started having
convulsions and fell into a coma.”
Arabella immediately hurried to the ward.
Another doctor saw her and volunteered to give a report, “When he woke up, we
did a full-body examination and found nothing unusual.
But suddenly, he started having seizures.”
Clark was puzzled as to why all the doctors and nurses were reporting to
Arabella. Did she have medical knowledge?
Arabella immediately went over to check his pulse, “Who has upset him? What
was said?”
Cornelia admitted, “It was me. I was telling him about your and Serena’s
background, and he became agitated. Bella, you must save him.”
Regret was written all over Cornelia’s face, “I shouldn’t have brought up the
subject before his condition stabilized.”
Arabella took out a needle pack, drew out a long silver needle, and inserted it
into several of his acupoints.
Soon, Arabella’s grandpa on the bed stopped convulsing and gradually calmed
down.
“Bella, is your grandfather okay?” Cornelia was still a bit scared. She didn’t
expect that the revelation about the children’s parentage would affect him so
much.
“He’s okay,’ Arabella said reassuringly. After she inserted a few more needles,
her grandpa slowly opened his eyes.
Clark was stunned. He hadn’t expected his sister to have such profound medical
knowledge. She had used just a few needles to revive their grandfather!
“Are you Bella?” Bernard Collins’ voice was still weak. His wife had told him that
it was their granddaughter who had saved their lives.
“My name is Arabella, your granddaughter.’ Arabella’s voice was calm.Chapter 823
The elderly man on the hospital bed struggled to breathe once again. Without
hesitation, Arabella inserted a few more needles, and his breathing was steady
graudally. Then he stopped twitching SO easily.
People around were left in complete awe, astonished by Arabella’s skill.
“You’re Arabella, my own granddaughter You’ve returned after eighteen years.”
Bernard examined the young girl before him. Her eyes were calm and serene,
and her features bore an uncanny resemblance to Louisa.
She was unmistakably a Collins.
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“Yes!”
Upon hearing Arabella’s confirmation, Bernard took a few heavy breaths,
seemingly shocked. However, thanks to Arabella’s medical intervention, he
didn’t pass out.
He reached out with difficulty, holding Arabella’s hand.
“My child, you’ve suffered.” Bernard’s voice was weak, but his grip on Arabella’s
hand was strong. He was reluctant to let go. “We adults were so careless. We
didn’t pay close attention, and you were left to grow up in another family. You’ve
suffered for eighteen years.”
It’s fine, it’s all in the past now.”
Arabella’s magnanimous attitude made Bernard teary-eyed, “It’s good that
you’re back. We’ll make up for all the years you’ve missed. Who would have
thought that fate would play such a cruel joke on the Collins family.”
Arabella thought to herself, it wasn’t fate’s doing, but the massive fire from years
ago, which caused three families to swap their children.
But the cause of the fire remained a mystery, despite years of investigation.
Who was behind all this?
She realized that she needed to speed up the investigation.
“Serena, where is Serena?”
“Grandpa, I’m here!” Serena rushed forward.
Bernard extended his hand again, clutching Serena’s hand with difficulty. “My
Serena.”
He never imagined that the granddaughter he had doted on for eighteen years
was not his own!!
Looking at the beautiful, sensible, and obedient girl before him, Bernard felt a
heartache. How could this happen?
How could it be!
Every single member of the Collins family had cherished this child for eighteen
years!
And now, they were telling him that she wasn’t his real granddaughter.
Bernard’s heart ached with sorrow, sadness, and pain.
“Mom and Dad and my sister Bella have been generous enough to let me stay
in this family. Rest assured, I am still your granddaughter. I will respect and take
care of you as I always have.”
Tears streamed down Bernard’s face, “Good, that’s good. You stay here, so I
can see you every day.”
Serena, knowing that her grandfather still cared for her, softened her gaze,
“From now on, you can see not only me every day but also Bella. We, as
sisters, will get along well and always accompany you and Grandma.
“Good, good child.” Bernard wiped away his tears, surprised to see the children
were more understanding than he had anticipated.
Cornelia, who was standing by, also wiped away her tears, lamenting the cruel
tricks fate played.
“Grandpa, you’re just recovering from a serious illness, so you shouldn’t get too
emotional.” Arabella brought a pillow, so he would have something to lean on
when sitting.
Bernard’s gaze once again landed on Arabella, “I heard from your grandma, you
saved us.”
“Not just me, the other medical staff also contributed. They took care of you
round the clock. That’s how this miracle happened.”
Bernard saw that she wasn’t a child who would hoard all the credit, and his
fondness for her grew.
Clark, standing aside, looked at Louisa, seemingly asking what was going on.
Why did they say that Bella saved Grandma and Grandpa?
“Bella is Dr. Bell. She provided the treatment plan for your grandparents, and
found the cure.”Chapter 824
Dr. Bell, perhaps unknown to the average person, but to the medical world, the
name Dr. Bell was a resounding one. It was hard not to know her.
Rumor had it that Dr. Bell was an old man, but it turned out to be his blooming
and beautiful younger sister.
Those who had spent a fortune to find Dr. Bell might die without knowing that
they got both the gender and age wrong.
The conditions of his grandparents were examined by Clark before, and they
were quite challenging. Not only did they have fractures all over their bodies, but
they also had multiple complications.
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It was not as simple as taking some pills.
Things that a whole ICU team couldn’t handle at the time, she managed to fix in
no time.
Not only was her hacking skills superior to his, but her medical skills were also
above his.
Clark felt his dignity as an older brother shattered once again.
“Take some medicine first, Arabella ordered someone to bring the brewed
medicine and fed it to her grandpa first.
Bernard’s brow furrowed as he cried, “So bitter.”
Bernard found his granddaughter was more like an aloofness doctor, which was
a bit intimidating. He had no choice but to obediently comply.
“Bella, can you change this medicine to something sweeter?”
Bernard pleaded.
“This is already the sweetest.”
She hadn’t even prescribed the bitterer treatment yet, fearing that the old folks
might drop dead on the spot.
“Grandma, you too?” Serena brought a bowl of medicine to Cornelia.
Cornelia didn’t want to drink it, but seeing so many people looking at her, she
had no choice but to down the medicine.
“Let me tell you, although this medicine is bitter, it is beneficial to your recovery.
This bowl costs around ten thousand dollars, so don’t waste it.”
Kenneth thought it necessary to inform them of the value of the medicine.
Otherwise, they might secretly dump it.
“A bowl costs ten thousand? That’s so expensive!” Cornelia was astounded.
“There are many rare herbs in it that Bella went through great lengths to get.
You must cherish them. Many people are begging Bella, this miracle doctor, to
save them, but Bella doesn’t even have the time to respond.”
Cornelia knew the medicine was not easy to come by, and that she and her
husband owed their recovery to Bella, so she patted her chest in assurance.
“Don’t worry, from now on, we will drink every bowl of medicine clean, leaving no
residue.”
Upon hearing this, Arabella couldn’t help but smile, “When your condition
improves, we can change to other medicines.”
These medicines were indeed the most effective ones.
At least, there were no other alternatives in the market.
“We will listen to whatever Bella says,’ Cornelia promised, smiling.
“Grandma, Grandpa, I’m really happy to see you awake.” Clark finally spoke up
from the side.
“You little devil, it’s good to finally see you around. When we were at home, we
hardly saw you. You were always busy.” Cornelia couldn’t help but sigh upon
seeing him, “You’ve grown up, and become a handsome young man in just a
few months.”
“Now that Bella is back, as her big brother, you should spend more time with her
and take her out more often, got it?” Bernard advised.Clark grinned from ear to ear. “Don’t worry, as a big brother, I will definitely take
good care of my little sister! Wherever she wants to go, I will accompany her!
You two should focus on getting better and see if we can plan a family trip for
the holidays.”
“That’s a fabulous idea. Your grandmother and I love to travel and explore new
sceneries.”
Bernard and Cornelia loved to stay active, enjoyed hiking, and were passionate
about traveling, but they wondered if they could still walk long distances due to
their age.
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Arabella noticed him fixated on his legs. She was lost in thought, and couldn’t
help but chuckle, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. In a while, you and Grandma will be
able to walk again.”
“Really?” Bernard’s eyes lit up instantly.
Arabella nodded, “I promise.”
Bernard felt a surge of vitality and started discussing where to go for the
holidays.
They had been to some places and wanted to take Arabella to places they
hadn’t been. Some places were too cold, and they feared they wouldn’t be able
to handle it.
The entire family engaged in a lively discussion about various places. Then
Bernard said, “Let’s all calm down and ask Bella’s opinion first.”
Arabella laughed softly, claiming she didn’t have any particular preferences.
“That’s because Bella is considerate. She doesnt want to burden us. We’ll go
with the places I suggested. We can enjoy the snow, the scenery, hiking, and
cloud-watching.”
After Bernard’s enthusiastic discussion, he started inquiring about his
granddaughters’ studies. When he learned that they were both in college, with
Arabella being the top-scoring student, he couldn’t help but praise her.
“Dad, Bella’s talents are not just limited to that. Have you heard of QY? She
founded it! Do you like Mirabelle’s paintings? She’s the one who painted them!
Are Labella’s calligraphy pieces still hanging in your study? They’re all her
work.”
This time, Bernard was so stunned that he couldn’t find the words to respond.
He hadn’t expected his granddaughter to be so talented: a master painter, a
calligraphy expert, and a business founder.
Clark, too, was dizzy with shock at Arabella’s multitude of talents.
He had thought the identities of “Dr. Bell” and “hacker Alex” were enough to
overshadow him, making him feel insignificant as a brother.
He hadn’t expected his sister to have so many other identities that he wasn’t
aware of.
Hans, Chasel, and David had never told him!
It took him a while to recover from the shock, then he pulled out his phone,
sending a message in disbelief, [You guys are really something, not telling me
that Mirabelle and Labella were Bella’s pseudonyms! If it weren’t for Mom and
Dad revealing it today, I would have continued to be in the dark!]
Hans: [Bella is the painter Mirabelle and calligrapher Labella? How come I didn’t
know?]
Chasel: [When did this happen?]
David: [Bella has so many pseudonyms? I only knew she was Melody and the
founder of QY.]
So, Bella also uses the pseudonym “Melody” as a piano prodigy!
Clark deeply inhaled, his eyes landing on the girl beside him. How did she
manage all these identities?
Each one was far more impressive than him as a big brother.
Was it too late for him to start over?
Meanwhile, Arabella, oblivious to Clark’s inner turmoil, borrowed a pen from the
doctor and started writing to show her grandfather.
“Yes, yes, Labella writes the word ‘Labella’ like this. You really are Labella.”
Bernard was thrilled, “Write a few more for me. I love your handwriting.”
Only God knew how much he adored Labella’s calligraphy, sharp and vigorous.
They said handwriting reflecting the personality, Bella must be as refined and
impressive as her handwriting, elegant and noble. Chapter 826
Arabella penned for him a few poems, one per page, leaving Bernard overjoyed,
rereading them time and time again.
“I want some too.” Cornelia, influenced by her husband’s enthusiasm, also fell in
love with Arabella’s handwriting.
Arabella then wrote a few pages for her.
The paper was just regular printer paper, gotten from the doctor, but once
graced with Arabella’s writing, it seemed precious.
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“Bella, your handwriting is so beautiful.” Cornelia admired her script, lavishing
praise generously.
“So, isn’t Bella beautiful?”
As soon as Clark made this comment, Cornelia smacked him lightly, “You’re just
jealous. Bella is of course beautiful, unless someone was blind and couldn’t
see.”
“Bella, can you sketch something else for me? Anything at all!”
Bernard adored Arabella’s artwork so much, he held out a blank piece of printer
paper, hoping Arabella would sketch something.
“A piece by Bella is worth a fortune. She can’t just sketch anything on a whim!”
Kenneth worried his precious daughter would be exhausted, “Wait till you’re
discharged, and when Bella has time to visit you, she’ll bring you some of her
works.”
“Just a quick sketch to whet my appetite.” Bernard still held the printer paper, his
eyes full of expectation as he looked at Arabella.
“Give Bella a break, look at the time.” Kenneth glanced at the clock and found
that it was almost 1am, “Alright, alright, you guys should rest now, we’ll visit you
again tomorrow.”
“No need for you to come, let Bella represent us.”
Kenneth never expected to be dismissed by his own father!
Arabella took the paper, randomly sketched a few lines, and a majestic sketch
appeared on the paper.
Perhaps they didn’t expect her sketching skills to be so good, she completed a
piece in just a few minutes, Bernard couldn’t stop praising, “Wonderful! I’ll have
this framed when we get home.”
“This is nothing. I’ve seen Bella draw with sand.” Kenneth took out his phone,
showing the previously captured artwork to Bernard.
Arabella herself didn’t know she had drawn with sand, until she saw the artwork
in the photo, then she recalled a long time ago, while answering a call at
Reflections Villa, she kicked around in the sand out of boredom.
At that time, the garden was being renovated, there was a pile of sand there,
who would have thought it would become her “tool” for drawing.
It was captured by Kenneth.
“Send me this sand drawing. I want to save it as my phone wallpaper.” Bernard
had no idea sand could be used for drawing, and it was executed so beautifully.
Actually, Arabella could use many mediums to create art, but no one knew it,
because the pieces she drew with a pen were already enough to amaze people.
“Bella, we’ll be discharged in a few days, you must come.” Cornelia held her
hand, saying sorrowfully.
“Don’t worry Grandma, I’ll definitely come.” Arabella said gently, “It’s late, you
and Grandpa should rest now.”
Cornelia glanced at her husband, who was still happily appreciating Arabella’s
sand drawing.
Arabella smiled, “I’ll sketch some for you next time.”
Just now, she only drew for her grandpa, and she hadn’t drawn for her grandma
yet, but it was getting late, she didn’t want to disturb the old couple’s rest.
“Thank you, my sweet granddaughter.” Cornelia was all smiles, “After we’re
discharged, you should come over and play the piano, we have a lovely grand
piano.”
“You’re trying to exhaust Bella.” Clark couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, get into
bed, I’ll tuck you in.”
Reluctantly, Bernard had to put his things away into the bedside drawer and lie
down.
After Clark tucked them in and gave some reminders, he prepared to leave.
“Hold on!” Chapter 827
Bernard sat up suddenly as though he had remembered something.
“What is it now, grandpa?” Clark asked, his tone laced with good-natured
exasperation.
“Does anyone have Bella’s number?”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t have it either.” Cornelia chimed in, reaching for her
phone to record the number.
From the sidelines, Serena watched as her grandparents fawned over Arabella,
their affection for Bella souring her mood. Why did Arabella always manage to
Enter title…
steal the spotlight so effortlessly?
After Arabella shared her number, Bernard and Cornelia carefully noted it down,
repeating it back to her to confirm.
“Bella, are you on Fall Break right now? What time do you usually wake up?”
Bernard asked, recalling a landscape painting he had once done in an attempt
to mimic Mirabelle’s style. He wondered if Arabella could offer some feedback.
“I usually wake up at six.”
“Six? Why don’t you sleep in a bit?” Cornelia asked with motherly concern.
“You’re finally on break and you usually have so much school work. Don’t tell me
Kenneth is preventing you from catching up on some much-needed rest?”
“On my honor, Mom, I’d love nothing more than for Bella to get a good night’s
sleep.” Kenneth quickly defended himself.
“I’m just used to waking up early, it’s not anyone’s fault; Arabella explained.
Cornelia heaped praises on Bella. “It’s rare to find youngsters who can maintain
such good habits these days.”
“Alright, time to get back in bed; Clark finally intervened, reaching to switch off
the light.
“But Bella, I’ll call you tomorrow.’ Bernard protested, feeling that their
conversation had been cut short.
“Dad, Bella has a lot on her plate, managing her own corporation and juggling
other commitments. She doesn’t have too much free time. Why don’t you focus
on getting better first?” Kenneth suggested, worried about his daughter’s
already packed schedule.
“Don’t worry. Call me whenever you want, Arabella reassured them gently.
“In that case, I’ll add you on WhatsApp later. Make sure to accept my request!”
Bernard added, which prompted Clark to remind him again to get some rest.
After a few more words exchanged between Arabella and the elderly couple, the
room finally settled down for the night. Everyone wished each other goodnight
and tiptoed out of the room.
“It’s obvious Mom and Dad are very fond of Bella,’ Kenneth remarked with a
pleased grin. After all, how could anyone not appreciate such a remarkable
young woman?
Arabella, however, was engrossed in her phone, responding to messages and
didnt notice their conversation.
Serena, on the other hand, had heard every word and couldn’t help but feel a
touch of melancholy. If it weren’t for Arabella, she would be the apple of her
grandparents’ eyes.
“Texting someone?” Clark noticed his sister’s preoccupation with her phone.
“You can continue. Just follow me.”
Arabella politely declined Jennifer’s invitation for a late-night snack.
Jennifer had noticed Arabella’s absence in the past couple of days and
wondered if she had become a nuisance. She messaged Romeo to find out that
that girl had been busy visiting her grandparents who had recently awakened
from a coma. Jennifer’s Spirits instantly soared upon hearing the news.Chapter 828
The next morning, bright and early.
Jennifer was pulling George along with her, heading to the hospital to visit
Bernard and Cornelia.
“I’m so thrilled to see you both awake.” Jennifer’s smile was graceful and
charming. “I heard that Bella was the one who saved you. Her medical skills are
simply extraordinary. She saved me once too.”
Jennifer started to recount the incident when she was betrayed by her best
friend, poisoned with a dangerous toxin, and Bella was her savior. Otherwise,
the consequences would have been disastrous.
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“That friend of yours is truly devious.” Cornelia couldn’t help but sympathize with
Jennifer. “You treated her like family, and yet she betrayed you like this.”
“Eventually, she couldn’t find a competent doctor to detoxify her and got what
she deserved.” Jennifer’s gaze dimmed momentarily.
Noticing a sketch on the bedside table, she couldn’t help asking, “Is this Bella’s
work?”
“How can you recognize that?” Bernard seemed slightly surprised from his
hospital bed.
“I can recognize Mirabelle’s style anywhere.” Jennifer picked up the sketch to
admire it. She was amazed that someone could create such a masterpiece with
just a ballpoint pen and a piece of A4 paper. “It’s profound and lifelike. Bella’s
artistic prowess is truly impressive.”
“She’s also a renowned calligrapher.’ Bernard added with a chuckle.
“I know. Bella has so many talents. It’s hard to keep track. You two are truly
blessed to have such an exceptional granddaughter.”
Jennifer couldn’t help showering Arabella with praises. “She’s beautiful,
intelligent, modest, kind, and well-behaved. George and I adore her.”
“Indeed, having such a daughter-in-law is a blessing for our McMillian family.”
George echoed Jennifer’s sentiments. “Rest assured, Bella will always be
treated well in our family.”
“Romeo wanted to come too today, but something urgent came up at the
company.” Jennifer then gestured towards the gifts nearby.
“These are from Romeo. He wanted to show his respect to you both.”
“That’s very kind of him.’ Cornelia knew that Jennifer and George’s visit and
Romeo’s generous gifts were all because they approved of Arabella.
Honestly, Cornelia was overjoyed that her granddaughter was being so well
received by her future in-laws. However, she couldn’t help but think about
Serena. No matter how hard Serena had tried in the past, she had never been
favored by the McMillian family.
In the end, Arabella was simply far superior to Serena. Arabella carried the
blood of the Collins family.
Serena did not.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
“Grandpa, Grandma.” Arabella entered the room, surprised to see it So lively.
“George, Jennifer, you’re here too!”
“Bella!” All four people in the room were delighted to see her.
Jennifer personally went up to Arabella, holding her hand and asking her how
she was doing. George didn’t forget to mention how his wife had been talking
about Bella at home. Bernard was eagerly waiting for Bella to show him her new
artwork, and Cornelia was chatting about how Carson had stayed up all night
admiring Bella’s artwork.
Seeing how popular Bella was, Serena, who was following behind, could only
say hello to the elders.
Only then did the four people in the room notice her.
“Serena, you’re here too. Come in and sit down.”
Serena followed them in.
Bella sat in the chair between the two hospital beds, with Jennifer holding her
hand and Cornelia also holding her hand. Everyone laughed and chatted, but
Serena’s eyes dimmed.
She seemed to be easily overlooked. As long as Bella was around, she became
the least noticeable one.
After Clark greeted everyone when he entered, he patted Serena’s shoulder,
“Let’s go make some tea for them.”
With Haley not in the room, Serena could only help make tea and serve it to
everyone.
“You’re telling me George even hit someone for Bella? Good for him!” Bernard
became so excited that he even started waving his hands around. “If I were
there, I would have hit him tooChapter 829
“Indeed, that’s way over the line. He deserved that punch!” Jennifer chuckled.
Cornelia was too stunned to say a word, never expecting the usually reserved
George to throw a punch for his future daughter-in-law.
“Here’s some tea.” Serena served them their drinks, “Grandma, grandpa, you
too. Bella, this one’s yours.”
“Let me help you.” Jennifer took a cup of tea for Arabella, finding the cup a bit
hot, she placed it on the bedside table, “Wait a bit before you drink, it’s still a bit
hot.”
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“Bella, could you help me check my phone? I think it might be broken.” Bernard
fumbled for his reading glasses and shakily opened his phone, “I sent you a
friend request on WhatsApp last night. How come you haven’t accepted yet?
Did I do something wrong or add the wrong person?”
Arabella couldnt help but smile, pulling out her own phone, “I just haven’t
accepted it yet.”
It was late last night and she was worried that if she accepted, Bernard would
keep chatting and not get a good night’s sleep.
She originally planned to accept it this morning but forgot as soon as she woke
up.
To Serena, this seemed like Arabella was being standoffish, deliberately not
accepting her grandpa’s WhatsApp request.
“Oh, so that’s the case. Well, you should accept it now.” Bernard leaned over to
see whether Arabella had accepted his request, “There it is, there it is! Is this
your profile picture? This silhouette is really beautiful.”
Arabella’s profile picture was a black silhouette. One couldn’t see specific facial
features, but from the shape, one could tell it was definitely her.
“| also think Bella’s figure is incredible. I’ve gained weight since I’ve been home!”
Jennifer patted her own face.
“Where did you gain weight? I’ve been bedridden for months, I’m the one who’s
gained weight. Look at my belly. oh, | can’t even compare.” Cornelia patted her
own belly.
“Actually, it’s pretty easy to lose belly fat. Once you’re able to walk, I’ll take you
to yoga!” Jennifer said enthusiastically.
“Really? But the yoga poses are so hard, I’m afraid I’ll hurt my back.”
“No, no, there are personal trainers. They’ll base the difficulty on our age and
physical condition, teaching us the most suitable poses.”
“Then let’s make a date for next time.”
“Sure: After Arabella accepted her grandpa’s friend request, Bernard slowly
started typing, wanting to give her a nickname.
“Let me do it.” Arabella laughed and took his phone.
“Then you can nickname me: Bella.”
“Okay.”
“Can you pin you to the top? That way it’ll be easier for me to find you.”
“Sure.
After Arabella had set her nickname and pinned herself, she patiently explained
how it worked.
Serena, who was sitting to the side, felt completely ignored.
She couldn’t stay any longer. She pushed open the balcony door and stepped
outside for some fresh air.
Cornelia started adding Arabella as a friend, setting a nickname and pinning her
as well.
Jennifer laughed and said, “I’ve had Bella pinned for a while now, looChapter 830
“Both my wife and Bella are my top priorities,’ George said with a chuckle.
Their voices reached Serena, making her feel even more downcast.
Clark handed Serena a cup of freshly brewed coffee, whispering,
“Someday, when you find the right person, you’ll be cherished just like this by
your in-laws.”
Serena looked up, surprised that Clark had noticed her inner thoughts, feeling a
bit embarrassed.
“Clark, am | really that bad?”
Enter title…
“Everyone has different strengths and blooms at different times;
Clark seemed to guess her thoughts, standing by her side, smiling.
“Bella’s success is due to the unimaginable amount of hard work she has put in.
While you were shopping, having spa days, and attending parties, she has been
quietly striving.”
Serena seemed to be enlightened, looking up at Clark.
“If you feel that you’re not good enough, it’s never too late to start working hard.
When your time comes, people will admire and look up to you.”
“Clark.” Serena felt a sudden realization that she had been wallowing in self-pity
without ever considering change.
“Can | become like her if | work hard?” Serena looked at the girl who was the
center of attention in the room.
“| can’t guarantee what kind of achievements you’ll have or if you’ll surpass
Bella, but at least, you’ll definitely surpass who you are now.’
Wasn’t surpassing your current self also a kind of progress?
Clark stood beside her, “Serena, do you know? You have a better chance of
success than others because of your current status. You can easily access the
best resources. For instance, if you want to learn piano, our parents will hire the
best teacher and buy the best piano for you. You can focus solely on learning.’
But in many parts of the world, there were people who wanted to learn the piano
but could only watch from afar without even having an ordinary piano.
“So, with these resources and talents you have, you should strive to shine for
everyone to see. | believe in your success.”
After listening to Clark’s words, Serena nodded, “Clark, from now on, | won’t
give up easily anymore.”
“In fact, you’re already much better than most people your age.”
Clark smiled at her, “Keep going. It’s never too late to start.’
In the hospital room.
Arabella was laughing while discussing her childhood piano practice, but others
were heartbroken, thinking her training methods were too harsh.
“| knew this kid must have put in a lot of hard work to achieve what she has
now.’
“Exactly, no one becomes successful easily. Such harsh piano training methods
are too hard for a child.”
“Bella persisted, and that’s why she’s become a star.’
When Serena entered, she didn’t know what they had been talking about, but
hearing these conversations, she subconsciously looked at the shining girl in the
crowd.
Success didn’t come easy, so Arabella must have put in a lot of hard work to
achieve her current status, right?
With this thought, she secretly made up her mind to change herself!
After visiting with her grandparents, Arabella, and Jennifer left the hospital room.
They arrived at the garage.
Having finally met her beloved daughter-in-law, Jennifer was in an even better
mood than before.
“I’ll text you when we get home. Be careful on the road, and call me if anything
happens.”
Arabella nodded, “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, my sweet girl!” Jennifer patted her head and got in the Car.
Serena watched with genuine envy, then got into Clark’s car and went back to
Reflections Villa with Arabella.
That night, Clark wiggled his phone mysteriously, smiling, “Bella, Serena’s gone
out with her friends. I’ve got two movie tickets. How about we go watch a
movie? | heard it’s really good.”
“I’ve already made plans.”Chapter 831
“What? You’ve got a date? With whom? A guy or a girl? Right now? What for?”
No sooner had Clark finished speaking than a servant announced,
“Ms. Bella, Mr. McMillan is waiting for you outside”
“OK” Arabella glanced at Clark, “I’m leaving now, Clark.”
“Hey, wait!”
Seeing his sister’s retreating figure, Clark felt a pang of unease and quickly
followed her.
Enter title…
From afar, he saw a man patting Arabella’s head, seemingly whispering sweet
nothings to her.
“Hands off my sister! Did you even wash your hands? She just washed her hair
tonight!”
Just as Romeo looked up, Clark pulled his sister behind him.
“Do you always treat women like this, Mr. McMillan? Touching them without
permission?”
“Clark, you are back.” Romeo seemed unfazed, “Bella is my fiancée.”
He had only patted her head. Was that too much?
“Whether she’s your fiancée or not, the ink hasn’t even dried yet!”
Clark said this, and then turned to his sister to ask quietly, “Are you going out
with him? Are you two officially dating? Is he reliable?”
Although he had heard that the two of them were in love, he hadn’t
really considered Romeo’s character as a brother.
Whether or not his sister’s lifelong happiness was worth entrusting to such a
man depended on his performance!
“Don’t worry, Clark, he’s absolutely reliable.”
Clark looked at the man in front of him, who was smiling with the warmth of a
jade, and couldn’t help but feel that he wasn’t reliable at all.
“What are you guys going to do?” Clark turned back to ask the girl behind him.
“To watch a movie.”
Suddenly, Clark was filled with jealousy, “Which one? | want to come too!”
Romeo and Arabella were both speechless.
“Bella, you’re still young and can’t judge people clearly,’ Clark said softly to the
girl in front of him. “Take me with you. I’ll keep an eye on things for you. If he’s
really good to you, I’ll agree with both hands!”
He was afraid that Romeo was only interested in the novelty, or had other
motives.
He couldn’t let his sister stake her lifelong happiness on a fleeting romance.
In the end, Arabella had no choice but to bring him along due to Clark’s
persistence.
In the car.
Clark, sitting in the back seat, noticed Romeo occasionally glancing at the
passenger seat, and couldn’t help but say, “Keep your eyes on the road.”
What was he looking at his sister for?
“Clark, the road is not as good-looking as Bella.” Romeo looked at the girl in the
passenger seat again, and during a red light, he took out a bottle of lemonade,
unscrewed the cap and handed it over.
He seemed to have done this countless times.
But Clark immediately snatched it away, “Bella can’t drink cold stuff”
“This is at room temperature.”
“Room temperature is not OK either!” After saying this, Clark opened his own
shoulder bag and took out a lollipop. He tore open the wrapper and handed it
over, “Here, Bella, this is for you.”
This was what girls should eat!Chapter 832
Arabella took the item and said, “Clark.”
“Hey, you feeling thirsty or hungry? Besides candy, what else do you want to
eat? I’ve got a whole pantry in bag.” Clark was always prepared for anything.
“Give me back that bottle of lemonade you took.”
“This one?” Clark glanced at the bottle in his hand, a little reluctant to part with
it. “It’s sour as hell. Do you really like it?”
“| do’
“Well, | will get you more next time.”
Enter title…
Romeo thought, “Didn’t you say she couldn’t drink room-temperature
beverages?”
“No need.” Arabella said gently, “Romeo has plenty.”
“We don’t need his stuff.”
Arabella and Romeo exchanged a glance, trying to suppress their laughter. Was
Clark not the cutest?
On the way to the cinema, Clark led the way, his handsome face serving as a
barrier between the two of them.
“I’m on leave recently. If you guys want to go somewhere or do something, just
call me.’
Arabella chuckled, “Sure.”
“Don’t be polite with me. After all, we’re family.” Clark said, shooting a glance at
Romeo, who was driving. Romeo bring a tad more handsome didn’t mean he
was any better.
Upon reaching the cinema’s parking lot, Clark unbuckled Arabella’s seat belt
and opened the car door for her, shielding her head with
his hand. “Easy now, be careful.”
As soon as Arabella got out of the car, before Romeo could take her hand, Clark
had switched places with Arabella, placing himself between them, and even held
onto the hem of his sister’s dress.
“The mall is huge. Stick with me, so you won’t get lost.”
Romeo was speechless.
At the cinema, Romeo went to collect the tickets while Clark asked Arabella
what she wanted to eat. Seeing that she was not picky, he bought one of
everything the concession stand sold.
“I have got it all. Whatever you want to eat, just take it. Here, hold onto my shirt
and follow me.” With his hands full, Clark couldn’t hold onto her dress.
The cinema was packed that day. When Romeo returned with the tickets, he
told Clark, “Sorry, I couldn’t get seats together. You’ll have to sit in the back row.”
Upon hearing this, Clark was not having it.
He handed all the food to Romeo and went to the front desk, only to find out that
there was indeed only one seat left. Clark then approached a couple seated
near Arabella and somehow managed to convince them to swap their tickets
with him!
Having secured a seat next to Arabella, Clark smirked at Romeo.
Romeo was again speechless.
Finally, the movie started. Clark held up a soda straw for Arabella to sip from,
then put on disposable gloves, and offered her some popcorn.
“Clark, I can eat by myself.”
It was a bit embarrassing to be fed by Clark at her age.
Clark seemed to have expected this, so he handed her a pair of disposable
gloves. He alternated between offering her popcorn and hot dogs.
He even took out his phone to take a selfie of just the two of them, and sent it to
all their siblings.
Each picture was attached with the same caption: Watching a movie alone with
sis! She’s so well-behaved and obedient. She is such a sweetheart.
Hans: [No way, Bella doesn’t seem like the type to act cute.]
Chasel: [Romeo’s there, isn’t he? I can see his hand.]
David: [Clark, you’re shameless. Clearly, Romeo is there with you, yet you claim
you’re alone. I knew Bella would never watch a movie alone with you! You’re so
cheeky!]
Upon seeing their comments, Clark was puzzled. How did they know Romeo
was there?
Had something in the picture given it away? Chapter 833
As he thought about it, he enlarged the photo to take a closer look, and
suddenly noticed that Romeo’s hand had sneakily found its way onto Arabella’s
shoulder!
During the photo session, there was an unexpected masculine hand on his
sister’s shoulder, adorned with a ring identical to Arabella’s!
At this, Clark immediately swatted Romeo’s hand away, “You’re crowding Bella.
She’ll be uncomfortable.”
“There’s a scary scene coming up soon. I need to protect her.”
Enter title…
“She doesn’t need your protection. She’s my sister, I can take care of her.”
Arabella couldn’t help but chuckle, “Clark, you’re overreacting.”
“Huh, really? I don’t think so.’ Clark was unexpectedly rebuffed by his sister. He
sullenly handed Arabella something, only to find Romeo’s hand, once again,
intertwined with his sister’s!
This was simply too much. He couldn’t bear it any longer, so he came up with a
plan, “Bella, this will keep your hands warm.”
He pulled out a hand warmer from his bag.
“No need, my hand can keep hers warm.”
“Is your hand better than a pocket warmer?” Clark forcefully stuffed the little
heater into Arabella’s hand, giving Romeo a challenging lift of his eyebrow.
Let’s see where he put his hand now!
Romeo smirked and asked the girl next to him, “Is the popcorn good?”
“It’s alright.”
“Let me try.”
Arabella handed him a piece of popcorn, which she casually placed by his
mouth.
Seeing this intimate gesture, Clark felt a heartache, “I want to taste the popcorn
too!”
“Don’t you already have some?” Arabella glanced at his left hand, still holding a
bucket of popcorn.
Clark immediately put it down, “Mine doesn’t taste good. Let me try yours.”
While she found him childish, Arabella handed him a piece of popcorn. Clark
savored the popcorn fed by his sister, the sweetness was simply indescribable.
He looked at Romeo triumphantly, ‘You want to compete with me? I was born
when you were still in the womb!”
Romeo took a sip from Arabella’s drink.
Clark’s blood pressure almost shot through the roof, “Don’t you have your own
drink? Why are you drinking Bella’s?”
“Bella’s tastes better.”
“But still, it’s unsanitary!”
“I don’t mind; Romeo calmly replied.
“Well, I do!” Clark immediately got Arabella a new drink, “This is Bella’s. Don’t
steal her drink.”
“Bella, Clark seems to dislike me.”
Perhaps he never expected Romeo to be so straightforward, Clark was at a loss
for words!
“Clark.” Arabella looked at him and Clark immediately backed down, “I’m
watching the movie.”
He hadn’t expected Romeo to be so petty!
How could he entrust Bella’s future happiness to someone like this?
With these thoughts in mind, Clark looked up at the big screen. The couple in
the movie was also at a movie theater watching a horror film.
In the horror film, the male protagonist was sweeping the floor.
When he tried to sweep under the couch, the broom suddenly got stuck. He
bent down to look and saw a woman, her face covered in blood, lying under the
sofa. She was holding the broom and laughing at the protagonist.
Clark cursed under his breath, jumping in his seat from the scare.Chapter 834
People around them in the movie theater jumped in surprise.
Although Clark’s heart was thumping wildly, he instinctively shielded Bella’s view
with his hand.
“Bella, don’t be scared. I’ll block it for you.”
Seeing Clark’s eyes tightly closed, not daring to glance at the big screen, Bella
found it funny, “Clark, are you afraid of ghosts?”
“Of course not, I fear nothing.” Clark glanced at the big screen, trying to prove
his bravery. But just as the ghostly woman’s head fell to the ground, Clark let out
Enter title…
a yelp, “Oh my God.”
Seeing Clark’s long legs pull up to the chair in fear, Bella couldn’t help but laugh,
“Clark, don’t be scared. It’s all fake.”
“How can I be scared? I’m just worried for you.” Clark didn’t expect a romance
film to have such terrifying scenes. He wondered who the producer was,
thinking he should have a word with him later.
Bella and Romeo were engrossed in the film, laughing and discussing the plot.
Clark was surprised, “Bella, aren’t you scared?”
“It’s quite funny, actually.”
“Funny?” Clark widened his eyes in astonishment.
“Didn’t you find it hilarious when her head suddenly fell off?”
Funny?
Clark couldn’t conceal his shock. How was it that his little sister was braver than
him?
Where was he supposed to place his dignity as her big brother?
Finally, when there were no more horrifying scenes in the movie, Clark relaxed
his feet.
In the film, the male lead drove the female lead to a hilltop to enjoy the view.
When they arrived, it started to drizzle. They didn’t get out of the car, choosing
to wait for the rain to stop inside.
As the rain grew heavier, the male lead turned on some music. The atmosphere
in the car gradually grew tense. Unable to resist, the male lead lifted the female
lead’s face and kissed her.
“Disgusting!” Clark couldn’t help but comment, “This guy’s intentions are not
pure. Taking advantage of the mood to make a move on her, what if something
changes in the future?”
People around him threw him a glance, and Clark had to quiet down. After a
while, he saw the male lead starting to undress the female lead.
“Pervert!” Clark couldn’t help but comment again, “Bella, guys like this are the
least trustworthy. They only think about their own pleasure, never considering
things from a woman’s perspective.
This is a classic example of irresponsibility! In the future, you have to keep your
eyes wide open and never give yourself away lightly.”
Bella raised her eyebrows. Was Clark hinting at something?
“You have to protect yourself. Look at the female lead, she doesn’t know how to
protect herself, and she’ll regret it.”
Later, the male and female leads were forced to break up due to family reasons.
The female lead started dating a more conservative guy, and when they were
about to get married, he found out about her past relationship and called off the
wedding.
The female lead was left facing judgment.
“See how much malice society has towards women.” Clark took the opportunity
to educate, “Bella, listen to me. You must protect yourself before marriage!”
“As far as I know, they eventually get back together after a lot of twists and
turns. It’s a case of true love prevailing,’ Bella added.
“That’s a rare exception! Without such a plot, the film wouldn’t have box office
success! Think about it, in the real world, there are countless cases of breakups
leading to complete estrangement.”
Bella raised her eyebrows, “Clark, you seem to have a lot of experience.”
“What experience can I have.”
After the movie ended, Clark made sure to collect their trash and dispose of it.
As they left the movie theater, they passed a trinket shop with all sorts of knickknacks.
“Bella, look, this phone case is pink and very suitable for you.” Clark picked up a
cute phone case, “Do you like it? I think it looks good: Just as Bella was about to
decline, she saw Clark put the phone case into the shopping basket and went to
pick other things.
“This strawberry hairpin is so cute. It suits you perfectly.’ Clark put the hairpin in
Bella’s hair. It was incredibly adorable!Chapter 836
Romeo then went to pay for his items, filling in his delivery address and contact
information.
After he left, a customer approached the delivery staff.
“Excuse me, could you please give me the contact of that handsome guy just
now?”
The staff apologized, “Sorry, young lady, as you saw, he has a girlfriend. It’s not
nice to try and steal someone away.”
“I just want to be his friend!”
Enter title…
“Sorry, but we can’t disclose our customer’s privacy.”
No matter how much the young girl pleaded, the staff refused to reveal the
delivery details.
“Can you give me her brother’s contact then? He’s also very handsome: “Sorry,
can’t do that either.”
As Clark stepped out of the jewelry store, he realized he had misplaced
something.
“Bella, why don’t you go ahead and look around? I seem to have lost something,
I’ll catch up with you.”
Seeing him somewhat worried, Arabella couldn’t help but ask, “What did you
lose?”
“Just. a good luck charm.”
“A good luck charm?” Arabella was surprised, as Clark seemed too carefree to
carry such a thing.
“I’ll go look for it.”
Clark, looking very anxious, returned to the jewelry store.
Not knowing exactly where he had lost it, Clark searched the store and even
asked several employees. No one had seen his charm.
Clark then retraced his steps back to the cinema.
He had bought a lot of snacks at the cinema and wondered if he had dropped it
while taking out his wallet.
“Hello, did anyone see a red triangular good luck charm, about this big?” Clark
gestured, “It looks a bit old.”
“Sorry, haven’t seen it; the popcorn seller regretfully said.
Clark had to search for himself. He looked around the hall number 1, but didn’t
find the familiar charm near their seats.
Clark remembered the girl’s bright and cheerful smile, and the gentle way she
had handed him the charm.
He felt a deep sense of loss.
As he left hall number 1, Clark was a bit dazed until a janitor asked, “Did you
lose something?”
Clark perked up and asked, “Did you see a red triangular charm?”
“Is this it?” The janitor took it out of his pocket.
Clark recognized his lost charm and was overjoyed, “Yes, that’s it!
Thank you so much!”
He immediately opened his wallet and wanted to thank the janitor properly.
But the janitor declined, “This was just a small gesture, I can’t accept the
money.”
“You don’t know how important this charm is to me. you must take this money!”
Finally, Clark stuffed the money into his pocket and quickly left.
Seeing Clark’s joy, Arabella knew the charm held a special meaning for him.
“Did you find it?” Arabella softly asked.
“I found it!”
Clark was so happy, he put the charm in his wallet and swore to himself that he
would never lose it again.
At 10 p.m., the mall was about to close.
Romeo drove Arabella and Clark back to Reflections Villa.
“Bella, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
On hearing this, Clark instantly disagreed, “Bella finally has a day off, let her
sleep in tomorrow. Don’t disturb her rest.”Chapter 837
I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Are you always this free? At your age, shouldn’t you be focusing on your career
to give my sister a more secure future? Young people can’t always focus on
love. You need to think further ahead.”
After lecturing him, Clark turned to his sister with a grin, “Where do you want to
go tomorrow, Bella? I can accompany you.”
“Romeo has some time.”
“He should spend his time focusing more on work. I’m on vacation.
Enter title…
I have plenty of time.”
In the end, Romeo could only say, “Tomorrow, Bella and I are going to walk the
glass bridge. I heard you have a fear of heights, Clark.”
“Who told you that? Fear of heights? Absolutely not!” Clark retorted stubbornly,
“I’m going too!”
Romeo and Bella were in dumb silence.
“So it’s settled then!” As Clark walked into the house tugging at his sister’s
sleeve, he whispered, “I still haven’t evaluated this guy’s character. We’ll
continue tomorrow.”
“Clark, shouldn’t you spend the day at home with Mom and Dad?”
“I’ve been with Mom and Dad for over twenty years. Now that I have time, I want
to spend it with my little sister.”
Alright, then.
On the other hand.
When Romeo got home, he sent a WhatsApp message to Bella updating her on
his whereabouts, then found David sent him a message.
[I want to hire the most famous screenwriter in the country to tailor a new series
for you, one that’s guaranteed to be a hit.]
[I also want to hire the best international dance team to choreograph a new
dance for you, one that can dominate the dance scene.]
[I also want to hire the best music team to produce a new song for you.]
David quickly sent a few question marks back and added, [Unsolicited favors
often signal ill-intent! I’m telling you now, I won’t do anything shady!]
[The new series, if you accept, will have a pay of 30 million dollars.
There’s not much dialogue. All you have to do is maintain a cool demeanor.]
In other words, just look good and keep a cool face.
David seemed tempted, [What do you want from me?]
Before Romeo could answer, David added, [I’ve declined all party invitations. I’m
going home for Christmas to be with my sister!
Don’t think about taking her away!]
There was no room for discussion on this matter! End of story!
[Just need to ask you something.]
David was even more surprised, “[What is it?]
[Does Clark have a girlfriend?]
[When did you start caring about Clark’s personal life?] David was surprised, but
then understood, [Oh, I get it. Clark always interferes with your dates, so you
want to find him a girlfriend? Don’t bother, Clark’s heart is already dead.]
[What do you mean?] Romeo was curious.
[Clark had a secret girlfriend a long time ago. Suddenly, one day,
she broke up with him and vanished! Clark searched for her for a whole year but
found nothing!]
Clark was Astronisia’s top hacker, and there was no one he couldn’t find!
But that girl seemed to have evaporated!
No matter how hard Clark searched, there was no trace of her!
[Send me her information.]
Seeing Romeo’s request, David was surprised, [You want to help Clark find her?
Even Clark couldn’t find.]
How could Romeo find her?
[I’ll have Shadow Council and Group S look for her.]
David’s eyes widened, even the Shadow Council was getting involved.
The Shadow Council, as the name suggested, consisted of shadows that
Romeo maintained in the dark. It was said that there was no person this
organization can’t find.
This group used to collect all kinds of evidence to help Romeo solidify his
position. Chapter 838
Who would’ve thought that for the sake of Arabella, Romeo would even get the
Shadow Council involved?
This was definitely true love.
The following morning, Serena was surprised to find two delivery men standing
at her front door.
After inquiring, she found out that Clark and Romeo had purchased a bunch of
items for Arabella the previous night, amounting to a whopping six large boxes,
each one bearing the logo of a well-known boutique.
Enter title…
Serena was familiar with the prices at this boutique. Even a simple hairpin could
cost several dozen dollars, due to its unique design and girly charm. It was no
surprise that many of her friends liked to shop there.
While it was natural for Romeo, Arabella’s fiancé, to occasionally shower her
with small gifts, Serena couldn’t comprehend why Clark would buy Arabella so
many items.
This amount, coupled with the eighteen gifts Clark had given Arabella when he
last came home, exceeded the number of presents Serena had received from
Clark over the years.
Feeling a surge of resentment, Serena headed to the dining area, where she
saw Clark fussing over Arabella. Her feelings of jealousy intensified.
“Serena, you are awake. Here, have some milk; Clark said, pouring a glass of
milk for her as he saw her enter the room, his face beaming with a smile.
“Clark, I don’t feel like having milk today; Serena responded, sitting down with a
dejected expression.
“Do you want a sandwich? Maybe with some grated cheese like old times?”
“No, Clark, I’d rather have some porridge.”
Sensing Serena’s gloom, Arabella looked up from her meal. In her eyes,
Arabella saw hostility.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you sleep well?” Clark asked, serving Serena a bowl of
oatmeal, and placing it in front of her. “Who upset you?”
Serena remained silent, eating her oatmeal.
“Girls can be so hard to figure out;’ Clark said, smiling as he went to serve
Arabella another bowl of oatmeal. “Eat up, Bella.”
Arabella’s phone buzzed in the middle of breakfast. It was a video call invitation
from her grandfather.
“Grandpa.
“Good morning, Bella. Are you having breakfast? Why do you always get up so
early.”
On the other side of the video, Bernard, her grandfather, was smiling cheerfully
with a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose. “Your grandma and I should
be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.
Can you come pick us up?”
“Sure; Arabella responded gently. “I will be there to pick you both up tomorrow.”
“Great, we’ll be waiting for you. Let your parents know, but if they’re busy, you
can come alone.”
Arabella smiled, “Alright.”
“Last night, I went through my phone’s photo album and finally found some
landscape paintings I drew. They were inspired by your works. I’ve sent them to
your WhatsApp. Have a look and feel free to critique.”
“Okay.”
“Well, finish your breakfast first. We’ll talk later.”
As Bernard was ending the call, Cornelia said, “Don’t keep texting and calling
Bella all the time. Let her enjoy her vacation.”
“I just want to chat with her.”
“Make sure she checks the pocket money I sent.”
Bernard then said to the person on the phone, “Bella, your grandma said she
sent you some pocket money. Make sure you collect it.
And about the pocket money I transferred to you last night, do you think it’s not
enough?”
“No, Grandpa, I have my own money. It’s enough.”
“That’s your money. This is a token of love from your grandma and me. You
must accept it. If you don’t, it would mean you’re being formal with us.”
Considering Serena was present, Arabella could only respond, “Okay.” Chapter 839
“Don’t forget to check, okay?”
After ending the video call, Arabella resumed her breakfast.
Sitting across from her, Serena’s mood took a deeper dive. She hadn’t expected
her grandparents to be so dependent on, and indulgent towards, Arabella.
They even transferred her pocket money!
Every time Arabella’s phone vibrated, Serena couldn’t help but glance at it,
curious to know how much her grandparents had transferred and what secrets
they were sharing with her.
Enter title…
With her slender fingers, Arabella was commenting on her grandfather’s work.
Serena’s dissatisfaction grew. Was there really a need to act so busy while just
having breakfast?
Clark noticed Serena’s sullen expression and texted her.
[Bella just got home. It is normal for grandparents to give her a bit of allowance.
They’ve always given you plenty too.]
If this had been any other day, Serena would have felt ashamed after reading
this. But today, she couldn’t help responding, [You always take sides, Clark.]
[How am I taking sides?] Clark was puzzled, not knowing what he had done
wrong.
[Why can’t you all just be honest and tell me you don’t like me anymore? Isn’t it
tiring to keep pretending every day?]
After sending this message, Serena stood up. [I’m full.]
She threw her spoon back into her bowl with a huff, not caring about the
etiquette of a lady, and stomped off.
“Hey Serena.” Clark started to get up to follow her, but his phone vibrated. It was
a message from Romeo.
[I’m here.]
Clark had to say, “Bella, Romeo’s at the door. I’ll go get some food and drinks
ready. Take your time eating, don’t rush, and make sure you eat plenty.”
Serena ran upstairs and waited, but Clark never came up to cheer her up.
Hmph, he was just pretending!
He promised to treat her like a sister, yet he bought so many things for Arabella
and hovered around her like a nanny!
Had Arabella ever given him a second glance?
He didn’t even buy her a small gift last night, not even a hairpin!!
At this moment, Martha, who had noticed the commotion, slowly walked upstairs
and asked with concern, “Serena, are you crying?”
“I’m not.” Serena wiped her tears away, still in a huff.
“Look outside.”
Serena didn’t understand what was so interesting outside. When she looked,
she saw Clark with a backpack, opening the car door for Arabella. It looked like
they were going to go out and have fun with Romeo.
“You’re up here crying, and they’re all happy, about to walk the glass skywalk.
What does that tell you? Clark doesn’t care about your feelings.”
Serena’s jealousy flared uncontrollably.
“Do you know what the maid found when she cleaned Ms. Bella’s room this
morning?”
“What?” Serena asked, huffily.
“Clark’s personal black card, right on Ms. Bella’s desk. What does that tell you?
Clark has given his personal black card to Ms. Bella!”
Martha added fuel to the fire. “Has Clark ever done that for you?”
Hearing this, Serena felt even worse.
“Never mind how much Clark earns each year, just his monthly dividends from
the Collins Group are more than he can spend. And it’s all for Ms. Bella! Serena,
they are real siblings. There’s a difference between you and a stranger with no
blood relation.”Chapter 840
Tears welled up in Serena’s eyes and began to roll down her cheeks.
“You heard it yourself; Martha started, “They’ve been giving spending money to
Ms. Bella. They were bedridden for months, and the first thing they did when
they woke up wasn’t to check on you, but to transfer money to Ms. Bella. What
does that tell you?
They care more about their real granddaughter. To them, you’re nothing more
than a stranger.”
Serena’s heart ached even more.
Enter title…
“They’re family, after all. Ms. Bella only visited them a few times, yet their bond
is so strong. They text and call each other every day.
Look at your phone, how many messages, calls, or monetary transfers have
they sent you since they woke up?”
The light in Serena’s eyes dimmed. The answer was none. Not a single one.
They hadn’t transferred any money to her, nor had they sent her a single
message of care.
Martha sighed, “Serena, you’ve been protected too well all these years. You
don’t understand the complexities of society and the wickedness of people. I’ve
tried to warn you many times, but you wouldn’t listen. If you had been more
realistic back then and fought for your share, you wouldn’t be left with nothing
now.”
Serena looked at her blankly, “What share are you talking about?”
“Of course, I’m talking about the company dividends. Don’t you want to receive
a monthly dividend from the company just like your brothers? It’s a substantial
amount of money. And while your parents still hold a bit of affection for you, you
could ask for more properties, more storefronts. Whatever you can get now is a
bonus.
Your wedding gift will depend on their goodwill. Or at the very least,
get them to buy you a few limited-edition supercars, branded bags, and luxury
watches. If you ever need money, you can sell those for a good price.”
Serena’s eyes dimmed again, “But what I want is their love.”
“Oh, Serena! Can’t you see it yet? With Ms. Bella back, they won’t treat you the
same way as before! It’s better to secure some assets for yourself, at least you’ll
have money!”
What’s the use of love!
Summerfield was one of the wealthiest cities in the country, where even a
modest villa went for millions.
After eighteen years of relationship, wouldn’t Kenneth and Louisa be willing to
give her a few villas?
And each of the storefronts in Summerfield cost tens of millions, an amount
most people would have to work their entire lives to accumulate!
Now, all she needed to do was ask, but Serena refused!
She only cared about love!
Such a fool!
“Martha, I need some time alone.”
The image of Clark opening the car door for Arabella, lowering himself to do so,
pained her.
“Alright, take your time to think.” Martha gently patted her shoulder, “No matter
what happens, I’ll always be by your side. Over the years, I’ve come to see you
as my own daughter. I’ll be genuinely happy for your happiness.”
“Thank you, Martha.” Serena lifted her eyes and gratefully said, “Thank you for
always considering things from my perspective for all these years. Sometimes, I
even feel like you’re better than my real mom.”
“Serena, your words are too kind. And thank you for treating me like family all
these years, giving me a sense of home.”
Martha choked up a bit, “Whatever decision you make in the end, I’ll support
you. If you want to fight for your share, I’ll help you. If you just want a place in
this family, I’ll stay with you.”
Moved, Serena couldn’t help but hug her and cry, “Martha.”
“Silly girl, don’t cry. Things aren’t at their worst yet.’ Martha comforted, “There’s
always a chance.”
Everything lied in her decisions.
Whatever she wanted, she could definitely get.
Elsewhere.
Clark was holding an umbrella for his sister. It was autumn, but the day was still
a bit hot, and there were many tourists.
He made his way through the crowded streets, took out a portable fan from his
bag, and started fanning his sister.