Back when Serena was still the heiress of the Collins family, she loved to pick on Martin, recklessly swiping his cards.
Marrying into the Cooper family? No way!
Martin had always been a model student, a paragon of academic excellence with dashing looks and an honest intelligence. Why would he need soone like Serena?
In the last six months, Serena’s actions towards Rosemary were publicly exposed by Louisa during the family’s grand reunion. After eighteen years of nurturing Serena, the Collins treated her with nothing but kindness, yet she showed no gratitude, repeatedly attempting to bring Rosemary down.
How could such a person be welcod into the Cooper family?
If the Collins couldn’t warm her heart in eighteen years, what chance would the Coopers have?
With those thoughts, Diana helped her mother into the car, and half an hour later, they arrived at the estate.
The sight of the estate’s na alone was enough to infuriate Florence, but she reminded herself to stay calm, stay calm!
Serena, assisted by the maid Dora, sipped her afternoon tea in the lounge, visibly pleased with herself.
Just then, June rushed in, "Serena, Mr. Martin’s mother and sister are here. They seem pretty riled up, and I think they’re here for you."
Serena smirked, her lips curling in disdain. Just an hour ago, she had discussed engagent plans with Martin, and now the Coopers couldn’t wait to confront her?
What a speedy reaction.
Pretending to be worried, Serena said, "Martin just talked about getting engaged to , and he wanted to inform his family. It seems they disagree and have co to persuade to leave Martin. The current gossip about is unfavorable, and if they dislike because of it and want to push away."
Serena’s voice trembled with feigned concern, "I heard that Martin’s mother has a heart condition; it would be terrible if she had an episode. If they tell Martin I’ve been bullying them, I’d be dood, even
if I jumped into the river, I couldn’t cleanse myself. Dora, June, only you can help now!"
She clutched the maids’ hands earnestly, pleading, "If anything happens, you must record it, to prove I haven’t bullied them. Also, call Martin to co ho quickly. I’m in a wheelchair now. I simply can’t deal with them."
The maids nodded, a mix of nervousness and sympathy in their eyes; June left to make the call.
In the past, she had so of a rich girl’s elegance, draped in exorbitantly priced clothes and jewelry,standing tall and graceful. But now, she looked utterly ordinary.
This woman, how could she ever be a part of the esteed Cooper family?
No way!
"Martin’s not here, so you can drop the act." Florence towered over her with an air of superiority, "I want you away from my son. Pack your things and get out of this house."
Serena stared back at the woman before her, a sense of familiarity washing over her. It clicked, "You’re the lady from Dawnstar."
Back then, she hadn’t known who the woman was, so she’d been curt and dismissive. And now, fate had a wicked sense of humor - the woman was Martin’s mother.
She had made a terrible first impression without even realizing it.
"Since you rember, you should know the Cooper family won’t accept soone who is disrespectful,self-centered, malevolent, and two-faced into our family. Take the clothes and jewelry Martin gave you,but from now on, you’re forbidden to co anywhere near my son!"
Florence declared her ultimatum and settled onto the couch with her daughter, waiting for Serena to leave.
Serena’s inner fury brought a sardonic smile to her lips, but she kept up a gentle façade, "Dora, would you fetch us so tea and pastries?"
Dora nodded and was about to step away when Florence interjected, her voice airy and dismissive,
"My staff doesn’t take orders from you. Dora, two cups of coffee, please. It’s ti to cool off."
"Yes, ma’am," Dora hurriedly bowed and retreated from the explosive situation.
Serena pressed a button on her wheelchair, facing the matriarch head-on.
"At the Dawnstar Style Plaza boutique, you snatched away every piece Rosemary had her eye on."
Diana spoke up, her tone flat, "And I saw the whole ti how you tornted my brother in the lavender fields."
"If you saw everything, then why lie? Your brother clearly enjoyed it. Didn’t you see him smiling all day?"
Diana was taken aback by Serena’s audacity; the latter was unafraid and didn’t take them seriously even when confronted by both of them.
"My relationship with Martin is our business; you two don’t have to concern it. And this manor is already in my na. If anyone should leave, it’s you," Serena’s smile was a blend of sweetness and
provocation.
Florence and Diana were shocked and enraged. The manor, worth over ten million, was in her na?
That fool!!
Florence was stunned by the girl’s shalessness and superciliousness.
Diana fud, "You’re not even part of the family yet, and you’re already so bold? Do you really think you can marry Martin? Entering the Cooper family isn’t just up to him!"
At that mont, Serena watched as Dora approached with two steaming cups of coffee, while June followed close behind with a platter of pastries.
She flashed a warm, polite smile, "Mrs. Cooper, Ms. Cooper, please have so coffee and snacks to start."
Dora had just set the coffee in front of Florence when, in a fit of rage, Florence slapped the cup away.
The scalding liquid flew toward Serena, soaking her clothes. Dora was petrified with fear.
"Serena," she rushed over, frantically dabbing away the stains with napkins.
"It’s fine, just go on, both of you."
It was the dead of winter, and Serena was bundled up in thick clothing that easily shrugged off the coffee’s heat, leaving her with nothing more than a wet garnt.
Yet, she feigned a look of helpless pain, as if scalded, sending the maids away in a grand gesture of protecting the innocent. Alone, she would face the wrath.
Bowing, the maids had no choice but to retreat.
"Stop with the theatrics." Florence snapped, seeing right through her, "With all those layers, you think you’re burned? Just tell how much money you want. Pack up and leave today, cut ties with my son,and na your price."
"Mrs. Cooper, my relationship with Martin isn’t about money." Serena’s eyes filled with crystalline tears as she spotted the maids secretly recording the scene, "I truly love him. I want to be with him, to never
part."
"Spare your pathetic act. I feel sick just looking at you! You talk of love with that mouth? Don’t tarnish such a sacred word! You’re with Martin to further your own selfish ends, a selfish,conscienceless, ungrateful liar! We’ve made it clear we don’t like you, and yet you have the audacity to stay? Are you trying to ruin my son before you’re satisfied?"
Tears fell down Serena’s cheeks, her expression the very picture of innocence and sorrow.
"Mrs. Cooper, how could I ever harm him? I don’t have ti to do anything but love him. If it were before, I could have walked away from Martin, but in these past months, I’ve fallen for him. No amount
of money, not a hundred million, two hundred million, not even a billion dollars could outweigh a single hair on his head."
"Can’t you stop being so revolting? Martin’s not here, who are you performing for?" Diana couldn’t bear it any longer, "Just leave today, and consider this mansion bought anew by us. Fifty million should suffice, right?"
"Ms. Cooper, Mrs. Cooper, please don’t force . Even in death, my love for Martin wouldn’t wane, not even a bit. In my next life, and the life after that, I still want to be with him."
Diana and Florence were beside themselves with fury. This bitch wouldn’t let go of Martin, not just in this life, but she was claiming the next and the one after that, too.
"Mrs. Cooper, have so coffee."
Again, Florence swatted the cup, spilling the coffee over Serena’s clothes.
Internally, Serena was jubilant; this was her plan all along, to goad Florence into dousing her with coffee.
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