"Oh, by the way, the outfit that your parents are wearing today was a gift from Rosemary, and yours," Martha added once again. "You might want to take a look at the seasonal wardrobe."
The seasonal wardrobe, as the na implies, was where the unwanted and unused clothes were temporarily stored. After a while, so of the better pieces would be picked out for donation—a kind of charitable act.
The wardrobe was packed to the brim, taking up a massive space. It was teeming with clothes, too many to count.
Serena could hardly contain her surprise. When she went to take a look, she found her carefully selected pieces—so of which she had even paid a pretty penny for a designer to tailor specifically for her parents—all shoved to the back.
They were not worn, not even once!
She felt a pang of disappointnt.
Tonight, Roo’s parents were coming over. Her beloved parents were wearing the designs of Rosemary and not the ones she gave them. Did this an they thought her gifts were not up to the mark?
"Serena, have you noticed that your fate is quite similar to these clothes? Initially, you thought you could catch your parents’ attention, but it turned out that they didn’t even give those clothes a second look."
Serena’s eyes dimd.
anwhile, a glint of complacency flashed in Martha’s eyes.
Yesterday, she had told Kenneth and Louisa that she would take Serena’s clothes to be ironed. With their consent, she secretly moved these brand-new pieces to the seasonal wardrobe, intending to let Serena see and misunderstand.
The clothes Serena gave this ti were mainly black and white. To avoid being found out, she took a few black and white pieces that Serena had given to Kenneth and Louisa half a year ago, tried to make them look worn and old, and asked if they wanted to keep them.
Naturally, they wouldn’t wear such clothes and allowed her to move them to the seasonal wardrobe, intending to donate them.
Later, Serena hesitated before going downstairs. Louisa was arranging flowers, and Serena casually struck up a conversation, pretending nothing was amiss. After a while, she finally asked, "Mom, I was just moving so old clothes to the seasonal wardrobe, and I noticed those black and white pieces I gave you. Don’t you like them?"
"Oh." Louisa suddenly rembered what Martha had said and gave her a smiling glance. "The design is nice, but we can’t wear them anymore, dear. You’re very thoughtful, but don’t spend so much on clothes for us in the future."
Serena pressed, "Why can’t you wear them?"
"Well, the color isn’t quite right. They don’t look good on." Louisa was puzzled by her daughter’s questioning.
’The color wasn’t right. They didn’t look good on.’
Serena pondered for a mont, and then it clicked.
Of course, black and white symbolized ill fortune. They couldn’t wear these colors for such an occasion.
But they could save those clothes for later, right? There was no need to move them to the seasonal wardrobe.
She looked again at Louisa’s beautiful dress. That was the color of celebration, wasn’t it?
Finally, Serena accepted the truth. Martha wasn’t lying. Her parents really did this.
They had thrown her heartfelt gifts into the seasonal wardrobe.
Earlier in the seasonal wardrobe, she had even seen many of her favorite pieces, discarded without her knowledge.
Martha said it was her parents’ command.
Could this household not accommodate both her and her clothing?
She refrained from asking further, exchanged a few words, and then ascended the stairs. Her retreating figure was sowhat dim and forlorn.
As Louisa arranged so flowers, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that sothing was off with Serena today. Could it be that Serena was upset because she had worn the dress gifted by Rosemary instead of the one she had given her?
With this thought, Louisa dialed Martha’s number again. "Martha, have you ironed the clothes Serena gifted us?"
"Madam, are you referring to the recent batch from Serena? She gifts us quite a number of clothes. Since they’re of fine quality, I didn’t want to ruin them by ironing them myself. I’ve spoken to the professional ironing service you usually use. They’ve agreed to take care of all the clothes Serena sent, but they’re a bit busy, so they haven’t gotten to them just yet."
Louisa was taken aback by this turn of events. "In that case, don’t bother ironing them. Serena’s on leave these days, and I’d like to wear so of them."
"Madam, I’ve already sent them to the ironing company. Should I retrieve them? I thought it would be best to get them ironed since the McMillians visit often. If you want, I can fetch them right away. Oh my—" Martha pretended to wince in pain.
Alard, Louisa quickly asked, "Martha, what happened?"
Martha chuckled. "Nothing serious. I just took a tumble today."
"Oh? When did this happen? Where did you fall? Are you okay? Have you seen a doctor?" Louisa’s concern overpowered any suspicions she might have had.
"No worries, it’s just old age catching up. In a couple of years, I’ll need to retire."
’When Serena’s glamorous wedding takes place and her identity becos public, why would I continue as a housekeeper, enduring such humiliation?’
’I’ll quit and move in with Serena.’
Louisa was reluctant to let her go, expressing her gratitude for Martha’s hard work before ending the call.
The issue with the clothes wasn’t urgent. Louisa advised Martha to rest, and Martha proceeded to text Serena via WhatsApp. After she found no discrepancies on Serena’s end, her spirits lifted.
At 8 PM.
A jubilant servant announced, "The McMillians are here, and they’ve brought a ton of stuff!"
rely the greeting gifts required eighteen bodyguards to carry them in, leaving everyone stunned with their extravagance.
Kenneth and Louisa were about to welco them when Edith swiftly ushered George and Jennifer inside.
"Kenneth, long ti no see." George warmly greeted Kenneth, shaking his hand and giving him a gentlemanly hug, chuckling. "I’ve been over the moon these days."
"Jennifer, you finally decided to grace us with your presence! It’s been ages since we saw you last!"
"Oh, Jennifer’s been pampered by her husband," Kenneth jested.
"I must say you two look younger, revitalized by your daughter’s return," Jennifer praised them, and the four of them invited each other to sit down.
The eighteen bodyguards carried in all the gifts, arranging them neatly on one side.
"Oh my, Jennifer, anyone who didn’t know better would think you were here to propose a marriage, bringing all these gifts!"
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