Chapter 887: Chapter 886
On the other side of the grand estate, Darren and Belinda emerged from the cluttered storage room,their eyes brimming with tears.
The servants promptly secured the door behind them.
Inside, Serena pounded on the locked door, her sobs fierce and heart-wrenching. "Grandma, Grandpa,I’m so sorry, I really am. Please stop crying. Don’t be angry or sad over someone like me, it’s not worth
it."
She had watched, helpless, as her grandparents who had once doted on her, stood before her in tears,questioning her, reminding her that before all this mess, they had truly loved her as their own
granddaughter.
Tears flooded Serena’s face as her conscience stirred awake.
"I know nothing I say will make a difference now," she cried, banging on the door, "I’ve made an unforgivable mistake, I don’t deserve your forgiveness. Just please, take care of yourselves, don’t let
this ruin your health."
She remembered how, during the confrontation, her grandparents had nearly collapsed in distress multiple times, which filled her with guilt and sorrow.
Initially, all she wanted was to maintain her status within the family, to keep the affection of her kin, nothing more.
She never intended harm to come to Rosemary.
How did things get this far?
Why?
"Grandma, Grandpa." Serena wept, slumping to the floor, her strength failing her until she lay crumpled on the cold ground.
The previous day, she had painstakingly removed shards of glass from a wound on her forehead while looking at her reflection in the window, passing out twice from the pain.
The wound had not been properly treated or bandaged, and she had been without food or drink since yesterday, without clean clothes, or even a bed to rest.
The bruises from her mother’s blows throbbed painfully, her consciousness fading, tears still clinging to her lashes. The floor was cold, yet her body felt unbearably hot.
In the living room, Darren and Belinda were joined by Rosemary, who had just walked in. Seeing their beloved granddaughter safe and sound, they were once again moved to tears.
"Rose." They each embraced her tenderly, their hearts aching with regret, "We’ve let you down in this family."
"Dad, Mom, let go, Rose’s got injuries on her arm, don’t hurt her." Louisa, seeing their distress, quickly intervened.
The grandparents withdrew their hands in alarm, then eagerly listened to Rosemary’s account of what happened, their hearts growing heavier with each detail of her ordeal.
Bard also took a seat beside Rosemary, expressing his concern about her injuries and experiences.
Eunice brought them freshly brewed tea, and as the adults gathered, she leaned in to whisper to Rosemary, "I once said that no matter how many remnants of Doom’s influence were left in Dawnstar, I’d root them all out. Now they’ve been caught, and there are hardly any left. You can enjoy your time in Dawnstar without worry now."
"Thanks, Aunt Eunice," Rosemary replied, touched that her aunt had been working to eliminate those threats while she was away, realizing how much her aunt truly cared for her.
"Here, have some warm tea," Eunice offered her a cup, adding with a smile, "Can you tell what kind it is?"
Rosemary had recognized it immediately, "Is it that tea we always drink at your place?"
"Sharp nose," Eunice chuckled, her lips curving into a smile. "I knew you liked it, so I brought six boxes for you this time."
Eunice had indeed pulled some strings to gift her niece six boxes of an incredibly rare tea. It was a gesture that spoke volumes about the lengths she would go for family.
"Thanks, Eunice," Rosemary said with a warm smile.
"Don’t mention it, kiddo. We’re family, after all," Eunice chuckled, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Go on, drink up while it’s hot. Whatever you want, just ask and it’s yours."
At that moment, through the sliding glass doors leading to the patio, Louisa caught sight of the gardener, Edith, making secretive gestures, beckoning her outside.
Not wanting to interrupt the family chat, Louisa excused herself and slipped through the doors to join Edith among the flower beds. "What’s going on?" she whispered.
"Ma’am, did Sean do something wrong? It’s freezing out, and he’s been standing outside the front door for over an hour now. I’ve seen him coughing." Edith’s voice was laced with concern. "The holidays are nearly upon us, and it would be terrible if he got sick. If it’s because he wasn’t here when Ms. Rose arrived, surely a stern talking-to would suffice? It’s below freezing, and he’s hardly dressed for it."
Louisa was taken aback, "Sean’s back?"
When did that happen? Why hadn’t she been informed? She hadn’t heard a peep from the other servants.
"Yes, I’ve been busy supervising the garden’s winter pruning when I noticed Sean still out there." Edith trailed off, visibly puzzled. "You didn’t ask him to stand there, did you? What are he and Steward doing out front without coming inside?"
Edith was at a loss, and she didn’t dare to probe further.
"I’ll go check it out," Louisa resolved, equally clueless about what Sean and Steward were plotting.
Outside, the two men were a sorry sight, their lips tinged with the blue of the cold. They had underestimated the chill, having traveled by plane and car in a rush to get back. Sean, coming straight from a hospital visit, hadn’t even thought to wear a coat, and now the gentle snowfall was turning into a bitter reminder of their oversight.
"Are you going to figure something out or what?" Sean shot an icy look at Steward, his breath forming frosty clouds as he spoke.
The cold was biting, and the security guard in the nearby booth was snug in his thick coat and the warmth of a heater.
"Sean, if I had a way in, I’d have taken it already." Steward stammered, his hands rubbing together for warmth. The desire to retreat to the heated car was overwhelming.
At the suggestion, Sean’s eyes narrowed with a cunning glint. "How about I tie you up and let my sister take her frustrations out on you?"
Steward’s eyes bulged in disbelief. He thought, "Seriously, Sean? Why don’t you let her take it out on you? It’s not like I’m the one who angered her, or the one who left her stranded at the mountain—it was
you!"
But he dared not voice his thoughts, instead, desperately grasping for excuses. "Sean, I’m too skinny, it wouldn’t be satisfying enough for her. Maybe..."
His gaze inadvertently settled on the true culprit.
Sean gave him a warning glare that seemed to say: Are you looking for trouble?
Steward had no choice but to change the subject. "I think Ms. Rose’s upset mainly because Mr. Bynes broke up with her!"
"As if that guy dictates my sister’s mood," Sean scoffed, clearly dismissive. Yet, it irked him to think that something—or someone—could hold such sway over his sister’s emotions that he had to stand out in the cold like this. That Timothy would have to settle his debts later.
"How about we grab Mr. Bynes and let her take it out on him?" Steward suggested wildly.
"Sean, look, it’s Mrs. Collins! She’s coming out to us," Steward suddenly blurted out, spotting her approach and hopping from foot to foot in excitement. "Mrs. Collins, it’s us!"