Chapter 871: Chapter 870
"Thanks a lot," Eunice said, taking the mug with a warm smile.
The aroma of fresh coffee wafted up to her nose, and she could tell it was top-shelf stuff.
She handed the mug to Louisa, just like old times—any time she had something good, she’d instinctively offer it to her sister first.
Then she got herself another cup.
After taking an elegant sip, Louisa smiled and asked, "How’s the taste?"
"Good," Eunice replied.
"I saved these coffee beans just for you, knowing how you and Bard love a good brew," Louisa said.
As she finished speaking, Kenneth chimed in with a cheery grin, "I can vouch for that. I wanted to make a cup yesterday, but she said we had to wait for you two to enjoy it together."
Laughter filled the room, with Bard and Eunice joining in.
Louisa giggled, "Coffee like this is best enjoyed in good company."
"Absolutely, my dear. Whatever the wife says is the law," Kenneth joked, echoing his old habit of unconditional support for his wife, which drew more chuckles from everyone around.
After a few more sips, Eunice set down her mug gracefully and asked, "Where’s Serena? Still holed up next door?"
"Yes."
The mention of Serena erased the smile from Louisa’s face, and her expression became a mix of disappointment and sorrow.
"The reason Bard and I came by early was to show you guys something," Eunice said, putting her mug aside. She pulled out a small remote, a gadget her company had released a while back. With a click, it
could project images, videos, even surveillance footage onto a flat wall or cabinet.
Images of several receipts appeared, and Louisa looked puzzled. What did these mean?
She couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
"Did you prepare a bunch of gifts for Serena for her trip to Dawnstar?" Eunice asked, turning to Louisa.
Louisa nodded, her confusion growing, "Yes, didn’t you get them?"
"On her way to the airport, she had Erik drop off these items at Martha’s place, to be sold off gradually.
All the money went straight into her pocket," Eunice explained.
Louisa and Kenneth’s eyes widened. What?
Serena had done that?!
"And the gifts she brought us," Eunice continued, looking at the projected images, "were bought in Dawnstar, charged to Martin’s credit card."
As she spoke, the wall displayed a series of extravagant expenses, "She spared no expense using someone else’s money—bags worth thousands, jewelry worth millions. She bought everything she
fancied. These are the records of her shopping sprees in Dawnstar, and they match the so-called gifts she claimed to have brought us."
She clicked the remote, revealing the second page on the screen, "These are Martha’s underlings, all the details about the welcome gift you arranged– the time, place, and amount—it’s all here."
Louisa and Kenneth never imagined their child would dare do such a thing in secret. Their disappointment in her deepened.
"That day she went to Dawnstar’s Rodeo Drive, charging Martin’s card with shopping sprees—I happened to be there with Rose, doing some shopping. As an aunt, I wanted to give my niece a warm
welcome back to the family with a special something. But that day, something happened."
Eunice pressed the remote again, and a boutique’s surveillance footage filled the screen.
"I was picking out dresses when I overheard someone deliberately snatching the clothes Rose was interested in. Whatever Rose liked, the person tried to take."
Although the store manager noticed Eunice’s displeasure and had the rude lady escorted out, banning her from future entry and even firing the sales associate for being impolite to Rosemary.
Eunice made it a point to inquire about the identity of that affluent girl. The manager didn’t recognize her, only noting she wore a pink CNL ensemble and a white beret, with her brown hair in large, wavy curls.
"With the New Year around the corner, I was pondering over the perfect gift for Rose. It was perfect timing – reps from all the major brands were coming around with New Year’s gifts, including CNL’s vice
president with their latest collection."
Eunice had been resolute to him, swearing off any collaboration with their brand again. Under his persistent queries, she told him it was due to the low quality of some of their clientele, which tarnished
the brand’s reputation.
"Later, I learned from the vice president that they cater only to a few top families in the country. That pink CNL outfit? Only three in the world—two went to heiresses abroad, and one was ordered by Serena. Following the trail, I discovered it was Serena who had the conflict with Rose over clothes that day."
The video showed Serena commanding the sales associate to seize the dresses Rose was interested in. After being kicked out of the boutique and barred from all the shops on Rodeo Drive, thanks to Eunice’s influence, she stood outside, cursing
loudly. "Ever heard of the Collins family? Do you know who the Collins are? Do you know Kenneth?
The Solterra tycoon, you know him?"
Kenneth and Louisa were stunned by her effrontery.
Was this the Serena they had spoiled since childhood?
Was this the same Serena, so fragile that she only knew how to cry pitifully?
Eunice continued, "After shopping, Rose and I went to a rooftop restaurant. I excused myself to the restroom and Serena just happened to be there. Probably spotting Rose, she lied to the manager,claiming she knew her and wanted to say hello."
She clicked the remote, and Kenneth and Louisa watched astonishment, as they saw Serena approach Rosemary and grab a half-finished glass of champagne from another table, throwing it over Rosemary.
But Rosemary was quick. She grabbed a napkin to shield herself, dodged, and in a swift motion,splashing red wine onto Serena in return.
"The restaurant’s cameras had blind spots, so no one knew it was Serena who’d thrown the drink at Rose. This footage was accidentally recorded by a bystander."
The footage ended there, missing the part where Rosemary shoved Serena into a plate and soaking her with wine.
Kenneth was in shock, and Louisa was shaking with anger. She could never have imagined that Serena, in private, could be so malicious, so brazen in bullying their darling Rose.
If Rose hadn’t reacted so quickly, hadn’t fought back, imagine how cold and how humiliated she would have been drenched in champagne in that freezing weather.
"This child has gone too far." Louisa’s voice trembled with rage. "She’s terrible!"
"How could she do such a thing?" Kenneth was furious. Without Eunice showing them these, they would have been completely unaware of Serena’s behavior in private!