Chapter 878: Chapter 877
Serena sobbed uncontrollably, "I really had no idea they were my real parents, and I had no clue what they’ve been up to all these years, working in secret for the Collins family. I’ve made a terrible mistake,
and I admit, when Rosemary came back home, I was scared and jealous. I did things that are unforgivable. Mom, I can’t even begin to hope for your forgiveness. Just let me have it. I don’t deserve to live in this world anymore."
"You think I’m going to let you live??"
Louisa’s fury drained the color from Serena’s face, sending chills down her spine.
Her mother, once so indulgent and doting, now looked as if she truly wanted her dead.
Those eyes were filled with a murderous rage and intense loathing.
Serena was genuinely terrified, her mind a blank slate and her body trembling as she looked up at her mother.
"You wanted Rose to beg you, didn’t you? You wanted her to bow her head to you ten times?" Louisa’s anger rose uncontrollably, "You want to live? Then beg for it—properly."
Panicked and with tears streaming down her face, Serena was already kneeling on shattered glass, but her mother still wasn’t ready to let her off the hook. Worse, she was being forced to bow her head in
apology.
She knew her mother was venting for Rosemary, but at that moment, she had no other choice.
"I’m sorry." Serena’s tears fell as she sobbed, bowing her head to her mother.
Her pale forehead hit the ground, littered with broken glass, and instantly, several spots of blood appeared.
"I’ve been ungrateful for the years of care from mom and dad. I’ve been worse than a beast." Serena cried as she continued, "I’ve been deluded, I’m sorry for all the hurt I’ve caused my sister, sorry to the
entire Collins family, I was wrong, terribly wrong, for doing something so heartless."
Blood was now streaming from her forehead, the droplets merging and growing larger before streaking down her face.
The beads of blood on her once fair cheeks were a shocking sight.
Looking up through tear-filled eyes, Serena spoke with profound regret, "Mom, I know, nothing I say now can make up for the harm I’ve caused to my sister, for the wounds in your hearts, I’ve let you down."
Louisa’s tears fell in grief and anger, her heart felt as though it was being carved with a thousand knives, shaking her very being.
They had been so blind to have doted on her as their own daughter.
"If it weren’t for the Collins family, what sort of life do you think your family of three would be living? Have you ever thought about that?" Kenneth asked bitterly.
Serena saw in her once-kind father’s eyes a mixture of rage and tears.
Even the servants in the living room looked at her with disdain, revulsion, disgust.
It was only then that Serena realized that without the Collins family, she and her birth parents would likely be living an ordinary life, with her parents working nine-to-five jobs to make ends meet.
She would have attended a regular school, lived in an average house, without dozens of servants to wait on her, no luxury cars to drive her, no expensive skincare products or pretty dresses every day.
Nor would she have had the chance to mingle with the ladies, or to acquaint herself with the high society, meeting successful people like Romeo.
She might just have ended up like an average college graduate, finding a stable job, marrying an utterly unremarkable man, and continuing to lead an ordinary life.
It was the Collins family that had surrounded her with luxury, giving her endless dignity and respect.
It was the Collins family that had afforded her a life of privilege and ease.
Had it not been for the Collins family, she could never have attended the finest preschool from a young age or received the best education.
She wouldn’t have had so many tutors of renown teaching her music, chess, art.
She wouldn’t be dressed every day in limited edition clothes and shoes, or carrying designer handbags.
An average office worker might save for months on end before daring to step foot in a high-end boutique to purchase the most basic piece.
But whenever she made an appearance, the store manager would either escort her to the VIP room or close the shop to serve her exclusively. Any new arrivals would be sent directly to her home for her to choose at leisure.
A single one of her skincare products could be equivalent to a month, or even several months of expenses for an ordinary family.
Her parents gave her an extravagant allowance, fulfilling her endless desires, and yet she.
Her tears flowed freely as she closed her eyes, seemingly filled with immense regret.
Just then, Bard returned with a few bodyguards, their mission unsuccessful.
Eunice, sensing something, crossed her arms and asked in a calm voice, "Got away?"
"They were gone before Edith brought her here. I checked the surveillance," Bard reported, glancing at the girl on the floor. Erik may figure that after eighteen years in this household, everyone had grown
fond of Serena, so they wouldn’t really do her any harm, which was why Erik didn’t take her along.
"Your biological father really spared no expense." Eunice gave Serena a cold look, pulling out her phone to call Hunter. Her influence in the country paled in comparison to that of the Collins family, and currently, the most influential among them was Hunter.
She briefed Hunter on the situation, asking him to look into Erik’s whereabouts.
Hunter had been away on business overseas, planning to clear his schedule to spend the holidays with his sister. He hadn’t anticipated such a mess.
He had warned Serena before, and yet she hadn’t heeded the advice, thoroughly disappointing him.
"Don’t worry. I’ll have someone on it immediately," Hunter’s voice was as calm as ever, as if nothing could shake him. "As long as Rose is safe, that’s all that matters. I’ll handle mom and dad. I’m flying
back tonight and will be home tomorrow."
"Good," Eunice liked Hunter’s straightforward manner. After hanging up, she turned to Serena with a commanding presence. "From now on, you’re Serena Lott."
Serena hadn’t expected her aunt to inform Hunter so quickly. Once Hunter knew, her other brothers would soon find out.
The thought of them reacting with the same fury as her parents, or even worse, being disappointed in her made Serena’s heart ache.
At first, all she wanted was to keep her parents and brothers’ love.
"Lock her in the basement. Spread the word her father can pay a ransom for her," Louisa suggested,seemingly overcome with grief and anger, her steps unsteady as if she could hardly walk.
"Mom." Serena started to move towards Louisa to help her, but Eunice stepped in first, steadying Louisa just in time.
Louisa had passed out, and Eunice looked to Edith with a calm command, "Call the family doctor."
"I’ll carry her." Kenneth, who seemed to have aged a decade in a moment, was about to lift Louisa when his vision blurred, his heart clenching tight as a rock, struggling to breathe.