"She's doing this on purpose to provoke us, to make us jealous! Doesn't this just prove that she cares about us? That she wants our attention?"
As Patrick spoke, he broke into another nearly maniacal laugh.
It was as if he could already see the Wynn family's glorious revival after Serena's return, a future where they would not only recover but rise to new heights.
Benedict's lips trembled, but he ultimately pressed them together.
He watched his frenzied father, but the image that filled his mind was of Serena's indifferent, emotionless expression as she left, devoid of any lingering attachment.
He had a feeling that this time...
Things were truly different.
Nearby, Hailey, who had been silent the whole time, kept her head down, her slender fingers twisting the hem of her skirt into a wrinkled mess...
***
When Serena returned home, the whole family was indeed waiting for her.
She chatted with them for a while before going upstairs to her room, washing up, and heading to bed.
She figured she was just disgusted by that pack of scumbags from the Wynn family again.
In a daze.
Serena felt herself transform back into the small, skinny five-year-old she once was.
She stood before a table in the old country house, under a flickering, dim yellow light.
Holding a worn-out old phone, she carefully dialed a number she had long memorized.
Her face was full of anticipation as she listened to the long dial tone, her bright, clear eyes sparkling.
But when the call connected.
All she heard was Patrick's
perpetually perfunctory voice. "Ob Serenay Dad's in the middle of a very important project. I come see you when I'm done, okay? Be a good girl, listen to your grandma, and don't..."
Before he could finish.
She heard Patrick suddenly laugh with excitement, shouting, “Mr. Keaton, you're finally here!" as he hung up the phone.
Little Serena hadn't even had the chance to say, "Daddy, I miss you," before the line went dead with a steady hum.
Her dark lashes trembled. She bit her lower lip and stubbornly dialed Marianne's number.
This time, the phone rang for a long, long time before it was finally answered.
Little Serena could hear soft music and the muffled sound of women laughing and talking in the background.
Marianne's impatient voice was
sharp and piercing. "What is it now? Why do you call so much all day? Didn't tell you not to call unless it's importants Don't you know Mommy is very busy? Can't you be more considerate?"
Just as she finished, little Serena heard a woman's delicate laugh from the side. "Mrs. Wynn, this essential oil back massage feels wonderful, doesn't it?"
Marianne quickly replied with a cheerful laugh, "Yes, yes, it's so relaxing..."
Her laughter was a world away from the sharp, harsh tone she used with little Serena.
The call was disconnected.
Little Serena clutched the phone, tears welling up in her eyes.
...
The scene suddenly changed.
It was a muddy country road, with a fine rain falling from the sky.
Little Serena was covered in scrapes and bruises. There were bandages on her forehead and body, and her left knee was wrapped in a thick. dressing that was seeping blood.
She looked utterly pitiful.
A luxurious car, completely out of place in the surroundings, was parked at the entrance of the old house.