Serena's voice came from inside. "Come in, Mom."
Catherine went in cheerfully.
Isabella stood outside. The door closed without Catherine giving her a second glance.
Even through the wood, she could hear Catherine's happy laughter from inside the
room.
Isabella clenched her fists, gripping the rejected jewelry box so tightly she nearly crushed it, her teeth grinding with rage.
"Treat us both equally," they said! "Even when Serena comes back, we'll treat you the same," they promised.
It was all lies!
Her mother was clearly on Serena's side!
Just you wait!
When my brothers get back, I'll show Serena what real favoritism looks like!
***
That evening, at the dinner table, Serena was once again showered with profound love from her grandfather, father, and mother.
It was a good thing Serena had a healthy appetite.
An ordinary person might not have been able to withstand so much affection.
After dinner, Serena sat in the living room with Old Mr. Lancaster and her parents, listening as they eagerly asked questions about her past.
Her expression remained cool, but she was remarkably patient, answering every question.
As for whether her days with the Wynns or in the countryside were good or bad, she only touched on it briefly.
Isabella, sitting on another sofa and trying to interject, found she was like a complete outsider, unable to get a word in.
The happy scene in front of her seemed to form a wall, completely shutting her out. Isabella was seething with frustration.
Just then, Agnes, who was standing behind Isabella, spoke up with a smile. "I heard that Miss... Isabella, passed Mr. Harrison's qualifying exam the other day. Once her current research paper is published, won't she officially become his student?"
The three on the other sofa seemed to finally remember their adopted daughter was there.
Edward nodded in satisfaction. "Isabella has always been a child who never gives us worry. Being accepted by Mr. Harrison is a great honor, but you'll have to work even harder from now on."
"Mr. Harrison's exam wasn't as difficult as people say; I thought it was quite simple," Isabella said obediently. "He also helped me a lot with this research paper. I don't think there will be any issues."
Catherine also added a word of praise. "Isabella has rarely made us worry about her studies."
"That's because Mom and Dad
taught me well." Isabella then turned
to Serena as if it were an
afterthought. "What about you, Serenay I heard you went to school in the countryside, and then after you returned to the Wynns... you dropped out before finishing high school?"
At these words, her parents' faces fell, their brows furrowing slightly.
Isabella pretended not to notice and
continued with a look of innocent
concern. "Agnes, I don't mean anything by it. I was just thinking, if you want to go back to school can help you. After all now that you're home, it would be embarrassing for Mom and Dad if outsiders found out you didn't even finish high school."
She knew the Lancasters had always placed great importance on education and ability. Their three sons, and she herself, were all expected to be at the top of their fields academically. Her parents, would never approve of a country girl like Serena who hadn't even graduated from high school!
"Speaking of which... Serena, do you want to continue your education? If you do, just tell me which school you'd like to attend, and I'll make a call." Edward wasn't concerned about losing face; he was worried about Serena.
Now that Serena had returned to the Lancaster family, once the welcome banquet was held, she would inevitably be in the spotlight.
When people learned she was a Lancaster heiress, many would undoubtedly dig into her past, for one reason or another.