Leonard Bell scolded Serena a few times over the phone.
She lowered her voice. "Dad, I'll be there soon."
The car was silent. Bits of their conversation drifted to Dominic Reid and Caleb Chen.
Neither of them said anything, but Serena still felt incredibly awkward. "Mr. Reid, I really don't need to go to the hospital. I have plans, and if possible, please just drop me off ahead. Don't worry—this leg injury is an old one. It has nothing to do with you two."
"Where are you going?" Dominic turned his head toward her. "I'll take you."
"That's too much trouble."
"It's no trouble. We're headed to the city anyway," Caleb said with a smile.
Getting a taxi wasn't easy, so Serena didn't refuse again and simply told them she was heading to the Champs Élysées Hotel.
No more words were exchanged on the way. When they arrived, Serena thanked them and got out. The cool wind mixed with rain stung her skin. She sneezed twice as soon as she stepped inside.
"Miss Bell," Caleb suddenly appeared behind her again.
Serena turned with a smile, unsure why he came after her.
He held out a black trench coat.
Wait… this was—
Mr. Reid's coat?
"Our boss said it's cold and rainy. Please take care of yourself."
"This isn't appropriate…"
"You mean the coat? It's brand new. Mr. Reid hasn't worn it yet."
Caleb stuffed the coat into her arms and hurried off.
"I didn't mean—" Serena wanted to explain, but Caleb had already disappeared, and with her ankle still hurting, there was no way she could catch up.
Everyone said Mr. Reid was difficult to deal with. But today, he seemed… unexpectedly kind.
Maybe rumors weren't always true.
—
Even before Serena entered the private room, she could hear laughter and clinking glasses. Dinner had clearly begun. Besides the Bell family, Bryan Zhou was also present.
When she walked in, the laughter stopped abruptly.
She was like a stranger intruding into their cozy scene.
"Why are you so late?" Leonard Bell frowned. "That job of yours—you might as well quit. Just a teacher at some training center. You'd think you were closing million-dollar deals, making everyone wait."
"Enough, don't be so harsh," Anna Bell said.
"Dad, it's not like Serena meant to be late," chimed in Emily Bell—the daughter they'd found half a month ago through a DNA database.
When they found her, she had been working retail at a mall. No college education. She started working right after high school.
Emily looked at Serena. "I'm really sorry, sis. We waited a long time for you. Since you weren't here, we started eating. You don't mind, do you?"
Serena shook her head.
"I really envy you—you're beautiful and can dance. Unlike me, I'm not good at anything…" Emily's tone was full of admiration, but in truth, whether in appearance, figure, or demeanor, she couldn't compare to Serena.
This made the Bell parents feel even more sympathetic.
Studying arts costs money, and Emily's past didn't allow for such luxuries.
They felt sorry for their daughter's difficult past and wanted to give her the best now that she was back.
Serena was genuinely happy for their reunion.
But at the same time… she also knew she had to let go of everything she once had.
—
Serena had no complaints. After all, none of this was originally hers.
Adopted at four, she shared no blood with the Bells. No matter how well-behaved she was, Leonard and Anna always kept her at arm's length. The following year, they had a biological son. Then something else happened, making her life even more difficult.
The Bells were respectable people. They didn't want to send her back to the orphanage and risk gossip. So while cold, they still maintained her basic living standards.
They even donated generously to orphanages every year—for appearances.
"Sis, Bryan actually wanted to pick you up after work. But I was out shopping and asked him to pick me up instead. Hope you're not mad," Emily said sweetly.
"Of course not."
"Your face didn't look so good. I thought you were upset." Emily looked innocently at her.
"I don't know anyone in this city. Bryan's just been kind enough to help."
"He said I can go to him if I need anything. Since I don't know many people, I rely on him a lot… but I worry I'm a bother."
"You're not a bother." Bryan, seated beside Emily, gently added food to her plate.
To an outsider, it looked like she was the real fiancée.
Serena's expression paled. She hung Mr. Reid's trench coat off to the side—catching Emily's attention.
"Sis, that coat… it's not yours, is it?"
It was clearly a man's coat.
Bryan's eyes turned cold. He stared hard at Serena.
He was the one who'd been driving Emily around every day.
But now, his expression said it all—as if Serena was the one with unclear relationships.
On the other side…
Caleb caught up to Mr. Reid, grinning. "Sir, coat delivered."
"She accepted it?"
"I kind of forced it on her. Then I ran. Fast." Caleb looked like he was waiting for praise.
"…"
"Miss Bell really has it rough. The Bells know her leg's injured, and still made her come in the rain? And that Bryan guy—didn't even pick up his fiancée, but went shopping with someone else. Ridiculous."
Caleb glanced at his boss. "It's a shame we finally got her in the car but barely said a word."
"Leonard Bell was too harsh too. After living together for years, calling him 'Dad' all that time, he still treats her like that. She works hard, earns her living, doesn't rely on anyone…"
Dominic looked up, eyelids half-lowered. "I was thinking about something."
"You're wondering how to swoop in and steal her heart?"
Caleb had been taught defensive driving since day one. So when Mr. Reid ordered him to stage a "fender bender" just to approach Serena… he nearly lost his mind!
To get closer to her, his boss was seriously…
Dominic gave him a glance. "I was wondering… why you aren't mute."
Caleb shut up instantly.
Dominic stood at the window, his expression unreadable.
The storm outside reflected in his eyes like a thousand galloping horses.
He held a cigarette—unlit and crushed in his hand.