CHAPTER 817: CHAPTER 818

Hearing her mother addressed it was horrifying, Serena’s tears cascaded down her cheeks, "I was just blabbering. I had no idea Rose is Summer. People say whatever they want online. I was just spouting nonsense. Mom, you have to believe me; you might not trust me on anything else, but on this, I really am innocent!"

Louisa watched her sobbing and was utterly unmoved, her voice icy as she said, "Wait until Rose gets back, you apologize to her in front of the whole family then you can pack your bags and leave."

Serena gazed blankly at Louisa, her mother who used to cherish her and now was ready to cast her out. Not just cast her out, but demand an apology to Rosemary before leaving, and in front of the whole

family?

The whole family? Including Grandma and Grandpa, her aunt and uncle? Was she trying to strip her of her dignity completely?

"Mom, you’re throwing me out? You don’t want me anymore?" Serena’s voice quivered as if bleeding,

"You once said, no matter what happens, I’ll always be your princess; you said even if my sister came back to this home, you’d treat us equally; you promised to watch me walk down the aisle in a wedding dress."

"And now you have the nerve to say these things to me?" Louisa snapped, "You’ve brought this all on yourself!"

They cherished her as their own, but she never appreciated it and always hurt their daughter behind their backs. Caught a couple of times, she’d only pretend to be weak, innocent, falsely apologizing.

"Weren’t you just too frail to pick up that branch over there, collapsing on the ground? How come now you’ve got the energy to argue??" Louisa’s tone was laced with scorn.

Startled, Serena saw her mother turn to leave and desperately lunged to cling to her feet, nearly causing her to stumble. Had Kenneth not been there to catch her in time, Louisa would have taken a nasty fall.

"Mom, please don’t send me away. I really didn’t know Rose is Summer." Serena’s tears flowed like a river, "Nobody at home told me, and I swear to God, I really didn’t know. You can’t force the blame on

me for something I didn’t do."

"Let go," Louisa refused to listen to her explanations.

"Mom." Serena sobbed uncontrollably, "Don’t throw me out. Where am I supposed to go? This is my home; you and dad, you’ll always be the closest people to me in this world."

"You still won’t tell the truth??" Louisa was utterly disappointed, her heart chilled to the core. If Serena had just come clean, as a mother, she wouldn’t feel as disappointed as she did now.

"I said let go."

"I won’t let, ahem."

Perhaps the cold had gotten to her, Serena shivered violently, but still clung tightly to Louisa’s feet. She cried out pitifully, "Mom, you’ll always be my mom. You can hit me, scold me, punish me however you like; just don’t send me away."

"What are you waiting for? Pull her off!" Louisa’s cold gaze fell on Betty.

Betty hurriedly pulled Serena away, "Ms. Serena, holding onto Mrs. Collins like that is making her uncomfortable; if you have something to say, say it properly later."

"Let me go, let go," Serena couldn’t believe this fool was holding her back at a time like this, not even trying to plead on her behalf, just pulling at her.

Louisa turned and walked away, her figure resolute and detached.

"Serena, you’ve truly broken both of our hearts; you’re such a disappointment," Kenneth dropped these words and followed Louisa into the main house.

With the door closing mercilessly behind them, Serena crawled forward a few steps, "Dad, Mom."

In the living room, Erik watched Serena’s crying her heart out was utterly useless. Scrambling up, he began, "Mr. and Mrs Collins."

"You’d better not plead her case, or you’re out the door with her." Louisa snapped, her temper flaring, "I actually thought she was sorry this time. She’s been playing us for fools, putting on an act, pretending

to apologize. Then behind our backs, she’s spewing vile insults like ’trash,’ ’freak,’ and ’slut’. What happened to the manners we’ve spent eighteen years instilling in her?"

Kenneth, too, felt a chill of disappointment, "I never thought she’d become such a stranger to us." He followed Louisa upstairs, "I don’t think she’s going to change. Once she apologizes to Rose, we’ll have her move out."

"There’s no keeping her here," Louisa agreed, having seen through Serena’s facade after these recent events. The girl wasn’t going to change.

Serena felt as if the entire world had abandoned her. She knelt in the snow, her body numbed by the cold until she lost all feeling; she simply couldn’t believe her parents actually meant to kick her out.

Eighteen years of pampering flashed before her eyes, as vivid as yesterday’s memories. Although Erik had warned her that after the New Year’s festivities, her parents might ask her to leave the Collins

family, but when she heard it from them and felt the sting of their slaps, it was all too different.

She was discarded. Cast aside by the very parents who once doted on her the most! All those promises to cherish her as their own, to treat her fairly, they were all lies!

Her tears flowed unchecked, her body shivering uncontrollably in the freezing cold. Erik, witnessing this from inside, felt a pang of distress.

Serena had no idea how long she knelt in the snow until she collapsed, consciousness slipping away.

Erik, frantic, approached Louisa, "Mrs. Collins, Ms. Serena’s been in the snow for three hours. She’s passed out from exhaustion."

Louisa had been about to sit down for dinner, but Erik’s words did nothing to soften her heart. She continued towards the dining area unfazed.

"Mr. Collins, can’t you give Ms. Serena another chance?" Erik turned to Kenneth who usually had a softer touch.

But this time, Kenneth offered no response. He simply followed Louisa to the dining table and pulled out a chair for her.

At that moment, Betty emerged from the kitchen with a tray of food intended for Serena. Upon seeing this, Louisa said icily, "From this moment on, there’s no need to send her meals."

Betty hesitated, asking instinctively, "But what will Serena eat?"

"Doesn’t she have hands? Can’t she cook for herself?" Louisa took her seat and then continued callously, "Until Rose returns, nobody is to concern themselves with her."

Betty and Erik exchanged a look of resignation. They set down the tray and retreated, heads bowed.

As Louisa gazed at the spread before her, memories of doting on Serena came flooding back - the girl’s innocent, beaming smile and the venomous words she’d uttered in secret.

"Forget about her." Kenneth picked up his utensils and served her some food, "We’ve been more than generous with her. We have a clear conscience."

"I wonder if Rose’s arrived yet," Louisa thought of Rose traveling abroad alone. She took out her phone and sent her a message.