Serena fumed, her mother had effectively cut off all her escape routes.
"Can you sneakthose skincare products later, Betty?" Serena tried to negotiate, "Those two helpers are as dumb as they come.
They didn't even remember to bringtoner this afternoon! | need my skincare routine before bed."
"Mrs. Collins said, Ms. Arabella Collins doesn't use all those jars and bottles, and you won't be needing them either."
Serena's face stiffened, "What does it mean?"
"It means that if Ms. Arabella Collins isn’t using all those skincare products, you don’t need them either."
Not even her skincare products were spared!!
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"What about changing clothes? There are only two outfits upstairs. Don't tell me, mom only allowed you to bringtwo sets?"
Serena asked, not ready to accept this.
"Yes, Mrs. Collins said you're here to reflect, not to enjoy life. You only need enough clothes for two days, the rest are in the main
house and we weren't permitted to bring them over."
Serena was livid. So, in this guesthouse, she was supposed to live like a guest, without the luxuries of being a part of the Collins
family?!
Was that it?! Was that what her mother intended?
This was just too much!!
"Ms. Serena Collins, do you need anything else? | only have ten minutes left." Betty glanced at the clock, growing anxious, "If | go
over an hour, | lose ten dollars off my wage for every minute."
Serena hadn't imagined her mother would be so ruthless. To discourage the staff from chatting with her, she had even made it a
matter of tand money.
"Don't be too down, Ms. Serena Collins. Maybe one day Mrs. Collins will remember your good qualities, or see that you've repented,
and she might let you out early."
At the mention of this, Serena scoffed coldly. Her mother had hardened her heart to this extent, almost leaving her to fend for
herself. Hoping for her mother to fondly recall her good traits seemed like waiting for a blue moon.
"In about ten days, both families’ elders will visit. Your grandparents, and all your uncles and brothers, someone will surely speak
up for you. Then, Mrs. Collins would consider what they said, and it'll only be natural for you to join the family reunion."
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Since Martha left, Betty had been the only kind soul to Serena.
Serena thought there was slogic to it. New Year's Eve was the biggest day for them, all about togetherness.
But with ten days to go, she didn't even know how to get through these coming days. Especially with the plain meals three times a
day, no one to talk to, and no permission to leave the place.
"What if mom only letsjoin the dinner on New Year, and then sendsright back here?" Serena worried. That could mean
being shut away indefinitely.
"The thing that upset Mrs. Collins the most, the thing she cares about, is that you disrespected Ms. Arabella Collins. If you just
correct that, considering the eighteen years of affection, she might let you off the hook. She can't possibly keep you here after the
New Year, especially when school starts again, right?"
Serena felt there was sense in these words.