An hour later.
The housekeeper announced with excitement, "Master, Madam, he is back."
"Finally, the rascal decided to come back." Louisa rose from the sofa, ready to give him a piece of her mind.
"No wonder I saw smoke rising from the house all the way home," Clark Collins said as he slipped off his shoes and sauntered in, a mischievous smile on his face. "Turns out itâs Mom steaming with rage."
"You little rascal!" As soon as Louisa saw him, she couldnât resist landing a few blows on him. "Finally decided to come home? Your sisterâs been back for months. Donât you think as her elder brother, you should care a bit more? Hunter managed to find time despite his busy schedule to come back, Chasel rushed home right after his secret mission, and even David has been keeping your sister company for days. But you and your brotherânot answering messages or calls, spending all day dealing with dead people."
"Mom, thatâs my job."
"What job? Hurry up and go upstairs to take a bath. Donât stink up your sister!" Seeing him head upstairs, Louisa couldnât help but ask with a touch of curiosity, "Wait, why are your hands empty? Whereâs the gift for your sister?"
Clark, halfway up the stairs, answered a bit awkwardly, "Isnât my coming home the best gift for my sister?"
Louisa couldnât help but give him a few more smacks. "Who cares about you? Girls want perfumes, jewelry, clothes, or at least a doll. You, on the other hand, canât be eaten, played with, or worn."
"I can be a decoration," Clark replied seriously. "Even if you bring a doll home, itâs just a decoration. And Iâm better than a dollâI can move. Whatâs more, how can a doll be more pleasing to the eye than me?"
Seeing her handsome sonâs serious face, Louisa clutched her heart. "Youâre going to be the death of me."
Seeing his mother truly upset, Clark finally produced a small box and handed it over with a charming smile. "I didnât forget anyone. This is for my beloved mother."
"Really?" Louisa asked, half doubting, half hopeful, her anger subsiding a bit.
"The gift for my sister is still in the car. If you donât believe me, go check."
"At least you have some conscience!" Louisa opened the small box to find a dazzling gem inside. Knowing her son cared for both Rose and herself, Louisa finally felt a bit better.
"Whereâs mine?" Kenneth inquired as he rushed in from the kitchen.
Clark tossed him a small box. "Iâm going upstairs."
Kenneth was somewhat excited. "He still has some shame, running off so quickly. Honey, our boxes are identical. Do you think the contents will be the same?"
"Open it and see."
Kenneth opened the box, only to find a note inside that read: IOU.
Kenneth was dumbfounded.
What a great son.
After Clark had taken a shower and sat on the sofa for quite a while, his sister still hadnât shown up. Instead, Serena, hearing of his return, rushed to his side as quickly as she could, beaming, "Clark, youâre finally back!"
"Serena." Clark leaned back on the sofa, his body radiating an untamed aura, his handsome smile in place. "Itâs been a while. Youâve grown into a young lady."
"Clark, itâs been so long since you came back." Serenaâs voice waveredâshe had truly missed Clark.
"Clark, itâs about time you came home. Serena has been talking about you non-stop; my ears are about to form calluses!" Martha, standing nearby, laughed. "Sometimes Serena would flip through your old photo albums and start crying."
"Whatâs there to cry about?"
"She misses you, of course!"
Clarkâs gaze softened. "Come here, sit next to me."
Serena eagerly took the spot next to him.
"Why didnât you just give me a call?"
"I am a bit hungry." Clark smiled at her. "Get me a few things."
"Alright." Serena was about to go get it.
"Serena, let me go. You stay and chat with Clark a bit more."
What a great opportunity! She shouldnât miss it!
"Martha, you stay." Clarkâs smile was unreadable. "Serena, you go."
"Oh, okay." Serena glanced at Martha, a bit confused, as she headed to the kitchen.
"Martha."
Once Serena left, Clarkâs gaze returned to Martha. "You seem to have a lot of complaints about Rose."
"Clark, youâre mistaken. Iâm just upset seeing Serena being neglected in this house, especially since no matter how hard she tries to please Ms. Rose, itâs useless. Ms. Rose is always giving her the cold shoulder, so I just feel itâs unfair for Serena."
Rosemary stood upstairs, speechless.
"Martha, youâve been in this house for too long. Have you forgotten that Serenaâs place originally belonged to Rose?"
With one sentence, Clark completely silenced Martha.
"Rose has suffered for eighteen years outside, and she finally returned to this house. You say everyone revolves around herâthat was because they wanted to make it up to her, be good to her, and care for her. Isnât this normal?"
Martha lowered her head in embarrassment, whispering, "Yes."
"Serena has been living the life that Rose should have had for the past eighteen years. Rose didnât ask her to give it back and even agreed to let her stay. That shows Rose is a generous person who doesnât hold grudges."

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