1 suggest we keep an eye on her and see how she behaves next,â Myrna said, sipping on her lemonade. âIf she doesnât show any signs of remorse in the coming days, or if sheâs up to no good behind our backs, weâll let your parents know and they can kick her out. But if she truly realizes her mistake, Bella, should we give her another shot?â
âSo, you mean we should make more friends than enemies?â Arabella glanced at them, seemingly grasping their point.
Myrna: âIâm just throwing it out there. After all, your parents have quite a soft spot for her. Your brothers have also put a lot of effort into dealing with her. If we suddenly kick her out, your parents might find it hard to adjust. Theyâve been together for eighteen years. But itâs just a suggestion, the ballâs in your court.â
Chasel âBella, you donât have to worry about anyone elseâs feelings. Iâve got your back, no matter what you want to do, even if you want to kick her out of the Collins family.â
Myrna: True that, Iâm with you, too. If you want her gone, sheâs got to go.â
Arabella tapped her finger against her cup, falling silent for a moment. âAlright, weâll see how she behaves next.â
Having Serena in the house didnât really bother her. Over the past couple of months, Serena had been a handful, but she never got anything good out of Arabella.
If it came down to dealing with Serena, Arabella could do it in a snap. She was mainly concerned about the feelings of her family members.
They seemed to have quite a soft spot for Serena.
âOne more thing,â Chasel suddenly piped up.
Arabella and Myrna both turned their attention to him.
Iâm sorry for what Serena said earlier,â Chasel apologized. âAbout the travel destinations. Whenever you have time, wherever you want to go, weâre all in. We can make new memories, just us, as a family.â
Arabellaâs gaze softened.
When Serena mentioned their childhood and everything Chasel had done for her, Arabella felt a pang of envy. She never experienced that kind of familial warmth growing up. Attlee and Olga never showed her an ounce of love.
Even though Grannie Grace adored her, it was not the same as being pampered by her brothers.
She had never been spoiled by her brothers growing up.
Chasel seemed to understand what she was thinking, but before he could say anything comforting, Myrna beat him to it. She draped her arm around Arabellaâs shoulders, patting her consolingly. âDonât worry. From now on, Iâll spoil you rotten. Whatever you want to do, whatever you want, Iâll make it happen.â
Arabella cracked a smile and said, âIâm content with what I have now.â
She might not have any deep memories from the past, but the genuine love and care from her family were palpable.
Now she had Myrna as well. That was more than enough:
Chasel: âBella, remember, you always have more say in this house than Serena. If you need anything, everyone would choose you over her, no questions asked. Of course, the choice might be painful, but thatâs just how it is. We can handle that pain.
Youâre a part of this family, no one has the right to threaten your place here, not even Serena. Youâre more deserving of our love and care than she is. Remember, weâre family. Next time you see me, donât be a stranger. If you need anything, Iâm here for you.â