Chapter 3: A Strange Home, Familiar Strangers
1317 Words
As soon as those words left Serena’s lips, Elena and Richard Quinn were utterly stunned.
Judging by Serena’s outfit, it was clear that even after leaving the Lancaster family, she was still living a life of comfort. And yet, she was willing to squeeze into this tiny house with five other people?
"Am I not welcome?" Serena arched a delicate brow, her tone carrying an undeniable authority.
"No, no! Of course, we’re happy to have you back!"
After all, she was the daughter Elena had carried for nine months. Of course, she wanted to build a good relationship with her.
Her daughter had willingly come home. How could she possibly have any objections?
"Hmm." Serena responded lightly. She rose to her feet, leisurely glancing around before stating, "I’ll be staying here tonight. Mind if I take a look around?"
Richard's lips quivered slightly. In the end, he only nodded.
Somehow… this daughter felt overwhelmingly dominant.
Serena’s heels clicked softly against the floor as she strolled through the house.
Three bedrooms, one living room. A kitchen and a single bathroom.
Each room was small, but from the decorations alone, it was easy to tell who they belonged to.
The master bedroom belonged to the Quinn couple. A modest full-sized bed and an old wooden wardrobe with double doors—its design looked like something from the 80s, completely outdated.
The second bedroom had once belonged to Elena and Celeste. Two single beds were positioned head-to-head in an L-shape, with a shared wardrobe squeezed between them. Underneath the beds, several storage boxes were crammed together, making the already cramped space feel even smaller.
It was clear that Celeste had left in a hurry.
And without hesitation.
She hadn’t taken a single thing with her.
Of course, why would she? Now that she was a Lancaster, she had access to the finest of everything. To her, the things she had used for over a decade were nothing more than trash.
The last bedroom belonged to Theo and Noah. A bunk bed, a small study desk by the window, and a wardrobe.
Serena opened the wardrobe and examined its contents. Everything hanging inside belonged to Noah. As for Theo, his clothes were folded and stacked at the very bottom, barely taking up any space.
The Quinns owned a house and a car—barely middle-class.
But with four children in school, their finances were clearly stretched thin.
And yet, despite their struggles, it was evident that they had never deprived their children of anything.
Elena, at the age where she loved dressing up, had a full set of skincare and makeup products. They weren’t high-end luxury brands, but at least they were well-known names.
Noah, the youngest, had the most clothes. His desk was filled with books and colorful picture collections.
Theo, on the other hand, carried the most responsibility. His belongings were few, and during school breaks, he even worked part-time jobs to help with expenses. In a way, he was already half a pillar of the family.
And then there was Celeste’s old belongings.
Even the pillow she left behind was the most expensive one in the house—its material and craftsmanship suggested a price of at least three hundred dollars.
Under the bed were seven or eight pairs of elegant shoes, each costing no less than five hundred.
And yet, when she was taken back to the Lancaster family, she had been wearing a tattered, ill-fitting dress—pretending to be pitiful.
That dress?
It had probably belonged to Elena.
—
When the rest of the Quinn family received word of Serena’s visit, they rushed home as quickly as they could.
The iron gate creaked loudly as it opened, the sound alerting Serena. She stepped out of the bedroom just as the door swung open.
The first to enter was a young woman in her early twenties.
Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, bangs neatly framing her forehead. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, her white canvas sneakers slightly yellowed with age, yet meticulously clean.
Despite the plainness of her attire, her beauty couldn’t be concealed. Her features bore a striking resemblance to Richard Quinn—soft, warm, and gentle.
This was Elena Quinn.
Beside her, holding her hand, was an eight or nine-year-old boy—Noah Quinn.
The moment Elena laid eyes on Serena—so out of place in this modest home—she momentarily froze. Then, she quickly lowered her gaze, saying nothing.
The next person to walk in was a tall but lean teenage boy.
His clothes were even plainer than his siblings’, yet his refined features carried an unmistakable grace.
He was the complete opposite of the brothers Serena had grown up with.
Her eyes flickered with interest.
“Hello,” Serena greeted, her smile soft and warm. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Serena.”
Her voice was gentle, her peach blossom eyes filled with nothing but warmth.
No disgust. No resentment. No hostility.
Elena’s heart trembled slightly.
For a moment, she almost couldn’t believe it.
That pair of breathtakingly beautiful eyes held no trace of judgment.
Instead, there was something even more shocking—acceptance.
A deep sense of relief washed over Elena.
She smiled faintly.
“Hello, I’m Elena Quinn, the eldest. This is our youngest, Noah Quinn.”
“I’m Theo Quinn, the second eldest.”
Theo’s smile was even softer.
His eyes held an unshakable gentleness—so deep, it was almost intoxicating.
Unlike their parents’ awkward restraint and Elena’s cautious apprehension, Theo was the only one who remained effortlessly calm and natural.
No distance. No hesitation.
But to Serena, it felt more like… he had already given up hope.
Perhaps, it was because Celeste had broken his heart so thoroughly.
—
An awkward silence filled the air.
After a long pause, Richard let out a deep sigh and finally spoke.
“Serena, are you sure about this?” His voice was tired. “If the Lancaster family is willing to keep you, you don’t have to force yourself to live here with us…”
He thought of Celeste, how she had left without looking back.
Not even a simple goodbye.
The daughter they had loved for seventeen years had walked away without an ounce of hesitation, her heart completely consumed by wealth and power.
If even a child they had raised since birth could abandon them so easily, then what about the real Lancaster heiress?
She had been raised in luxury her entire life.
How could a girl like her possibly tolerate such a drastic fall from grace?
Serena noticed the sorrow in Richard’s expression but didn’t offer any words of comfort.
She had never been good at that.
Instead, she said calmly,
“I’ll stay in the room with Elena. As for the things that don’t belong to us… can we throw them away?”
The unspoken message was clear.
She wasn’t here for a short visit.
She was here to stay.
Theo, who had been wiping Noah’s hands, suddenly stilled.
He had assumed she was just here to check things out—perhaps eat dinner, then leave.
After all, a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse would never survive the harsh winds and rain.
Why would a privileged young lady choose to be a wildflower by the riverside?
But Serena’s attitude left no room for doubt.
She wasn’t here to "experience" life.
She was reclaiming what was hers.
Theo exhaled softly, then said, “If you’re staying, then of course we’ll clear out the room for you. After dinner, I’ll pack up Celeste’s things and throw them out.”
Elena looked at Theo in shock.
He had always been the one who loved Celeste the most.
And yet, he was willing to let her go so easily?
Serena’s lips curled slightly.
“Thank you, Theo.”
- Writer
