Devoted Love:The Billionaire's Precious Wife
Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Chapter 407

"Mom, the person who saved you and Dad was Rose."

Louisa’s words took Cornelia by surprise. Could Rose really know medicine?

"You and Dad had fallen down the stairs, and by the time you got to the hospital, you were deeply unconscious. The CT scan showed that you had a fractured skull, brain contusion, and multiple fractures all over your body. Dad was even worse off."

Louisa reminisced, "For over a month, the entire ICU team overcame numerous challenges—respiratory failure, shock, respiratory tract infections. Every day brought a new challenge. But neither you nor Dad woke up... until Rose came to visit you three months ago."

She looked at Rosemary again, saying gently, "After she examined you, she immediately knew what was wrong. She provided several treatment options, procuring even the rarest drugs. If it wasn’t for her, you might not have woken up."

Kenneth chimed in, "Mom, you have no idea how skilled Rose is. Before you, she cured both Phillip and Shirley."

Cornelia was even more surprised. "Phillip had undergone several heart surgeries. His heart was practically a patchwork. Even the renowned Dr. James Newton was at a loss. And Shirley—wasn’t she in a vegetative state? She’s cured too?"

"That’s the brilliance of Rose. She is the rumored Dr. Bell, the one who can bring people back from the brink of death!"

"She’s Dr. Bell?" Cornelia was astounded. She never imagined that the reputed living Hippocrates, the miracle-working Dr. Bell, would be her own granddaughter.

"You have no idea how smart Rose is," Kenneth said with a chuckle. "Not only is she a doctor, but she also knows how to run a company at such a young age. She’s as competent as you were back in the day! During the summer vacation, I gave her our family’s struggling clothing company to keep her occupied, and she turned it around."

Cornelia remembered the clothing company, which had been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

"I’ve always said that we, the Collins family, have business in our blood. It must be genetic. That clothing company was nearly bankrupt, but once Rose took over, it came back to life. Now, it’s a well-known player in the industry, and sales have skyrocketed."

Kenneth laughed. "Rose even started her own clothing conglomerate, LY. You must have heard of it."

Cornelia was familiar with LY. Before her accident, she often bought clothes from LY for Serena.

"I remember LY. Each piece is designed by their head, Queen Abby," Cornelia said incredulously.

"Yeah, all the designs are Rose’s creations," Kenneth replied. "Apart from being a businesswoman, she’s also a renowned pianist—known as Melody—a painter named Mirabelle, and a calligrapher named Evarose. There’s practically nothing she can’t do!"

Cornelia was dumbfounded. How could a teenage girl have so many identities, each a master in their field?

Rosemary blushed from all the praise.

Cornelia looked at her, nodding in approval. "She’s truly exceptional."

"And she’s not just talented," Kenneth added. "She aced the college entrance examination and is now studying at Westerly College. Several esteemed professors are vying to claim her as their protégée."

Cornelia’s admiration grew. Rosemary was extraordinary for her age.

Serena gripped her skirt tightly, her discomfort growing. Rosemary overshadowed her in every way. Her parents’ praise, spoken so freely in front of everyone, ignored her feelings entirely.

Noticing Serena, Cornelia asked quietly, "And where’s Serena? What college is she attending now?"

Before her accident, Cornelia remembered Serena as a high school senior. Now, time had flown, and she was already in college.

"Grandma, I got into Summerfield College," Serena announced.

Though with Rosemary’s grades, Summerfield College would’ve been effortless for her, Serena had earned her place. She allowed herself a flicker of pride.

Cornelia nodded approvingly. "That’s great. Summerfield College is one of the best universities in the country. You’ve always been a good student."

She turned back to Louisa. "What about the engagement?"

Louisa smiled. "Romeo fell in love with Rose at first sight, and the McMillians adore her. Serena also has a boyfriend now—and he’s quite a catch."

One could say it was like hitting the jackpot.

Serena stiffened. The topic of her "boyfriend" kept resurfacing, and she felt increasingly trapped.

Martha had told that white lie to distance her from Romeo. Now, it demanded endless more lies to sustain it.

"Serena has a boyfriend too?" Cornelia was surprised. Serena had been infatuated with Romeo for years. How had she moved on so quickly?

"What do Phillip and Shirley think?" Cornelia pressed.

"They both adore Rose," Louisa said. "They even gifted her a necklace symbolizing the future granddaughter-in-law! Romeo’s parents are also thrilled. The teal necklace Jennifer gave her is a treasure passed down through their family for five generations. And George gave her a gemstone key engraved with the McMillian crest—it unlocks their secret base and their overseas bank vault."

Serena’s breath caught.

Those gifts weren’t just valuable—they were heirlooms, proof of absolute acceptance. The McMillians had never offered her such recognition.

Cornelia was equally stunned. Phillip and Shirley didn’t give their blessings lightly, and Jennifer was notoriously hard to impress. Yet Rosemary had won them all over.

Her gaze returned to Rosemary—this girl with countless talents, who’d conquered the McMillians’ hearts. She was remarkable.

Beside her, Serena seemed to pale in comparison.

After all, Cornelia had dearly loved Serena for eighteen solid years, while Rosemary was a granddaughter she had just recently met.

Hence, Cornelia had showered Serena with more love.

When she heard that Serena was not her biological granddaughter and that her excellent fiancé was now out of the picture, she empathized with the girl’s plight. Gently, she patted Serena’s hand in consolation.

"Perhaps it’s destiny," she said softly. "I just want to ask you one thing, Serena. Were you and your boyfriend truly in love?"

Serena could only muster a slight nod.

"Then bring him to see me another day." Cornelia looked at her lovingly. "You grew up being protected, and I won’t let you be wronged. I want to see his character—to know if he’ll treat you well in the future. I do hope you’ll be happy all your life."

A surge of emotion washed over Serena. "Thank you, Grandma."

Indeed, only her grandparents seemed to adore her unconditionally—unlike her parents and brothers, who now revolved entirely around Rosemary.

Cornelia took Rosemary’s hand again, her tone warm but firm. "You are going to marry into the McMillian family, so your wedding will be more lavish than Serena’s."

Serena stiffened.

Cornelia reasoned silently: A Collins-McMillian union would draw countless eyes. If her biological granddaughter’s wedding matched her adopted granddaughter’s in scale, gossip would swirl—whispers that the Collins family didn’t value their own blood.

Even if the McMillians raised no objections, their relatives would assume Serena’s husband was inferior in status. Worse, equating the weddings would disrespect the McMillians’ standing.

And after depriving Rosemary of eighteen years of love, fairness demanded she receive more now.

Serena’s earlier gratitude dissolved, replaced by a glimmer of resentment she dared not show.

Since Rosemary returned, everything that was mine has been taken. Even Grandma’s love is slipping away.

Rosemary, however, replied calmly, "The scale of the wedding doesn’t matter, as long as he truly loves me."

"You are special," Cornelia said, admiration gleaming in her eyes. "I just wonder... will your grandfather wake in time to see you two marry?"

"He should wake within a day or two," Rosemary assured.

"Really?" Cornelia’s surprise was palpable. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Rosemary’s confidence was unshakable. Had David’s shoe not delayed the medicine’s retrieval, her grandparents would’ve recovered a month earlier.

"Mom, Rose is a miracle doctor," Louisa interjected, grinning. "If she says it’ll happen, it will."

"But will your grandfather walk again?" Cornelia pressed, her tone grave.

"Not immediately," Rosemary admitted. "But you’ll both use wheelchairs soon—enough to go outside."

Disappointment flickered across Cornelia’s face, but she quickly asked, "When can we leave the hospital?"

"A day or two after you wake. I’ll prepare the remaining medicine, though it’s bitter."

"That’s alright." Cornelia’s smile returned, her crinkled eyes lingering on Rosemary. Her fondness for her biological granddaughter had undeniably deepened.

Just then, a knock echoed at the door.

Lucas, Beverly, and Alma hurried in.

"Mom!" Beverly rushed forward, pulling Cornelia into a tearful embrace. "When we heard you’d woken—I couldn’t believe it! Thank God you’re alright!"

"You visited half as often as Louisa," Cornelia teased, though her mock sternness couldn’t hide her joy.

"We’ve been busy!" Beverly laughed, glancing around. "Louisa, Kenneth—oh, Serena and Rose are here too!" She beamed at Rosemary. "This girl is everything—polite, brilliant, beautiful!"

"Beverly and I adore her," Lucas added warmly.

"I like Rose too," Alma chimed in, her gaze slyly shifting to Serena. "Don’t you, Serena?"

Serena’s smile was flawless. "Of course. Who wouldn’t admire someone so outstanding?"

"I thought you might resent her," Alma mused, feigning innocence. "Because of Romeo..."

"Why would I?" Serena’s nails dug into her palms, but her voice stayed light. "My brother-in-law’s feelings are his own. Besides, I have a boyfriend now."

Cornelia sighed. These two had bickered since childhood, but she’d long dismissed it as harmless.

"You give me a headache the moment you arrive," she grumbled affectionately.

"Grandma!" Alma pouted. "You scold us for not visiting, then complain when we do! Should we come or not?" She clutched Cornelia’s hand playfully. "Or is Serena the only one who doesn’t annoy you? You’ve always favored her."

"Nonsense. I treat all my granddaughters equally." Cornelia paused, scanning the room. "Where’s your sister?"

"Still abroad. She’d be here if she knew you’d woken."

Cornelia huffed but smiled.

As conversation flowed, Alma suddenly perked up. "Serena, didn’t you recently master fruit salads? Make one for Grandma!"

"Can she eat fruit?" Serena glanced at Rosemary.

"In moderation."

Reluctantly, Serena selected fruits, planning an elegant tree-shaped arrangement.

"Let me help!" Alma bounded over.

"No need," Serena said tightly. "Stay with Grandma."

"Afraid I’ll outshine you?" Alma giggled, grabbing grapes. "Relax—I’m just assisting."

The others, engrossed in Cornelia’s recovery, paid no mind.

When Lucas and Beverly learned Rosemary’s medicine had woken Cornelia, their shock was palpable. Their niece—a miracle doctor?

Alma, watching Serena peel an apple, smirked.