The Phantom Heiress Rising From The Shadows

Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Ethan's Gift For Brenna Although Alec's resentment toward Brenna simmered beneath the surface, he was painfully aware that his family could not afford to risk offending the Harper family now. In fact, he saw this as a crucial opportunity- one he hoped would help him bring his family back to its former glory.

Alec's gaze lingered on Brenna, his expression etched with a mix of pain. "You must remember what I did for you, Brenna. I raised you and guided you, and now that you're living a prosperous life, you can't forget the kindness I've shown you, can you?" he said.

Brenna's eyes grew cold, her composure unwavering. "Don't worry. I won't forget that," she replied calmly, her voice steady. "I'll make sure my parents and brothers look after the Barrett family." The Barrett family members, overwhelmed with excitement, struggled to conceal their delight. Hope flickered in their eyes as they exchanged glances.

Alec's voice dropped to a more personal tone as he leaned in slightly. "In that case, I won't hide anything from you. Since you left, the company has barely received any new orders. We've even fallen behind on wages for the workers. Could you ask your parents to assign us sprojects? It would make a world of difference," he said.

Brenna's expression remained unchanging, though inwardly, her mind raced. The Barrett family had always managed to secure work in the past; there had never been a shortage of orders. Why were they in such dire straits now? It seemed their company was on the brink of collapse.

Brenna's gaze flicked toward Shepard, noting the icy detachment in his eyes. It was clear that he didn't favor the Barrett family-his dislike for them was palpable. Could the Barrett family's current financial struggles be a result of his actions? "Don't worry, Brenna," Shepard said, his voice steady and reassuring as his hand gently patted her shoulder. "I will help the Barrett family's business." His words carried weight, an attempt to maintain control and prevent his daughter from appearing ungrateful, especially in front of others.

With the Harper family's promise, the Barrett family felt a newfound sense of pride, their dreams of joining Shirie's elite suddenly within reach. The idea of growing their empire under such protection filled them with a quiet, satisfied anticipation.

Ruby smiled with practiced warmth, her voice laced with insincerity as she said, "I always knew you were a thoughtful child, Brenna. Though you've left our family, you'll always remain my daughter. And should you ever choose to return, the Barrett family will always welcyou back with open arms." Brenna's lips tightened into a thin line, her patience wearing thin. The words were like venom now, spoken with such deceitful sweetness that she could hardly stand to hear them. When she had left the Barrett family, Ruby had been cruel, her words to her harsh and cold.

00% 2321 In the hospital, Ruby had shown her no respect, only disdain. Now, seeing the shift in Ruby's attitude, Brenna thought that she was very hypocritical.

Trying to contain her frustration, Brenna glanced at her parents her face unreadable. "I'm going to change my clothes," she said, attempting to distance herself from the situation.

Ruby, sensing an opportunity, quickly nudged Isabella, "Go with Brenna," she instructed, her voice filled with false sweetness.

Isabella sto still, her face hardening as jealousy gnawed at her.

Why was Brenna so lucky? Why had Brenna enjoyed the comfort of the Barrett family for twenty years only to step into an even wealthier life after leaving? The bitterness welled up inside her, and she crossed her arms, unwilling to move.

She pouted, her eyes fixed on the floor, her envy growing harder to contain with every passing moment. Why was life so unfair? Ethan gently took a shopping bag from Neville, his eyes softening as they met Brenna's. He said, "Brenna, I picked this dress out for you. Would you like to try it on?" Brenna glanced at the shopping bag, a polite and composed smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Ethan. That's very kind of you, but there's no need for that. My parents have already chosen a dress for me, and I'd prefer not to disregard their thoughtful gesture," she said.

Isabella, standing nearby, clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as she watched Ethan's complete attention on Brenna, The jealousy bubbling inside her was impossible to ignore. She was right before Ethan, yet he didn't even glance her way. What made Brenna so special? Wasn't she just as beautiful, if not more so? Surely, Ethan's judgment was flawed.

Ruby, noticing Isabella's simmering frustration, quickly intervened, saying to Isabella, "Why don't you go with Brenna to change?" She believed perhaps this was Isabella's chance to get closer to Ethan.

Ruby's eyes darted to Isabella, signaling her silently to seize the opportunity.

Sensing the opportunity, Isabella forced a smile and approached Brenna with feigned warmth. She said, "Brenna, Mr. Mitchell is just trying to be kind to you. Why not accept the gift from him? I'll go with you to change." Her words were calm, but the underlying tension was palpable. She could barely conceal the frustration boiling inside her.

Rosie, observing the subtle shift in Isabella's behavior, couldn't help but smirk inwardly. An idea began to take root in her mind-perhaps she could turn Isabella into a pawn in her gagainst Brenna.

With a calculated glint in her eyes, Rosie said, "Yes, Brenna, Mr. Mitchell never gifts clothes to women. You're the first to receive such a gift from him." Rosie's glance then drifted toward Audrey, who stood nearby, quietly observing the scene.

Since Ableson had saved Ethan's father, the two families were bound by strong ties. Logically, if a Harper 36.4% 23:21 Chapter 80 Ethan's Gift For Brenna daughter were to marry Ethan, Audrey would be the most likely candidate.

Rosie's words were meant to provoke Audrey. She wanted to see the stir of jealousy in Audrey, to make her target Brenna

Audrey, a bit caught off guard by Rosie's words, quickly regained her composure. A marriage to Ethan had never even crossed her mind-she didn't believe in being shackled by outdated arrangements. She saw right through Rosie's ploy.

Her gaze me* Ethan's, and for the first time, Audrey noticed a certain softness in his gaze on Brenna, a warmth that seore than just volite-something deeper, something personal. The act of gifting clothes in front of so many people was a clear declaration of his interest. Audrey smiled softly and said, "Brenna, just accept it. You can always wear it another day." Brenna accepted the shopping bag from Ethan with a soft nod. "I'll go change now," she said, her voice calm and polite.

Without hesitation, Isabella followed her. "I'll help you with that!" she said.

Ethan stood silently, watching Brenna leave, making no move to follow. Meanwhile, Rosie's disappointment grew. Despite being the perfect candidate for Ethan's affections, Audrey had shown no reaction-no jealousy, no hint of hostility toward Brenna. Could it be that Audrey didn't like Ethan? But she found it hard to believe that there was a woman in this world who was not interested in a man like Ethan

Inside the dressing room, three striking dresses hung, each one more breathtaking than the last. One was a strapless black ball gown, its intridate design enhanced by a diamond-studded choker that glistened brilliantly under the lights. Another was an elegant red dress, radiating sophistication with its perfectly tailored fit. The last was an opulent gown paired with an elaborate set of gemstone jewelry.

Isabella couldn't help but stare at them, her eyes wide with awe. Each gown seemed more priceless than the last last, likely worth an In comparison, her clothes felt like something from a discount store. The stark difference made her feel small, and a twinge of envy crept into her heart as she stood there.