Even she was dressed better than that. “How dare you pretend to be a Harper?” she sneered.
Brenna assumed she genuinely didn’t know, so she kept her tone patient. “I really am the Harper family’s daughter.”
But she believed something about the situation felt off. Even if she weren’t a Harper, she was still a guest. Yet this maid was speaking to her with open disdain. What did that say about the Harper family? Her patience thinned. If this was how they treated people, she wanted nothing to do with them.
Rachael rolled her eyes. “Impossible. Miss Rosie Harper personally went to pick up Miss Brenna Harper. They should be arriving together. You probably heard about Miss Brenna Harper’s return and thought you could fool us by pretending to be her.”
She gasped suddenly, pointing at Brenna. “Wait! Did you kidnap Miss Brenna Harper?”
Brenna let out a laugh, dry and unamused. She then turned, ready to walk away.
But before she could take a step, Rachael’s shrill voice rang out. “Help! Someone come quickly! She’s kidnapped Miss Brenna Harper! Stop her from leaving!”
“What’s with all the noise? Is Brenna back?” A deep male voice cut through the tension.
Brenna looked up to see a man approaching the gate. His graying hair gave him a refined air, and though age had softened his face, his steps were steady.
As the man got closer, his eyes settled on Brenna’s face, and his brows furrowed with recognition. He believed she looked uncannily like his sister-in-law, Giselle.
“You are Brenna, right? Come in,” he said.
Rachael stiffened, panic flashing across her face. She had failed to carry out Rosie’s instructions. She had missed the chance to teach Brenna a lesson.
But as a servant, she couldn’t afford to be caught. Forcing a bright smile, she quickly said to Brenna, “Oh, you are Miss Brenna Harper! My apologies-I didn’t recognize you at first. I’m so sorry for making you wait outside for so long.”
The man, Ableson Harper, turned to Rachael and said sharply, “From the fifth floor, I heard the doorbell ringing. Yet you took this long to answer the door. Are you deaf?”
Rachael quickly lowered her head. “Sir, I was just following orders. We have strict rules against letting in strangers, and I wasn’t sure if she was really Miss Brenna Harper…”
Ableson snorted, unconvinced. Rachael had been working here for years. She had seen Giselle countless times. And now, she expected him to believe she hadn’t noticed the resemblance between Giselle and Brenna?
Still, he chose not to press the matter further in front of Brenna; he didn’t want to make Brenna uncomfortable.
Instead, he turned to Brenna, his tone warm. “I’m your eldest uncle, Ableson Harper. Everyone in the family lives here. Your parents are out today but will be back by seven. For now, why don’t you go to your room and get some rest? You can take a shower and change your clothes.”
Brenna was taken aback. The Barretts had claimed that her eldest uncle was bedridden, yet here he was-standing before her, perfectly fine.
More than that, there was something about Ableson that put her at ease. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend after years apart. Brenna offered him a polite smile. “Hello, Uncle Ableson. I’m Brenna.”
Ableson nodded, glancing over her clothes. “You’ve had a difficult life out there, but now that you’re home, you’ll be well taken care of. If you need anything, just let your parents or me know.” He gestured inside. “Come inside. Let me show you around.”
The Harper family’s living room was vast, spanning at least a hundred square meters. Plush leather sofas were arranged neatly, and floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with natural light. The polished marble flooring gleamed beneath intricate rugs, and an open-concept dining and kitchen area stretched beyond. A long dining table, large enough to seat twenty, dominated the dining area, while several chefs worked efficiently in the state-of-the-art kitchen.
As they walked through the grand home, Ableson said to Brenna, “Your parents and Rosie live on the third floor, and your room is there as well. Your brothers stay on the fourth floor, while my family occupies the fifth. Your grandparents have the second floor to themselves, though they prefer the peace of the countryside estate. But when they heard you were coming home, they insisted on returning. They should arrive around six in the evening.”
Ableson led Brenna into the elevator, taking her straight to the third floor. He stopped before a door on the east side and pushed it open. “This room has always been yours. For twenty years, it’s been cleaned daily, waiting for your return. Losing you was hard on the family, but now that you’re back, our family is finally complete.”
Just then, Julia stepped out of the room and said respectfully, “The room is ready.”
Rachael had followed Brenna and Ableson here and said eagerly, “Please allow me to take care of Miss Harper.”
Ableson, still displeased by Rachael’s earlier behavior, didn’t bother hiding his irritation. He said sharply, “Brenna just got home. Make sure she has everything she needs and she is comfortable here.”
Rachael nodded quickly. “Of course, sir. Rest assured, I will take care of her needs.”
Ableson turned and left. The moment the elevator doors closed behind him, Rachael’s smile vanished.
Her eyes swept over Brenna’s outfit, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. She believed Brenna had clearly spent her life in ordinary surroundings-how could she possibly fit in with the Harpers?
Straightening up, she crossed her arms and said bluntly, “Miss Harper, I imagine you’re not used to this level of luxury. Let me tell you-“
“You can leave now!” Brenna cut her off, striding toward the door and looking at her, her expression cold.
Rachael’s face darkened. “I’m the housekeeper of the Harper family. I run this household. How dare you treat me with that attitude?” she said.
A dry chuckle escaped Brenna. “You’re just the housekeeper. Not the owner. Why are you acting like the owner here? Get out.”
Rachael remained rooted to the spot as if the room belonged to her. “Miss Harper, I suggest you think carefully before disrespecting me. You just arrived. You’ll need my help in many ways. This room is 150 square meters, divided into a living area, a bedroom, a dressing room, and a private bathroom. Every necessity in the other rooms was personally arranged by me. You don’t have to thank me-it’s just part of my job.”
After a pause, she continued, “Of course, the dressing room is completely bare. Mrs. Harper didn’t know your size or your taste, so no clothes were prepared for you. But honestly, considering what you’re wearing now, I doubt you even have preferences. You wouldn’t want to meet the family looking like that, would you? I’ll get you something from Miss Rosie Harper’s closet. Otherwise, you will have to meet the others from the Harper family in your current outfit, and you will be looked down upon.”
As Rachael spoke, she lifted her chin arrogantly, not bothering to hide her disdain.
Brenna strode over to Rachael, grabbed her arm without warning, and shoved her out into the hallway. Then, she slammed the door shut.
Rachael stumbled, falling hard onto the floor. A sharp pain shot through her elbow. “How disrespectful! The Harper family is known for their manners, yet you have no respect!” she exclaimed in anger.
Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message from Rosie. “How is the situation now?”
Rachael replied, “She’s in her room, acting all high and mighty. Don’t worry-I’ll put her in her place.”
“Go to my room and get her an old dress I’ve worn,” Rosie responded.
A slow smirk curled Rachael’s lips. “Understood,” she replied.
Rachael slipped her phone into her pocket and strode into the adjacent room. The dressing room was filled with an array of stylish, high-end clothing, some pieces still adorned with their original tags. As she sifted through the racks, she couldn’t stop thinking that Brenna had come back to steal everything from Rosie-the Harper couple’s love for Rosie, her place in the family, and even her fiance.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.