Thankfully, the elders didn’t linger on the issue. They moved to the living room, eager to learn more about Brenna’s life before.
The more they listened, the more their faces were filled with sorrow, guilt, and quiet anger.
Brenna studied their reactions, noting how vastly different they were from the Barretts.
“It’s all in the past now,” she said gently. “No need to dwell on it.”
But Tessa couldn’t stop crying. She took Brenna’s hand in hers, pulled out a bank card from her purse, and pressed it into her palm. “Here’s some pocket money. Buy yourself whatever you need,” she said.
Shepard, not wanting to be outdone, handed Brenna another card. “We didn’t prepare anything in advance since we didn’t know your sizes. There’s a hundred million on this-you can buy whatever you like.”
Giselle wiped her eyes and said eagerly, “Yes! Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping myself.”
This was exactly what Rosie had been waiting for. “Brenna likes expensive clothes,” she scoffed. “Earlier today, M&G delivered racks of clothes to her room. She’s already spent at least thirty million, and she expects us to pay!”
Her voice dripped with accusation. “She arrived here wearing clothes that cost less than two hundred, but the second she stepped into this house, she started acting like she owned the place. Every single piece she bought earlier costs over half a million. Are we really just going to let her do whatever she wants with our money? Our money doesn’t grow on trees! Why is her spending like that? Perhaps… she had a rich benefactor before she got here, which is why she’s so comfortable throwing money around.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. The Harper family exchanged puzzled glances at Brenna, whose face hardened, her eyes turning cold as ice.
Rosie, seeing the reaction she had caused, continued with a satisfied expression, “If she wasn’t used to luxury, how could she possibly spend about thirty million within hours of arriving here? Mom, Dad-she’s back with the family now. We can’t let her go astray.”
Shepard’s face contorted with rage, his hands curling into tight fists. If Rosie weren’t the last remaining child of his late younger brother, he would have dealt with her harshly a long time ago.
The others-Luther, Tessa, and Giselle-all glared at Rosie with anger. But Rosie stood her ground, chin lifted defiantly. Her smug eyes seemed to say to Brenna, “Go ahead, try to fight back. No one will listen to you. This family is on my side-who are you to spend thirty million like you belong here?”
Just then, a sharp slap resounded, the sting spreading across Rosie’s cheek, her head snapping to the side.
Dazed, Rosie looked up in shock, only to see Luther’s trembling hand still raised.
His face reddened with fury. “Brenna is your family,” he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. “How could you say something so vile about her?”
Tears welled in Rosie’s eyes as she clutched her stinging cheek, her expression one of sheer disbelief. “I knew it,” she choked out. “Since my parents are gone, no one cares about me anymore!” She then turned and ran upstairs, sobbing.
Luther’s body swayed unsteadily, his breathing shallow as dizziness overtook him.
Shepard was at his side in an instant. “Dad, please-stay calm. Don’t get upset,” he quickly said.
The elevator doors slid open, and Ableson stepped out just in time to witness the scene. His face tightened with concern as he rushed over. “Dad, you can’t let this get to you. Your health comes first. Let us deal with the younger generation ourselves.”
Brenna was touched. Unlike the Barretts, the Harpers didn’t dismiss her or treat her with indifference. They trusted her and cared about her.
She moved closer, steadying Luther as he sat down. With gentle hands, she pressed her fingers to his temples, working in slow, careful circles. Her voice was calm and reassuring as she massaged him. “Grandpa, those clothes didn’t cost anything. M&G’s founder is a friend of mine-she gave them to me as a gift.”
Almost instantly, Luther’s tension eased, his aching head lightening. The relief was so profound that his body seemed to sink into relaxation. He had received countless massages from professional therapists before, but none had been this calming. Brenna’s touch found every tension point with effortless skill, applying just enough pressure to soothe him.
“You know the founder personally?” Giselle’s voice held a note of surprise. The founder of M&G was a mystery in the fashion world, an elusive figure who rarely made public appearances. High-society elites fought for her creations, some waiting years just for a single custom piece.
Brenna nodded. “We’ve been friends for a long time. She’s planning to expand into the local market soon. If you’re interested, I can arrange for her to design something for you.”
Noticing that Giselle made no move to chase after Rosie, Brenna decided to take the first step in being kind to her.
Luther’s spirits lifted noticeably, and he couldn’t help but admire Brenna. For someone to have connections with such an influential figure and effortlessly offer custom designs for her mother, she had to be exceptional in her own right.
But at the same time, Luther felt regret deep down. He should have ensured Brenna had everything she needed from the start instead of leaving her to figure things out on her own.
Shepard and Giselle felt just as guilty. They had mistakenly listened to Rosie-assuming that not knowing Brenna’s size or preferences justified not preparing any clothes for her.
They should have made the effort regardless, whether or not they knew her size or style preferences.
The couple shared a remorseful glance, silently acknowledging their failure. They had unintentionally neglected their daughter, but to their relief, Brenna didn’t seem to resent them for it.
As they observed Brenna attentively tending to Luther, easing his discomfort with such care and patience, they realized just how devoted and considerate she truly was.
“Brenna, what size do you wear? And what kind of styles do you like? I’ll place an order right away,” Giselle said, pulling out her phone and contacting multiple brand store managers to arrange for a selection of clothes, shoes, and bags to be delivered immediately.
A small smile tugged at Brenna’s lips as she told Giselle her size. She didn’t specify her style preferences-she usually dressed according to the occasion.
Giselle, with her sharp fashion sense, quickly pieced together outfit choices in her mind, matching Brenna’s aura effortlessly.
On the couch, Tessa held Luther’s hand, watching him closely. She had been worried he might collapse under the stress-a heart attack or a stroke could have been triggered by his rising temper. But Brenna continued her slow, steady work, her touch gentle as she massaged Luther.
The harsh pulse in Luther’s temples faded, and his breathing settled into an even rhythm.
“Where did you learn this?” he asked Brenna. “You’re really good at massaging.”
Brenna’s eyes twinkled with a knowing glint. “It’s just something I picked up before,” she said lightly. “Do you feel better now, Grandpa?”
Luther nodded, sighing in relief. “Much better. You’re a good girl. I shouldn’t have indulged Rosie for so long. I let her get away with too much. But don’t worry. If she does something like this again, she’ll face real consequences. I will make sure she learns her lesson.”
Rosie didn’t come down for dinner, which meant no one was there to make things difficult for Brenna. With no tension in the air, Brenna enjoyed a relaxed meal, engaging in easy conversation with other members of the Harper family.
The dining table was long and spacious, designed to comfortably accommodate the entire family.
Shepard took the opportunity to formally introduce the family members to Brenna. To help her get to know them better, he even brought out a framed family portrait.
He said, “Your eldest brother, Ernst Harper, is the vice president of the Harper Group. He handles most of the major decisions, so he’s constantly tied up with work. He owns multiple properties across Shirie, but he usually stays at the one closest to the company. Because of that, he doesn’t come home often. But I already told him you returned today, so he’ll be back later.”
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.