Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
“Sure, you look like Giselle-there’s no denying that. But looking alike isn’t proof of anything. There are plenty of unrelated people who resemble each other. Who’s to say you didn’t undergo plastic surgery just to scam your way into our Harper family? I’m not trying to target you, but that’s indeed a possibility.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room. Ernst nodded and said, “Rosie has a point. I suggest we conduct a DNA test.”
No one outright objected. After all, Rosie’s accusation, however outrageous, sounded plausible enough to be considered.
Even Ableson and Jillian exchanged approving looks.
Ernst turned to Brenna, his voice steady. “Would you also be willing to undergo a medical examination to prove you haven’t had plastic surgery?” he asked.
Brenna seethed with frustration. The Harper family’s wealth meant nothing to her-she had no desire to exploit their fortune, nor would she ever stoop to faking an identity for personal gain. “The Harper family may have power and influence, but I have no intention of latching onto it. If you refuse to believe me, I’ll just leave,” she said coldly.
Rosie’s smirk widened. “Did you all hear that? All Ernst did was suggest a simple test, and she immediately tried to back out. Her reluctance says it all-maybe she really did alter her face to look like Giselle,” she said.
Brenna stared at Rosie for a moment, then said in a measured and firm voice, “I haven’t undergone any cosmetic surgery, and I refuse to go to the hospital for an examination because the very suggestion is an insult.”
She then turned to Giselle and Shepard. “Do you both want me to take the examination?” she asked.
Giselle had no doubts about Brenna’s identity. She said, “Brenna, I believe you’re truly our daughter. We don’t need any test results to confirm it! No matter what others say, I trust you.”
Shepard also stood by Brenna’s side without hesitation. “Exactly, Brenna. I have no doubts, either. With your brilliance, you clearly take after me. There’s no need for any verification. Rosie, you’re taking this too far.”
He turned to glare at Rosie.
Rosie bit her lower lip in fury, but she forced herself to remain composed. If she lost her temper now, she would never succeed in driving Brenna away.
She said, “Dad, Mom, I understand how you feel. I also hope she’s not an imposter. But let’s be realistic-our family isn’t ordinary. We have immense wealth. If Brenna is lying and you grant her shares, she could manipulate things and put the Harper Group at risk. We can’t afford to be careless. A simple check-up is all it takes. If Brenna doesn’t want to go to the hospital, I have a friend who’s a plastic surgeon. He can come here and examine her.”
Once her friend arrived, the answer to whether Brenna had undergone surgery would rest entirely in her hands.
Rosie scoffed inwardly, eager to see how Brenna would handle the situation.
Ernst turned to Brenna, a skeptical look in his eyes. “Are you refusing the test because you indeed had plastic surgery before? Don’t take us for fools. If you refuse, there’s no way I will acknowledge you as a member of our Harper family. Besides, you have been back for days and haven’t even once called my parents ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad.’ That’s very odd.”
Brenna clenched her fists, realizing that the rich families were even more deceitful and manipulative than the Barrett family.
She let out a cold chuckle, her eyes glinting with sarcasm. “And if the doctor confirms I’ve never had surgery, will you then say that facial similarities mean…
“Nothing, and that my resemblance to the family members doesn’t prove my identity?”
Ernst faltered for a moment. That was exactly what he had been thinking. After a pause, he responded directly, “Of course.”
Rosie felt a surge of satisfaction. With Ernst siding with her and their grandparents and uncle yet to voice their opinions, she was certain they all supported her stance.
As long as she coordinated with her plastic surgeon friend, there would be no obstacle in kicking Brenna out of the family. Even if Brenna was truly a Harper by blood, she would still be painted as an imposter. Rosie was confident the situation was turning in her favor.
Giselle shot her son a sharp look. “What kind of nonsense are you sprouting? Do you not care about your sister’s feelings? Is this how you treat your sister?”
Ernst remained firm, looking displeased. “Mom, just think about it. She’s clearly after our wealth. She has barely been here, and you, Dad, and Grandpa are already handing over shares. Isn’t that reckless? Aren’t you the least bit concerned that without a DNA test, she could just be someone who happens to resemble you but isn’t actually related to us?”
Brenna’s chest tightened with anger. She couldn’t understand why Ernst was so fixated on targeting her. “If you had doubts, why didn’t you speak up the moment I returned to the family?” she asked.
Truthfully, Brenna wouldn’t object to a DNA test if the family insisted. But to her, it was proof that they didn’t truly accept her. Even if the test confirmed her identity as a member of the Harper family, the matter would always make her feel like an outsider.
At this point, she really wanted to just leave the Harper family.
Ernst shot back, “When you first got here, I didn’t realize how greedy you were. I kept waiting for you to call me and reject the shares I offered. If you were really my sister, you wouldn’t be so eager to take them.”
Brenna looked at Ernst coldly. “I have no interest in your shares. Even if I am a Harper, I never planned to claim any of them. If I’m not welcome here, I can leave right now.”
Rosie, seeing her chance, seized it. “See? The moment a DNA test is mentioned, you’re ready to run. That’s because you are uneasy now! You’re just here to scam us!”
“That’s enough!” Giselle thundered, genuinely irritated. She shot Rosie a warning glare. “You’ve gone too far!”
Seeing that, Brenna was moved by Giselle’s unwavering trust in her.
Rosie remained undeterred. She stepped closer to Giselle, gently taking her arm as she spoke in a measured tone. “Mom, I understand that you miss your real daughter and carry guilt over what happened. But we have to be rational about this. We can’t just welcome anyone who claims to be her without proof. She just needs to take a simple test.”
Giselle hesitated, Rosie’s calm reasoning making it difficult for her to reprimand her further. But her heart still ached. She said, “Rosie, if Brenna truly is my daughter, can you imagine how painful it must be for her to be doubted like this?”
Giselle’s expression turned icy. Rosie’s argument might have sounded reasonable, but she had no doubt that Brenna was her long-lost daughter. She knew that forcing Brenna to take a DNA test and sign a conditional agreement would hurt her.
“I won’t allow it!” Giselle declared sharply, shoving Rosie aside without hesitation. She had treated Rosie like her own daughter for years, yet now, Rosie was trying to kick her real daughter out. That was something she simply couldn’t tolerate.
Rosie felt a deep sense of anger. She also felt disappointed in Giselle. Turning to Shepard, she put on a pitiful act. “Dad, look at Mom! I’m not making things up, but she’s being so unreasonable.”
She then turned to Luther and Tessa, her eyes full of feigned innocence. “Grandpa, Grandma, tell me-am I really in the wrong? All I want is to clear up any doubts about Brenna. Is that a bad thing?”
Meanwhile, Brenna picked up the agreement, carefully reading through every clause. Her expression remained composed as she finally spoke. “I don’t have an issue with the DNA test. But this agreement-this is a problem. It only penalizes me if I lose the automotive design competition, but what about you? There’s no consequence if you fail. On top of that, the rewards from the Harper family are only mentioned in your favor. This isn’t a fair contract.”
Rosie was well aware that the agreement was biased; she had crafted the terms herself to protect her interests. But for it to even take effect, Brenna had to be a legitimate Harper.
She smirked, feeling pleased with her clever setup. Brenna had no way around this.
Rosie said, “Fine. Sign it first; then you’ll do the DNA test. If it turns out you’re really a Harper, I’ll add some better terms for you. If not…”
Brenna scoffed, slamming the table. “Absolutely not! Signing it would mean I accept these conditions. Do you take me for a fool?”