Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
Ernst didn’t reply and just walked away.
Rosie’s frustration boiled over, and she stamped her foot angrily. It seemed even Ernst was no longer on her side!
Inside the room, two servants approached with durable hooks and pointed at a spot on the wall. “Mr. Dalton Harper, Miss Brenna Harper, would this location be suitable for the paintings?” The proposed spot sat nearly a meter beneath the ceiling.
“Raise it a bit,” Dalton instructed, measuring the space visually from the couch to ensure the height was appropriate.
Julia shifted the hook up by ten centimeters and inquired, “Is this better?”
“That’s it, the perfect height,” Dalton replied.
Once the paintings were securely hung, the servants left the room. Dalton and Brenna stood together, appreciating the artwork depicting a hen with her chicks.
“Do you enjoy country life?” Dalton suddenly asked Brenna.
“Yes,” Brenna responded wistfully. “I dream of living in the countryside one day, like our grandparents. I’d tend a garden, keep chickens and ducks, and perhaps even have a cat and a dog.” Her voice was full of excitement as she described her ideal future, her face glowing with joy.
“That sounds lovely, and you don’t have to wait, you know. One of my friend’s cats is expecting kittens soon. Would you like one?” Dalton said, his gaze tender. He admired not only Brenna’s beauty but her intelligence as well.
“Absolutely,” Brenna responded enthusiastically. She had longed for a cat back when she had been with the Barrett family, but Ruby had always objected to the idea.
Shirie’s Forensic Identification Center was nationally renowned as a top-tier institution, burdened daily with a massive influx of challenging cases from across the nation that local labs struggled to resolve.
Consequently, the facility seldom undertook private tasks for individuals.
With dawn barely breaking and the workday beginning, the Harper family members assembled quietly in the lobby, congregating in small groups.
Today, Brenna chose a relaxed outfit-light blue jeans and a crisp white t-shirt, her hair neatly tied up in a bun. Her youthful and energetic look, coupled with her inherent allure, captivated many as soon as she entered.
At a prominent location, the Harper men, dressed in sharp suits, stood protectively around Luther and Tessa. Rosie was affectionately latched onto Luther’s arm, talking to him with a smile.
Her right wrist remained bandaged, albeit less bulky than before. Next to Tessa was a young woman, around twenty, whose calm and poised presence reminded Brenna faintly of Jillian.
Brenna immediately recognized her. She was Audrey, Jillian’s daughter, likely just returned from abroad. Brenna had seen her in the family photo before.
Near Tessa, a young man with dyed hair stood out in his trendy attire. His tall frame, thick eyebrows, and distinct features were complemented by earrings, adding to his stylish appearance.
He was Lennon, Jillian’s son.
Brenna caught Audrey’s and Lennon’s curious stares. Both watched her intently, not intending to speak to her at all.
Rosie, noticing their aloofness toward Brenna, allowed a smirk to cross her face. She turned her head, pretending not to notice Brenna, curious if Brenna would feel awkward being ignored like this.
The Harper family members’ gazes lingered on Brenna as though she were a stranger to them.
As Brenna walked a few steps forward, she finally spotted her parents. They were engaged in a relaxed discussion with the forensic center’s staff, exuding calm and assurance.
“Brenna, you are here,” said a soft voice beside her.
“Ethan?” Brenna voiced her surprise upon seeing him. Today was a big day for both her and the Harper family-what was Ethan doing here?
Driven by curiosity, she asked Ethan, “What brings you here?”
Ethan responded smoothly, “I’ve just arrived. Someone called me and said there would be something interesting happening today, so I came to check it out.”
As usual, Ethan was dressed in a sleek black suit, maintaining his aloof demeanor. But he was gentle toward Brenna.
Rosie’s face changed immediately. Releasing Luther’s arm, she walked determinedly over and placed herself strategically between Ethan and Brenna, aiming to cut off their interaction.
She said, “Ethan, Brenna is not worth your time. It’s possible she isn’t even a real Harper. Without that lineage, she’s just plain and ordinary. Why would someone like her deserve your attention?”
She wore a smile as she gestured toward Audrey. “Look, Ableson’s daughter, my cousin, has returned. Considering the marriage agreement between our families, you should marry her. Maybe you should focus your attention on her.”
Ethan’s glance at Audrey was fleeting and disinterested. Then he turned his attention away. She seemed like any other girl to him, sparking no interest. He believed Audrey knew Brenna was her cousin, and her failure to greet Brenna struck him as distinctly rude.
Ignoring Rosie’s interference, Ethan stepped closer to Brenna, reassuring her with his words. “Don’t worry. You resemble your mother so closely; you must be a Harper. And even if it turns out you’re not, that wouldn’t change our friendship,” he said gently.
Brenna gave Rosie a faint smile, her eyebrows arching challengingly. “You’re just here to enjoy the spectacle, aren’t you?” she said to Ethan.
At that moment, Tessa joined them, accompanied by Audrey and Lennon. She brushed Rosie aside and grasped Brenna’s hand, expressing her concern. “We couldn’t find you earlier today. Where were you?” she said.
Audrey and Lennon knew Ethan was always polite to others. Noticing Ethan’s apparent disregard for Rosie, they quickly deduced that Rosie’s harsh remarks about Brenna in the group chat before might have been exaggerated.
To them, Brenna appeared amiable and beautiful, far from the arrogant person Rosie had portrayed.
Almost simultaneously, they greeted Brenna warmly.
Audrey stepped forward, nudging Ethan slightly aside to introduce herself. “I’m Audrey. You’ve probably heard about me before. Brenna, you are truly as beautiful as Aunt Giselle described.”
Lennon then introduced himself, saying to Brenna, “I’m Lennon, just returned to the country yesterday. Feel free to come by our place whenever you like!”
At that moment, a staff member from the identification center approached Shepard and Giselle with a stack of reports, speaking respectfully. “Mr. and Mrs. Harper, the results are in.”
Rosie quickly made her way to the front, her face a mix of eagerness and certainty, as she inquired, “Do the results confirm that there is no biological father-daughter relationship between Brenna and Shepard?”
Rosie’s voice echoed through the hall, capturing the attention of nearly everyone present.