Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
Reassured by Giselle’s presence, Brenna approached her and replied, “Mom, I’m okay.”
Mack, still in disbelief, muttered, “So… you really are the Harper family’s daughter?”
By this point, Ruby’s confidence had evaporated. Fearing the repercussions of the Harper family’s actions against them, she hastily tried to defuse the tension.
She said, “Brenna, please, let’s not make a big deal out of this. Mack simply wanted you to wear something more suitable for the occasion. He didn’t intend any harm. Please forgive his mistake.”
Ethan stood next to Brenna, observing the Barrett family’s pathetic display with cold indifference. “Is that so? That’s not how it appeared to me. It seemed more like you were trying to force her out. I think you know what you did.”
Alec hadn’t anticipated things getting out of hand like this. Weren’t Brenna’s parents supposed to be poor, living in the countryside? How could they possibly be the wealthy Harper family?
Realizing his mistake, he urged Mack, saying, “Apologize to Brenna immediately!”
Isabella was boiling with jealousy. Ethan’s protectiveness toward Brenna was obvious to everyone. How could Brenna be so fortunate? She had left the Barrett family and instantly joined the prestigious Harper family. And to top it off, she had such a handsome, wealthy man caring for her.
Mack was filled with regret. What he had once viewed as an opportunity to win over the Harper family and secure their support for the Barrett family’s project had backfired. Instead of drawing them closer, his actions had only offended them.
He said, “Not recognizing you as the Harper family’s daughter right away was my mistake, Brenna. I’m truly sorry. Is there any chance you could forgive me?”
A chill ran through Brenna’s eyes as she remained silent. Her time with Mack at the Barrett family had never been good. He had never treated her like family. He had been demanding, demeaning, and always making her feel like nothing more than a servant.
She vividly remembered a harsh childhood episode. If she didn’t live up to Alec’s strict expectations, she was denied meals. Desperate and hungry, she had once secretly asked Mack for something to eat. His response had been heartless-not only had he denied her request, but he had also exposed it to Alec. What kind of brother behaved that way?
Even after she had left the Barrett family, Mack’s disdainful attitude toward her never changed. It was as though, in his eyes, she still remained beneath him.
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Ruby scolded Brenna, “Why cling to such trivial grievances, Brenna? It’s petty. Remember, you grew up under the Barrett family’s care, and Mack was good to you during those years.”
Alec was always the calm, rational one in the Barrett family. Constantly coming up with plans to win over the Harper family, he hoped to gain their lasting gratitude.
With tension escalating, he knew he needed to defuse the situation. His goal was simple-convince Brenna to forgive the Barrett family and maybe even speak well of them.
With a dismissive laugh, he said, “Let’s leave the past behind. Brenna, you’re thriving now, and your biological family loves you deeply. We-your brother, your mother, and I-have always cared about you, worried about your well-being since you left.”
Brenna struggled to hide the disgust she felt at Alec’s hollow words.
She knew Alec was a master at pretending, always calm and pleasant in public to make sure he never offended others. But behind closed doors, his behavior was far…
From kind, especially when it came to her. In her childhood, Alec’s harsh words, food deprivation, and physical punishments followed whenever her efforts didn’t meet his expectations.
Brenna withdrew her cold gaze and said to Giselle, “Mom, my childhood under my adoptive father was difficult. Whenever I failed to meet his design standards, I was punished harshly. Sometimes they’d take away my meals and make me work endlessly to improve my skills. I think I owe my success in design to the harsh methods of the Barrett family.”
The room was filled with notable attendees in Shirie, including the Mitchell family, the Harper family, the Russell family, and the Wagner family, along with other influential figures, all listening intently to Brenna’s every word.
Everyone in the room could easily understand what Brenna meant when she spoke about how the Barrett family had treated her. They understood that Brenna was saying the Barrett family had mistreated her.
People all turned to look at the Barrett family members with disdain.
Ethan, his voice thick with sarcasm, said, “I suppose we should start taking good care of the Barrett family from now on. After all, we owe them for the way they raised Brenna, don’t we?”
The Barrett family members, knowing what he meant, offered awkward smiles in response.
With a forced grin, Ruby quickly said, “That’s not the whole story. We always treated Brenna well. Her achievements are proof of that, aren’t they?”
Shepard, watching the scene, stood nearby with a dark expression on his face. He knew all too well how the Barretts had truly treated Brenna, having personally looked into the matter.
Even Ernst, though he didn’t like Brenna, couldn’t allow anyone to mistreat his sister.
His voice was cold as he said, “Is that so? Brenna never even finished her elementary education because of you. Instead, she was kept at home to work endlessly on designs and do chores, like a common servant. Is that your definition of treating her well?”
Dalton’s scoff was sharp with bitterness. He said, “At least you made sure she was fed so she didn’t starve to death. Does that mean we should be grateful to you?”
Isabella’s eyes grew wide as she took in the sight of Brenna’s brothers, especially captivated by their remarkable looks. Dalton, in particular, stood out. He was a top…
Celebrity famous for his striking appearance, Dalton stood out among Brenna’s brothers. It seemed fortune was truly on Brenna’s side, blessing her with such remarkable siblings.
Alec simmered with anger, secretly bitter toward the Harper family for using their influence to publicly embarrass the Barrett family, placing them in an awkward position.
His original intention for the gathering had been to network with powerful figures and secure business deals. Now, it seemed Shirie’s elite might abandon the Barretts, possibly even aligning with the Harpers against them.
His frustration erupted as he quickly said, “This isn’t true. We’ve never done anything wrong to Brenna. Brenna, you have to back me up on this. After raising you for so many years, you should at least stand up for us.”
Mack’s gaze at Brenna was filled with anger. He regretted not having ended her before.
The Barrett family finally understood why the Harper family had invited them to Brenna’s return banquet.
This wasn’t merely a celebration. It was a carefully orchestrated move by the Harper family to seek revenge on Brenna’s behalf using their influence.
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 restore his family’s 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 some projects? It would make a world of difference,” he said.