Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
Brenna’s expression remained unchanged, though inwardly her mind raced. The Barrett family had always managed to secure work in the past; there had never been a shortage of orders. Why were they now in such dire straits? It seemed their company was on the brink of collapse. Brenna’s gaze flicked toward Shepard, noting the icy detachment in his eyes. It was clear he did not favor the Barrett family-his dislike was palpable. Could the Barrett family’s current financial struggles be a result of his actions?
“Don’t worry, Brenna,” Shepard said, his voice steady and reassuring as his hand gently patted her shoulder. “I will help the Barrett family’s business.” His words carried weight, an attempt to maintain control and prevent his daughter from appearing ungrateful, especially in front of others.
With the Harper family’s promise, the Barrett family felt a newfound sense of pride, their dreams of joining Shirie’s elite suddenly within reach. The idea of growing their empire under such protection filled them with a quiet, satisfied anticipation.
Ruby smiled with practiced warmth, her voice laced with insincerity as she said, “I always knew you were a thoughtful child, Brenna. Though you’ve left our family…
“You’ll always remain my daughter. And should you ever choose to return, the Barrett family will always welcome you back with open arms.”
Brenna’s lips tightened into a thin line, her patience wearing thin. The words were like venom now, spoken with such deceitful sweetness that she could hardly bear to hear them. When she had left the Barrett family, Ruby had been cruel-her words harsh and cold. In the hospital, Ruby had shown her no respect, only disdain. Now, seeing the sudden shift in Ruby’s attitude, Brenna thought her hypocrisy was unbearable.
Trying to contain her frustration, Brenna glanced at her parents, her face unreadable. “I’m going to change my clothes,” she said, attempting to distance herself from the situation.
Ruby, sensing an opportunity, quickly nudged Isabella. “Go with Brenna,” she instructed, her voice filled with false sweetness.
Isabella stood still, her face hardening as jealousy gnawed at her. Why was Brenna so lucky? Why had Brenna enjoyed the comfort of the Barrett family for twenty years only to step into an even wealthier life after leaving? The bitterness welled up inside her, and she crossed her arms, unwilling to move. She pouted, her eyes fixed on the floor, her envy growing harder to contain with every passing moment. Why was life so unfair?
Ethan gently took a shopping bag from Neville, his eyes softening as they met Brenna’s. He said, “Brenna, I picked this dress out for you. Would you like to try it on?”
Brenna glanced at the shopping bag, a polite and composed smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you, Ethan. That’s very kind of you, but there’s no need. My parents have already chosen a dress for me, and I’d prefer not to disregard their thoughtful gesture,” she said.
Isabella, standing nearby, clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as she watched Ethan’s complete attention on Brenna. The jealousy bubbling inside her was impossible to ignore. She was right before Ethan, yet he didn’t even glance her way. What made Brenna so special? Wasn’t she just as beautiful, if not more so? Surely, Ethan’s judgment was flawed.
Ruby, noticing Isabella’s simmering frustration, quickly intervened, saying to Isabella, “Why don’t you go with Brenna to change?” She believed this might be Isabella’s chance to get closer to Ethan. Ruby’s eyes darted to Isabella, silently signaling her to seize the opportunity.
Sensing the opportunity, Isabella forced a smile and approached Brenna with feigned warmth. She said, “Brenna, Mr. Mitchell is just trying to be kind to you. Why not accept the gift from him? I’ll go with you to change.” Her words were calm, but the underlying tension was palpable. She could barely conceal the frustration boiling inside her.
Rosie, observing the subtle shift in Isabella’s behavior, couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. An idea began to take root in her mind-perhaps she could turn Isabella into a pawn in her game against Brenna. With a calculated glint in her eyes, Rosie said, “Yes, Brenna, Mr. Mitchell never gifts clothes to women. You’re the first to receive such a gift from him.”
Rosie’s glance then drifted toward Audrey, who stood nearby, quietly observing the scene.
Since Ableson had saved Ethan’s father, the two families were bound by strong ties. Logically, if a Harper daughter were to marry Ethan, Audrey would be the most likely candidate.
Rosie’s words were meant to provoke Audrey. She wanted to stir jealousy in Audrey, hoping to make her target Brenna.
Audrey, caught off guard by Rosie’s words, quickly regained her composure. A marriage to Ethan had never even crossed her mind-she didn’t believe in being shackled by outdated arrangements. She saw right through Rosie’s ploy.
Her gaze met Ethan’s, and for the first time, Audrey noticed a certain softness in his eyes when he looked at Brenna, a warmth that seemed more than just polite-something deeper, something personal. The act of gifting clothes in front of so many people was a clear declaration of his interest.
Audrey smiled softly and said, “Brenna, just accept it. You can always wear it another day.”
Brenna accepted the shopping bag from Ethan with a soft nod. “I’ll go change now,” she said, her voice calm and polite.
Without hesitation, Isabella followed her. “I’ll help you with that!” she said.
Ethan stood silently, watching Brenna leave, making no move to follow. Meanwhile, Rosie’s disappointment grew. Despite being the perfect candidate for Ethan’s affections, Audrey had shown no reaction-no jealousy, no hint of hostility toward Brenna. Could it be that Audrey didn’t like Ethan? But she found it hard to believe that there was a woman in this world who was not interested in a man like Ethan.
Inside the dressing room, three striking dresses hung, each one more breathtaking than the last. One was a strapless black ball gown, its intricate design enhanced by…
A diamond-studded choker glistened brilliantly under the lights, adorning one of the gowns. Another was an elegant red dress, radiating sophistication with its perfectly tailored fit. The last was an opulent gown paired with an elaborate set of gemstone jewelry.
Isabella couldn’t help but stare at them, her eyes wide with awe. Each gown seemed more priceless than the last, likely worth millions. In comparison, her clothes felt like something from a discount store. The stark difference made her feel small, and a twinge of envy crept into her heart as she stood there.
Isabella’s attention lingered on the three dresses, her expression filled with longing. Just the chance to borrow one would be enough for her. Meanwhile, Brenna had already set her sights on the black dress. Catching Isabella’s intense stare, she easily sensed the desire in her eyes.
With a smirk, Brenna made up her mind-no matter how much Isabella wanted the dress, she wouldn’t let her have it.
Stepping closer, Brenna tapped Isabella’s arm lightly. “Give me a hand with putting this on, will you?” she said.
Isabella turned, offering a somewhat forced smile. “It’s stunning. This must be your first time wearing something like this. It’s natural to need a little help. I’ll take care of it,” she replied.
Before Isabella could move, a knock at the door interrupted the moment. Brenna opened it to find Rosie and Audrey standing outside.
Audrey, at the front, wore a warm smile. “Brenna, Aunt Giselle sent me to assist you,” she said.
“Perfect timing. These dresses are a little tricky-I could use some help,” Brenna replied, stepping aside to let them in.
Audrey had chosen a simple outfit today, wearing a sleeveless beige dress that reached her knees. Her hair was styled in a neat bun, accented by a delicate, diamond-studded tiara, lending her an air of quiet elegance.
Rosie’s outfit, on the other hand, was grand. Draped in a striking red gown, she completed her look with an exaggerated bow in her hair and a scarf that concealed half of her face.
Trailing behind Rosie was an attendant, carefully balancing a tray of drinks.
Rosie picked up a glass of red wine and extended it toward Isabella. “Here, Miss Barrett, have a drink,” she said.
Since Rosie was being nice to her, Isabella saw no reason to refuse. She stole a glance toward Brenna, who had already disappeared behind the curtain with Audrey assisting her. Clearly, her help wasn’t needed.
“Thank you!” Isabella said cheerfully as she clinked glasses with Rosie, though she hadn’t yet decided what more to say.
Rosie spoke first. “We’re grateful for the care you showed Brenna while she was with the Barrett family. On behalf of my parents, thank you. If you ever need any help, feel free to reach out to me.”
Isabella’s smile widened, a genuine sense of ease washing over her. Among all the Harpers, Rosie was by far the most approachable. Since arriving at the party, this was the first kind gesture she had received from any of the Harper family members.
“Alright, I’ll remember that. You look absolutely stunning today, Miss Harper!” Isabella complimented Rosie, already considering how a friendship with Rosie might work to her advantage.
Rosie maintained her pleasant smile, well aware of Isabella’s true motives.