Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
“Miss Barrett, you look gorgeous as well. If you wore this dress, you’d undoubtedly be the most dazzling guest here,” Rosie remarked, gesturing toward the gown.
Isabella carefully masked her eagerness. She glanced at the dress and responded humbly, “Oh, I couldn’t. Today is Brenna’s moment. I wouldn’t dream of stealing the spotlight.”
Rosie, well-versed in the ambitions of social climbers like Isabella, smiled knowingly. “Don’t worry; you can wear it. Go ahead and try it on. Brenna only needs one dress, and I doubt she’ll choose this one.”
Isabella blinked in surprise, caught off guard by Rosie’s generosity, unaware of the hidden scheme behind it. “Really? Are you sure?” she asked.
Rosie nodded reassuringly, lifting the dress from the rack and handing it to Isabella. “Of course. Go on; see how it fits.”
“In that case, I’ll go and try it,” Isabella said with a smile.
Excited, Isabella took the dress and disappeared into another changing room. The moment she was out of sight, Rosie’s expression turned cold. Feigning a misstep, she staggered, causing the red wine in her hand to spill all over the remaining dress.
With a loud crash, the clothes rack tipped over, and Rosie landed dramatically on the floor.
Brenna and Audrey rushed out of the changing room to find Rosie on the floor, a shattered wine glass by her side, and the last dress ruined by a deep red stain.
Rosie immediately launched into an apology. “I’m really sorry! I was only trying to help, but I tripped, and the dress ended up ruined,” she said.
Audrey approached to assist her up, her expression tightening with displeasure. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Rosie dusted herself off, adjusting her clothes. “I’m fine. Did the dress Brenna tried on fit?” she asked.
Audrey let out a small sigh. “It fits, but the zipper in the back is broken-it won’t close,” she replied.
Rosie turned to look and noticed Brenna clutching the fabric at her chest, clearly struggling to keep it together.
Just then, Isabella emerged from the changing room, holding the gown with a dissatisfied expression.
She carefully set the clothes rack upright before handing the dress back to Rosie. “I’m sorry, Miss Harper, but I can’t wear this. The slit is too high, and the seam under the arm is torn,” she said.
Brenna took in the situation, her expression unreadable. All three dresses had suddenly become unusable-too much of a coincidence to ignore. These gowns had been carefully prepared by her parents, yet now none were fit to wear.
Audrey narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her voice as she said, “This can’t be a coincidence. One dress ruined with wine, another with a broken zipper, and now this one with a torn seam? It seems like someone tampered with them.”
Rosie immediately nodded in agreement. “Yes, I think so too. But right now, we should focus on figuring out what Brenna will wear instead of dwelling on that,” she said.
Brenna’s lips tightened as she moved toward the small sofa. Holding the shopping bag Ethan had given her, she gently pulled out the dress inside.
She said, “No worries. This one, from Ethan, should be fine.”
Jealousy gnawed at Rosie, who had secretly worked with Sylvie and Vivian to ruin the other three dresses. However, she had been unable to tamper with Ethan’s gift.
With a forced grin, Rosie said, “Perfect. It’s fortunate Ethan thought to gift you a dress. You should try it on right away to see if it fits.”
Back in the dressing room, Audrey stood close to Brenna, whispering to her.
“Isn’t it strange that all three dresses had problems?” Audrey said, helping Brenna slip out of the black dress, her face etched with concern.
Brenna nodded. “It’s clear someone tampered with them. We can review the security footage later to find out who’s responsible.”
Audrey’s brow furrowed. “It seems someone wants to make a fool of you tonight. Thankfully, Ethan gifted you this dress. And if it doesn’t fit, I’ll lend you mine.”
Grateful, Brenna smiled in response.
Ethan’s gift was an elegant beige gown that brushed the floor, adorned with diamonds on the bodice and complemented by a five-layer pearl necklace. Audrey’s face brightened. “The fit is perfect. Ethan really knows your measurements,” she said.
Just as Brenna was about to leave, Audrey grabbed her arm. “Stay alert today. The person behind the earlier mishaps is probably not finished.”
As Brenna left the dressing room, she noticed Rosie and Isabella nearby, whispering. They quickly stopped and forced smiles when they saw her, their unease clear.
Isabella, who rarely praised Brenna, offered a forced compliment. “Brenna, you look stunning.”
Though flattering, her words carried a hidden threat. The off-the-shoulder design of Brenna’s dress presented an opportunity-if someone pulled at the hem, it could cause an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
The thought of such a spectacle thrilled Isabella internally.
Brenna looked at Isabella and Rosie with indifference. Why did they seem so close now? It was as if they had known each other for years. After leaving the dressing area, Brenna entered the banquet hall where Shepard and Giselle had just finished introducing her. Applause filled the air as she stepped into view, and Audrey gently nudged her, whispering, “This is your moment. I’ll stay back here.”
With predatory intent, Isabella followed Brenna, sensing the perfect chance to stir up trouble. With everyone’s attention on Brenna, any mistake she made would be exposed to the public in the worst possible way.
If something happened, Brenna would never be able to face anyone again.
Isabella and Rosie exchanged looks. Then Isabella moved to follow Brenna.
Out of nowhere, Audrey stepped in front of Isabella, her voice cold as she asked, “And where do you think you’re going?”
Isabella put on an innocent expression and said, “I was just about to go and explain Brenna’s experiences with the Barrett family, so everyone could better understand her background.”
Audrey disliked Isabella, especially after the Barrett family had just tried to kick Brenna out earlier. She didn’t think Isabella was smart or kind.
Audrey firmly said, “You’re staying here.” She then pulled Isabella back toward the crowd.
Clearly annoyed, Isabella said, “What’s the problem? I’m just trying to help everyone understand Brenna better. Isn’t that a good thing? Don’t you want her to do well? You’re so malicious.”
Rosie quickly approached, pretending to be concerned. “What’s going on here?” she asked.