Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
The woman beside Jayceon took the opportunity to approach him again, her voice soft and coy. “Jayceon…”
“Get lost,” Jayceon snapped, his tone low and menacing. The woman stiffened before quickly walking away in defeat.
Jayceon looked both frustrated and desperate. But beneath the pain, a spark of hope ignited in his eyes. Turning to Ethan, he said urgently, “She must know where Ellie is. You have to help me ask her about her whereabouts.”
In the restroom, Isabella’s gaze was cold as she scrutinized her reflection in the mirror: swollen eyes, bruised lips, and tousled hair marred her appearance.
Once again, she adjusted her strapless gown, which felt dangerously loose, as if it could slip off at any moment.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She believed she had been humiliated today.
All of Shirie’s elite had seen her disheveled state-every single one of them.
The embarrassment was so overwhelming that she doubted she could ever face them again. Her carefully planned schemes had crumbled before she could even act on them.
The cause of her fall still puzzled her; she had been walking perfectly fine until she tripped over the hem of her dress.
As she covered her face and wept, she was unaware of the eyes that had been watching her for some time.
“Do you know why you fell earlier?” Denis Wagner asked, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he touched his chin, observing Isabella’s elegant yet troubled form, his lips curling with a hint of desire.
Startled, Isabella immediately stopped crying. Reflected in the mirror was Denis’s somewhat sleazy expression. He was a man in his thirties, slightly shorter and heavier than her, with plain features and an unsettling gaze.
Still, Isabella suppressed her disdain. Offending Denis was not something she or the Barrett family could afford.
Denis’s short, stocky figure stood there, and while Isabella felt no affection for him, she suspected his presence here was no coincidence.
Obliged by social norms, she wiped her tears and replied, “I simply caught my dress with my foot. Did you need something, Mr. Wagner?”
Her tear-streaked face and evident vulnerability intrigued Denis. With a soft chuckle, he stepped closer and, with undue familiarity, stroked her bare shoulder.
A surge of revulsion hit Isabella, and she instinctively recoiled.
She believed Denis was even less appealing than Jordy.
“Please, Mr. Wagner, don’t touch me,” Isabella said, backing up until she was cornered against the bathroom door, trapped with no escape. She cast him a pitiful glance while keeping an eye on the door, silently praying for someone to enter, someone she could signal for help. But no one came.
Denis felt smug. He believed her avoidance without calling for help suggested she was just putting on an act. Perhaps she was even hoping he would touch her more.
He let out a chuckle, feigning sympathy. “I saw it myself. Audrey was the one who jerked the carpet. That’s why you tripped and caught your dress, revealing more than you intended…” He audaciously reached toward Isabella’s chest.
Isabella’s face paled with fear, and she cried out, “Mr. Wagner, please, stop!”
Ignoring her pleas, Denis pulled her into his arms, holding her firmly. “Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you get your revenge. The Harper family is nothing. Audrey and Brenna are easy to deal with. Just tell me who you want handled, and I’ll take care of it.”
Isabella fought back with all her strength but couldn’t free herself. She took a deep breath to gather her composure. “We’ve only just met. Don’t you think this is rushing things? Mr. Wagner, I need some time to consider what you said.”
Denis finally let her go, stepping back and pulling his phone from his jacket. “Let’s exchange contact details. If you ever find yourself in trouble, feel free to reach out to me,” he said.
Isabella mulled over her situation. She realized Denis’s sudden interest in her wasn’t born of genuine feelings. He likely wanted something from her, or maybe he was merely captivated by her looks.
If that was his angle, she wasn’t afraid. She could use his interest to her advantage.
Given the Barrett family’s struggles against the more influential Harper family, and considering Ethan’s indifference toward her, she believed Denis could prove useful.
With support from the Wagner family, perhaps the Barrett family could improve their standing.
A sense of relief washed over Isabella as she took out her phone to exchange numbers with Denis. “Mr. Wagner, are you sure about this?” she asked.
Denis remained unfazed, caressing her again. “As long as you meet my needs, I’ll support you in any way you require,” he said.
He noticed a tear in her dress and immediately made a call to have someone bring a new gown from his home.
This gesture gradually eased the embarrassment Isabella had felt at the banquet, boosting her confidence.
Soon, someone arrived with a beige gown far more opulent than Isabella’s original one, complete with lambskin shoes and a gemstone necklace.
After a quick makeup refresh, Isabella returned to the banquet looking completely transformed.
Denis, however, didn’t linger with Isabella. He rejoined his friends, chatting with them.
After a while, his friends all turned their gaze toward Isabella.
“Why bother with her? She’s hardly your type, considering her figure,” said a man in a white suit.
Another man chuckled. “Maybe Denis has a preference we don’t know about,” he said.
The man in the white suit added, “Maybe he wants her to make some changes to her body. With all the advancements in cosmetic surgery these days, adjustments wouldn’t be too hard, right?”
Brenna endured the entire evening in elegant attire and high heels, maintaining a polite smile throughout. Ethan was a constant presence at her side, often stepping in to drink for her.
Despite his attentiveness, Brenna remained distant, skeptical of his motives and likening him to Jayceon-charming but not to be trusted. She doubted the sincerity of Ethan’s interest, suspecting it was merely superficial.
She adopted a cold demeanor, deliberately keeping Ethan at arm’s length and avoiding conversation with him.
Ethan, for his part, was not upset. Throughout the evening, he patiently sought a chance to explain himself to her.