Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
Brenna hesitated for a beat. She had only been polite, but he seemed to be taking her words seriously. With no other option, she replied, “I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”
Ethan wasn’t one to leave things to chance. Another day could turn into “sometime later,” then into “whenever there is an opportunity,” which might never come.
He pulled out his phone and offered a practical solution. “How about we exchange contact information? That way, when you decide to treat me, it’ll be easier for you to reach me.”
Brenna inwardly scoffed. Was he serious? Did the richest man in the world really need a free meal? And wasn’t someone like him supposed to be drowning in work, too busy to bother with things like this? Although she was highly skeptical of his intentions, she still took out her phone and exchanged contacts with him. “Ouch…”
Just then, a sudden cry pierced the air. Brenna turned to see Rosie squatting on the ground, clutching her ankle, her face twisted in pain as she gazed up at Ethan with wide, pitiful eyes.
“Ethan, I accidentally sprained my ankle,” she whimpered. “It hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?”
Sylvie and Vivian trailed behind, keeping their distance, making no effort to step in to assist Rosie.
Ethan cast Rosie an indifferent glance before turning back to Brenna. “She sprained her ankle. She probably needs to go to the hospital now…”
Rosie’s heart soared the moment Ethan spoke, a wave of triumph washing over her. She thought Brenna was trying to seduce Ethan. She was determined to win Ethan back and see who he would choose now. Convinced that Ethan would take her to the hospital and leave Brenna behind, she felt an almost saccharine satisfaction settle in her chest. With a flirtatious flutter of her lashes, she reached out, attempting to hold onto Ethan for support.
But Ethan paused. He just studied Rosie for a moment before shifting his attention back to Brenna. His voice softened. “Since she can’t take you home, and you’ve just returned, you probably don’t know the way to the Harper family’s residence. I do. I can drive you there myself.”
Rosie’s expression froze. She clenched her fist in frustration. “Ethan! I sprained my ankle! Are you really not going to help me?”
Ethan’s eyes swept over Sylvie and Vivian. “Aren’t these two your best friends? Why can’t they take you to the hospital?”
Sylvie straightened immediately. “Mr. Mitchell, I actually have something important to do right now. I can’t take Rosie to the hospital. You should help her.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away briskly.
Seeing this, Vivian quickly said, “Oh, right! I have plans with my boyfriend. We’re going to a car show. Sorry, I need to go!” She hurried off, breaking into a jog as if eager to escape.
With her two friends proving to be so tactful, Rosie felt a sense of satisfaction. Putting on her most pitiful expression, she looked up at Ethan and said, “Ethan, are you really going to leave me like this?”
Without sparing her another glance, Ethan gave a simple order. “Neville, take her to the hospital.”
Then, without hesitation, he opened the car door for Brenna, gesturing for her to get in before moving to the driver’s seat.
Neville stood frozen, eyes widening as he watched Ethan do that. Did he just see that correctly? The world’s richest man, the head of the Mitchell Group, was going to drive the car for a woman he had just met?
He rubbed his eyes. No, he was not hallucinating. This was actually happening.
As the car window rolled down, Brenna leaned out slightly and flashed Rosie a smirk, her voice playful. “Oh well, what can I say? Maybe people just like me.”
She cast a quick glance at Rosie’s ankle-it was definitely swollen. Rosie had really sprained it. But why did it have to happen now of all times? She didn’t know.
The luxury car glided smoothly along the road. Brenna scrolled through her phone, replying to messages.
Just then, Ethan answered a call. “Is Mr. Pierce really unwilling to make a house call?” he asked, referring to Cuthbert Pierce, the legendary physician.
The voice on the other end replied, “He’s over ninety. He hasn’t made house calls in years. But he has an apprentice-a very skilled one. If we can find them, they could treat your grandfather just as well.”
Ethan’s expression darkened. “No matter the cost, find them. Offer ten million. If they refuse, double it. If that doesn’t work, offer a hundred million.”
The car turned into a residential area just as Brenna’s phone rang. She answered the call, pressing the device to her ear. “What brings you to call me?”
The voice on the other end was deep and smooth, carrying a quiet authority. “Someone’s offering ten million for you to treat a patient. Interested?”
Brenna’s fingers tightened slightly around her phone. Her eyes instinctively flicked to Ethan. No way. It couldn’t be that much of a coincidence, could it?
She had just left the Barrett family and could use the money. And considering Ethan had helped her today, perhaps she should help him to show her gratitude.
“I’ll do it,” Brenna said.
She ended the call just as the car pulled up in front of a mansion.
Ethan didn’t move to get out. Instead, he turned and stared at Brenna. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made her uneasy. Then, he asked, “Did you know there’s a marriage arrangement between the Mitchell family and the Harper family?”
Inside the car, Brenna met Ethan’s steady gaze, her fingers tightening around her phone before she slipped it into her backpack. Without directly addressing his question, she kept her tone polite as she said, “Thanks for the ride home.”
She reached for the door handle, but when she pushed, the car door didn’t budge. A flicker of unease passed through her as she turned back to him. “Mr. Mitchell, would you mind unlocking the door?”
Ethan remained seated, unmoving. His presence felt imposing, not just because of his stature but in the way he carried himself. His long fingers rested lightly on the steering wheel, while his other hand stretched across the console, casually placed on the back of Brenna’s seat.
A wary feeling crept over Brenna, and she instinctively leaned against the car door, studying his face.
She regretted her decision now. If she had known he had ulterior motives, she never would have accepted this ride.
Noticing her discomfort, Ethan slowly withdrew his hand from the back of her seat, his movements deliberate. “Miss Harper, relax. I just wanted to discuss something with you,” he said.
To Brenna, his words did little to ease her suspicion. A man who refused to let her out of the car even after they had arrived at their destination? He must be up to no good. Her fingers tightened around the pepper spray in her bag. She wasn’t the type to start trouble, but if he so much as moved inappropriately, she wouldn’t hesitate to make him regret it.
She maintained her poise, reminding herself that resorting to force was a final option. Ethan wasn’t just anyone-he was the world’s wealthiest man, wielding immense power. It was wiser not to offend him without cause. Besides, he had just kindly given her a ride home.
She said, “Mr. Mitchell, I appreciate the ride today. I’ll be sure to return the favor with a meal sometime.”
Ethan’s voice was calm, almost amused. “That’s not what this is about.” He stared into her eyes and spoke evenly. “There’s something you should know-our families have a longstanding marriage agreement. It was arranged by my grandfather and yours. For the past two years, my grandfather has urged me to fulfill that promise and marry a daughter from the Harper family. Given his declining health, he hopes I’ll settle down soon. So, Miss Harper, I’d like you to consider the matter.”
Brenna blinked, processing his words. So that was what this was about. She wasn’t just another Harper daughter-she was the Harper daughter he was expected to-