Chapter 394

Afterwards, the Brennans took pity on Lauren. They saw how grateful she was, and gradually, they began to care for her more and more—until, before anyone realized it, she had become part of the Brennan family.
At that time, Anastasia had just lost her mother. Her father had remarried, leaving her feeling utterly alone. When she found out about Lauren, it was as if the last bit of security in her world had been ripped away. She felt abandoned, betrayed by everyone she should have been able to trust.
Her mother was gone. Now, even her grandparents didn’t want her. Was she really so unwanted?
Nora, ever sly, would always find ways-subtle or not to mention just how much the Brennans doted on Lauren. The more Anastasia heard about it, the more bitter her resentment grew.
Desperate for the Brennans’ attention, she started acting out against them, hoping to be noticed.
She would show up at parties dressed in outlandish, garish outfits. The first time she was laughed at, she’d wanted nothing more than to disappear. No matter how naïve she was, she still knew what looked good and what didn’t. She never truly believed those clothes were beautiful.
But then, at one party, her uncle caught her being egged on by Nora and her mother, playing the fool for everyone’s amusement. He was furious, scolded her harshly, and forbade her from ever wearing such things again.
When they got home, Penelope “casually” let it slip that the Brennans had hired a designer to create custom dresses for Lauren.
Anastasia couldn’t help but think she was the real daughter, but the only one the Brennans cared about was Lauren. The unfairness of it all made her burn with anger and resentment, especially when Penelope deliberately stoked those feelings. Instead of stopping, Anastasia doubled down, making her outfits even more outrageous.
There were countless incidents like this. She kept walking further down this mistaken path, until she became the laughingstock of their social circle-a cautionary tale, a joke. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on.net
By the time she realized how wrong she’d been, it was already too late.
She died alone, on a deserted street in the dead of night, while Lauren inherited everything that should have been hers-a future glittering with promise, a family, admiration, love.
Anastasia closed her eyes, hiding the bitterness and cold fury flickering behind them.
This time, she would take back everything that belonged to her a hundred, a thousand times over.
“If you don’t like them, then don’t go near them.” Harrison’s voice was low and gentle, but laced with steel. He saw the storm of emotion in her eyes and felt only pain for her—and a growing disgust toward the Brennans. “They never appreciated you. Why should you bend over backwards to please them?”
He tipped her chin up with his broad palm, his eyes dark and intense. “What
makes them so special that my Ana should be treated this way?”
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry. What’s yours, no one else will touch. I’ll help you reclaim it all.”
His words were calm, almost casual, but beneath them was a fierce, unmistakable promise. Anastasia instantly sobered, grabbing his hand and shaking her head. “No… there’s no need
Harrison’s brows drew together, displeased. “After everything the Brennans did to you, you still want to defend them?”
Anastasia shook her head with a hint of sorrow. “It’s not that they didn’t want to be good to me. They just… misunderstood.”
She had sworn to herself, in this new life, never to let anyone treat her badly again. But somehow, when it came to the Brennans, that promise always seemed to falter.
Because the truth was, she owed them far too much.
In her previous life, the Brennans had suffered terribly for her-some had died, others were left broken. Only then did she realize they had loved her all along; they’d just been deceived by Lauren’s lies.
Memories crashed over her, and she quickly lowered her head, hiding the redness in her eyes, trying to mask her regret.
Harrison’s frown deepened, but in the end, he just sighed and gently ruffled her hair. “Alright.”
Only then did Anastasia finally smile. She turned and nestled into his arms, gazing up at him. “Darling, believe me—everything that’s mine, I’ll get it all back, no matter what.”
Her mother’s legacy. Her family. All of it.