Chapter 162
162:
What was the best course of action?
Seeking guidance, Brenna looked to her parents.
Giselle softly advised, “Trust your heart, dear.”
Ethan, interpreting Brenna’s hesitation as shyness, gently took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.
Brenna tried to withdraw her hand, only to find Ethan’s grip firm, their fingers tightly intertwined, leaving her unable to pull away.
From her seat in the audience, Rosie watched the scene in disbelief. Ethan’s swift and romantic proposal to Brenna had taken her by surprise.
She had subtly expressed interest in Ethan several times, yet he had never responded.
She had harbored no illusions about Ethan proposing to her; she had simply hoped for a glance, a touch, or a shared moment.
What she had yearned for, Brenna had seemingly achieved effortlessly, and now Brenna even appeared reluctant to accept it.
Rosie’s gaze bore into Brenna, filled with envy and anger.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause.
With her hand firmly in Ethan’s grasp, Brenna felt compelled to agree. She faced Ethan, her expression cold.
Ethan looked at Brenna with evident love, his smile radiating happiness.
The audience was taken aback to see the typically reserved Ethan so openly smitten, and their cheers grew louder.
Rosie, unable to conceal her dismay, turned to Audrey with a desperate, questioning look. “Ethan was meant to be with you. Are you really going to let Brenna steal him away?” she said.
𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 ⧼gⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧽𝖼𝗈𝗺
Audrey maintained her composure, seemingly unaffected by Rosie’s words.
Rosie watched the stage bitterly and warned Audrey, “If you keep letting Brenna get her way, she’ll end up taking everything from you.”
Audrey replied with detachment, “You’re wrong. I’m not letting her take anything from me. I’m simply not interested in Ethan. I already have a boyfriend. Why don’t you just say it if you like Ethan? What’s the point of scheming in secret? Do you really think we haven’t noticed you badmouthing Brenna on purpose in the group chat? Do you think any of us will believe you, or that we’re that easily fooled? Aunt Giselle and Uncle Shepard have been good to you; they won’t be happy if they find out what you’ve been up to.”
Realizing her attempt to turn Audrey against Brenna had failed, Rosie withdrew from the argument. “Stay out of my business. If you say anything to anyone about this, I won’t let you off easily.”
Audrey’s response was cold. “Is that so? Well, I’m curious to see what you’ll do.”
After the speeches, Brenna and her parents descended from the stage to mingle with the attendees.
Ethan stayed by Brenna’s side as she interacted with Shirie’s affluent community. She had to keep smiling, though gradually the effort was wearing her down.
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