Chapter 22
22:
Still, he chose not to press the matter further in front of Brenna; he didn’t want to make Brenna uncomfortable.
Instead, he turned to Brenna, his tone warm. “I’m your eldest uncle, Ableson Harper. Everyone in the family lives here. Your parents are out today but will be back by seven. For now, why don’t you go to your room and get some rest? You can take a shower and change your clothes.”
Brenna was taken aback. The Barretts had claimed that her eldest uncle was bedridden, yet here he was—standing before her, perfectly fine.
More than that, there was something about Ableson that put her at ease. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend after years apart. Brenna offered him a polite smile. “Hello, Uncle Ableson. I’m Brenna.”
Ableson nodded, glancing over her clothes. “You’ve had a difficult life out there, but now that you’re home, you’ll be well taken care of. If you need anything, just let your parents or me know.” He gestured inside. “Come inside. Let me show you around.”
The Harper family’s living room was vast, spanning at least a hundred square meters. Plush leather sofas were arranged neatly, and floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with natural light. The polished marble flooring gleamed beneath intricate rugs, and an open-concept dining and kitchen area stretched beyond. A long dining table, large enough to seat twenty, dominated the dining area, while several chefs worked efficiently in the state-of-the-art kitchen.
As they walked through the grand home, Ableson said to Brenna, “Your parents and Rosie live on the third floor, and your room is there as well. Your brothers stay on the fourth floor, while my family occupies the fifth. Your grandparents have the second floor to themselves, though they prefer the peace of the countryside estate. But when they heard you were coming home, they insisted on returning. They should arrive around six in the evening.”
Ableson led Brenna into the elevator, taking her straight to the third floor. He stopped before a door on the east side and pushed it open. “This room has always been yours. For twenty years, it’s been cleaned daily, waiting for your return. Losing you was hard on the family, but now that you’re back, our family is finally complete.”
Ꮮ𝚊𝓽𝑒𝔰𝓉 сհ𝒂ⲣ𝔱𝖊𝓇𝓼 g𝖆ⅼ𝓷օⱱ𝖊𝗅𝘀[．]𝗰𝗼𝗺
Just then, Julia stepped out of the room and said respectfully, “The room is ready.”
Rachael had followed Brenna and Ableson here and said eagerly, “Please allow me to take care of Miss Harper.”
Ableson, still displeased by Rachael’s earlier behavior, didn’t bother hiding his irritation. He said sharply, “Brenna just got home. Make sure she has everything she needs and she is comfortable here.”
Rachael nodded quickly. “Of course, sir. Rest assured, I will take care of her needs.”
Ableson turned and left. The moment the elevator doors closed behind him, Rachael’s smile vanished.
Her eyes swept over Brenna’s outfit, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. She believed Brenna had clearly spent her life in ordinary surroundings—how could she possibly fit in with the Harpers?
.
.
.