Chapter 268
268:
Mayson managed a strained smile. “Mr. Harper, this was a mistake made by my team. I will address it immediately,” he said.
Rachael, carrying a handbag, scoffed and shot a scathing look at the officers who had ignored her earlier. “They should all be fired!” she exclaimed.
“Where is my sister?” Ernst asked urgently, concerned that Rosie might be harshly treated.
Mayson felt powerless in this situation. The Harper Group was a key player in Shirie’s development, funding numerous municipal projects and holding considerable sway in many industries. Even the mayor couldn’t afford to disregard their influence. Leading the way, Mayson said, “Please, follow me.”
Ernst walked with Bruno and Rachael trailing behind. Rachael deliberately slowed her pace, lowering her voice as she said to the three officers, “I warned you — the Harper family isn’t the kind of people you can afford to cross.”
By the evening, before sunset, Ernst brought Rosie back home. Rachael accompanied them. Ernst had come back specifically to argue for justice, insisting Rosie should be allowed to return.
Dinner was underway at home, the table filled with Brenna’s favorite dishes.
When Shepard saw Ernst bringing Rosie back, he became enraged and put down his fork. “Who gave you permission to bring her back here?” he asked.
Though Rosie was seething inside at Shepard and Giselle for siding with Brenna, she forced herself to appear sorrowful. “Mom, Dad, if I can’t come back home, where else do I have to go? I just made a small mistake. Are you really going to turn your back on me over this?” she said.
She went as far as shedding tears, putting on a show of genuine sorrow, all while secretly watching the Harper family, hoping to catch a hint of sympathy in their expressions.
Ernst took a seat and calmly said, “Mom, Dad, Brenna, Rosie is still young and bound to make mistakes. This matter is just a minor issue. Is all this really necessary?”
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Disappointment was evident on Shepard’s and Giselle’s faces. Shepard said sharply, “A minor issue? Rosie spent a large amount of money to hire criminals to kill Brenna. How is that minor?”
“Brenna is fine, isn’t she? She managed to fend off those criminals and left them with broken arms and legs. She’s unharmed, so the matter is not as serious as you make it seem. Rosie has already been detained and questioned at the police station all day. That should be punishment enough. Please forgive her now. Losing her parents was hard on her; it’s unfair to treat her so harshly,” Ernst said, feeling the family was ganging up on Rosie.
The mood in the dining room became strained. The servants quietly left, giving the Harper family space to talk while they observed from a distance.
Feeling wronged, Rosie said, “Mom, Dad, I’ll let go of any hard feelings towards Brenna. I acted out because I felt you favored her over me. If you had shown me a bit more love and attention, I wouldn’t have resorted to such drastic measures. I acknowledge my mistake now, and I’m truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
As a man, Shepard didn’t want to come down too hard. Rosie was still his brother’s daughter, and with that came a sense of duty he couldn’t ignore.
However, Giselle saw things differently. Her expression grew stern as she said, “No, I can’t forgive her. She knew the danger those criminals posed; they could have done something far worse. If Brenna hadn’t been capable of defending herself, imagine what would have happened. Shepard, if you allow her to stay, I’m prepared to leave. Brenna and I will not share a home with her.”
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