Chapter 5
Chapter 5:
“Does it hurt, Isabella?” she asked.
Isabella shot Brenna a venomous glare, her fury boiling over as she lifted her leg, aiming a kick at Brenna while she gathered her belongings.
Brenna dodged instinctively, smoothly. Securing the last of her things, she turned to face them, her voice icy. “Oh? So it hurts? Mom, when you used me as a punching bag all these years, did you ever ask if I felt hurt? You had no problem beating me senseless, but the second I lay a single hand on your precious daughter, you act like you are heartbroken p>
Ruby’s eyes flickered with unease for a moment. Then, she recovered quickly, her lips curling in disdain. “And what do you think we took you in for? To pamper you p>
“So you’re finally admitting what you did to me.” Brenna swept a frosty look over the Barrett family, then swung her backpack over her shoulder. Without a word, she turned to leave.
The July sun blazed mercilessly.
Brenna stood beneath the shade of a tree, waiting for her real family, the Harpers’ car, to arrive.
Half an hour had passed, but no one had come.
Just then, Brenna’s phone suddenly vibrated with a friend request. A note accompanied it.
“Hello, I’m Rosie Harper, your sister p>
Brenna accepted the request without hesitation, and within seconds, she received a message from Rosie.
“Hello, I’m Rosie, your sister. Mom, Dad, and our elder brothers are tied up with work today, so they want you to go to Flavor Restaurant first. They’ve arranged lunch for you there p>
Doubt crept into Brenna’s mind. Was this some kind of scam? Why send her to a restaurant instead of simply giving her the Harper family’s address?
But not many people knew she was heading to the Harper residence today. Whoever this was had to be a member of the Harper family.
A weight settled in Brenna’s chest. Her first day home, and they couldn’t even bother to pick her up? That said enough about how little they valued her.
She doubted this family would be any better than the Barrett family.
Another message from Rosie popped up.
“Brenna, I’ll be waiting for you p>
Brenna responded with a single word, “Okay p>
It was nearly impossible to get a taxi at this hour. With no other choice, Brenna took the bus, getting off at Flavor Restaurant.
The establishment was the pinnacle of luxury in Shirie, a favorite haunt of the city’s elite. Dining here meant dropping at least ten thousand dollars.
The moment Brenna pushed the door open and entered the restaurant, a blast of crisp, cool air wrapped around her, shielding her from the suffocating summer heat. Her lungs felt lighter instantly.
The restaurant was quiet, nearly empty. No one paid her any attention—except for a waitress who approached her with a polite smile.