Chapter 56
56:
“Mrs. Barrett, that won’t be necessary. The Harper family treats me well. There’s no need for any of that,” Brenna said flatly, casually pulling her arm from Ruby’s grasp and stepping back to create deliberate distance between them.
Ruby’s smile stiffened as Brenna took a step back. Panicked, she reached out again, desperate to grab Brenna’s arm. “Oh, why are you calling me Mrs. Barrett? I’m your mother! Call me ‘Mom’ like you used to. We’re family, aren’t we?”
Brenna let out a cold chuckle. “Family? Don’t you think that’s a huge word? You refused to send me to school, made me stay home designing car parts to earn money for you, and treated me like free labor. And now, you have the audacity to call us a family?”
Watching the exchange, Ethan recalled the previous day—Brenna in cheap clothes worth barely two hundred dollars, while Isabella flaunted herself in high-end designer attire.
It was obvious how the Barrett family had exploited Brenna before. Now, they were desperately trying to latch onto her because she had value to them.
Disgusted, Ethan stepped forward, positioning himself between Brenna and Ruby. “We have things to do,” he said coldly. “We’ll be leaving now.”
Ruby forced another ingratiating smile, sensing Ethan’s displeasure but refusing to give up. “Mr. Mitchell, Brenna was raised by us. If you’re planning to marry her, shouldn’t you get our consent first? I’ve been Brenna’s mother for over two decades. How can you be so rude to me? Apologize to me, and I’ll let this go.”
Ethan glared at her. “You have the nerve to say you raised Brenna?”
Ruby snorted and replied, “Of course! If I hadn’t been so strict with her, how would she have become who she is today? Without me, would she even know medicine? Could she have treated your grandfather? She only has these skills thanks to me. Or are you suggesting she magically learned everything overnight after moving in with the Harper family? Let’s be real—I raised her, and she has helped your family. My contributions can’t be ignored.”
Ruby lifted her chin with defiance and arrogance. There was no way she would let Brenna sever ties with the Barrett family now that Brenna had secured a good relationship with the Mitchell family.
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She turned to Brenna expectantly. “Am I wrong? Didn’t I raise you? Shouldn’t you be grateful to me?”
Brenna let out a quiet laugh. “You’re right. I should be grateful and repay you. Tell me, how should I repay you?”
Ruby’s expression softened slightly. “That’s more like it.”
Brenna’s expression remained icy. She had no intention of maintaining any connection with the Barrett family. “Mrs. Barrett, over the years, I’ve made billions for the Barrett family. Without me, your business would still be a small workshop barely worth a few hundred thousand. The Barrett family has achieved everything they have now thanks to me. If we’re talking about repayment, I’d say I’ve already given you more than enough. When I walked out of your house yesterday, I made it clear—we’re even.”
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