Chapter 62
62:
Luther’s hand trembled with anger as he slammed his cane against the floor. As the family’s head, he had a duty to be fair, and he couldn’t allow Rosie to continue mistreating Brenna.
Brenna, watching Luther stand up for her—even going so far as to hit Rosie—felt a wave of emotion. Stepping forward, she said softly, “Grandpa, please don’t be upset. These clothes are fine. I’ll just select a few.”
Hearing that, Giselle approached Brenna, her expression carrying a hint of guilt. “Brenna, go ahead and choose a few. In the afternoon, I’ll take you shopping.”
Brenna gave her a nod. “Alright, let’s do that.”
Watching as Brenna’s coldness gradually thawed and the distance between Brenna and Giselle faded, Luther finally felt a sense of relief.
Meanwhile, Rosie ran off crying, her hands covering her face.
Rachael glanced at the clothes Rosie had left behind and considered bringing them to her. However, the sharp thud of Luther’s cane against the floor made her halt immediately, forcing her to abandon the idea.
Ethan, quietly observing the room full of clothes, quickly grasped the situation—Brenna’s wardrobe was severely lacking. Though he refrained from bringing up the idea of taking her shopping again, he attentively watched as she selected a few items, memorizing her preferred styles, colors, and her size.
After a moment, he approached Luther, assisting him to the sofa before speaking politely. “Mr. Harper, I know our families have a marriage agreement. I’d like to marry Brenna.”
He hesitated briefly over how to refer to Brenna, and calling her by her first name felt natural.
Luther met Ethan’s gaze with a steady look and said, “Ethan, I’ve watched you grow up. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. You’ve only known Brenna for a few days—”
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“Are you sure you’re not acting on impulse now? I hope you’ll take the time to think this through carefully.”
Ethan’s expression remained unwavering as he said, “Mr. Harper, I’m completely serious. I’ve been aware of our families’ marriage agreement for years, but I never felt strongly about it before. But now that I’ve met Brenna, I’m certain—she’s the one I want to marry.”
Rachael overheard Ethan and Luther talking and felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. Without hesitation, she hurried upstairs to find Rosie.
She found Rosie in the bedroom, furiously hurling a pillow across the room. With her face twisted with anger and teeth clenched, she spat out, “I wish you’d just go away, Brenna!”
Rachael’s heart ached at the sight. “Rosie, don’t do this. Your parents would be heartbroken seeing you like this.”
Rosie grabbed the pillow and threw it again, harder this time. Tears streaming down her face, she sobbed, “They all bully me, just because I don’t have real parents to love me! You knew how my aunts used to act—so kind, treating me like family. But you’ve seen what is happening now. Aunt Jillian doesn’t even acknowledge me anymore. And Aunt Giselle isn’t any better. She only cared about me when her own daughter was missing. I was just a stand-in. Now that her real daughter is back, she doesn’t need me. She has never loved me. I won’t call her Mom anymore, Rachael.”
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