The Phantom Heiress Rising From The Shadows

Chapter 247 I Won't Let Anyone Mistreat You Brenna arrived hto find Giselle waiting in the living room, her expression a mask of forced lightness. "Well? How did the meeting with Ethan's parents go?" Giselle asked.

"It went great, except that I grinned until my cheeks felt ready to burst," Brenna replied, rubbing her sore facial muscles.

She sensed the thin veneer of anger simmering beneath Giselle's composed demeanor.

Giselle let out a heavy sigh. "Rosie's back. I'm sorry, darling-even in our own home, we're powerless against your grandfather's decisions. I know you don't like her, but I can't go against your grandfather's order." Giselle's distress was due to a bitter clash with Shepard, another skirmish over Rosie.

Shepard saw a chance for redemption. He believed Rosie would change this time, but Giselle only saw betrayal. Years spent raising Rosie as her own had only led to this moment, when Rosie plotted deliberately to upset her. Rosie clearly understood that she was not welchere, yet she had still plotted and forced her way back.

Giselle wanted to find a way to make Luther change his mind about letting Rosie live with them, but Shepard felt sorry for Rosie, wanting to let Rosie stay here from now on.

Though Brenna felt a discomfort twisting in her stomach, she didn't want Giselle to bear the weight of guilt. She gave a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about it. If Rosie steps out of line, I'll handle her." Giselle wrung her hands, guilt heavy in her chest. How could she face Brenna while she was letting the person who had harmed Brenna live with her? But there was little she could do.

"Her little schemes won't work on me," Brenna reassured Giselle. "Dealing with her is a piece of cake for me. In fact, if you don't like her, I already have a plan to get her out of our house." She chuckled softly, a mischievous glint lighting her eyes.

Giselle leaned in closer. "What's your plan?" Without missing a beat, Brenna replied, "Get her married." Giselle's face darkened. "Don't be absurd! Anyone can see she has her sights set on Ethan!" This was Giselle's greatest dread-that Rosie would stop at nothing in her quest to steal Ethan away from Brenna or tear them apart.

Brenna let out a scoff. "So what? Can she really force him to marry her? Ethan is a catch-wealthy, handsome, and young. It's only natural that women are throwing themselves at him left and right." Chapter 247 1 Won't Let Anyone Mistreat You Giselle finally chuckled, the tension in her shoulders easing "You've got a point. Many women want to marry Ethan. Rosie is just one of them, it hardly makes a difference." As Brenna and Giselle ascended to the third floor, the heated, exchange between Shepard and Ernst drifted through the air.

Giselle explained, "Your grandfather is adamant that Ernst gain soutside experience for only about a year before he rejoins the Harper Group. He believes Dalton lacks the chops for Corporate management, and that the Harper Group can't move forward without Ernst at the helm. Though he sees your leadership potential, he clings to outdated beliefs that women should be anchored to domestic duties rather than steering the ship of business. At most, he might toss you a few shares to keep you comfortable. He is convinced that women can't manage companies." After a pause, she continued, "I suspect he's worried that if Ernst takes too long to cback, the CEO chair might end up with you. His patriarchal views are evident.* Brenna squeezed Giselle's hand and replied, "My two studios keepbusy already, and they're thriving. I've never wanted to take control of the Harper Group."

Giselle's expression hardened. The more sensible Brenna seemed, the more acutely Giselle felt the sting of injustice. "How can you just accept this? Every Harper descendant deserves equal rights to compete for the CEO position of the Harper Group, regardless of gender. Why should you settle for mere shares? You are a reserved person, but that doesn't mean they can push you around. I absolutely reject your grandfather's outdated notions about succession."

Just then, from the bedroom, Ernst's voice rose in protest. "Dad, Dalton is managing the company well. My early efforts at the Harper Group paled in comparison to his current work. Given time, he'll outshinecompletely." Shepard's irritated voice echoed. "Have you forgotten what your grandfather said?"

Ernst countered firmly, "Dad, sometimes wisdom comes from the younger generation. Grandpa's age has dulled his vision Must you inherit Ν.Ο O his shortsightedness? The Harper Group will beca laughingstock if we listen to everything my grandfather says. The shareholders won't hesitate to mock our incompetence." He then lowered his voice, and Brenna was unable to hear what he said after that.

Ernst said, "Dad, haven't you noticed that Grandpa plans to put Rosie on the board? She's angling to reclaim Uncle Carsen's shares." Shepard's silent nod confirmed what Ernst implied. Luther's lingering guilt over Carsen's death fueled this irrational favoritism. Otherwise, he wouldn't be defending Rosie after everything she had done.

Giselle tightened her grip on Brenna's hand and said, "After all you've been through, I won't let anyone mistreat you."