The Phantom Heiress Rising From The Shadows

Chapter 83 Chapter 83 She'll End Up Taking Everything From...

On stage, Brenna exchanged a look with Audrey and then coldly watched Isabella walk away, clearly not intending to follow up on the incident.

Alec, Ruby, and Mack all witnessed Isabella's embarrassing moment and felt ashamed for her. They averted their gazes, pretending not to see her disgrace.

The group felt deeply embarrassed on her behalf, internally criticizing Isabella for her carelessness in falling and causing a scene. Why hadn't she been more cautious? It seemed unbelievable that such a major mistake could happen at such a critical moment.

Isabella appeared to lack experience and seemed unable to manage the pressures of such a grand event.

Meanwhile, Brenna commanded the stage with elegance, her delivery smooth and assured. She was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening.

Ethan, seated prominently in the audience, was captivated by Brenna's voice, considering it the most enchanting sound he had ever heard.

As Brenna scanned the crowd, her eyes briefly connected with Ethan's before she quickly diverted her gaze. Ethan experienced a hint of disappointment, feeling overlooked by Brenna; to him, she did not see him as someone she was going to marry.

Fingering the engagement ring he had prepared in his pocket, he felt his nerves fray. Despite rehearsing his proposal repeatedly at home, he found it difficult to bring himself to do it.

Brenna's speech soon concluded, and the room burst into applause.

In the midst of the clapping, Ethan confidently approached the stage, knelt on one knee, and presented the engagement ring to Brenna.

"Brenna, will you marry me?" he said.

Caught completely off guard, Brenna looked at Ethan, uncertainty flickering across her face as she wondered whether she should extend her hand to him.

This man stood as the most successful and accomplished person in the world, the wealthiest man alive.

On top of that, his eyes were brimming with love for her.

Many women admired and chased after him, but his heart remained devoted to her.

Brenna felt touched, yet romantically indifferent toward Ethan. She was conflicted about accepting his proposal.

Chapter 83 Shell End Up Taking Everything From You She was at a loss for what to do.

Rejecting Ethan in public might embarrass him. But she didn't want to accept his proposal because she didn't have any feelings for him.

What was her best course of action? Seeking guidance, Brenna looked to her parents.

Giselle softly advised, "Trust your heart, dear." Ethan, interpreting Brenna's hesitation as shyness, gently took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.

Brenna attempted to withdraw her hand, only to find Ethan's grip firm, their fingers tightly intertwined, leaving her unable to pull away.

From her seat in the audience, Rosie watched the scene in disbelief. Ethan's swift and romantic proposal to Brenna had taken her by surprise.

She had subtly expressed her interest in Ethan several times, yet he had never responded.

She had harbored no illusions about Ethan proposing to her; she had simply hoped for a glance, a touch, or a shared moment.

What she had yearned for, Brenna had seemingly achieved without effort, and now, Brenna even appeared reluctant to accept it.

Rosie's gaze bore into Brenna, filled with envy and anger.

The audience erupted in thunderous applause.

With her hand firmly in Ethan's grasp, Brenna felt compelled to agree. She faced Ethan, her expression cold. Ethan looked at Brenna with evident love, his smile radiating happiness.

The audience was taken aback to see the typically reserved Ethan so openly smitten, and their cheers grew louder.

Rosie, unable to conceal her dismay, turned to Audrey with a desperate, questioning look. "Ethan was meant to be with you. Are you really going to let Brenna steal him away?" she said.

Audrey maintained her composure, seemingly unaffected by Rosie's words. Rosie watched the stage bitterly and warned Audrey, "If you continue to let Brenna get her way, she'll end up taking everything from you." Audrey replied with deta ment, "You're wrong. I'm not letting her take anything from me. I'm simply uninterested in Ethan. I already have a boyfriend. Why don't you just say it if you like Ethan? What's the point of scheming in secret? Do you think we haven't noticed you badmouthing Brenna in the group chat on purpose? Do you really think any of us will believe you and that we're so easily deceived? Aunt Giselle and Uncle Shepard have been good to you, they won't be pleased if they learn of your actions," Rosie, realizing her attempt to manipulate Audrey against Brenna had failed, withdrew from the argument. "Keep out of my business. If you say something to anyone about this, I will not let you off easily." 00 10 Audrey's response was cold. "Is that so? Well, I'm curious to see what you would do to me." After the speeches, Brenna and her parents descended from the stage to mingle with the attendees.

Ethan stayed by Brenna's side as she navigated interactions with Shirie's affluent community. Brenna had to maintain her smile, and gradually, she felt tired to keep her smile.

Ethan eagerly introduced his best friend, Jayceon Russell, to Brenna.

When Brenna heard the name, her demeanor changed, and she said to Jayceon in a sharp voice, "You're Jayceon Russell?" Brenna frowned. The fact that Ethan was close to someone like Jayceon made her question his character as well. Without hesitation, she yanked her arm free from Ethan's and tically slipped off the ring on her hand, tossing it at him. Her voice was cold as ice. "Of course. I know him. I could recognize him anywhere."

Jayceon, perceptive as ever, had already picked up on the hostility in her eyes. Under normal circumstances, he would have confronted anyone speaking to him that way. But this was different-Brenna was Ethan's fiancée, the daughter of the influential Harper family. He had to tread carefully. "Miss Harper, have I done anything to offend you?" he asked cautiously.

Brenna scoffed, her eyes burning with anger and disdain, "Ellie Moore. Remember that name? Have you ever once wondered about how she has been all these years?" She instinctively reached for her phone to show him pictures of Ellie and her son. But then, she remembered -she was in an evening gown with no pockets. Her phone wasn't with her.

Her cold stare drilled into Jayceon, seeing him as nothing more than a heartless jerk.

Jayceon's confident smirk faded in an instant. The carefree air around him disappeared as his expression stiffened. With a frown, he shoved the woman he was with aside, stepping closer to Brenna. "Where is Ellie?" he asked.

Brenna took satisfaction in his reaction. "I have no idea. You seem to be enjoying yourself just fine with other women, so why are you even asking about her now? What does she mean to you anyway?" she said.

Ethan was puzzled. He was well aware that Jayceon had once been deeply in love with a woman who had mysteriously disappeared. For years, Jayceon had spared no effort in searching for that woman, asking his people to look for her all over the world, yet no trace of her had ever surfaced.

Over the years, Jayceon had been with many women, but each one bore sresemblance to that woman- whether it was in their eyes, the shape of their nose, the curve of their lips, or the way they carried themselves. "Brenna, if you know something about that woman, just tell him," Ethan said gently.

Brenna glared at him. "I do not know anything!" Without sparing Ethan another glance, she strode away to join her parents and brothers as they greeted guests. The woman beside Jayceon took the opportunity to approach him again, her voice soft and coy. "Jayceon..." "Get lost," Jayceon snapped, his tone low and menacing. The woman stiffened before quickly walking away in defeat.

Jayceon looked both frustrated and desperate. But beneath the pain, a spark of hope ignited in his eyes. Turning to Ethan, he said urgently, "She must know where Ellie is. You have to helpask her about her whereabouts."