The Phantom Heiress Rising From The Shadows

Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Uninvited Roberto's frustration mounted as problems compounded like unrelenting storma He spoke to his son with a cold tone. "You've always been close to Rosie, haven't you Go to her for help The Harper family wields significant power and wealth-they can certainly assist us if they choose to if you're serious about maintaining the luxurious lifestyle you've grown accustomed to, you need to do your part to support the Moreno family.

With those words, Roberto ended the call abruptly and left with his secretary to meet with representatives from the tax buteau.

Left in silence, Harlan sat in contemplation for a long while. His father's words echoed in his mind, and he couldn't deny their truth. The Harper family, a formidable and powerful family in Shirie and Belden, ranked only second to the Mitchells His friendship with Rosie had indeed been mutually beneficial, though often requiring morally questionable compromises on his part. This particular mess, too, had been set in motion by Rosie. Had she not pushed him to target Brenna, perhaps his family wouldn't be in trouble now.

A steely resolve hardened Harlan's features. Rising from the bed, he changed swiftly and strode out of the hospital.

As the clock struck noon, Brenna gathered with her stucolleagues, preparing to head to the downstairs restaurant, when her phone vibrated on the desk.

Ethan was calling her. She quickly answered the call.

"Brenna, let's have lunch together. I'll pick you up." Ethan said.

Brenna hesitated, weighing the invitation. She had a packed schedule with an important task ahead in the afternoon, and lunch was the last thing on her mind. Still, she didn't want to be rude. "I really have a lot on my plate this afternoon," she explained, trying to keep her voice polite. "It might not be convenient." Ethan stood at the top floor of the Mitchell Group building, his gaze sweeping over the vast cityscape of Shirte The city stretched beneath him, its towering structures glistening under the fading sunlight. His voice remained steady as he said, "It'll only take a short while, I promise. Where are you? I'll go and pick you up now." Despite his lack of experience in romantic pursuits, Ethan's sincerity shone through in his words. He was unassuming but determined, the faintest smile playing on his lips as he added, "Con. Just have lunch with Brenna hesitated for a moment before replying, her voice tinged with resignation, "Alright, but I need to leave by one o'clock. Are you sure you'll be able to chere to pickup in time?" Ethan's confidence remained unwavering. "Yes, I am sure. Just sendthe address-I'll head over immediately." 17.10 < Cated When Brenns shared her location, Ethan recognized it we conveniently close to his office After the call ended, Ethan met Jayceon's anxious stare "Well yeon asked, his voice taut with urgency D the agree?" Ithan nodded and rubbed his hand through his hair, his thoughts shifting "Yeah, the agreed But you need to wait at the restaurant first. I'll pick her up myself He paused for a moment, then added, "By the way, you should know that she seemed pretty upset with you the other day Don't be surprised if she's not exactly thrilled to see you. If she refuses to disclose Miss Moore's whereabouts, there's nothing more I can do The memory of Brenna's icy demeanor toward Jayceon remained vivid, her sharp words had left no roo misunderstanding for While Jayceon was among his closest friends, Ethan wasn't willing to jeopardize his fragile connection with the woman who held his heart for Jayceon.

Jayceon gave Ethan's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Understood. I'll tread carefully You're my only hope in. this-if Miss Harper refuses to speak to me, you'll need to subtly probe for information. His voice carried note of quiet desperation.

Ethan's mouth formed a tight line, his disapproval evident in the stiff set of his shoulders. Yet he remained silent, caught between loyalty to his friend and his feelings for Brenna Jayceon, undeterred by Ethan's reserved response, left the room with a renewed sense of determination. His mind raced with thoughts of Ellie. He had spent so long thinking about her-about the things they had done together and the mistakes he had made. He couldn't wait to apologize to her, to finally express what had been weighing on his heart for so long. The idea of seeing her again made him feel a mixture of nerves and anticipation.

In the elevator, Jayceon allowed himself a moment of reflection. He thought about the small, seemingly insignificant details-how Ellie would laugh when she found something amusing, how her eyes would soften when she talked about her dreams, and the way she always seemed to know how to make him feel understood. More than her beauty, it was her warmth, her character, that had captivated him. He knew now, without question, that if he found her again, he would commit himself to her completely. He would never look at anyone else, and he would make sure to convince his family to accept her as part of his life.

Meanwhile, Ethan's car pulled up to an office building, where Brenna waited. Her silhouette was framed against the glass facade of the building, her posture relaxed.

Brenna hadn't yet revealed her connection to the two studios inside the building to Ethan, preferring to keep that a secret for now.

"You made it here faster than I expected," Brenna remarked, her tone light.

Ethan opened the car door for Brenna with a fluid motion, stepping aside to allow her in before slipping into the driver's seat himself. The soft hum of the engine filled the brief silence as he turned to her, his voice warm "My office is just down the financial street, so it didn't takelong to get here. After lunch, where would you like to go next? If you need a ride, I'll take you there," he said. Brenna's polite smile was accompanied by a slight shake of her head. "Thank you, but I have spersonal Chapter 111 Unnvited errands to run after the meal. No need to trouble yourself further." Ethan nodded understandingly, not pressing the issue. He valued her privacy and respected her boundaries.

The car glided smoothly through the city, soon pulling up in front of an upscale restaurant, owned by one of Ethan's good friends. It had an m inviting, sophisticated. atmosphere-tastefully decorated with a balance of elegance and comfort. The restaurant's well-curated menu, a perfect blend of fresh, quality ingredients, attracted a crowd of people working nearby Ethan, familiar with the ples, knew the food here would suit Brenna's tastes.

Brenna looked around with appreciation as she entered. The modern but warm décor immediately captured her attention and made her feel comfortable.

Once Ethan and Brenna were seated, the waiter quickly began bringing out the dishes. To Brenna's surprise, three main courses were presented, as if more people were expected. She raised an eyebrow, looking at Ethan

"Did you invite someone else?" she e inquired, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Before Ethan could respond, the sound of footstep approached. Jayceon emerged from the corner of the restaurant, walking toward them with a confident air. He offered Brenna a polite smile and extended his hand in greeting "Miss Harper, it's good to see you again. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said. The warmth in Brenna's expression evaporated almost immediately. She had not expected Jayceon to be here, and his presence made her feel displeased. Their previous interactions hadn't exactly been smooth, and with Ellie still not ready to see Jayceon again, Brenna wasn't sure how to handle this.

Brenna's response was measured, her voice steady but firm. "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in speaking with you right now." She didn't hide the irritation in her gaze as she turned to Ethan, a silent rebuke in her eyes. She was disappointed by his decision to bring Jayceon into the meal without consulting her first.