The Phantom Heiress Rising From The Shadows

Chapter 54 Chapter 54 We Have To Protect Our Daughter Rosie's heart ached with disappointment. The very thing she had feared had ctrue-rom the that biological daughter had returned, Giselle and Shepard no longer was her as part of the family the late like outsider in the Harper household Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she bit her lip, determined not to let her tears fall. A were of hatred for Brenna surged within her. She was also sad and believed that neither Giselle nor Shepard had ever troby cat for her.

"Mom, Dad..." Her voice wavered. If they no longer wanted her to call them that, she would never forgive them As for Brenna she would make sure she never truly becpart of the Harper family, no matter what it took. If they could be ruthless to her, so could she.

Giselle's face remained cold, while Shepard continued reading his newspaper, ignoring Rosie as if she hadn't spoken at all.

The couple's firm stance unsettled Ernst, who had been watching the exchange closely.

Dropping to her knees, Rosie broke down in tears. "Mom, Dad, please. I wasn't trying to hurt Brenna-1 only spoke the truth. How is that wrong?" she said.

Giselle turned her head away, refusing to acknowledge Rosie. She had long seen through her manipulations, realizing that her every action, every word, was meant to drive Brenna away.

Rosie's eyes darted to Ernst, silently pleading for support.

Perplexed by his parents' indifference, Ernst quickly tried to pull Rosie up. "Rosie, don't do this. Stand up. Rosie's sobs grew louder. "Not until Mom and Dad forgive me!" Frustrated, Ernst said in an angry voice, "Forgive you for what? You didn't do anything wrong, Now get up. Giselle glared at her son, bewildered at his foolishness.

Already impatient, Shepard jabbed a finger toward the door, his voice furious. "Enough! Both of you-get out!" Giselle remained silent.

Rosie covered her face and ran out of the room, her sobs echoing down the hall.

Fuming. Ernst turned to his parents and said, "How can you do this? Rosie has called you Mom and Dad for over twenty years, and now, you're casting her aside for an outsider? Do you know how much this will hurt her? Without warning, Shepard struck Ernst across the face. He exclaimed, "You call my own daughter an outsider? What's wrong withcaring for my own flesh and blood? Do you think I need you to tellhow to treat my 00% 21.05 1 < Ernst held his cheek, stunned. His father hadn't hit him since he was twenty, but today, because of Brenna, he did. He turned back slowly, his eyes cold and contemptuous. "If Brenna were really my sister, I'd treat her well. But I don't believe that's the case-I think she's only here to take advantage of us as a fraud. I get that you miss your daughter and feel guilty, but that only matters if she's really your daughter." Giselle barked, "She is my daughter! Do you think we didn't thoroughly instigate before finding her? Do you think we'd let just anyone walk into this family and fool us?" Shepard jabbed a finger toward the door. "Go and apologize to your sister." Ernst folded his arms and replied, "Not until a DNA test confirms she's actually my sister. I'm not going to apologize to a stranger or accept her as family." With that, he turned and left the room.

Giselle, seething, turned to her husband. "Unbelievable. How could he act this way toward his own sister? He has completely lost his mind. He doesn't even recognize who his real sister is."

Shepard's expression darkened. "This is my fault. I was too soft-hearted back then and allowed Rosie to call us Mom and Dad, even though she wasn't our daughter. Now, we're paying the price." Giselle sighed. "I know I just worry that Rosie won't understand us. She might think we don't love her anymore. What if she resents us for this?" Shepard waved his hand dismissively. "Then let her. I won't let our real daughter suffer because of her. Still, no matter what happens, I'll always take care of her- as her uncle."

Giselle gave a solemn nod. "Exactly. We can't let our real daughter be mistreated. Rosie deliberately m targeted our daughter today-we have to protect our daughter. Brenna has already endured so much hardship out there. She shouldn't have to suffer in her own home, too." The moment Rosie stepped into her room, her tears stopped. She grabbed a tissue and wiped her face. The sorrow on her face vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression.

Rachael entered, balancing a plate of neatly sliced fruit. She blinked in concern as she took in Rosie's red eyes. "Miss Harper, eat sfruit," she said softly.

Rosie sat motionless, lost in thought.

Rachael set the plate down gently and spoke cautiously. "I heard what you said to Mrs. Harper. You're pushing them to turn against their own daughter. That's not the way to handle this."

Rosie glanced up, surprised by Rachael's words. "Then tellwhat should I do? I'm not lying. Without a e DNA test we have no way of proving Brenna belongs to this family. So what's wrong withdoubting her identity?" < The Phantom Heiress: Rising From The Shadows