?Chapter 456:


    In one smooth motion, Brenna positioned herself protectively between Patrick and the intruders.


    Patrick watched silently as the strangers appraised his home like inspectors, their eyes roaming with entitlement.


    “They are your grandparents,” Brenna said to Patrick carefully, her gaze locking onto Tori’s.


    Noticing Brenna’s polished appearance, Tori’s tone shifted. “You must be Ellie’s friend?” she asked politely.


    “Yes. I’m Brenna Harper,” Brenna confirmed curtly, maintaining basic politeness despite the tension.


    Tori’s eyes narrowed as they raked over Patrick. Then she hissed at Ellie, “You kept the bastard? What were you thinking? How will you ever marry someone now?”


    Meanwhile, Leif and Hank wandered through the apartment, visibly impressed. “This apartment will do nicely,” Hank announced. “Ang and I will take it after the wedding.”


    Leif looked like he owned the ce. “This ce is adequate for newlyweds. With this space, Ang should have no reason to refuse to marry you.”


    Hank began snapping photos of every corner. “I will let Ang see this ce.” His phone captured Ellie’s private spaces, including her bedroom and bathroom, invading her privacy.


    Ellie’s anger red as she snatched Hank’s phone from him. “What do you think you’re doing?”


    Tori, in a sh, unleashed a torrent of reprimands. “Stop yelling. We have every blessed right to everything here! You vanished after graduation, not sending home a dime. Did we nurture you all these years for nothing? After the mountain of money we poured into your education, you have to repay us. Hank is about to get married. Since he and his girlfriend are both working in Shirie, you can give this ce to them. Consider it repayment. You should move out quickly.”


    Hank justughed, reiming his phone to continue showing off to his girlfriend.


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    “You’re all mistaken,” Ellie said, her voice a low growl. “This isn’t my property; it’s my friend’s. You have no right to im this ce as your own.”


    The family exchanged incredulous nces, eyes wide as saucers. “Stop lying!” Hank spat, his voiceced with venom. “Everyone knows you’re a famous designer now. You can make tens of millions a year. How could this ce not be yours? You’re just being ungrateful for not wanting to give this ce to us. How dare you not repay Mom and Dad after all they’ve done for you?”


    His face contorted, a mask of aggression.


    Tori and Leif settled onto the sofa, a picture of entitlement. Leif dered, “You’ve turned your back on us for years. Now that you’re swimming in money, you should buy us a house, and another for Hank. That’s fair, right? And I believe you don’t need so much money as a woman. Once you’re married, your money will be someone else’s family’s!”


    Brenna, not wanting to meddle in Ellie’s family affairs, guided Patrick to his room, shielding him from the scene.


    Ellie faced her parents, her gaze unwavering. “I already told you—this ce belongs to my friend, Brenna. You just met her.”


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