?Chapter 521:


    “Utter nonsense! You ungrateful brat!” Emmett exploded, hurling a shoe at Ethan, his anger manifesting physically. “Look at you, all grown and defiant. You don’t respect us anymore, do you?”


    Elsa’s voice pitched higher with frustration. “Just look at him! Once so courteous and obedient. He has changed since Brenna came into his life…”


    Ethan, with a swift move, caught the flying shoe and set it calmly at Emmett’s feet.


    Cutting through Elsa’sment, Ethan countered, “That’s not fair, Mom. I’ve always made my own decisions. No one’s ever had a leash on me. You remember the military? You and Dad tried to get me to join the military, but I said no, didn’t I? And what happened after that? Dad beat the hell out of me and locked me up for three days without food. But I still didn’t relent. Did you forget that?”


    Emmett’s whole body trembled with fury. His eyes darted around until they locked onto several coat racks in the corner. With a snarl, he grabbed one and swung it violently at Ethan.


    Ethan bolted toward the hallway, with Emmett right on his heels. For a man his age, Emmett moved with surprising speed, leaping over the sofa with ease.


    Thoughcking any military training, Ethan was nimble for his age. He easily dodged Emmett’s frenzied swings.


    “Who I marry is entirely my decision. I’m an adult now. You can’t control me anymore!” Ethan yelled over his shoulder as he dashed toward the door.


    In a burst of rage, Emmett hurled the coat rack at Ethan, aiming for the back of his head.


    Yet, Ethan seemed to sense the iing danger. He spun around, snatched the flying coat rack, and hung it neatly on the door’s hook. Without missing a beat, he yanked open his car door, slid into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and tore out of the driveway.


    “Look at him, so defiant and unyielding. It’s unbelievable; we’vepletely lost our grip on him!” Emmett eximed, his hands nted firmly on his hips as he seethed, his face contorted with rage.


    Elsa sighed. “And here I am, about to retire next month, and now this scandal surfaces, turning me into a joke among my colleagues. I absolutely refuse to ept that woman as my daughter-inw! If she sets foot in our house, she’ll have me running errands like a servant soon!”


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    On Sunday morning, Brenna was deep in sleep when a sudden, forceful knocking echoed through the door.


    “Get up, Brenna!” Rosie’s enraged shout pierced the stillness, apanied by relentless thumps on the door.


    Irritated, Brenna dragged herself out of bed to unlock the door, only to face Rosie, her face wlessly made-up but twisted with fury. “You’reing with me to apologize to Tina right now!” Rosie eximed.


    “Are you out of your mind?” Brenna snapped, attempting to close the door.


    Rosie, anticipating the move, wedged her foot in the gap, preventing the door from closing. “Tina tried to take her lifest night, Brenna. She nearly died because of what you did—humiliating her, making her crawl and bark like a dog in front of everyone. Don’t you think you went too far? Degrading someone in their own home like that… You’ve really crossed a line!”


    Brenna’s face remained cold, unaffected by the guilt or regret Rosie hoped to provoke. “Didn’t Tina shame me first? You heard her words. And I don’t remember you defending me then. Honestly, Rosie, I sometimes wonder if we’re even rted.”


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