?Chapter 781:


    She shifted her attention to Brenna, her tone softening. “You, on the other hand, are nothing like that. You’ve always been kind, even when the Barrett family treated you horribly. You never held a grudge. It’s no wonder even Elsa’s own son finds her difficult.”


    As Brenna drove, she replied, “Yeah, Elsa is mean, but in Vand, people still think she’s a good person. Just recently, the video of her stirring up trouble for me at school went viral. Everyone med me at first—until Ethan had someone break it down frame by frame. That was when the truth came out. I didn’t push Elsa. She fell on purpose. Only then did people start to see who she really was.”


    Ellie tilted her head. “Ethan always defends you. He’s clear-headed enough to see through her. Still, dealing with a mother-inw like that won’t be easy for you.”


    She checked her phone and saw the time—it was nearly noon. “Let’s grab something to eat,” she said.


    In the back seat, Patrick finally looked up from his game, his expression earnest. “I want seafood. You and Dad ditched me for your honeymoon, so you owe me something tasty.”


    Ellie turned and gave him a yful look. “Fine. I’ll spoil you today.”


    The mention of food sparked another thought, and Patrick leaned closer to Ellie with hopeful eyes. “Mommy, Brenna’s chef makes the best food. Can we get our own chef, too? I’m tired of eating bread every day.”


    Still focused on the road, Brenna couldn’t help but chuckle. “He’s not wrong. After a month at my ce, he definitely put on a little weight. Thiago and you are both bad at cooking, so hiring a chef might actually be a smart move.”


    Ellie gave her son’s cheek a yful pinch. “All right, I’ll do as you say. Once we’re back, I’ll have your dad hire a chef. Or maybe a nanny who can cook.”


    Patrick’s face lit up as he nodded with excitement. “Mommy, you’re the best! I love you so much!”


    Her son’s earlierint resurfaced in Ellie’s mind, stirring a faint sense of displeasure. “When did I ever make you live on bread every day? That’s not fair. The way you say it, it sounds like I’ve been mistreating you.”


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    Patrick made a face. “But it’s true! The food at Brenna’s ce is what I call real food. You have no idea how good it is. Just for breakfast, there’s a spread like a hotel breakfast buffet.”


    Ellie burst intoughter. “Look at that. Just one month living with you, and he has already fallen in love with your ce. I’ve raised him all these years, and I’ve never heard him praise me like that.”


    That evening, when Brenna returned home, she noticed several invitation cardsid out on the coffee table in the living room. The staff at home appeared to be unusually busy.


    The Harper household frequently received event invitations, though Brenna rarely attended. Giselle usually took care of social obligations.


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