?Chapter 854:


    Lilith softly pulled at Brenna’s sleeve, whispering, “I’ll leave with Ernst now.”


    Brenna gave a nod.


    Ernst gave Ethan’s shoulder a light pat, exchanged a knowing nce with him, and left with Lilith.


    As they walked, Lilith clung to Ernst’s arm in silence, but once inside the car, she eximed, “That was wild!”


    Ernst shot her a nce, sensing the eager curiosity in her eyes. “Pretty dramatic, right? Bet you didn’t expect such chaos in high society.”


    Lilith bobbed her head. “Totally! I just can’t wrap my head around Kenny’s thinking. If he wasn’t into Minna, why agree to get engaged to her? Doesn’t that make him kind of a jerk?”


    “Jerk?” Ernst mused, pausing briefly. “Maybe a little. If he wasn’t interested in Minna, he shouldn’t have caved to his mom’s pressure and agreed to the engagement. Now look at the mess.”


    “He has dragged the military’s reputation through the mud,” Lilith said with a sigh, clearly disapproving of Kenny’s actions.


    Ernst remained silent, offering no furtherment.


    In the engagement hall, the guests had cleared out, leaving only the Mitchell family, their faces etched with dismay. Elsa was still fuming. She said, “I’ve cherished him above everything since he was a boy, raising him to excel in every way. He’s handsome, dutiful, respectful, and thriving in the military. With his talent and our backing, he could have risen to regimentmander, maybe even be a military district chief someday. How could he be so reckless and cruel…”


    Ethan said, “Mom, if you hadn’t pushed him to pretend he was me, would…?”


    “Would he have been kicked out of the military? I think you should stay out of our affairs from now on; focus on enjoying your retirement and looking after yourself.”


    Brenna silently agreed with Ethan but kept her thoughts to herself, sitting apart from the Mitchell family to steer clear of Elsa’s wrath.


    Every journey starts at gα?ησν????s?c????


    She believed that both sons of the Mitchell family had been on solid paths, capable and aplished, until their mother’s meddling derailed them.


    Brenna figured Elsa must be drowning in regret.


    Vincent, with Cason steadying him, said, “Let’s head home.” Brenna noted Vincent’s calm demeanor—no trace of anger or embarrassment over the day’s fiasco. Hisposure was impressive.


    Rising smoothly, Brenna turned to Ethan. “I’m leaving, too.”


    Elsa shot her a sharp re, which Brenna brushed off, walking toward the exit.


    As soon as Brenna left, Elsa turned to Ethan, “See that? She’s probably mocking me in her head, cursing me, hoping I would drop dead.”


    Ethan’s brow furrowed; he disagreed with Elsapletely. He saw Brenna as sharp, perceptive, and skilled at knowing when to step in or stay out. She handled things with poise.


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