Chapter 524 Harriette Is Back
"What's wrong, Miles?" Harriette's concerned voice rang out beside him.
Miles flinched slightly, feeling the comforting warmth of Harriette's hand in his. She continued speaking, her voice soft and reassuring. "Miles, her name is Rose, isn't it? I'm glad you've found a new sister during my absence. I'm grateful to her for being there when I couldn't." Harriette spoke with a smile, but Miles could sense the underlying sadness in her words, which tugged at his heart.
"Etta, Rosie... she's..." Miles subconsciously attempted to explain everything.
However, Harriette's smile brightened as she interrupted him gently. "Miles, you don't have to feel guilty. You can be my brother and someone else's brother too, just like Rose. She can be your sister and someone else's sister simultaneously. It's not a big deal." She continued, "As long as you still have a place for me in your heart, that's enough for me. So, I don't need to feel sad, and neither do you, Miles!"
Miles' frown deepened as he considered, "Indeed, Rose could be my sister and someone else's sister, but is it really that simple not to be saddened by it?"
He couldn't deny the irritation that surged within him when Rose acknowledged someone else as her brother. It felt wrong, so he could only imagine Harriette feeling the same way.
"Is she feeling the same way I was? Concealing her discomfort behind a forced smile, pretending to be okay for my sake?" he wondered.
As Miles grappled with his emotions, he couldn't help but be acutely aware of Harriette's forced smile and the rasp in her voice, which only intensified his guilt.
His mind wandered back to the promises he had made to her in the past, and he knew he had to uphold them.
Miles cleared his mind with a deep breath and allowed a gentle smile to resurface. "Etta," he began softly, "I promise I won't let you suffer anymore from now on."
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, the firmness of his grip an unspoken pledge.
Feeling the warmth of his hand and the strength in his grip, Harriette couldn't help but feel a spark of happiness kindle within her.
"He won't let me suffer, huh? I'm looking forward to it then," she mused.
A hint of playfulness appeared in her smile as she said in a seemingly coquettish tone, "Miles, you have never let me suffer any grievances before."
Miles had always been Harriette's shield, defending her from life's adversities. She was sure he would continue to do the same.
With renewed determination, Miles suddenly raised his voice. "It seems like today is a day for celebration, with everyone having their own joys to share. So why don't I join in the festivities as well?"
His words drew everyone's attention. Up until that moment, most of the crowd had been focused on Clover and Rose. But now, all eyes turned toward Miles, curious about what he had to say.NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.
The sight of Miles standing there, hand intertwined with a woman's, instantly sparked speculation. They wondered if the eldest son of the Young family was finally in a relationship and was about to announce some exciting news.
The guests, filled with anticipation and brimming with excitement, suddenly felt that their attendance at this auction had become even more worthwhile.
Meanwhile, a certain someone's expression changed upon seeing the woman beside Miles.
Anastasia's face turned ashen, and her eyes widened in shock and horror as she thought, "How could this be possible?"
She shook her head, trying to steady her thoughts and see more clearly. Yet, as Miles' voice rang out once more, introducing the woman by his side, Anastasia's fear only escalated.
"Today, I'd like to introduce someone," Miles began, carefully avoiding Rose's gaze. "This is "
"Miles!" Anastasia's trembling voice interrupted him.
Miles frowned, casting a cold glance her way. However, he didn't acknowledge her interruption. Instead, he carried on.
"This is the eldest daughter of the Young family, Harriette Young!"
The room fell into a stunned silence.
"The eldest daughter of the Young family, Harriette Young?" The same thought echoed in everyone's mind.
"Isn't Anastasia supposed to be the eldest daughter? What's going on?" Whispers of confusion spread among the crowd.
Almost instinctively, all eyes turned
to Anastasia, who looked visibly shaken. Her face had gone deathly pale, and her entire body trembled uncontrollably. Any semblance of composure she had managed to maintain earlier had now crumbled.
She stared at Miles, her voice rising in desperation. "Miles, where did you find this woman? Have you forgotten that she's already dead-" "Anastasia."
The harsh, raspy voice that cut her off sent chills through the air. It belonged to the woman Miles had just introduced as Harriette. Her voice was hoarse and grating, unpleasant to the ear. Anastasia's heart raced as Harriette gradually released Miles's hand and approached her. Removing her sunglasses, Harriette's face held a gentle smile as she began speaking. "Anastasia, it's been a while. Back then, I thought I was surely going to die, but it seems the ancestors of the Young family were watching over me. Aren't you glad I'm back? Anastasia recoiled from the intensity of Harriette's gaze, but Harriette took hold of her hand, her warm touch sending a chill down Anastasia's spine.
"She's asking me if I'm glad that
she's back. Well, of course, I'm not!"
she thought as she met Harriette's
eyes. The woman standing before her was the spitting image of the Harriette she once knew. Panic welled up within Anastasia.
Anastasia couldn't help but wonder what she should do now that Harriette was back.
"I... I don't know you." She forced herself to look away.
"Miles, you know better than anyone the state of our family after Grandpa passed. I can't fathom why you'd bring in a woman with an unclear background!" she snapped, her voice sharp and accusatory.
Harriette's smile faltered, giving way to a bitter laugh. "So you don't want me back. Huh... I thought you might have missed me too, Anastasia. Miles, maybe I shouldn't have"
"You did nothing wrong." Miles cut her off firmly before she could finish. After all, The Young family did not belong to Anastasia. Her disapproval of Harriette's return would have no impact.
Upon seeing the hurt in Harriette's eyes, he immediately stepped forward, addressing the crowd with a clear, unwavering voice.
"What you all may not know is that Anastasia is not the eldest daughter of the Young family. The real heiress is her-Harriette!"
The revelation struck everyone like a sudden clap of thunder, leaving the crowd shocked and confused.
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Young?" someone finally asked.
For all these years, they had believed Anastasia to be the true heiress. Yet, they were now facing the possibility that they had been mistaken.
"Miles, you'd better stop spouting nonsense!" Anastasia shouted, her voice filled with desperation.
However, Miles was determined. "Let me finish, and then you can decide if I'm lying," he replied firmly.
His mind was made up-Harriette deserved to reclaim her rightful place, and everything needed to return to how it should have been.
He continued, "Years ago, Grandpa adopted three
grandchildren-myself, Harriette, and later Anastasia. When Anastasia joined the family, she was physically weak and ill, so Grandpa chose not to make her identity public. The world only knew about me and Harriette.
"Grandpa was always a humble man. Even when I completed my studies and joined the Young Group, I was simply Miles and not Oliver's grandson. As for Harriette..."