?Chapter 1247:


    Joann, caught off guard by the visit, eyed Isabe curiously. Their bond had always been distant—Isabe had only visited twice during her hospital stay, each time lingering briefly without so much as a proper greeting.


    Today, however, Isabe brought gifts and came to visit, so Joann warmly invited Isabe to her room.


    Joann’s suite in the upscale nursing home was modest butfortable, with a well-appointed living area and a separate bedroom, perfectly suited for her to live.


    Isabe set her gifts on the table and eased into conversation, asking Joann about her life before Isabe joined the Barrett family.


    When the moment felt right, Isabe said, “Joann, why does Brenna hate Mack so much?”


    Joann’s expression hardened, and she let out an indignant huff. “He’s lucky she didn’t kill him! That monster tried to rape her!”


    Isabe’s jaw dropped. “That can’t be true. She’s his sister!”


    “Not by blood,” Joann rified, her voice trembling with anger. “Brenna was sixteen at that time, working on her designs alone in her room. Mack entered her room with vile intentions. If I hadn’t been home, he would have seeded.” Joann’s fury red as she recounted the ordeal. “I beat him up that day and gave Brenna money to run away from home. Otherwise, why do you think she left the family and stayed abroad for years?”


    A chill ran through Isabe, her fear mounting that she could face a simr fate. “He’s truly despicable! If I were Brenna, with powerful parents, I would have killed him already!”


    Joann sighed. Despite Mack being her grandson, she knew Brenna’s grudge against him was justified, and the Harpers’ actions seemed designed to crush the Barretts entirely.<fn5b56> Discover more novels at find(?)ovel</fn5b56>


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    “Now I see why Brenna won’t help Mack find a job. Letting him live is merciful enough,” Isabe said.


    She pulled out the two thousand dors and handed the money to Joann. “Grandma, please take this to treat yourself to something nice.”


    Joann epted it without protest. Her savings were nearly gone, and she had lied to Brenna about her finances; the Barretts’ mistreatment of Brenna had left her too ashamed to ept Brenna’s money.


    Leaving the nursing home, Isabe felt her resolve to live somewhere else solidify. She didn’t want to live with someone like Mack anymore. Though she could not afford to buy a house, renting was within her means. She decided to cut ties with the Barretts entirely—her parents included, whom she now saw as terrible people. Her loyalty shifted firmly to Brenna. She would stand by those who treated her kindly and gave her money.


    Returning home early, Isabe found Mack sprawled on the couch, engrossed in a game, while Ruby bustled in the kitchen. Isabe’s view of them had utterly transformed.


    “Why are you home so early today?” Mack asked, ncing up.


    “The shop was not busy today. On my way back, I noticed Imperial Bar is hiring servers. Interested? The sry starts at twenty thousand a month,” Isabe said.


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