?Chapter 1439:


    While she checked out the room, Lorna settled the payment with the agent and returned holding a set of keys.


    “I’ve already covered six months of rent for you,” she said briskly. “Clean the ce yourself.”


    Not waiting for Ruby to speak, she turned on her heel and walked away. Back at the office, Lorna reported the situation to Brenna and sent her the photos of the room she had taken.


    Brenna gave Lorna money for the rent without hesitation.


    “You handled the situation well,” Brenna said with a faint smile, sliding open her drawer to reveal a gift box of expensive skincare Darwin had given her days before. She ced it on the desk. “You can have this.”


    Lorna’s eyes lit up as she epted it. “Thank you, Ms. Harper.”<fn2c4f> This text is hosted at Find~Novel</fn2c4f>


    Once Lorna left, Brenna leaned back in her chair, scrolling through the photos one more time. The sight of the cramped space satisfied her more than she had expected.


    By seven that evening, Sandra returned home from work. She immediately sensed something different—the air carried a new presence. At the dining room entrance, she nearly stumbled when she saw Dalton. She recognized him as the famous star.


    Hands buried in his pockets, he leaned casually against the doorframe, his gaze narrowing on her with a trace of hostility.


    “You’re…” Sandra’s words faltered. She had heard whispers of Brenna’s younger brother but had never seen a photo of him. She hadn’t expected him to be Dalton.


    Dalton had been away from home for weeks, buried in the filming of a major project. Once it wrapped up, he wasted no timeing back, determined to get a good look at this so-called illegitimate sister he had heard so much about.


    His eyes locked on the woman before him. “You must be Sandra.” His voice carried a chill.


    “That’s me! Are you really my brother?” Sandra’s face lit with excitement, her voice brimming with disbelief. The idea that her idol, the award-winning actor, was her brother felt like a dream.


    “Yes.” Dalton gave a short nod. His gaze swept over her, noting her carefully styled outfit, the gleam of her handbag, and the pricey shoes on her feet. For someone who had been here only days, she already looked like she belonged here. He disliked her.


    Sandra stepped closer, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “I can’t believe this. My favorite star is my brother. We should definitely spend more time together. Don’t you think?”


    Dalton’s expression hardened. “I don’t think so.”


    Caught off guard, Sandra froze under the weight of his stare. When she realized his eyes lingered on her handbag, her smile faltered. “It’s not what you think,” she said quickly. “My bag and clothes belonged to Rosie, and Brenna gave me these shoes.”


    Dalton’s stern demeanor softened ever so slightly at Sandra’s words. He believed she seemed alright, not overly materialistic or vain. Yet, he couldn’t shake the nagging worry that her wearing hand-me-downs might cast a shadow on the Harper family’s reputation. Gossip could spread like wildfire, inviting mockery. With a subtle nod, he resolved to keep a closer eye on her. If she proved herself decent, he might just slip her a bit of pocket money.


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