Chapter 1737:


    When Brenna returned and found Elsa in that state, she showed no surprise—Ethan had already told her everything that had happened.


    “What’s got you in such a mood?” Brenna asked, settling into her chair. A maid brought food to the table at once.


    Elsa, convinced Brenna knew nothing about the matter, wasted no time. She began to vent, pouring out every bit of bitterness she had been holding back.


    Brenna listened without interrupting. When Elsa finally finished, she offered no reply.


    Elsa let out a long, dramatic sigh. “I’m just tired of watching Emmett take from my son—using Ethan’s money, spending it all to spoil that woman. Why should I sit back and ept it? I went there to tell him to move out, and not only did he refuse, but he and Shari had the nerve to throw me out. Can you believe that?”


    Brenna gave a quiet nod. “Eat something. At the end of the day, it’s just a house.”


    Elsa pressed her lips together. “It doesn’t sit right with me. I won’t let Emmett walk away with a single thing that belongs to Ethan.”


    Brenna let out a softugh. “I understand you’re upset. But you can’t control what Ethan chooses to do. If you push him too hard, you’ll only drive him further away.”


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    A flicker of desperation crossed Elsa’s face. “Brenna, how do I make Ethan actually listen to me? He listens to you—he always has.”


    “Don’t expect my help with this,” Brenna said without hesitation. “I’m not going to get in the middle of your family’s disputes.”


    Elsa’s eyes narrowed, irritation sharpening her expression. “Don’t forget who your real family is.”


    Brenna met her gaze with a calm, serious look. “You are my family. So are Emmett and Shari. But the people I hold closest are Ethan, my parents, and my brothers.”


    Elsa sat very still for a moment, stung. Then she pushed her te away, her appetite gone entirely. “So after everything, I’m just an outsider to you?”


    Brenna’s voice was gentle, her tone sincere. “But maybe, with more time together, we’ll grow closer.”


    Elsa was still unhappy, but she understood what Brenna meant. After all, she hadn’t always been kind to her—she had made things difficult for her more times than she could count. And yet Brenna had let her live here without a word ofint. That alone was a kindness she hadn’t earned.


    She also caught the unspoken message beneath Brenna’s words: she had no wish to be dragged into the dispute with Emmett.


    “Brenna,” Elsa said, “don’t you think it’s too much? Ethan giving a house to Shari? Isn’t he blurring the line between family and outsiders?”


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