Chapter 39

The shout drew attention, and many recognized Brynn, their faces registering surprise. Kylie, who was closer, widened her eyes in disbelief when she saw Brynn. "It's Brynn?" she gasped. How could she have been so blind not to recognize her earlier? She had mistaken her for some corporate heiress. Damn it!

Randy and Maris, standing a bit farther away, also looked displeased. After all, they had made the same mistake. Brynn felt a wave of frustration as she observed the trio staring at her dumbfounded. Didn't Suncrest say they hadn't sent an invitation to the Everett Group? How come they're all here?

Not wanting to add to her annoyance, she walked past the Everett couple and Kylie without a glance, handing her invitation to the staff. Maris, seeing Brynn blatantly ignoring her, couldn't hold back and called out, "Brynn…"

Brynn, about to hand over the invitation, paused and turned to Maris with a cold expression. "What?" Maris hadn't expected such disrespect from Brynn and felt a surge of anger. "What kind of attitude is that!" Maris glared at Brynn. "Even if you're not my biological daughter, the Everett family raised you for over twenty years! How can you be so cold, not even acknowledging us?"

Brynn was amused by this accusation. "Cold? Weren't you the ones eager to cut ties with me? Mrs. Everett, don't be such a hypocrite." "You, you…" Maris was speechless, her face flushed with anger.

Kylie, seeing this, smirked and said sarcastically, "Sister, this is Suncrest's annual celebration. Why are you dressed like that?" Brynn frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you, sister?" Kylie looked Brynn's dress up and down, a sneer playing on her lips. "Honestly, even if you're not an Everett anymore, you shouldn't have to resort to buying fakes! It's so embarrassing!"

Hearing this, others around them began to examine Brynn's dress. "The dress is quite beautiful… but I've never seen this design before." "Brynn is no longer a daughter of the Everett family. It's normal that she can't afford high-end dresses, I guess." "Is she really wearing a knock-off to this event...?" "That's beyond embarrassing!"

Maris, hearing the whispers, looked at Brynn with displeasure. "If you couldn't afford a dress, you could have told me. For old time's sake, I would have bought one for you. There's no need to wear a fake."

Brynn was slightly surprised, thinking Maris had changed, but Maris continued, dashing those hopes. "Wearing a fake makes it seem like the Everett family is cruel to their adopted daughter. It's a disgrace to our family name!" Maris said, annoyed.

Brynn lost her words. She shouldn't have expected anything from Maris. "Mrs. Everett, you seem to have forgotten," Brynn sneered. "Since I turned eighteen, all the dresses in your closet were gifts from me. How dare you accuse me of wearing a fake?"

Originally, she had wanted to be polite, but now it seemed unnecessary. "Mrs. Everett, I have plenty of dresses. You don't need to worry about me!" "Instead of getting worked up over nothing, you'd better change that dress of yours." Maris frowned. "If you're not embarrassed, I am…"

Kylie was secretly thrilled. Serves her right for stealing my thunder! Brynn was speechless. She was about to say something when someone suddenly interrupted with a gasp. "Fake? The dress Ms. Everett is wearing is the showstopper of Lucrèce Couture!"