Phoenix Mode, Activated: Burn Me Once, Watch Me Rise

"Mom," Chelsey said gently.

Gretchen turned toward Chelsey, her eyes reddening almost instantly.

With a calm smile meant to soothe, Chelsey spoke again. "Mom, please don't let this get to you. Someone like Brett isn't worth your anger. You'll only end up hurting yourself."

Noticing the wheelchair beneath her, Brett seemed to recall something and asked with visible unease, "Are you alright, Chelsey?"

Fixing her eyes on him, Chelsey replied with open sarcasm, "Why would that matter to you at all?"

A spark of sarcasm flickered inside her. Brett's attention was entirely on Lydia, to the point that he had forgotten how her injury even happened.

With his brows drawn together, Brett said, "I'm sorry. I know this hurts you. But my feelings for Lydia are real, and I hope you can understand my decision."

Did he mean the decision he made during the fire last night, or the one he was making now?

As that thought surfaced, pain gripped Chelsey's chest once more.

Soon enough, the ache grew so overwhelming that it dulled into emptiness.

Letting out a cold scoff, she said, "A man who can cancel a wedding at the very last moment has no right to call himself decent. Brett, listen carefully. Even if you got down on your knees and asked me to marry you now, I would still say no."

A faint crease formed between Brett's brows as he focused on Chelsey.

What he saw from her completely missed his expectations.

He thought she would cry, cause a scene, or angrily demand answers. He even braced himself for the possibility that she might lash out at him.

That was how Chelsey had been at twenty. She was proud, direct, and quick to react.

He had even prepared himself for every possible outcome. But none of those reactions came.

Instead, she looked more like an onlooker, and her composure left him deeply uncomfortable.

Could it be that she had also been reborn?

As that idea took hold, Brett's expression stiffened, and the look he gave Chelsey grew increasingly conflicted.

Sensing the strange tension between them, Lydia stepped forward and blocked Brett's line of sight.

With guilt written plainly across her face, she spoke. "Chelsey, I'm sorry. I never planned for this to happen. Hurting you was never my intention. Last night, Brett stayed beside me the entire time. Even in his sleep, he kept calling my name, and I couldn't bring myself to reject him. You'll forgive me, won't you? Can we go back to how things were and still be best friends?"

Chelsey rolled her eyes and refused to acknowledge Lydia at all.

The reaction left Lydia stiff, and the awkwardness showed clearly on her face.

Trying to recover, she pressed her lower lip and put on a look that seemed wronged.

Watching Chelsey ignore Lydia entirely, Jorge spoke with sharp displeasure. "Chelsey. The guests have been waiting downstairs for quite some time, and you are only showing up now. Have you forgotten basic courtesy?"

Already holding back her fury, Gretchen finally snapped again. "Chelsey breathed in a large amount of smoke, and her ankle is injured. As her father, have you shown her even a shred of concern since she came home? If you refuse to care about her, that is your choice, but you have no right to lecture her about manners."

After finishing her words, she turned away and raised her voice. "Phyllis!"

At once, the housekeeper hurried over. "Yes, Mrs. Holden."

Fixing Lydia with a cold stare, Gretchen spoke without restraint. "Since Lydia never planned to stay long and has already secured herself another place to live, she should leave now. Our home is far too small to accommodate such a distinguished guest. Throw all her things out. Not a single belonging is to remain."

Throughout the last six months, Gretchen had shown Lydia nothing but careful attention.

From tailored suits to branded handbags, from rare perfumes to newly released jewelry, anything she believed suited Lydia had been given without a second thought.

She had even planned to introduce Lydia to a suitable partner after Chelsey and Brett were married.

Looking back on it now, the whole situation felt bitterly ironic to Gretchen.

Following the order, Phyllis Fuller acknowledged it and moved toward the stairs leading to Lydia's room.

Rushing forward, Jorge tried to block her path before turning on Gretchen. "Gretchen, haven't you made enough trouble already? Those things were gifts you gave Lydia. How can you just throw them out?"

Not bothering to look at him, Gretchen kept her gaze fixed on Phyllis and spoke with firm authority. "Phyllis, take several servants with you and carry out my instructions. Anyone who dares interfere today can try."