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

Phyllis gave a quick nod in response. "Understood, Mrs. Holden."

Without another glance, she gathered several servants, passed by Jorge, and headed straight for the upper floor.

Unable to contain himself, Jorge jabbed a finger toward Gretchen and shouted, "You're being completely unreasonable!"

Still, once he met the force of Gretchen's rage, his anger wavered and lost its edge.

In the end, he lacked the courage to challenge her further.

Before long, a handful of servants came back downstairs, their arms filled with carefully wrapped boxes and branded bags, which they placed in a messy pile at Lydia's feet.

Pointing toward the scattered belongings, Gretchen gave a cold order to Lydia. "Pick up your things and leave. Now."

At once, Lydia's eyes turned red, and tears slid down her cheeks.

Her expression made it seem as though the Holden family was using their authority to torment a poor, innocent girl.

Without hesitation, Brett stepped forward and pulled Lydia behind him, his voice low but firm. "Mrs. Holden, this is going too far. If you don't want her here, then I'll take her away."

After a brief pause, he turned to face Chelsey. "What happened today was because of me, and I regret hurting you. Even so, my choice hasn't changed."

Holding Lydia's hand more tightly, he said with conviction, "I won't ever let go of the person I've chosen in this life. Come with me, Lydia."

Without another word, he led Lydia away and never once glanced behind him.

Letting out a weary breath, Jorge muttered to himself, "This has turned into a complete disaster."

After that, he rushed after them and called out, "Brett. Lydia. Please wait."

Hearing his voice, Lydia came to a halt and turned around, and tears still lingered in her eyes. "Mr. Holden, I'm truly sorry for bringing so much trouble to you."

Her fragile state stirred sympathy in Jorge, and he shook his head gently. "You don't need to apologize. None of this is on you."

Closing the distance between them, he leaned in and whispered, "Lydia, don't forget what we agreed on. Come to the company next Monday. The role of technical director is still yours."

In response, Lydia gave a respectful nod. "I won't forget. Thank you very much, Mr. Holden."

Once Brett guided Lydia beyond the gates of the Holden residence, chaos suddenly broke out behind them.

Boxes and shopping bags that the servants had carried earlier were hurled outside one after another.

Several finely crafted containers cracked open when they hit the ground, and their contents spilled messily across the pavement.

Turning around, Lydia stared at the jewelry she had treasured for half a year, now abandoned as if it meant nothing, and her face showed both hurt and embarrassment.

After briefly scanning the scattered items, Brett pulled Lydia closer and reassured her, "Don't dwell on it anymore. From now on, if you want anything, I'll get it for you. None of those things were ever worth holding on to."

Inside the living room, Gretchen pulled Chelsey into her arms. Her chest felt tight, and tears fell without restraint. "Dear, this happened because I was too blind. I trusted the wrong people, and because of that, you had to endure so much humiliation."

In response, Chelsey lifted her hand and gently rubbed Gretchen's back.

She understood that Lydia's betrayal likely cut deeper for Gretchen than Brett's actions ever could.

During the past six months, Gretchen had treated Lydia with genuine care and affection.

"Mom, please don't blame yourself. None of this is on you. Some people enter this world without empathy, and they never develop a sense of right or wrong."

At that moment, Jorge stepped into the living room, his expression tense and unyielding.

Instead of acknowledging the sight of them holding each other, he let out a sharp scoff and walked straight toward his study.

After watching his retreating figure, Chelsey frowned slightly and asked, "Mom, don't you think Dad has been acting odd today?"

"He's likely just worried about crossing Brett." The thought came to Gretchen at once, and she spoke up in Jorge's defense, even though her tone sounded uncertain.

On hearing that explanation, Chelsey scoffed silently.

Coming from an ordinary background, Jorge had only climbed to his current position because of the backing from Gretchen's family.

Even after so many years navigating the business world, some of his old ways still clung to him.

Still, Chelsey could not fully accept that he was as simple as he seemed on the surface.

Carrying that doubt, she pressed the issue further and asked, "Mom, even if Dad is cautious around the Haynes family, he wouldn't really ignore his own daughter just to support an outsider, would he?"