Vincent fixed his eyes on Brenna and lowered his voice as he muttered to himself, "She's hiding more than she lets on."

No one would call her beautiful, yet there was nothing dull about her gaze. Her eyes were clear and steady, and there was a quiet force in them that didn't belong to someone ordinary. Anyone who paid attention could tell she wasn't simple.

Facing her phone screen, Brenna spoke in an easy tone. "We can talk about meeting once you're back. I reached out today because someone handed me a dress and insisted it's one of your original designs."

Brenna's attention shifted to the gown Noreen was holding before she continued, "Since your name's attached to it, I figured you should see it yourself."

Confusion crossed Hayley's face. "Brenna, you're practically the one who taught me everything. Since when did you take an interest in my designs? If you hadn't walked me through things all those years, I wouldn't be where I am now."

These words felt like a hard slap across Sarah's and the others' faces.

Shock hit Noreen the worst. Her thoughts scattered, and she couldn't pull them back together. She had emptied her savings and begged for favors just to get Hayley to design a dress for her. She thought that piece would open doors into high society, but she never even got close because those dresses weren't for sale. And now, she was hearing that Brenna had shaped Hayley's designs and even acted as her mentor.

Keeping her composure, Brenna answered, "That's exactly why I need you to confirm it. I won't let anyone label a cheap knockoff as your work and drag your name through the mud."

With that, Brenna angled the camera toward Noreen. "This is my sister. She insists the gown she's holding came straight from your boutique."

Panic rushed through Noreen so fast that she felt her chest tighten. She hastily tried to slip the dress behind her back.

But it was too late. The camera had already caught it.

With just one glance, Hayley knew it wasn't her creation. She didn't even bother asking for a closer look to confirm it. "Seriously, where did that junk come from? The stitching's crooked enough to run in every direction, and the design's completely off. I've seen my cat claw up fabric that looks more put together than this."

Harsh laughter slipped from her lips as she added, "Brenna, how come you end up with a sister who is full of lies? If anyone's stupid enough to say that rag is my design, I'll make sure they regret it!"

At those words, the strength drained from Noreen's face. Darkness crowded her vision, and she swayed as if the ground had tilted beneath her.

Curiosity spread across the room, and people leaned closer to study the fake gown clutched in Noreen's hands before shifting their attention to what Brenna was wearing.

Whispers started to rise as sharp eyes picked up the contrast.

"That fabric Noreen's holding looks cheap."

"Hold on, isn't Miss Fuller's black dress the commemorative piece made for last year's design champion? There's only one in the world!"

"No wonder it seemed unfamiliar. I've only ever seen photos of it in magazines, and it was never put on the market."

"That gown on Brenna has to be worth over a million!"

Shock rippled through the crowd like a stone tossed into still water. Embarrassment crept up on those who had assumed Brenna showed up in something off the rack, and their earlier judgment now stung.

With a casual lift of her hand, Brenna said, "That's enough for today. We'll grab dinner once you're back."

"Deal. Just don't forget you owe me a feast!" Hayley replied before ending the call.

After lowering the phone, Brenna faced Noreen again. "Weren't you so confident that you bought it from an authorized boutique? If that's the case, then you're accusing Hayley of selling knockoffs under her own name."

Disbelief drained the color from Noreen's face, and her knees almost gave way beneath her. She still couldn't process it. Brenna knew Hayley personally, and the dress she wore was the championship piece everyone talked about.

"I... I must've made a mistake." Tears blurred Noreen's sight as her voice shook. "A friend helped me buy it. I really thought it was real. I never imagined I'd be fooled like this."

Annoyance flashed across Sarah's face as she moved forward. "Noreen didn't do it on purpose. Brenna, you're her older sister. Do you really have to push her this hard over one minor mistake?"

At that time, Sam Walsh, Brenna's father, hurried over.

Panic was written all over Sam once he heard what happened, and sweat gathered along his brow. "There's clearly some confusion here," he said quickly. "Brenna, your mother's right. It's only a dress. Why turn this into something bigger than it needs to be?"

In his eyes, Brenna was still the hick who knew nothing about high society. She must've borrowed that championship gown from someone else. The idea that she had guided Hayley's career was so absurd to him that he dismissed it as soon as he heard it. What mattered to him was the Walsh family's reputation. There was no way he'd let the Walsh name get dragged down.

A faint, almost bitter smile curved across Brenna's lips. "So now I'm the one stirring trouble."

Memories surfaced in her mind. After the family reunion last month, Sam had handed her a jewelry company drowning in debt and called it compensation. She'd accepted it with gratitude and poured her effort into turning it around. However, he brushed aside everything she accomplished and praised Noreen instead, saying the latter brought luck to the business.

As Brenna was lost in thought, Vincent stepped forward and placed himself in front of her. Calm confidence marked his expression, though a chill settled in his eyes. "I believe problems should be handled properly. Miss Walsh, since you unintentionally purchased a counterfeit, you can make amends in another way. That gown is valued at around eight hundred thousand. Please transfer the amount to Brenna now as a gesture of sincerity."

His words caught Brenna off guard. She hadn't expected him to stand beside her, especially with her scarred face on display. Not only did he show no sign of calling off their engagement, but he even stepped in to help her seek fair compensation. For a brief second, she wondered if he had some unusual taste when it came to appearances.

With Vincent standing beside her, Brenna felt steady. "That's right, Noreen. You said you receive two hundred thousand monthly as pocket money. You wouldn't bat an eye transferring eight hundred thousand to me."

Since Brenna returned home, Noreen had never missed a chance to show off how favored she was, whether directly or indirectly. Since Noreen enjoyed boasting about it, Brenna decided to let her prove it.

Shock registered on every face in the room. No one missed what Vincent's stance meant. He had just made it clear that Brenna was under his protection.

"I... I really don't have that much money," Noreen said as tears streamed down her face. Her allowance was only fifty thousand a month, and she spent it without restraint. Every credit card she owned had already hit its limit. Even coming up with eight thousand would've been difficult for her.

Lowering her voice, Sarah spoke through clenched teeth. "Brenna, don't think you can demand anything you want just because the Todd family is backing you."

Sarah couldn't accept it. It was one thing for Brenna to know Hayley, but how could someone so unattractive catch Vincent's eye?

Sarah hissed, "Brenna, just tell Mr. Todd you don't need the eight hundred thousand. At most, we'll treat you to a meal later." As she spoke, she sent a message to Jeremy Walsh, urging him to come immediately. As Brenna's older brother, he could restrain her.

Brenna's eyes lacked their former warmth. "Mom, I don't want to dine with you again."

A faint, sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. She had once given this family her whole heart, and they crushed it without hesitation. If the lovely couple who had raised her for years were still around, they would've been heartbroken for her.

"You!" Anger tightened Sarah's chest. At that moment, she was convinced Brenna was exactly what that mysterious person had described—an ungrateful wretch.

Rage burned in Sam's chest, yet with Vincent standing there, he didn't dare explode. "Noreen doesn't get that much pocket money each month," he said stiffly. "Asking for eight hundred thousand is too much."

A strained smile spread across his face as he tried to ease the tension. "We're family, and talking about money can strain our relationship. Brenna, if Noreen made a mistake, I can have her apologize to you."

Attempting to diffuse the situation, Sarah moved closer, trying to grab Brenna's hand. "That's right, Brenna. We're family. Let's not fuss over these things..."

Brenna stepped back and sidestepped Sarah's extended hand. "This isn't for me to decide," she said evenly. "It was Mr. Todd who suggested you compensate me. If you insist on using family ties to settle it, people might say you're taking advantage of him."

Brenna couldn't forget that since her childhood, Sarah had avoided touching her as if she were something unpleasant. She never understood why Jeremy received praise and Noreen received affection, while she received nothing.

Frustration flared in Sarah's eyes. "That's not what I meant..."

Felix, observing the scene, was taken aback. Leaning toward Vincent, he murmured, "Brenna is nothing like the rumors. Wasn't it said she dropped out of high school and was utterly dumb? Yet, she seems quite sharp."

What struck him most was how she used the Todd family's influence as a shield to stand her ground.

Vincent studied Brenna with a thoughtful look. The hopeless fool people described clearly didn't match the woman in front of him.

The direction of the exchange unsettled Sam, and he immediately directed his anger toward Sarah. That's enough. With Mr. Todd and everyone else watching, just transfer the eight hundred thousand and end this."

Sarah felt as if her chest might burst. Eight hundred thousand was no small sum. Over the years, every spare cent had gone into shaping Noreen into a polished young lady. Piano lessons, dance training, tuition at elite schools. None of it came cheap.

A trace of ridicule surfaced in Brenna's eyes as she spoke again. "Mom, you always say money isn't everything and that life matters more. You locked me in the warehouse and let the fire burn years back. Did a few hundred thousand make up for that?"

Since returning to the Walsh family last month, Brenna had faced nothing but pressure and humiliation. While enduring it, she quietly reopened the investigation into her disappearance years ago. Bit by bit, new evidence surfaced, and it pointed straight at Sarah as the one who shut her inside that burning warehouse.

Color drained from Sarah's face as if lightning had struck her. "What ridiculous lies are you making up?"

Disbelief overwhelmed Sarah. Brenna had only been three at the time. A child that young shouldn't remember anything.

Brenna's words unsettled everyone present. Could a mother truly try to burn her own daughter alive?

Cold resolve settled into Vincent's expression. "Felix, look into it," he instructed.

Without hesitation, Felix stepped aside and began making calls.

Panic gripped Sarah when she noticed Sam's uncertainty. "Honey, don't listen to her nonsense!" she cried out. "I gave birth to her. Why would I ever hurt my own child? She must've picked up those twisted ideas from the couple in that backwater town!"

Those buried memories clawed their way back to the surface, and being forced to face them filled Sarah with anger and panic.

Fury overtook Sarah as she glared at Brenna. "Do you even still see me as your mother?" Her hand flew up, aiming for Brenna's face.

Before the strike could land, Brenna caught her wrist with steady strength. Her gaze sharpened. "The couple you mentioned taught me integrity, not hypocrisy like yours."

Brenna could endure rejection directed at herself, but she wouldn't stand by while anyone insulted the people who had raised her.

A crisp sound rang out in the tense silence.

Before Sarah could even register what happened, Brenna had already moved. A sharp twist later, pain shot through Sarah's wrist so violently that she gasped.

"Ow! My wrist! It hurts!" Sarah cried out. The words barely left her mouth before her footing gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor, all grace and poise gone in an instant.

Silence swallowed the room. Wasn't Brenna supposed to be the plain, submissive girl everyone dismissed? Yet, the move she made had been clean and merciless.

From the sidelines, only Vincent seemed entertained. A faint curve touched his lips. When Brenna made her move, her amber eyes burned bright, like color breaking through a dull world.

"Well, that's new," he whispered to himself. Marriage had never interested him before. The idea of tying himself to someone easy to control had always bored him. But now he realized Brenna wasn't some harmless doll. She was hiding claws.

Sam stood frozen. Brenna had always hovered around them, eager to please and desperate for approval. The girl in front of him felt like a stranger.

"Sweetheart, get up," Sam said to Sarah quickly.

Rage flushed Sarah's face as disbelief took over. "Brenna actually hit me? Her own mother?"

Noreen was also dumbfounded. When the shock faded, her eyes turned red, and she stepped forward with trembling steps. "Brenna, I'm sure you didn't mean to do that. People always say you used to get into fights in that remote, backward place and that you dropped out of school, that you've always had a temper. Just apologize to Mom, alright?"

Brenna simply responded with a nonchalant smirk, "You mean a violent streak? That was nothing. If you're curious, I can give you a better demonstration."

The next second, her arm came up and struck Noreen without hesitation.

The slap landed with full force, and Noreen stumbled before crashing onto the floor. Redness bloomed across her cheek almost instantly.

Moments ago, the guests had been watching with interest. Now, not one of them dared to speak, worried they might be dragged into the mess.

Noreen had planned to embarrass Brenna in front of everyone. She never imagined she would be the one humiliated instead. Anger twisted her features, and she dropped the pleasant act she had been putting on. "Brenna, how could you lay a hand on me?" she screamed.

Calmly, Brenna pulled out a tissue and wiped her palm as if she had touched something dirty. "Can't I discipline a sister who's out of line?"

Her gaze swept across the silent onlookers. "You're all here to witness the engagement, so you should understand something. As the future lady of the Todd family, I speak for them. If I hear anyone spreading nonsense, I won't show mercy."

A chill ran through the room. After all, this was the Todd family's ground. If their future daughter-in-law, Brenna, were insulted here, would they really ignore it? The so-called timid and useless Brenna had just overturned every rumor about her.

"You..." Noreen's face burned red with fury.

Panic pushed Noreen to scan the entrance, and at last, she caught sight of Jeremy stepping inside. "Jeremy, you're finally here!" she cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

As the oldest son, Jeremy had been trained in taekwondo since he was a child. The moment he saw Sarah and Noreen hurt, rage surged through him. "It's fine. I've got this," he said as he moved in front of them. He hadn't planned on attending his ugly sister's engagement party. Never did he expect the day to explode into chaos.

Without hesitation, Jeremy swung his fist toward Brenna. "I'm your brother. I have every right to teach you a lesson!"

Through blurred, teary eyes, Noreen watched with hope rising in her chest. A single punch from Jeremy could leave an average person bedridden for weeks.

But before the blow could land, a red-haired man stepped in and caught Jeremy's wrist midair.

"Tsk. Miss Fuller is Vincent's fiancée now. What makes you think you can start something here?" Felix said as he twisted Jeremy's arm. A sharp crack echoed.

Pain tore out of Jeremy's throat. "My wrist! It's broken!"

The damage was instant. His wrist bent at an unnatural angle.

Once again, the entire hall went quiet.

Even Sam held his breath. Everyone knew Vincent's reputation. Crossing him was never wise.

"I appreciate it," Brenna said, a hint of surprise in her voice. She could have dealt with it herself, yet Vincent had already sent his man to handle it.

"No need to thank me," Vincent said lightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're more than capable on your own."

Depth filled his gaze, and the authority in it made people lower their heads without thinking. He then swept a cold look across the room. "If anyone else feels like stirring up trouble at this party, Brenna won't have to lift a finger. The Todd family will take care of it."

Hearing that, Brenna looked at him and found him unexpectedly reliable for backing her up in public. With a teasing tilt of her lips, she said, "It's fine. If my hands get dirty, I can just wash them. But if someone's heart is rotten, maybe it should be cut out instead."

A dangerous smile curved on Vincent's face. "True. Better to smash that rotten heart completely."

Jeremy held his injured wrist, and fear crept into his chest. Sweat slid down his back as disbelief filled his mind. Were these two out of their minds?

Gradually, Vincent's expression cooled. "My patience isn't endless. You've got sixty seconds to transfer the eight hundred thousand to my fiancée." His voice stayed even, yet a sharp edge hid beneath the calm. "If the money doesn't arrive in time, I'll come and settle the debt myself."

Brenna pursed her lips. The engagement party had already spiraled into chaos, and they had not even gone through the ceremony, yet Vincent called her his "fiancée" as if it had always been that way.

Color drained from Sarah's face. Damn it. This was bad. Once Vincent stepped in, it would not stop at eight hundred thousand. Rumor had it he once broke someone's legs over an unpaid debt.

"Mom, what are we supposed to do?" Noreen said as fear tightened in her chest and she turned to Sarah. Vincent had openly backed Brenna, and Jeremy was already hurt, which made panic slip into her voice. "I can't get my hands on eight hundred thousand... I really can't."

Sarah clenched her jaw so hard that it ached. She knew Sam too well. With how selfish and tightfisted he was, there was no way he would willingly hand over that kind of money.