?Chapter 1089:

    Frustration and bitterness overwhelmed Gracie, and she suddenly needed a way to vent. She stood up without warning, pped Waldo hard, then turned and ran away.

    Brenna, having changed her clothes, emerged from the club with Ethan. Her bodyguard quickly approached them.

    “Miss Harper, are you okay?” the bodyguard asked, carefully checking Brenna over for any injuries.

    Brenna answered, “I’m fine. I just needed to set someone straight.”

    Ethan moved quickly to open the car door for her, and Brenna slid into the car. Inside, Brenna spoke bluntly, “Your project doesn’t look like it’s going to work out.”

    Ethan kept his eyes on the road, unbothered by her words. “If the project fails, that’s how it goes. I don’t think Waldo is sincere about partnering with me. He keeps stalling without making a decision. I’m not in a hurry. Your n is already working, and the Mitchell Group’s stock is climbing. Both your brother and Jayceon have been a big help. Even without Waldo’s assistance, everything will be fine.”

    Brenna turned to him and asked, “Why is your mother living at your ce now?”

    Ethan let out a sigh. “I didn’t have much of a choice. My dad mes her for getting Kenny hurt, and now they’re getting a divorce. He won’t let here home or care for Kenny. Out of anger, she packed up and moved in with me. Lately, she’s been busy looking after my grandma, so I haven’t talked to her about it.”

    He nced at Brenna, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Have you seen her recently?”

    A feeling of resignation washed over Brenna; she realized Ethan had no intention of sending Elsa away. Then again, she understood his decision. Elsa was still his mother, after all.

    “I did run into her. She still doesn’t like me, and honestly, I can’t say I like her,” Brenna admitted, making her feelings about Elsa perfectly clear.

    Ethan nodded, knowing exactly how stubborn Elsa could be. “She worries too much about what others think. I’ll talk to her when I get a chance. Maybe I can convince her to mind her own business, pick up a new hobby, and stop meddling in our rtionship,” he said, thinking that Elsa would ept Brenna with time.

    Gracie had settled into Ethan’s old apartment, situated just a short distance from the Mitchell Group’s office. It was close enough that she could walk to work in twenty minutes or take a quick bus ride.

    Since returning from the golf course, she had been in a foul mood, drained and withdrawn, wrapping a scarf around her face to conceal the swelling from prying neighbors.

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    After stepping off the bus near her apartmentplex, she stopped by a pharmacy to pick up some ointment for the swelling, intending to apply it once she was home.

    As the elevator doors slid open, a small gray hamster darted inside before she could exit, startling her into a sharp yelp as she stumbled back. The tiny creature skittered about in a frenzy, clearly as spooked as she was. A young girl in floral-patterned loungewear rushed into the elevator, scrambling to catch the hamster.

    After a brief chase, she finally scooped it up. With gentle eyes, she looked at Gracie and said, “I’m so sorry. It slipped out of my ce while I was feeding it. Did it scare you? I really didn’t mean for that to happen.”

    Noticing the fear in Gracie’s expression, the girl held up the hamster in her palms. “See? It’s adorable and doesn’t bite.”

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