The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 100

Annelise stood silently in the crowd, watching the scene unfold.

In her four years living at the Lehman Estate, she had never once laid eyes on that bracelet.

She had only heard Harriet mention it in passing—a legendary, priceless heirloom locked away in the deepest part of the vault, meant strictly for the "most important person" in the family.

It turned out that person was never meant to be her.

The faint curve of her lips turned utterly cold.

The ceremony pressed on.

The final stage of the ritual was the ceremonial toast.

According to tradition, as the younger brother and sister-in-law, Hackett and Annelise were required to approach the stage together and offer the matriarch a toast of respect.

When the MC called their names, Annelise felt the weight of hundreds of eyes snap onto her instantly.

Those stares were loaded with pity, thinly veiled mockery, malicious glee, and pure, unfiltered morbid curiosity.

She took a slow, deep breath, stood up, and plastered on that flawless, impenetrable, docile smile.

She walked up the steps and took her place right beside Hackett, who was already waiting for her.

An attendant brought over a silver tray holding two delicate, steaming porcelain cups of tea.

She picked one up, walked over to Lizzie, and bowed deeply, respectfully offering the cup with both hands.

"Mother, a toast of respect."

Lizzie didn't even bother to look at her.

Her entire focus was squarely on Manuel, who was sitting beside her, happily babbling and tugging at the gold tassels of her dress.

Without so much as a glance, Lizzie casually reached out, grabbed the cup from Annelise's hands, and slammed it down onto the side table.

She didn't let a single drop touch her lips.

Annelise watched Barnum's hand—which had just picked up his coffee cup—jerk violently in the air.

Scalding hot coffee splashed over the rim, splattering darkly across the cuffs of his astronomically expensive, custom-tailored suit.

He slammed the cup down against the table so hard it let out a sharp, cracking sound, the violence of the movement practically screaming his loss of control.

He didn't say a single word.

He simply shot Felix a lethal, bloodcurdling glare, commanding him to handle the chaos outside instantly.

But his tightly clamped jaw and the violently twitching muscles in his cheek entirely betrayed the absolute, terrified panic exploding inside his chest.

Annelise's heart hammered so wildly she could feel it in her throat.

Was he here?

Or was he about to walk through those doors?