Ghost Exorciser: The Oust Fake Heiress Strikes-Chapter 256: Reborn
Her voice rose despite herself.
Brenda continued, the words spilling out before she could stop them. "She had wealth, she had brothers, she had everything. Of course, she should have been spoiled."
The moment those words left her mouth, Brenda froze.
A strange realization hit her, making her breath hitch slightly. ’Why does it sound like I’m defending Lana?’
Garrison, on the other hand, frowned deeply. He looked at Brenda with a faintly chiding gaze, his voice dropping.
"You shouldn’t be so kind toward her. Lana is full of schemes. If you’re not careful, she might even take over your life entirely."
His eyes darkened as he continued,
"There are many things she’s done behind your back. It’s better if you don’t speak up for her again."
Brenda didn’t argue. She simply nodded, though something heavy settled in her heart as she did so.
Seeing her compliance, Garrison’s expression softened slightly.
"So, what did you come here for?"
Brenda hesitated for a second before speaking,
"One of the big shots is throwing a party. I got an invitation through my friends."
She lowered her gaze briefly, then added,
"I’ve only been here for about a month, so I don’t really have a suitable ball gown. Can you come with me to buy one?"
Garrison nodded almost immediately. He knew Brenda had enough money to buy whatever she wanted; she was only asking for his company.
There was no trace of disdain in him. From the memories he carried, Brenda was lovable, sincere, and destined to become a powerful Dream Warden. If she had that kind of potential, then she was worth investing in.
"I’ll go with you," he agreed without hesitation.
Brenda smiled, relief and happiness flickering across her face. "I’ll get ready then."
Soon after, the two of them left the Almond family mansion together.
The city lights glimmered as their car pulled up in front of one of the largest malls in the city.
As they strolled through the polished corridors, they soon came across a well-known brand... Perfume. The store’s reputation was impeccable.
Its marketing team was excellent, and the clothes they produced were rumored to have light enchantments woven into them, making the gowns slightly defensive in nature.
Of course, everyone knew the truth. The so-called defensive properties were negligible at best.
Still, the enchantments were enough to justify the inflated prices, which was why Perfume remained a popular choice.
Once inside, Brenda browsed through the racks at first with little interest. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Then her eyes lit up as she reached for a pure silver gown, the fabric shimmering softly under the lights. The moment her fingers touched it, another hand grasped the same gown at the same time.
Brenda looked up.
Her gaze collided with a pair of clear blue eyes. She froze.
For a brief second, her mind went blank. ’How is this possible?’
Standing in front of her was Lana.
Lana’s eyes flickered briefly with recognition. ’I really should’ve checked my almanac today,’ she thought inwardly.
Brenda quickly regained herself and forced a smile. "What a coincidence," she remarked awkwardly.
Lana didn’t respond. She calmly released the gown and withdrew her hand.
Even if she liked it, she had no intention of fighting with anyone over a dress. Turning away, she began to stroll through the store again.
Without realizing it, Brenda followed after her.
Lana let out a silent sigh. ’What kind of trouble am I walking into now?’
Unable to hold back Brenda’s curiosity, she spoke up, "What occasion are you buying a gown for?"
Lana ignored her completely. She had no obligation to answer.
Just then, Garrison returned after finishing a phone call.
The moment he saw Brenda standing near Lana, his expression changed instantly. He rushed over, pulled Brenda behind him, and stared at Lana with clear hostility.
"What are you planning to do?"
Lana burst into exaggerated laughter. "Do I look like some kind of monster who eats people?" she mocked lightly.
Her gaze sharpened as she added,
"If you were sober and actually cared about your sister, you wouldn’t have left her alone even for a second. Why did you walk away in the first place?"
Garrison sneered, clearly thinking he had just heard some kind of joke.
"I just left to attend a call, and you are accusing me?" he mocked. "I think you were following us all along and when you saw Brenda alone you thought of bullying her. "
His words were clumsy, the tone forced, as if he were trying to regain control of a situation that had already slipped from his grasp. Lana glanced at him briefly.
"If you’re so drunk that you can’t think straight," she replied coolly, "you should’ve gone for some hangover soup before coming out. Don’t embarrass yourself here."
Her calm dismissal made the surrounding air feel colder.
She continued walking, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
"I’ve grown quite a bit since leaving the Almond family," she added lightly, not even turning back. "Especially after cutting off all contact with that household. Living on my own terms suits me far better."
Garrison stared at her back with sharp intensity. "Have you been reborn?"
The question slipped out before he could stop himself.
Brenda looked at him in confusion, clearly startled by the sudden question.
Lana, however, stopped and turned around slowly. Her gaze was calm, almost indifferent.
"You really need to drink less," she said flatly. "Or maybe drink more, until you forget how to bother people."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Inside, Lana felt a quiet certainty settle in her heart. ’That confirms it,’ she thought. ’Garrison... and Ashton too. They were reborn.’
The realization made her steps slow for just a fraction of a second.
If Garrison truly retained memories of his previous life, then he would definitely try to disrupt her plans.
Someone as sharp as him would never waste such an advantage.
’I’ll need to move faster,’ she decided, her resolve hardening as she continued forward.
Behind her, Garrison felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest as he watched Lana ignore him so completely.
