Chapter 763

"If that girl hadn't been so gentle and forgiving, and if she'd cut off contact with Ellie over this, you truly would've earned the title of Worst Grandfather of the Year."

Adrian adored Ellie, his only granddaughter, and hoped she would recover quickly and become a healthy, happy child.

At Steven's words, regret and discomfort flickered across his face. He knew he'd acted impulsively by making that call.

After sharp rebukes from Anneliese and Jonathan, now even his own son was calling to lecture him.

To Adrian, it felt like being slapped again and again by the younger generation. Humiliation and anger surged through him.

"That's enough!" he snapped. "That girl's too young and isn't trained in child psychology. For all we know, she may not even know how to care for Ellie. Maybe Ellie's speaking was just a coincidence, or maybe the psychologist's treatment finally started working.

"If necessary, we can hire more pediatric psychologists. With rumors spreading, it's not appropriate for Ellie to spend so much time with her. They should have less contact until the gossip dies down, before it affects the Malone and Fullbuster families."

A cold, mocking glint flashed in Steven's eyes.

Anyone could see how much Ellie's condition improved around Anneliese. Adrian must have noticed, too.

But now, too proud to admit it, he suddenly gave all the credit to the psychologists? Steven tapped the desk lightly.

"I'll handle Ellie's treatment myself. Maybe these rumors were meant to separate Ellie from Mrs. Fullbuster in the first place."

Adrian frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

But Steven didn't elaborate further. Instead, he said, "I called to remind you to prepare a proper apology gift and send it to The Banyans."

With that, he hung up directly.

Adrian's expression darkened with anger as he slammed his phone heavily onto the desk.

...

At that moment, a gentle female voice spoke beside him.

"Did you argue with Steven again? He's busy with work and raising his daughter alone, so it's normal for him to lose his temper sometimes. Deep down, he still respects and cares about you as his father Don't" stay angry with him. Oh, I made this soup with winter melon and barley. It's supposed to help reduce internal heat. Drink it while it's still hot."

The speaker was Pepper.

She had arrived about five minutes earlier, carrying a thermos. Since Adrian had been drinking the night before, she worried his stomach problems might flare up today.

On top of that, the burn injuries on his body still hadn't healed, and he hadn't brought his ointment with him, so she came personally to deliver both soup and medicine.

Adrian accepted the bowl from her, his expression easing slightly.

"If he hadn't kept his mouth shut all these years and refused to say who Ellie's mother is, would I have misunderstood things and called to ask about it? And now he's lecturing me over it, too. That boy has done nothing but give me headaches!"

Pepper watched him toss the spoon back into the bowl after only two bites and spoke softly.

"So that means Anneliese really isn't Ellie's biological mother?"

"Probably not." Adrian rubbed his temples tiredly.

If Anneliese were really the child's mother, Steven wouldn't be taking it so calmly.

And Jonathan certainly wouldn't still be letting Anneliese and Ellie see each other. So it's probably just rumors with no basis after all.

Pepper let out a relieved breath, her tone noticeably lighter.

"That's good then. Ms. Claude is still so young. If she really were Ellie's mother, Steven's future would've been completely ruined. Thankfully, it's only rumors."

Adrian nodded and pushed the unfinished bowl of soup aside.

"I'm not hungry anymore. I still have another meeting later..."

Pepper didn't push him to eat. As she cleaned up, she casually brought something

up.

"Adrian, Gianna hasn't been herself

since the competition. And after finding out she's not biologically yours or Wendy's, she's cried alone so many times. It honestly breaks my heart seeing her like this Wh don't I take heron a litue trip for a few days, just to get her mind off things? "

In the past, although Adrian allowed Pepper to visit the Malone Residence and look

after Gianna, he had always regarded Gianna as his and Wendy's daughter. Because of that, he never allowed Pepper and Gianna to become too close for too long.

Something like taking her away on a trip together would never have been permitted before. Deep down, he still wanted Gianna to sincerely see Wendy as her mother.