Chapter 790

Pepper said, "Gianna, I'm sorry. I've let you down for too many years. I saw how much you loved Zane. I saw how many times you cried over him. I just wanted to make it up to you. I wanted to help my foolish daughter..."

Jonathan let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "Ms. Chalmont, you really have a gift for making dirty work sound touching. You've done one shameless thing after another, yet you still manage to wrap it all up as motherly love."

Pepper's lips trembled.

His gaze was too sharp and too cold. She knew that anything she said now would only be picked apart. The more she tried to explain, the worse she would look, so she stopped arguing.

She lowered her head, cried silently, and gently pulled Gianna behind Adrian.

"Adrian, I'm sorry. I lost my judgment and caused all this trouble. I will take responsibility for everything. Once I leave here, I plan to go to the police station myself. The rumors, pretending to be Mary— all of it was my idea."

Gianna finally felt as if she could breathe a little. She looked up at Adrian with tearful eyes.

"Dad, please don't give up on me. I'm scared. I don't know how I became so foolish. I shouldn't have spread those rumors.

"I know I was wrong. You can punish me however you want, but please don't throw me away."

Her face was soaked with tears, and the panic in her eyes was real.

She had always been proud, spoiled, and used to getting her way. Adrian knew that better than anyone. After all, he had been the one who indulged her for more than twenty years.

Seeing the daughter he had cherished for so long crying in front of him, looking so frightened and humbled, his heart still softened.

Her actions were outrageous.

Her ingratitude disgusted him.

Even so, part of his anger faded.

Pepper had also spent years acting gentle, obedient, and harmless in front of him. Before today, Adrian had always believed she was a decent woman.

Now Pepper had taken a step back and offered to carry the blame. Gianna also looked as if she truly understood how badly she had messed up.

Adrian still could not bring himself to cut them off completely.

He spoke into the phone for Mary to hear, then turned slightly toward Derek and Jonathan.

"Gianna is my daughter. Pepper is her birth mother, so she is still connected to the Malone family through Gianna. They made a serious mistake, and I can't deny my own responsibility. I spoiled them, and I failed to discipline them properly.

"I'll send both of them overseas as soon as possible. I'll have people keep an eye on them and make sure they reflect on what they've done. For the next five years, neither of them will be allowed back.

"After this, I'll also prepare formal apology gifts for the Fullbusters and the

Shaymans. I'll come forward personally and make a proper apology.

"For the sake of the friendship between our three families over the years, I hope you can give them this one chance to correct themselves."

Adrian sounded sincere.

After he finished, he bent slightly toward Derek, who was seated on the couch.

He understood Jonathan's temper. Jonathan was young, protective, and clearly willing to fight to the end for Anneliese. Someone his age could act on emotion. However, Derek was different.

He had lived long enough to care about the bigger picture.

No matter what happened, Gianna still carried the Malone family name. Surely the Fullbusters would not completely tear things apart with the Malones over this. fo

The Malone family had business dealings with both the Fullbusters and the Shaymans. Even the branch families were tied together through marriage.

They would still meet in the future.

Derek had to leave him some dignity.

Jonathan was clearly displeased. "Grandpa, Anne is the one who was hurt. She's your granddaughter-in-law. You decide."

Derek gave him a warning look, then turned to Anneliese. "Anne, what do you think?"

Anneliese understood what he meant.

Derek was not really handing the decision to her. He was giving her a chance to speak, so the matter could end without making things impossible for everyone.

Gianna's rumor-spreading was disgusting, but even if they pursued it, it would not be enough to send her to jail.

What Anneliese had wanted most was to strip Gianna of the Malone family protection, yet after

everything that had happened,

Adrian still chose to shield the

mother and daughter.

There was no point forcing it further.

If Gianna could be sent overseas and kept away for five years, at least Anneliese

would not have to see her for a long while.

That was acceptable.

Besides, Adrian would not be walking away for free.

If he wanted to protect them, he would have to bleed for it.

Derek would never let the Fullbuster family suffer a loss. Anneliese was sure of that.

Whatever Adrian paid today, he would eventually take it out on Gianna and Pepper once they returned home.

Either way, Gianna's days would not be comfortable after this.

For now, getting her out of sight was enough.

Anneliese nodded lightly. "I'll listen to you, Grandpa."

Derek nodded once, then turned back to Adrian. His voice became firm.

"Then, add a condition: the mother and daughter must publicly apologize, explain the situation clearly, post on Facebook, and send

it to all WhatsApp groups where the fumor spread.

"Oh, and I don't quite understand all the social media platforms young people are

using these days. Hmm... that one..."