Chapter 792

Gianna's tears broke through again, her heart heavy with resentment.

How could twenty years of growing up together mean so little?

She had only slipped up once, done one small thing that hadn't even affected Steven. Why couldn't he just show her some grace? She was already mortified, crushed by the weight of this indignity, yet Steven was joining forces with an outsider to humiliate her further. It felt like death by a thousand cuts-cruel and never-ending.

Anneliese gave Steven a small nod, signaling her approval of the apology.

Only then did Steven look back at Gianna. "Now sync it to your other platforms."

Gianna bit down on the inside of her cheek so hard she tasted copper. It was the only thing keeping her from screaming or losing her mind. With trembling fingers, she logged into her other socials and hit post.

Ever since she'd updated her Facebook status, her phone had been buzzing incessantly.

She didn't need to look to know what kind of feeding frenzy was happening in her DMs. Everyone would be talking about her, mocking her, and looking down their noses at her. She had become the biggest joke of the day—no, probably the biggest joke of the year.

The irony wasn't lost on her; she was being torn apart exactly the same way everyone had been gossiping about Anneliese in the group chats earlier.

And once those Twitter posts went live, the entire internet would be laughing at her expense.

Gianna couldn't bear to see it. As soon as the last one was uploaded, she jammed the power button and forced the phone to shut down.

Pepper posted a similar status to her own Facebook. With a dismissive wave from Derek, Adrian finally led Pepper and Gianna away.

Wendy and Steven, however, were asked to stay behind.

Looking deeply apologetic, Wendy took Anneliese and Penelope by the hands. "I need to apologize to you, Anneliese, and to the Fullbuster family."

No matter the circumstances, Gianna was her niece, and Pepper was her sister. Moreover, Anneliese had only been dragged into this mess because she was trying to treat Ellie.

Anneliese cut her off quickly. "Madam Chalmont, this has nothing to do with you. There's no need to apologize. If you keep this up, I'll think you're treating me like a stranger, and then I'll really be upset. Right, Grandma?"

Penelope nodded in agreement. "You are you; they are they. Ellie hasn't woken up yet, so neither you nor Steven is allowed to leave. You're staying for dinner-I won't take no for an answer."

Wendy didn't push back further and accepted with a smile.

After all the drama, Derek and Penelope were exhausted and excused themselves to rest.

Anneliese tucked her arm through Wendy's and invited her upstairs for tea.

Once they were settled on the couch in the small upstairs sitting room, Anneliese poured the tea, then suddenly remembered something and stood up.

"Madam Chalmont, wait here a second. I have something to show you."

Anneliese stepped out and returned a moment later with a drawing, which she handed to Wendy. "Take a look at this."

The moment Wendy took the paper, she recognized it.

It was Ellie's work.

The four women in the drawing were rendered with such vivid detail that they seemed to come alive.

Anneliese smiled. "I'm sure you can tell who everyone is."

Wendy pointed to the figures with a soft laugh. "This is Ellie, and this one with the hair pinned up is clearly me. The one with the long, gorgeous curls is you. And this last one..."

Wendy's gaze lingered on the final woman the one holding Ellie's hand with a gentle expression and a graceful, quiet aura Wendy let out silent sigh.

"Is this how Ellie imagines her mother?"

Anneliese nodded. "Yes. That's the mother Ellie carries in her heart."

Wendy sat in silence for a long time, staring at the drawing.

"Madam Chalmont, while she was drawing this, Ellie spoke again. She pointed to this woman and called her 'Mom'."

Wendy looked up, startled, her eyes searching Anneliese's for confirmation.

Anneliese gave her a firm nod. "I think the reason Ellie refuses to speak is tied to her mother. Do you... have any idea where her mother might be?"

Wendy's grip on the paper tightened, the edges beginning to crinkle under the pressure.

Steven had never told her who Ellie's biological mother was. However, as Steven's mother, she knew her son

well. Over the last few years, she had

put the pieces together.

A look of profound sadness and weariness crossed Wendy's face. She stared at the

drawing for a few more seconds before finally looking up at Anneliese.