"Mom, this is serious. I just—"


    "Give the phone to Anneliese."


    Penelope cut Elizabeth off without the slightest hesitation. Elizabeth clenched her jaw but did not dare provoke the elder again. After a brief pause, she shoved the phone into Anneliese''s hand.


    "Answer it."


    Anneliese raised the phone to her ear. "Grandma, it''s me."


    Penelope''s voice immediately softened, warm and affectionate. "Anne, sweetheart, are you alright? That trouble-loving mother-inw of yours-did she give you a hard time again?"


    The irritation Anneliese had been holding back loosened all at once. Hearing Penelope casuallybel Elizabeth as a walking disaster, then seeing Elizabeth standing there stiff-faced and furious, the contrast was almost funny.


    She smiled despite herself. The tension in her chest eased, as though someone had gently smoothed it away.


    "I''m fine, Grandma," she said lightly. "You know me. I''m not someone people can push around easily. Even when your grandson annoys me, I push back just as hard. Who told me I''ve got a queen backing me up?"


    Penelope burst intoughter on the other end.


    The sound rang through the quiet private room, bright and unrestrained. Elizabeth''s expression twisted, the lines on her face deepening.


    That old woman could turn ice-cold toward her, yet she treated Anneliese this so- called useless divorced woman-like a treasure.


    It was infuriating.


    "Ah, right," Penelope said once herughter faded. "Anne, yourpetition yesterday—your grandfather and I watched the livestream. You were wonderful. Truly impressive. We prepared a gift for you. If you''re free,e over with Martha. I haven''t seen you in ages. I''ll have Jojoe home at noon, too. Let''s have lunch together, alright?"


    Anneliese had no intention of refusing.


    She had no urgent ns for the day anyway. She was watching Ellie full-time, and that could be done anywhere as long as the child felt safe.


    She nced at the small girl dozing against her shoulder. "Do you remember Great- Grandma Fullbuster?" she asked softly. "I''ll take you to her ce to y, okay?"


    Whether Ellie truly remembered or not hardly mattered. As long as Anneliese was holding her, she was calm. The little girl''s chin tapped lightly against Anneliese''s shoulder, a tiny, rhythmic nod.


    Anneliese smiled and brushed her hair. "Alright, Grandma."


    She ended the call and handed the phone back to Martha.


    "I drove myself," she said evenly. "I''ll head over first. See you there."


    With that, she adjusted her hold on Ellie and walked out without sparing Elizabeth a nce.


    Elizabeth stared at her retreating back, then let out a short, humorlessugh.


    She wanted to see how long Anneliese could keep looking so pleased with herself.


    Martha noticed the chill in Elizabeth''s eyes and tugged at her sleeve. "What were you talking about earlier?"


    Elizabeth had every intention of exposing Anneliese in front of Derek and Penelopeter. She brushed Martha off impatiently. "You''ll find out soon enough."


    She turned and left. Martha grabbed her bag and hurried after her.


    "I did exactly what you asked," Martha said tightly. "I spoke up and tried to mediate.


    If you can''t settle things, that''s not my responsibility. And you can''t take back the painting."


    Elizabeth barely heard her. Her thoughts were stuck on the WhatsApp messages she had seen earlier. She gave Martha a perfunctory nod without slowing.


    Forty minutester, three cars entered the wide courtyard before the vi, one after another.


    Anneliese''s car stopped in the middle.


    She parked smoothly, stepped out, opened the rear door, and unfastened Ellie''s safety seat. "Good job, Ellie," she praised softly.


    She had installed the seat the day before, after promising Wendy she would take proper care of the child.


    During the drive, she had connected


    her phone via Bluetooth and yed children''s stories she had


    downloaded Ellie had sat quietly the


    entire de so obedient it made


    Anneliese''s chest ache.


    Anneliese bent down and lifted Ellie from the seat just as Elizabeth exited the car


    behind her and walked over, voice sharp with contempt.


    "You''ve got some nerve."


    Elizabeth had


    worried Anneliese


    might ditch halfway, so she had followed her the entire route. Yet


    here Anneliese was, having brought


    the quiet little girl straight to the home of the Fullbusters.


    Anneliese did not see how carrying a child counted as audacity, so she did not bother responding. She settled Ellie more securely curely in her


    arms and... headed toward the vi entrance without looking back.