Whatever Elizabeth nned to unleash, Anneliese trusted that once the Fullbuster elders heard it, the truth would surface on its own.
The group entered the vi together.
In the living room, Derek was seated on the couch, flipping through channels, while Penelope supervised the staff as they unpacked souvenirs and gifts from their trip.
"Hello, Mom and Dad."
"Hi, Grandpa. Hi, Grandma."
Elizabeth and Martha greeted them. Anneliese, with Ellie nestled against her, greeted them as well. She lightly patted the child''s back.
"Ellie," she said softly, "say hello to Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma."
The little girl peeked out, lifted her hand in a shy wave toward the two elders, then tucked herself right back into Anneliese''s shoulder.
Children like that-gentle, timid, well-mannered-were exactly the sort Derek and Penelope adored.
Derek motioned her over at once. "Ellie''s here? Come, sit with me. Want to watch cartoons? I''ll put one on for you."
Penelope also beckoned, calling for fruit and snacks.
Anneliese gave Ellie an encouraging nod and gently set her down.
After a moment of hesitation, Ellie walked over and sat beside Derek. He held the remote and spoke to her patiently, while Penelope watched in surprise.
"She''s much more responsive than before," Penelope remarked.
In the past, Ellie had avoided unfamiliar people entirely, as if sealed inside her own quiet shell.
As the elders doted on the child, a shadow crossed Elizabeth''s eyes.
Martha settled into a nearby chair, smiling. "This little one really seems to get along with everyone. If you two like kids so much, maybe you should start urging Jonathan and Anneliese. Who knows-by next New Year, there might be a baby in the house."
Derek''s interest was instantly piqued. His gaze drifted toward Anneliese''s midsection.
"Anne," he said, clearly misunderstanding, "don''t tell me you''re—"
Penelope also looked over, her expression a mix of surprise and faint expectation.
Anneliese stiffened, then shook her head quickly. "No. Jonathan and I aren''t nning on children yet."
Derek frowned, clearly dissatisfied, and opened his mouth to respond—but Penelope shot him a sharp look that cut him off.
Penelope wanted
great-grandchildren as much as anyone, but she respected boundaries. The two had been
married for less than half a year the wedding hadn''t even been held yet. There was nothing strange about wanting time.
She smiled and was about to speak when Elizabeth interrupted abruptly.
"That doesn''t add up," Elizabeth said coolly. "You say you''re not ready to be a mother, yet you''re already raising a child this big. Anyone can see how practiced you are. Or is it that you never intended to give the Fullbuster family a child at all?"
Her words were pointed, her gaze fixed squarely on Anneliese.
Anneliese frowned. "Raising a child?"
Penelope''s expression hardened. "Elizabeth, what are you implying?"
Only then did Elizabeth turn to Penelope and Derek, lifting her hand to point directly at Ellie beside Derek.
"You two don''t know, do you?" she said. "That mute child from the Malone family- she''s Anneliese''s daughter."
The room fell into absolute silence.
Derek froze. Penelope stared. Even Anneliese was momentarily taken aback.
She understood each individual word, but together, they were so outrageous they bordered on insanity.
Martha''s eyes widened in shock. "Elizabeth, that''s absurd. Anneliese is barely in her early twenties. That child looks four or five. That would mean—"
She stopped short, the implication
too ridiculous to finish. For Anneliese to have a daughter that age, she would''ve had to be unbelievably young when she got pregnant.
Anneliese finally recovered. She looked down at Ellie, then back at Elizabeth.
A shortugh escaped her-sharp, incredulous,ced with pure ridicule.
The usation was so detached from reality that it barely deserved a response.