Anneliese pressed her lips together in silence, her expression stubborn.


    Meanwhile, Jonathan tightened his grip on her hand and solemnly dered, "Grandpa, if my wife chooses to divorce me over this matter, then I''ll have no choice but to leave the family with her. It''s up to you."


    Penelope immediately became uneasy. Rising to her feet, she tugged at Derek''s


    arm.


    "Forget about heading to the study. Just spit it out already!"


    There was clearly more to the story. The Fullbusters already owed them a great debt -one which had brought them immense grief-yet even at a time like this, that d*mned old man was still being evasive.


    If her beloved granddaughter-inw chose to leave the family because of this, she would never forgive him!


    Just the thought of it alone left her beside herself with anxiety.


    Derek sighed.


    Leaning on his cane, he sat back down on the couch and nced at Elizabeth, who was looking very flustered. A look of deep disappointment and disgust shed through his aged eyes.


    "Exin everything yourself, Elizabeth."


    All eyes turned toward Elizabeth.


    Anneliese stared at Elizabeth intently, gripping Jonathan''s hand so tightly that her nails left marks on the back of his hand.


    It was as she had guessed-Elizabeth was connected to the fire.


    With so many eyes on her, Elizabeth felt as though knives were stabbing her between the shoulder des. She was reluctant to recall the events of that night, especially not in front of those younger than her. It was unbearably humiliating. Her face went pale, and her body swayed unsteadily. She raised a hand to press against her forehead, looking as though she might faint at any moment.


    Before she couldplete her performance, Jonathan''s voice rang out, cold and emotionless.


    "Should I call for a private doctor now? Don''t worry you''re not taking a single step out of the living room until you''ve exined everything clearly."


    Though she wobbled again, she ultimately canceled her fainting episode after hearing those words.


    She did not doubt him in the slightest. If she copsed now, he would surely summon a private doctor immediately and have her pricked full of needles.


    Unable to avoid it any longer, she closed her eyes and finally began to exin, "I had a huge fight with your father that night, and I


    smashed quite a few things in a fit of rage was stafter Still upset even after I


    went upstairs, so I called


    Gérard..."


    The vague ount of events made Anneliese scowl in annoyance. She coldly interrupted, "Who is Gerard? Exin clearly."


    Elizabeth red at Anneliese. From the moment Elizabeth began speaking,


    Anneliese had taken out her phone and tantly pressed the record button in front of her.


    It felt as though she was standing before a public trial.


    Already feeling humiliated and indignant, she waspletely enraged by Anneliese''s merciless, interrogative tone.


    "Show some respect for your elders!"


    "Are you an elder worthy of my respect?" Anneliese curled her lips in mockery.


    Seeing Elizabeth about to explode again, Jonathan lost patience and said coldly, "Gerard Dargan-he was my mother''s affair partner. For him, she..."


    Elizabeth had been reluctant to speak clearly because having such matters exposed in front of her children was unbearably shameful, stripping her of all dignity.


    Especially since the daughter-inw she despised and scorned was among them, too.


    She never expected Jonathan toy out everything-without shielding or defending her in the slightest—in a calm, detached tone, revealing everything she couldn''t bring herself to say.


    Her emotions instantly erupted. She yelled at him, "Shut up, Jonathan! Is this how a son should treat his mother? Parents are never wrong; how dare you..."


    Penelope couldn''t stand to watch Elizabeth reprimanding her beloved grandson. mming her palm down on the coffee table, she rebuked Elizabeth angrily.


    "There are plenty of parents who are wrong! Afterpletely humiliating yourself in front of the children, you''ve now resorted to using your seniority to suppress them which part of what Jonathan mentioned was wrong? If you dared to do something, then you shouldn''t me the child for exposing you!"


    Elizabeth turned toward Penelope, whose eyes were icy with disgust and anger, her face burning with shame.


    "Mom, that was so many years ago! Besides, you can''t me everything on me. Keh was at fault first! only wanted to get back at him. You can''t just pick on my mistakes while turning a blind eye to your own son''s reckless behavior..."


    Penelope raised a hand, interrupting Elizabeth mid-sentence. "I think we have been too lenient with you. We should''ve kicked you out of the family a long time ago, then we wouldn''t have to deal with your growing resentment now."