The Malone family''s residence in Oceaton was located here.


    Gianna hurried into the vi.


    Adrian happened to be lounging in the living room, engrossed in the financial news on his iPad, when her hurried, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. The sound made him look up in surprise.


    "Gianna? What happened to you?"


    She looked utterly disheveled her clothes rumpled, her hair tangled, and her face drawn and haggard. Before entering the house, she had deliberately messed with her outfit, tousled her hair, and scratched her face, leaving two bright red welts on her cheek. Her appearance was aplete wreck.


    "Dad!" she wailed, sobbing, tears streaming down her face. "Dad, I''ve been bullied!"


    He sprang to his feet, rmed. Without a moment''s hesitation, she threw herself into his arms, and he held her close, patting her back gently as he tried to soothe her.


    "Hush, don''t cry. Tell me, who bullied you? I''ll definitely make them pay!"


    At that moment, Pepper walked out carrying a te of freshly cut fruit, dressed in casual loungewear that made her seem gentle and soft.


    The sight of Gianna sobbing in her father''s arms startled her. She immediately set the te down on a nearby table and hurried over.


    "What''s going on?" Her voice overflowed with concern.


    "Aunt Pepper!" Throwing herself at Pepper, Gianna broke into huge sobs. It took a long time of coaxing before she calmed enough to choke out the story.


    "That woman was the one who shoved Anahi first!


    "At the time, Anahi was bleeding so badly. It was terrifying. I was so shocked by the blood that I didn''t even realize she was only pretending. When we were brought to the police station, I just wanted to stand up for my friend, and I admit—I may have been a little harsh with my words.


    "It turned out she''s a friend of Jonny''s new wife, Anneliese. The two of them were so slick and persuasive, speaking so charmingly that Jonny believed everything they said. They even managed to fool Steven! He didn''t help me, even when he arrived at the station."


    Her tears fell harder, her voice thick with unspoken grievances. "I was held at the police station for nearly an entire day and night!"


    "Anneliese?" Adrian frowned.


    He knew Jonathan had married recently, though little was known about the bride— her background was obscure, her origins aplete mystery.


    He could never have guessed that she possessed such cunning.


    "I met Anneliese when I was visiting my sister the other day." Pepper gently dabbed


    at Gianna''s tears, her voice soft andforting. "She is quite a troublesome woman indeed."


    He nced at her, slightly astonished. "Why was she at your sister''s ce?"


    "She fainted after walking into my sister''s car. You know my sister''s personality-she''s always so trusting never wary of others. She gave small sigh. "She brought Anneliese home and even called a private doctor to treat her


    "Gianna and Lhappened to drop by at the time Anneliese, exploiting my sister''s fondness for her, was shockingly rude to us behind her back. I don''t know, now, but she managed to gain my sister soplete trust-and even made Gianna cry. She truly is a very crafty woman."


    Though she didn''t say anything outright, her words strongly suggested that Anneliese had recognized Wendy and intentionally orchestrated the ident to get closer to her sister.


    His frown deepened at those words. "Jonathan has always been shrewd and ruthless in business—but I never expected him to be such a mess in his personal life."


    She sighed again. "It''s only natural that you can read a woman''s intentions at a nce, Adrian. Mr. Fullbuster is simply too young to have developed that level of insight. And, of course, Anneliese is very beautiful."


    As soon as he heard that Anneliese was gorgeous, his irritation spiked.


    "I''ll call Steven immediately and give him a proper scolding! How could he fail to protect his own sister and side with someone else instead?


    Adrian grabbed his phone to dial Steven''s number, but Gianna quickly rushed over and grabbed his arm.


    "Let it go, Dad. Steven''s working right now anyway. His only fault was trusting Jonny too much and thinking that disciplining me was the right move. I won''t hold it against


    him.


    "Besides, Jonny has assigned


    Anneliese to the sameb as me. Soon, she''ll even bepeting in thepetition you''re


    sponsoring the same me I''m entering. We''ll be seeing each other all the time. I don''t want to make a scene; it could hurt the rtionship between the Malones and the Fullbusters."


    Rubbing her swollen eyes, she made herself appear as pitiful as possible. "It''s alright now, Dad. I''m feeling better after crying it out. I''m exhausted, so I''ll head to my room to rest."


    Her wilted posture desperately enduring the grievance for the sake of peace- stabbed him deeply.


    He thundered, "She was even assigned to yourb? We can''t just sit back and do nothing. If we don''t teach her a lesson, she''ll think the Malone family is an easy target. She''ll just keep bullying you!"


    Grabbing his phone, he barked instructions to his assistant, "Check whether there''s a contestant named Anneliese ude in the uingpetition, and cancel her eligibility immediately!"


    "Dad....." She squeezed his hand tightly. "Won''t Jonny get mad? Anneliese is good atining."


    He grunted coldly. "No matter how capable he is, he''s still younger than me. Do you think I''d be helpless against his wife?"


    "You''re the best, Dad!" Snuggling into her father''s arms, she affectionately nuzzled


    him.