What made it even more unpleasant was that he had not bothered to understand what had actually happened before telling her to apologize.


    Just moments ago, Anneliese had thought he was a handsome, older man who kept himself well-groomed. Now, she didn''t think too highly of him.


    She looked at Gianna. "Mr. Malone, don''t you realize the coffee cup is in your daughter''s hand? If we''re talking about who made the first move, then Ms. Malone started it. Also, this dessert shop has security cameras."


    As she spoke, Anneliese raised her hand and pointed toward the surveince camera mounted overhead not far away.


    Given its position, it should have captured everything that had just happened here.


    Gianna never imagined that, faced with Adrian, Anneliese would still refuse to apologize and even boldly argue back.


    She tugged at Adrian''s sleeve again. "Forget it, Dad. I don''t care about getting an insincere apology from her. Also, she''s getting in our way of buying Mom those desserts..."


    How could Adrian allow his daughter to be wronged like this right in front of him?


    Just a moment ago, he thought Anneliese looked gentle and not particrly annoying. But seeing her speak so forcefully even toward him, an elder, he immediately felt that appearances could be deceiving. His impression of her worsened at once.


    In a low voice, he said, "It seems I''ll have to have a proper talk with the elders of the Fullbuster family about this matter."


    If such a small issue escted to the elders, it would make Anneliese seem


    immature either way, even if she wasn''t at fault.


    Adrian was trying to pressure Anneliese into apologizing.


    She did not want to make things too ugly either. After all, the Malones and Fullbusters were on good terms.


    Besides, Gianna had indeed suffered a loss after getting sshed with coffee. Saying a simple apology would cost her nothing more than a few words.


    Anneliese looked at Gianna. Just as she took a deep breath and was about to apologize, a small figure suddenly darted out from behind her, charging straight at Adrian like a tiny cannonball.


    It was Ellie. The little girl was quick and agile. Before Adrian could even react, his granddaughter rammed into him with her head, making him stumble back a step.


    Gianna, who was standing beside him, was also caught off guard. Her high heel twisted, and she nearly fell.


    "Ellie, what are you doing? How could you run into your grandpa like that?" Gianna eximed. "Dad, are you okay?"


    Steadying herself against the table, Gianna shot a re at Ellie before hurrying over to support Adrian.


    Adrian regained his footing and stared at the little girl who had suddenly appeared, still looking somewhat stunned.


    By then, Ellie was already standing in front of Anneliese. Although the child could not speak, she stretched out her short little arms and nted herself in front of Anneliese, puffing. up her cheeks as she ted angrily at Gianna. Her stance made it unmistakably clear whose side she was on.


    Adrian had not noticed Ellie earlier at all, for she had been hiding behind Anneliese the entire time.


    Now, seeing his granddaughter suddenly rush out from behind Anneliese, looking furious and determined to protect the woman no matter what, truly shocked him.


    Ellie had been diagnosed with


    autism since birth. Over the years, the Malone family had poured immense effort into her care, seeking doctors


    everywhere and


    sparing no expense, doting on and


    coaxing her in every possible way.


    At best, they had only helped Ellie ovee her fear of going outside. Beyond the


    Malone family, she had never shown genuine warmth to anyone else.


    But now, what Ellie was showing toward Anneliese went far beyond simple closeness.


    "Ellie?" Adrian looked from Ellie to Anneliese and back again, still feeling as if he were seeing things.


    Gianna quickly reached out toward Ellie, putting on a gentle smile.


    "Ellie has always been a good girl. You love Grandpa the most, don''t you? How


    could you bump into him like that? Come over here."


    Her words were clearly meant to suggest to Adrian that Ellie had always adored her grandfather, and that the only reason she would act against him now must be because Anneliese had influenced her.


    Meanwhile, Ellie had no intention of going over to Gianna.


    Compared to her aunt, she liked Anneliese much more. Whenever Gianna spent time with her, she''d impatiently brush her off.


    Only in front of her grandparents and father did Gianna treat her differently.


    Anneliese was not like that. She was always gentle and patient with her.


    For some reason, Ellie felt that Anneliese was more like a mother.


    Her own mother must have been like Anneliese too, pretty and gentle.


    Earlier, she had been the one who ran over to Anneliese on her own. Gianna had chased after her, shouting at Anneliese and even trying to grab her.


    Although Ellie could not speak, she wouldn''t allow Adrian to bully Anneliese because of her.


    Not only did she ignore Gianna, but she turned around and hugged Anneliese''s leg again. Even the back of her head seemed to radiate stubborn defiance.