It was as if she were saying that Adrian and Gianna were bullying the prettydy she liked, and she refused to pay them any attention.


    "Ellie!" Gianna snapped. Feeling embarrassed and remembering that today''s humiliation had all started because of Ellie, she lost control of both her volume and


    her temper.


    At once, everyone in the dessert shop turned to look.


    Anneliese immediately noticed how Ellie began trembling under all the attention.


    "You''re so brave, Ellie! Thank you for protecting me!"


    Anneliese quickly crouched down and pulled Ellie into her embrace. She gently patted the child''s back and spoke in a soft, soothing voice.


    Held in Anneliese''s arms, breathing in her warm, pleasant scent, Ellie''s trembling soon eased. She only burrowed even deeper into Anneliese''s embrace.


    Seeing his granddaughter frightened, Adrian stepped forward with concern, then swept his gaze sharply around, forcing those staring eyes to back off.


    When he turned back, Ellie had already calmed down.


    In the past, whenever his granddaughter was frightened, she would lock herself in a closet and ignore everyone, sometimes refusing to eat or drink for an entire day.


    How did Anneliese manage to soothe her so easily?


    "Dad, Ellie is just..."


    Seeing this, Gianna felt both disbelief and a renewed surge of that deep, uneasy panic.


    She hurriedly looked at Adrian. As expected, she saw him staring at Anneliese with clear astonishment, and the stern anger from earlier had vanished.


    Gianna immediately spoke up.


    Before she could finish, Adrian cut her off with a look. "That''s enough, Gianna." Seeing the positive effect Anneliese had on Ellie, Adrian intended to end the matter here and not make things difficult for Anneliese any further.


    Gianna was exasperated, but she also knew there was no point in pressing the issue anymore.


    Looking like she''d been treated unfairly, Gianna said, "If Ellie likes her this much, then I''m willing to let bygones be bygones. I just hope she''s willing to spend more time with Ellie."


    "Good. That''s nice of you," replied Adrian as he patted Gianna on the shoulder, though his gaze remained fixed on Anneliese and Ellie.


    Compared to the small grievance his daughter had suffered, his granddaughter''s condition was far more important.


    If Anneliese could truly help his granddaughter ovee her autism then no matter what


    Anneliese had done in the past, the


    Malone family would be willing to treat her as an honored guest.


    Seeing that Adrian did not even spare her a nce and had eyes only for his precious little granddaughter made Gianna feel even worse.


    She had once been the Malone family''s only little princess, and everyone doted on her since childhood.


    But ever since Steven brought Ellie home, everything had changed. Ellie was the only grandchild and also a sick child, so more and more of the family''s attention shifted to her.


    Even Gianna, simply because she was the aunt, was expected to give in to her and dote on her.


    The day Steven carried Ellie home had even coincided with Gianna''sing-of-age ceremony.


    The long-anticipated banquet meant to celebrate her adulthood ended up marred because of that. From then on, Gianna could not bring herself to like Ellie.


    What was more, Ellie was nothing more than an illegitimate child with an unknown mother. The fact that she could return to the Malone.


    family was already pure luck, so why should she be the family''s treasured darling?


    At this moment, Gianna felt so sick with anger that she could hardly stand it. She lowered her gaze, watching as Anneliese held Ellie with cold hostility in her eyes.


    Sure enough, every one of them was equally detestable!


    Having been soothed by Anneliese, Ellie rubbed her small face against Anneliese''s chest, as if reassuring the woman that she was fine now.


    It was also as if she felt a little shy, embarrassed by her own actions.


    Anneliese''s eyes were full of warmth. While holding Ellie, she stood up and finally turned to look at Adrian.


    Adrian asked curiously, "Have you met Ellie before?"


    His voice was noticeably gentler, and the sternness from earlier was gone.


    Anneliese remained calm and nodded. "We met at Mr. and Mrs. Golding''s Silver Anniversary. Ellie is very adorable, and we get along well."


    Adrian did not know about the incident where Ellie had gotten lost that day, and how Anneliese had found her.


    He was surprised to find out it was only Anneliese and Ellie''s second encounter.


    For Ellie to depend on her like this after only a second meeting-if Anneliese had not already married Jonathan, seeing her holding Ellie like that almost made Adrian want her to give things a try with Steven instead.


    "Ellie, do you really like her?" Adrian asked gently.


    Still remembering how Adrian had demanded an apology from Anneliese, Ellie


    shifted her little bottom, turned her head, and shot him a re.


    She then turned around, wrapped her arms around Anneliese''s neck, and buried her


    small face against Anneliese''s shoulder.