"Ellie is still so little, and she can''t speak. Even if Anneliese said or did something to her, we wouldn''t know.


    "In my opinion, your decision to let Anneliese spend more time with Ellie is still too hasty."


    Adrian gently patted Ellie''s back. "Ellie is very sensitive. If Anneliese had any ill intentions or treated her badly, Ellie wouldn''t trust her or be this close to her."


    With a child like Ellie, she was never without caretakers, nannies, tutors, and psychologists around her.


    Even though everyone in her circle had been carefully selected by the Malone family, it was still possible for someone with bad character to slip through.


    When Ellie was just over two, there had been a nanny skilled at deception who secretly beat and scolded her. Ellie had resisted her strongly and would hide behind adults in terror whenever she saw her.


    Last year, a private tutor had spent a long time teaching Ellie to ept her. But within two months, the tutor''s ulterior motive was exposed, and Ellie realized she wanted to get closer to Steven.


    The tutor had sneaked into Steven''s room, and Ellie had broken a vase, making a hugemotion.


    Although Ellie had autism, she was sensitive, perceptive, and able to protect herself.


    Adrian knew all of this, so he trusted his own judgment and didn''t easily believe what Gianna said.


    Gianna pointed at the stains on her clothes. "But Dad, you saw it yourself. Anneliese isn''t exactly a patient person. She may be nice to Ellie now, but who knows what her intentions really are? If she ends up hurting Ellie, it would be toote.


    "Ellie just started trusting people. If she finds out that Anneliese has some hidden ulterior motive, she''d feel hurt. Have you forgotten what happened with that female tutorst year?"


    Although that tutor was eventually fired, Ellie''s autism had worsened significantly during that period, and it took multiple visits to a psychologist before she gradually improved.


    Adrian recalled all of this. His brows furrowed slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment.


    "You make a fair point. I''ll have someone look into Anneliese," Adrian responded.


    Then, he looked at Gianna. "It''s good of you to think so much about Ellie."


    Gianna snorted. "Dad, I''m Ellie''s real aunt. Haven''t I always cared about her?"


    Adrian smiled and ruffled her hair. "My bad. Today, because of Ellie, you had to put up with all that drama."


    Gianna snorted again. "Fine. If Anneliese is able to help Ellie, this little grievance of mine isn''t a big deal."


    She looked out of the window, her eyes slightly red at the corners.


    Adrian, who had been thinking about Ellie, recalled that he had once seemingly instructed his


    subordinates to revoke Annelieses


    Competition qualifications. He


    wondered if he should withdraw that order.


    Seeing Gianna looking so wronged, he decided to let it go.


    When the time came, and Anneliese discovered that her qualifications had been revoked, she would naturally seek help from the Malone family.


    Restoring her qualifications then would create a sense of obligation,


    making it easier and more na Ellie


    for her to spend more time


    and cooperate in her treatment.


    Gianna, staring at her reflection in the window and the mess on her clothes, felt a rising sense of malice.


    Anneliese had treated her so badly, yet Adrian hadn''t stood up for her at all. Instead, he only thought about his little granddaughter!


    Was she even his biological daughter? How could he be so biased?


    Her mother had also defended Anneliesest time, leaving Gianna at home to cry in frustration.


    Both her parents had stood up for someone else...


    Gianna clenched her fists, and the faint, uneasy feeling rose again.


    Soon, the car arrived at Wendy''s vi, and Adrian stepped out with Ellie in his arms.


    Hearing themotion, Wendy came out from the living room to greet her little granddaughter.


    She was dressed in a plum-colored outfit, her hair tied in a low bun with a single wooden hairpin, looking elegant and gentle.


    Her smile, however, faded when she saw Adrian holding Ellie.


    "Did you receive my New Year''s gift, Wendy?"


    Adrian didn''t seem to notice her cold attitude, and he smiled warmly.


    He made it a point to give Wendy a gift every holiday. Even though she returned them every time, he still believed that if he persisted sooner or fater she would ept his gifts-and perhaps return to his side.


    Wendy reached out for Ellie, her voice cold. "I''ve sent it back. Hand over Ellie, and you may leave."


    There was no way Adrian would leave.