Chapter 1442


    When the servant called for the doctor, Belinda hurried over, only to find Serena sitting on the armchair


    in her bedroom, her eyes red and swollen.


    Belinda couldn''t help but ask, "Serena, what happened to you, my dear?"


    “Grandma.” Serena burst into tears as soon as she saw Belinda, her voice quivering with distress.


    “Did you fall? How did you get hurt like this?" Belinda gently rolled up Serena''s sleeve, revealing


    bruises.


    The family doctor knew at first nce that these weren''t injuries from a fall but from a beating. She was


    shocked; she couldn''t believe that someone dared to hurt Serena, to such an extent.


    This was too much and the bruises looked severe. Should she tell Belinda the truth?


    "What are you staring at? I''m in so much pain, please just help me apply some ointment.” Serena wept,


    trying to control her sobs, “I fell. It was my own clumsiness, Grandma. Don''t worry. it''ll heal in a few


    days."


    Hearing Serena''s words, the doctor didn''t dare to pry further and silently treated Serena''s wounds,


    thinking it was better not to stir the pot. If Serena didn''t want to talk, it wasn''t her ce to force the


    issue.


    “How did you get hurt so badly? Did some of these happen when you were tossing and turning in your


    sleepst night?" Belinda was deeply concerned when she saw the bruises on Serena''s back.


    Serena didn''t dare to confirm or deny, and just tearfully whispered, “It hurts, Grandma"


    "Doctor, please be gentle.” All Belinda could do was watch anxiously.


    Serena, seeing her grandmother''s concern, thought to herself that if her pain could elicit such


    sympathy, perhaps it could even strengthen their bond.


    Meanwhile, Bard came home from work and immediately headed for the study to find Eunice.


    “Eunice, I heard there was some friction between you and Serena this morning. Was it because of what


    happenedst night?"


    At Bard''s question, Eunice looked up from herptop, her voice steady, “I have a feeling she’s behind


    what happened to Be"


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Bard knew Eunice''s intuition was often spot-on, but he had watched Serena grow up and found it hard


    to suspect her without evidence, even though he found Eunice''s suspicionspelling.


    "I know everyone in this family has treated her like a princess and has truly adored her for eighteen


    years,” Eunice closed herptop, stating the facts.


    The time and affection everyone had poured into Serena over the years had be deeply ingrained,


    like a seed rooted firmly in the soil, growing into a towering tree that couldn''t be easily shaken.


    Eunice didn''t want to challenge Serena''s ce in the family.


    “I just feel that the old Serena was innocent and kind, without a hint of guile.


    She was sweet and sensible. But now, she seems like a different person"


    The old Serena wouldn''t use her fragility and tears as weapons; she wouldn''t squander the trust and


    goodwill she had built up over eighteen years.


    But now, she appeared to wield these tools with ease.


    "Mom and Dad haven''t suspected her, and I understand. As grandparents, they can''t just suspect their


    own granddaughter of being malicious without cause. Especially when they''ve watched her grow up,


    believing they know her character, understanding who she is. So we wouldn''t suddenly doubt her just


    on someone else''s say-so, let alone cast her out."


    Even if a pet cat scratches the owner, she''d think it was an ident. Who would believe that the cat


    has ill intentions, plotting to harm its owner?


    Even if one’s own pet cat scratches its owner repeatedly, to the point of drawing blood, she might just


    think it''s misbehaving, not knowing any better.


    At worst, she might scold it or give it a smack to teach it a lesson, but who would throw it out of the


    house, abandoning it?


    That was the dilemma Eunice was facing.


    Serena had been part of the family for far too long. Her identity had been unknown, and the emotions


    and time invested in her couldn''t be negated by a couple of mistakes.


    Eighteen years was a long time. Even if it was a tree nted in the yard, wanting to uproot it all at once


    would make one feel heart-wrenching and difficult to let go.