Balfour rubbed his brows as his gloomy eyes filled with annoyance. âSo you canât refute Ellinorâs accusations, and you start throwing al tantrum? You think that will prove your innocence?â
Throwing a tantrum?
Her own brother used such a term to describe her.
She was pushed into it by Ellinor. She had to resort to this to win her familyâs sympathy and trust.
However, while her grandparents did pity her, Balfour was no longer as indulgent as before, even going so far as to accuse her.
Tears rolled down Patriciaâs cheeks. âBalfour, I didnât want to⦠Ellinor pushed me to the edge! You saw it too; she blamed everything on me and said I was the puppet master. I⦠I feel so wronged.â
Balfour looked at her seriously. âHer accusations against you arenât baseless.â
Patricia looked hurt. âWhy donât you believe me, but believe Ellinor with just a few words?â
Balfour said solemnly, âThe surveillance footage Ellinor provided proves you lied. You did sneak out to the countryside alone in the morning. Not only her, but even I find it hard not to suspect you after seeing this.â
Patricia looked guilty as she tearfully defended herself, âI just wanted to take a solitary drive to clear my head; is that wrong? I donât even know Ellinorâs stepmother. The photo is doctored, and the person in it isnât me!â
Balfour squinted at his stubborn sister, feeling exasperated. He couldnât hit her, nor could he drive her away.
At this point, Ellinor glanced at her watch and said casually, âMr. Howard, my stepmother, Tracy, and her daughter, Sheila, should be at your doorstep by now. Could you send someone to let them in?â
Balfour paused for a moment, guessing her intention. He nodded and signaled a servant to the door.
After hearing this, Patriciaâs already pale face turned even paler. Ellinor actually brought her stepmother here? Has Tracy betrayed her?
She looked at Xenia in a daze. Xenia also looked terrible as she began to realize that they were seemingly out of options.
Before Tracy and Sheila walked in, Ellinor suddenly stood up and said, âAs everyone knows, I donât get along with my stepmother, so I invited her and Sheila here as Ms. Howard. Now, aside from Ms.
Howard, it would be best if everyone else could step back with me. This way, once my stepmother arrives, we can find out whether Ms. Howard and my stepmother know each other. What do you all think?â
Balfour and Ellinor stood up together, âSomeone, please help my grandparents to the inner room for a rest.â
Dean and Alyssa exchanged glances. They were surprised that the usually aloof Balfour would cooperate with Ellinorâs proposal. This was utterly out of character for Balfour.
However, Ellinorâs request was indeed reasonable. If this could clear Patricia of suspicion and prove that Patricia didnât know Ellinorâs stepmother at all, they were willing to cooperate.
With this in mind, the two elders got up and went to a nearby room to rest.
Ellinor glanced at Patricia, who was still sitting there looking pale, then turned to Xenia. âLetâs go, Mrs.
Howard. Grandpa Dean and Grandma Alyssa have already cooperated and left. If you donât cooperate, it wouldnât be very appropriate.â
Xenia had wanted to stay here with her daughter, but under Ellinorâs urging, she had no choice but to leave.