But in the end, even Hunter had to admit defeat to Bellaâs flurry of barbs. Bethany did not dare cause
any trouble and hid behind
Shannon like a turtle that had retreated into its shell.
âGrandpa Nigel!â
Bella walked to Nigelâs side and took his dry and wrinkled hand. She had a worried look on her face.
They looked closer than Bethany was to Nigel. âDid you call me over so late at night because youâre
feeling unwell?â
âDonât worry, child. Iâm fine.â
Nigel looked gently into her clear gaze and patted the back of her hand. âIâm fine. Iâm still healthy.â
Bella sighed in relief. âThatâs good, then.â
âAnna, I actually called you over this time for nothing serious. The main reason is that I missed you and
wanted to see you, but I also wanted to ask⦠What on earth happened between you and Bethany?
How did things get to this point?â
Nigel said earnestly, âBoth you and Bethany are my granddaughters, and I hope you guys can get
along. I feel very worried every time things are blown out of proportion like this.â
But Bella understood that this was Grandpa Nigelâs way of speaking up for his biological
granddaughter, Bethany.
Inexplicably, her nose soured, and she choked up a little.
No matter how well she treated Grandpa Nigel, blood was thicker than water, even if the âobedient
granddaughter â he spoke of was a malicious repeat backstabber.
âThe two days Bethany was in custody were unbearable!â
Shannon took this opportunity to cry out, all choked up, as she hugged a sobbing Bethany. âThey took
turns to interrogate your granddaughter for twenty-four hours non-stop, threatening and scolding her
and not letting her sleep! Lookâsheâs been tortured beyond recognition!â
Bethany did look a lot more haggard and looked even more pitiful as she sobbed.
Nigel had doted on his eldest granddaughter since Bethany was young. Although it was true that
Bethany was not as talented as Bella was or as good at pleasing him, and she rarely visited him after
becoming an adult and living her own life, Bethany was still his biological granddaughter. At his age,
elderly people like him only wished for peace within the family and to enjoy life.
When Justin saw Bellaâs eyes redden slightly and her expression had lost the vitality it had earlier, he
felt an indescribable discomfort.
It was obvious she had been hurt.
He suddenly remembered that in the three years she had been married to him, she had always lived
like an outsider in this house.
At the time, he had not known how to be considerate of her and even hoped this would make her give
up and ask for a divorce of her own accord.
At this current moment, it was like a scene from the past was happening again.
But this time, Justin, who had already missed past opportunities, would not allow himself to miss it a
second time.
Thus, he strode up to his grandfather with a cold expression and a hint of anger in his dark eyes.
Everyone was stunned by his next move.
They watched as Justin lifted his arm and casually wrapped it around Bellaâs shoulders, pulling her
closer in a domineering manner, as if she had always been his wife and they had never divorced.
Bella stared at him with wide eyes as she froze.
âJustin, you-!â
âGrandpa.â
Justin did not give her the chance to break free. His large palm gripped her rounded shoulders firmly.
âInstead of asking Ms. Thompson what happened, you should ask your good little granddaughter
Bethany Salvador what on earth sheâs done.â