CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 8: YOUNG MASTER GRANT, WHOSE HUSBAND ARE YOU REALLY?

"Dad, do you recognize this string of jade beads?"

Eleanor Winslow pulled up a news article about a jade bead auction at the Kyodan Auction House on her phone and showed it to Eugene Winslow.

"Isn’t this Melody Nash’s?" Eugene Winslow, having been married to Melody Nash for many years, naturally recognized her dowry.

"Could there be a thief in the house?" Yvonne Vance preemptively accused.

All the servants turned pale, each denying it was them.

Eleanor looked puzzled, "The key to the collection room is only with you, Auntie Vance. The servants couldn’t steal it."

"Eleanor, are you implying I took your mother’s belongings? I’ve worked tirelessly for this family all these years. Even though you’re not my biological daughter, I’ve never mistreated you. How can you accuse me so viciously?" Yvonne Vance burst into tears as if she had suffered the greatest grievance.

Eugene Winslow was irritated by his long-time beloved wife’s tears and, seeing Eleanor as the cause, was instantly enraged.

"Smack!"

A slap landed unexpectedly on Eleanor’s face.

"Eleanor, did you not stay long enough at the mental hospital? You come back only to disrupt the family’s peace!" Eugene Winslow scolded, "Don’t you understand that a harmonious family prospers?"

Eleanor’s face burned with pain as she laughed self-deprecatingly.

In Eugene Winslow’s heart, she was the least important daughter. Not sacrificing herself for ’family harmony and prosperity’ was her sin!

"Eleanor, all the imperial green jade looks similar. You might be mistaken," Mia Winslow said, trying to mediate by holding Eleanor’s hand. "Don’t let concern confuse you and falsely accuse someone."

Eleanor felt nauseated and pulled back her hand, restraining the same nausea as she told Eugene Winslow, "Dad, if my mom’s belongings are used by you or given away, I think it’s justifiable. But Auntie Vance is using them without your permission. Today it’s my mom’s belongings—what might it be next? Don’t you think?"

Eleanor’s words struck Eugene Winslow’s selfish heart directly—

Indeed, Melody’s belongings were quite valuable. Why had Yvonne used them without telling him? Was there a lack of trust? Was there an unspeakable use for them? Had this home unknowingly slipped from his control?

Eugene Winslow cast a sinister glance at his wife, crying to him, and immediately ordered the servants to take inventory of the collection room.

Two hours later, the inventory was complete.

Besides the jade beads, nothing else was missing. But Eleanor found several pieces to be fakes, including an invaluable piece of salted fish glue!

"Smack!"

Another slap landed solidly, but this time on Yvonne Vance’s face.

Having lived most of her life, Yvonne Vance was slapped for the first time, and that too in front of her children. She opened her eyes wide in disbelief, even forgetting to cry, "Husband, I, I..."

Eleanor watched calmly, having wanted Eugene Winslow and Yvonne Vance to tear into each other like this all along!

The farce was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

A servant hurried in, "Sir, your son-in-law has arrived!"

Adrian Grant?

Why had he suddenly come?

Eleanor looked surprised in the direction of the door—

The man had refined features and an exceptional aura, dressed formally in suit pants and a shirt, looking as if he had just come from a meeting.

"Adrian, what brings you here?" Eugene Winslow greeted him with a smile, trying to please his son-in-law.

Adrian Grant didn’t answer, his eyes sweeping over Eleanor and noticing the handprint on her face. He frowned slightly.

Eleanor stubbornly turned her face to the other side, hiding her swollen left cheek from the man.

"Adrian, why, why are you here?" Mia Winslow sobbed, as if suffering a great grievance yet pretending to be strong.

"Quite lively," Adrian Grant remarked ambiguously.

Eugene Winslow’s smile held slight embarrassment, "There’s been a little conflict at home, sorry you had to witness it!"

Mia Winslow pressed her lips in aggrievement, as if not wanting the issue to escalate, but still spoke up, "It’s about some trouble with Melody Nash’s belongings. Eleanor came to settle the score. Jude coming home should have been a happy affair, but now... alas!"

Yvonne Vance joined the lament, "Husband, I really don’t know anything about those few fake pieces Eleanor mentioned! I didn’t harbor any selfish intentions at all! I can’t handle the key anymore, maybe return it to you guys! Being a stepmother is difficult!"

Eleanor was about to retort when she heard Adrian Grant say lightly, "Really? Doesn’t sound like a big deal."

Eleanor’s words got stuck in her throat as she looked at Adrian Grant in disbelief, feeling her gaze and heart grow colder.

"Right, it’s nothing major!" Eugene Winslow immediately laughed, "Let’s just drop this and not bring it up again!"

Offending Adrian Grant and affecting business would be the real loss!

Eleanor glanced at Mia Winslow, who was also looking at her. The grievance in Mia’s eyes was gone, replaced by the condescending look of a winner over a loser.

As if to say: Look, what has your uproar achieved?

"Hah!" Eleanor’s cold laugh seemed particularly abrupt.

So Adrian Grant was called in as backup by Mia Winslow!

"Why are you laughing?" Adrian Grant asked, turning to her.

Eleanor looked at him, clearly smiling, yet conveying a chill, the handprint on her face strikingly evident.

"I’m laughing at your timely appearance. With you here, the matter of my mother’s belongings can be brushed aside. Anyone unaware might think you’re someone else’s husband!"

Laughing at her own meticulous planning, unable to compete with Mia Winslow’s distortions!