Chapter 90

Vanessa felt thoroughly humiliated by Arabella's sharp tongue, yet, frustratingly, she couldn't find any real fault to argue with.

"It's been a while, Arabella. You seem to be doing quite well," Vanessa said stiffly, pushing aside her half-eaten meal and sitting down beside the sofa.

Arabella gave her a faint smile, laced with mockery. "We're surviving, thanks to Aunt Meagan's overflowing kindness."

Meagan shot up from her seat, shrieking, "You little bitch! What nonsense are you spewing now?"

Vanessa's expression hardened. "Watch your tone. I heard you snatched the house from Meagan. Have you forgotten we're family? Blood ties don't just disappear. What you've done is heartless. Return the house to her."

Arabella looked genuinely confused. "Snatched the house? Was it even under her name? If I really took something that wasn't mine, why hasn't she

gone to the police?"

Her voice was calm, but every word dripped with biting irony. Vanessa's face twisted in frustration.

"That house was bought by your father," Vanessa said, her voice tightening. "But he's no longer here, and Meagan has cared for you all these years.Why can't you just let her have it?"

"Cared for us?" Arabella gave a short laugh. "You mean Daisy took care of her while she was tormenting Daisy nonstop?"

With that, she tossed a file onto the table-it was Daisy's medical report and her case notes.

Vanessa flipped through the documents, and the more she read, the darker her expression became. With a loud thud, she slammed the papers back in Meagan's direction."What is this?How could you treat Daisy like this?"

"| didn't mean to." Meagan panicked. "She brought it on herself."

"You're her aunt. Couldn't you have shown a little compassion?" Vanessa barked. Her tone sounded angry, but her eyes didn't show much blame.

She then turned back to Arabella, her voice softer. "Arabella, don't worry. Meagan's cleary in

the wrong, and I'll make sure she's punished. But I still believe she didn't mean it. She's watched over you and Daisy for years, anyway. Can't you just let her have the house?"

Arabella leaned back into the sofa and said firmly,"No."

Vanessa looked shocked. "Arabella! Are you really going to disobey your family like this?"

"I'm sorry, Grandma. But if standing up for myself means going against you, then yes-because you're trying to take something that belongs to me," Arabella replied coldly.

Vanessa didn't expect such a direct reply and looked furious. "We're your family! What rights or property are you even talking about? I'm giving you one last chance.Give the house to Meagan!"

Arabella's tone remained calm. "No."

Vanessa was so furious that her chest began to tighten painfully. She clutched it instinctively,and in the next moment, her knees gave out and she collapsed to the floor.

Elissa rushed over and bent down to check on her, glaring up at Arabella. "How could you say that to your own grandmother? You're so

ungrateful!"

Arabella looked down at Vanessa. "My father gave you more than enough. This house included.Please know your limits. If you keep trying to take what doesn't belong to you, l'll take back everything my father gave-in his name."

Her words only made Vanessa more furious. She slowly got up from the floor with rage burning in her eyes. "Your father owed everything to us!Without our help, he would've died on the streets.Don't forget that he was adopted by me! He wasn't even my real son!"

Arabella narrowed her eyes, a bit stunned that Vanessa had actually said it out loud.

Daisy, on the other hand, stood frozen. "Dad...wasn't born into the Stanley family?"

Vanessa's expression darkened with spite as she continued, "Years ago, during a snowstorm, I saw a car slow down and toss something by the roadside. I went to check, and it was a baby,nearly frozen to death. If I hadn't stepped in, he wouldn't have made it through the night. Even though we were barely getting by back then, I still took him in. I gave him food and shelter and raised him like my own."

She locked eyes with Arabella. "So now do you understand,Arabella?

If it weren't for me, your father wouldn't have existed, and without him, there'd be no you! So everything you are, everything you have... it all belongs to me!"

Arabella slowly lowered her head. "So... that's the truth?"

Vanessa raised her chin, proud and certain."Exactly. Now tell me-do you still have the nerve to say that house is yours?"

Arabella said nothing. She just sat there quietly,not giving away a single emotion.

Vanessa softened her tone, mixing sympathy with pressure. "I know this is a lot to take in. But think carefully. We're the only family you've got.Without us, you and Daisy really have no one else in this world."

Seeing both sisters still in shock, Vanessa took the chance to get up. "You two stay here and think it over. I'm going for a walk with Meagan."

She left the room, hoping the silence would be enough to make Arabella change her mind.

As soon as they left, Daisy turned to her. "Do you

think it's true? That Dad wasn't Grandma's biological son?"

"Her attitude makes it pretty clear," Arabella responded, lifting her head. "But no. I don't believe the story she told. I don't think Dad was just some baby she found in the snow."

"Exactly! She's always been stingy. Why would she take in a stranger's child for no reason?"Daisy's hands balled into fists. "Let's just leave.There's no way we're giving her anything Dad left behind!"

Arabella nodded slowly. "We will.But not just yet."Her voice turned sharp, her eyes steady. "I want to find out the real reason she took Dad in."

Just as Arabella had guessed, after dropping the truth, Vanessa thought she was being smart-thinking that dropping a shocking truth and walking away would give them time to regret everything.

But she didn't know Arabella well enough. She couldn't be tricked that easily.

Arabella stood up and led Daisy upstairs.

Their father had bought this house long before they were born.

There had to be something left behind or some clue that could tell them what really happened.