Chapter 789
Earlier, Jessica had told Anneliese that someone had been following her. She had insisted she had already shaken them off and could handle the rest herself.
Anneliese still could not feel at ease.
So Jonathan quietly investigated the people planning to act against Jessica and gathered evidence.
Pepper and Gianna thought that because Anneliese had not brought out the evidence the way she had played the recording, it meant she had none.
They were wrong.
Anneliese simply felt this matter was better handed over to the Shayman family.
The Shaymans would not be merciful. They would handle it far more severely. Besides, it would make the Shaymans owe her a favor.
There was no reason not to do it.
When Pepper and Gianna heard that evidence actually existed, it felt as if another strike of thunder had landed on them.
Their faces went stiff. Their lips trembled, and neither of them could get a proper word out.
Mary had no interest in listening to Pepper’s excuses anymore. Her voice softened only when she spoke to Anneliese, “May I call you Anneliese? I really have to thank you for this. Without you, I wouldn’t even know someone had used my name to set up such a disgusting scheme.
“Jonathan is lucky to have married such a good wife. When you come back to Halden, remember to call me. I’ll invite you for afternoon tea p>
The warmth in Mary’s tone was obvious.
It was completely different from the polite, distant way she had spoken to Pepper and Gianna.
Mary was truly grateful to Anneliese, and she would remember this favor.
This was not just about the Shayman family’s reputation. If this mess had dragged
on long enough, it might have become impossible to clear her name.
More importantly, it could have damaged her relationship with Zane.
Mary had not known Zane was seeing anyone, but during New Year’s, she had barely seen him at home. He had not been that busy with work either.
At the time, she had already found it strange.
Now that she knew Jessica had probably left because someone had threatened her,
it was not hard to guess that Zane had not treated that girl casually.
If Zane later believed his own mother had forced Jessica away, that
misunderstanding would sit between them like a hidden bomb.
The more Mary thought about it, the more shocked she was by Pepper.
They had met several times before, yet she had never realized Pepper could be so vicious.
“You’re too kind, Mrs. Shayman,” Anneliese replied. “I did this for Jess, too p>
After that, Anneliese did not say anything else.
Mary did not continue the small talk either. Her voice turned cold again. “Mr. Malone, your daughter and her biological mother caused this kind of trouble. How do you plan to handle it? Or should the Malone family wait for a lawyer’s letter instead p>
Gianna’s face drained of color the moment she heard those words.
Mrs. Shayman knows. She knows that Pepper is my birth mother and that I’m not the daughter of the Malone family.
For a moment, Gianna felt as though something inside her had collapsed completely. Does that mean Zane and I really have no chance anymore?
Pepper had not expected Mary to be so unforgiving. In a panic, she reached for Adrian’s hand.
Yet, Adrian avoided her before she could touch him.
His gaze was dark, and his voice was colder than ever. “You’ve truly shown me something today. Since you’re so determined to interfere in Giannas affairs maybe I should return this daughter to you p>
Pepper’s expression changed instantly.
She was not naive enough to mistake his words for a proposal, as if Adrian wanted to marry her and give Granna a proper family with both biological parents.
That was not what he meant at all.
He meant he was done with Gianna.
He wanted to cut her loose from the Malone family and hand her back to Pepper.
That could never happen.
Pepper burst into tears. “Mrs. Shayman, I’m sorry. I really am. This was my fault, but Gianna knew nothing about it. You liked her before, didn’t you?
“She has always respected you and
looked up to you. Please, for that alone, don’t blame her for this. Put
everything on me. I take
responsibility for it.” fo
At this point, Pepper no longer had the luxury of worrying about herself.
She had to pull Gianna out first.
As long as Gianna stayed untouched, there would still be a way forward.
After all, there was no proof that Gianna had known about her plan beforehand.
If Mary agreed not to hold Gianna responsible, then Adrian would not be able to abandon Gianna so easily.
Only if Gianna remained in the Malone family would mother and daughter still have a chance to turn things around.
Gianna was also shaken by Adrian’s words.
She could not believe that the father who had spoiled her for more than twenty
years was really willing to throw her away over this.
He was even talking about sending her back to Pepper.
That hurt more than any slap.
Despair and fear crashed over her at once.
Gianna quickly broke into tears. “Mrs. Shayman, I really didn’t know anything. I
swear I didn’t. Aunt Pepper, why would you do something like this p>