Chapter 208: Chapter 206: So That’s How It Is
Perhaps lying quietly like this is also a comfort to Joy.
At least she heard Joy say she was sad and felt Joy’s genuine emotions.
At this moment, Hannah, who was driving, suddenly said, "Why stop talking, did Little Sprout fall asleep?"
"Yeah, she’s asleep." Joy reverted to her usual tone, paused for a few seconds, and said, "I didn’t expect to see you again."
Hannah smiled nonchalantly, "I didn’t expect it either."
Elliana, pretending to sleep, was filled with curiosity. She wanted to jump up and ask, "Do you know each other?" but she was clearly holding back.
Maybe she could hear a different "story."
However, she was wrong. The car remained silent for a long, long time without a single word spoken.
The time stretched on until she gradually lost awareness.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but when she awoke, they had arrived at the old Bennett Family residence.
After getting out of the car, Phoebe came over and said to her, "Elliana, take your friend to stay over at your place first. Her home is still far away. Have a meal and rest, and it will be better to embark tomorrow."
"Yes, Sister Phoebe, you think of everything."
Elliana then went over to pull Tiana, who seemed at a loss.
She said, "Let’s go, Tiana."
She brought Hannah and Tiana back to the small villa, where her mother had once been. Being there again, she felt an inexplicable sadness.
"Tiana, you stay in my room and rest first. I’ll have someone prepare some food for you. I need to go see the elders in the family."
"Okay, thank you, Elliana."
As she was leaving, Hannah, who was supposed to stay, insisted on following her.
Elliana said, "My grandma doesn’t like outsiders, especially those I bring back. Are you tagging along to get scolded?"
"Norman wants me to watch over you. Besides, Grandma Bennet wouldn’t scold me." Hannah said this confidently, leaving Elliana puzzled.
So she asked, "Why?"
"No reason."
She turned her head and started to leave, "Fine, don’t say it then."
Seeing this, Hannah caught up with her and explained, "I was stationed here for training for a week last time. Your house caught fire on the mountaintop, and the blaze was visible from afar. I led the team to rescue you. Your grandma was trapped in the fire, and I was the one who saved her. Afterwards, your grandma held onto me and cried for a long time."
"This..." There was indeed such a fire, five years ago. It burned down the entire old residence, which is why it’s a new structure now.
Elliana hadn’t expected that Hannah had saved her grandma, so she said, "Then let’s go."
When they reached Grandma Bennett’s place, everyone was gathered. They were supposed to visit the mourning hall first, but she was late; her two sisters had already been there.
As soon as she entered, she heard Grandma Bennett’s huff of displeasure, clearly upset about her tardiness.
"Why have you come back? Didn’t you become part of the Bennetts? Abandoning your father, what are you doing back here? Get out, the Bennett Family doesn’t welcome you anymore!"
As soon as she said this, everyone fell silent, Joy and Phoebe looked worried, and even Aunt Belle King seemed taken aback.
Everyone else was just watching the drama unfold.
Elliana looked at Grandma Bennett, who sat in the middle of the sofa, her face furious, her voice booming. Elliana was at a loss for words.
Even if Grandma Bennett never liked her, it was impossible for her to drive her away. Something was clearly off today.
She instinctively glanced at Shawn Lyle sitting beside her and immediately understood; it must have been something Shawn had said.
She remembered the childhood incident when Grandma Bennett had scolded Shawn over something and praised their uncle, making Shawn upset. Shawn cried before Elliana, prompting her to confront Grandma Bennett on behalf of Shawn when she was just a child.
The result was she got beaten and scolded by Grandma Bennett. When she claimed, "Dad told me to do it," Shawn denied it on the spot.
There was another time Shawn was flustered and ran out in the middle of the night. Since the old home was deep in the mountains, vehicles in the garage weren’t often seen, Grandma was scared and yelled at her mother and her.
Elliana knew why Shawn had gone out; he said he needed to clear his mind due to stress when he left.
When she was a child, she spoke whatever was on her mind, so she told Grandma Bennett, "Dad says he’s stressed and needs to clear his mind."
However, Grandma Bennett directly slapped her. The slap was so powerful that half of her face was swollen.
She still vividly recalls the scolding from Grandma Bennett, "It’s all because of you, you jinx. Of course, my son is under pressure! If anything happens to my son, I’ll drown you to appease the heavens!"
"Get out!"
Seeing her in a daze, Grandma Bennett banged her cane.
It jolted her back to her senses, and years of bitterness and grievances overwhelmed her, even though Grandma Bennett was loving toward the other kids.
Only to her, was Grandma Bennett sharp-tongued and uncaring.
Even though Grandma Bennett didn’t like Joy now either, it started when Joy dropped out of military school for a career in entertainment.
So actually, Grandma Bennett didn’t dislike granddaughters in general, just her in particular.
But she never understood why.
Her mother had said that before she was four, Grandma was kind to her, but she never believed it.
Was it really because she supposedly "jinxed" her brother to death?
But that’s just superstition; she was only four years old then, too young to bear such a stigma.
"Okay." She agreed. Perhaps coming back was wrong; the Bennett Family didn’t want her, and coming back only made things more difficult for both sides.
As she was about to walk away, Hannah stopped her and said to Grandma Bennett, "Grandma Bennett, do you remember me? I’m Hannah."
If Hannah hadn’t spoken, Grandma Bennett might not have noticed her. After all, she’s aged and her eyesight isn’t good, coupled with the fact that Hannah was standing by the door and entered only after Elliana did.
When everyone’s attention was on Elliana, they naturally overlooked Hannah.
"Oh my! How come you’re here?" Grandma Bennett had a good memory and would never forget her lifesaver.
So she hurriedly shuffled over to Hannah, even her steps were enthusiastic.
Grandma Bennett stared at Hannah for a long time, excitement shining in her eyes, and said cheerfully, "Oh my, you’ve changed quite a bit, and yet somehow stayed the same."
Her attitude was more joyous than even seeing a biological grandson.
However, Hannah continued holding Elliana’s hand tightly in front of Grandma Bennett and said, "Grandma, I’m here with Elliana."
Grandma Bennett was taken aback. She didn’t understand how this "jinx" knew Hannah, although a bit displeased, she cheerily said, "Oh, that’s good, good."
Next, Hannah steered the conversation, "Grandma, do you want to know how I met Elliana?"
Grandma Bennett was directly led into the conversation by Hannah. She could only ask following Hannah’s lead, "How did you meet?"
"Elliana is the bravest girl I’ve ever met. You might’ve seen the flood at Holy Spring on TV last time, right? We were short on people then, and it was Elliana who notified people to evacuate. To save others, a branch fell on the road and pierced her foot. Thanks to Elliana, no villagers were hurt..."
Hannah’s words were half-true. After all, she couldn’t say it was Little Sprout who discovered the calamity because she’s still puzzled about how Little Sprout knew, some kind of foresight?
Upon hearing about a pierced foot, Grandma Bennett couldn’t help but raise a hand to her mouth. It certainly sounded frightening.
At the same time, she was a bit surprised as she hadn’t expected her granddaughter to have such courage and even save people.