Chapter 758 Grudge
When the servant called the doc, Vanessa bolted over as soon as she heard. She spotted Lola on the bedroom's single sofa, eyes all puffy and red. "Lola, what the heck happened to you?" she asked.
"Grandma," Lola whimpered, tears streaming down her face, looking totally crushed.
"Did you take a tumble? How'd you get all banged up like this?" Vanessa rolled up Lola's sleeve, revealing a mess of bruises.
The doc took one look and knew these were from a beating. He was floored, couldn't believe someone had the guts to rough up Lola on Caleb's turf.
He thought, 'These hits are brutal. Should I spill the beans to Vanessa?'
"What are you staring at? It hurts like hell. Hurry up and put on the medicine," Lola cried out, but then added, "I just fell, Grandma. Don't sweat it, I'll be good in a few days."
Hearing that, the family doc kept his mouth shut. He quietly applied the medicine, figuring it was best to steer clear of trouble. If Lola wasn't talking, neither was he.
"How'd you fall like this? Some of these bruises, did you do this to yourself last night?" Vanessa asked, her heart breaking at the sight of Lola's battered back.
Lola didn't dare to confirm or deny, just sobbed, "It hurts so much, Grandma."
"Be gentle with the medicine," Vanessa fretted, pacing anxiously.
Seeing Vanessa's worry, Lola thought it was good to have her grandma feeling sorry for her, maybe it would bring them closer.
Meanwhile, Caleb got home from work and headed straight to the study to find Bonnie. "Bonnie, I heard you and Lola had a spat this morning? Was it about last night?"
Bonnie looked up from her laptop, cool as a cucumber. "I always had a hunch she drugged Abella."
Caleb knew Bonnie's gut feelings were usually spot on, but Lola had grown up right under his nose. Even though Bonnie's words made him suspicious, there was no solid proof yet.
"I know everyone in this family has loved her to bits for eighteen years," Bonnie said, closing her laptop, speaking from the heart.
The time and love everyone had poured into Lola over the years were like deep roots, hard to yank out.
Bonnie wasn't trying to mess with Lola's place in the family.
"I just feel like she used to be all sweet and innocent, but now, she's like a whole different person," Bonnie added.
The old Lola wouldn't have used tears and weakness as weapons, wouldn't have trashed the trust she'd built over eighteen years.
But this new Lola seemed to have those tricks down pat.
"Mom and Dad don't suspect Lola, I get it. Even if we were grandparents, we wouldn't think our granddaughter was bad without a good reason. Especially since we raised her. We think we know her inside out. So we can't just suspect her based on a few words."
Even if you raised a cat and it scratched you, you'd think it was an accident. Who'd think the cat was out to get you?
Even if your cat scratched you a couple of times, even drew blood, you'd just think it was being a little brat. Maybe you'd scold it or give it a light smack to teach it a lesson. But who'd actually throw it out and abandon it?
That's what Bonnie was worried about.
Lola had been part of this family for so long. No one knew her real background, and all the love and time invested in her couldn't just be tossed aside over a few screw-ups.
Eighteen years, man. Even a tree in the yard would be tough to yank out without feeling some heartache.
Let alone an eighteen-year-old Lola who'd been showered with love.
"I'm just scared Abella's getting the short end of the stick," Bonnie said, laying it all out.
She was worried that since Abella came back six months ago, she'd been bending over backward for the sake of family peace and everyone else's feelings.
This family already owed her big time.
If Abella had to keep compromising, it’d be even more unfair to her.
"So, I wanna get to the bottom of this fast. If Lola really did drug her, we need Kimberly to step up and protect Abella."
The longer this dragged on, the more it would mess with Abella.
The more the family loved Lola, the more crushed they'd be when they found out the truth.
That wouldn't be good for anyone.
"Don't stress it. Once we know the truth, it'll be clear who's in the right," Caleb tried to reassure her. "The real nightmare is if the family has to pick between Lola and Abella."
One had been their cherished kid for eighteen years.
The other had been through hell and back for this family.
Just then, a servant came in, "Mrs. Harris, Ms. Abella Medici is back."
"Perfect timing, I need to talk to her." Bonnie got up. "Caleb, let's go down together."
Caleb put a hand on her shoulder as they headed downstairs.
David, in a great mood after transferring everything in the wooden box to Abella's name, was humming a tune as he walked in.
Abella had a faint smile too, happy because David was happy.
"Abella, you're back?" Bonnie greeted her warmly. "I was just about to ask you, what should we do with the gifts Phillipe brought last night? He brought so many, and I haven't even opened them yet."
Just the packaging looked super fancy.
If Lola hadn't lost it last night, Vanessa and David might've met Phillipe and been all impressed.
Abella remembered Phillipe mentioning who the gifts were for last night.
She handed out the gifts, smiling softly. "These are his tokens of appreciation. Please accept them."
David opened his gift to find an expensive chess set, which made him super happy.
Vanessa got a priceless painting, which she instantly loved.
Caleb received a rare antique vase.
Bonnie got a valuable tea set.
Upstairs, Lola was fuming. She hadn't expected Phillipe to drop so much cash on gifts just for a meeting.
'If it wasn't for Abella, he wouldn't have done this.' Thinking this, Lola's hatred for Abella grew. Abella's happiness just made her own misery stand out more.
Suddenly, she realized Henry hadn't contacted her all day.
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