Chapter 137 You Are Also Learning to Be Bad
Olivia, seeing Finley's tears intensify, hurriedly stepped forward to console her. "Mrs. Wilder, Finley's condition flared up these past two days, and she was beaten by Miss Sutton. She just started to get better today, and her situation is still unstable. Please don't scare her."
Olivia had spent the night piecing together the events and had a strong suspicion about the culprit. In an effort to appeal to Catherine, she voiced her concern directly. Catherine, however, remained unmoved. "Hollis already informed me about this. Finley was being disobedient, and Hollis, eager to discipline her, overreacted. Hollis has already apologized to me. Finley needs to stop causing trouble. Hollis will be her stepmother in the future."
Hearing Catherine's explanation left Olivia at a loss for words, her pity for Finley deepening. Finley, who had only recently emerged from her shell, risked retreating back into it after this traumatic incident.
Landon and Winston, having overheard the conversation, surmised that this was Finley's grandmother. Undeterred by her status, they immediately retorted, "She wasn't causing trouble! That bad woman hitting a child is wrong! Why do you believe an outsider and scold her? Don't you feel sorry for her being beaten like this? If it weren't for my mommy taking good care of her, she wouldn't have gotten better!"
Catherine, displeased by the children's reprimand, retorted, "What do you know? This is an adult matter; children shouldn't interfere!"
Without another word, she grabbed Finley's arm again. "Look at this family, they have no manners. If you stay here, you'll turn out just as bad. Come with Grandma!"
Finley stood her ground, her arm aching under the pressure, tears streaming down her face, protesting silently.
Despite Riley's earlier resolve to stay out of Finley's affairs, witnessing the child's distress compelled her to intervene. She frowned, meeting Catherine's gaze. "Mrs. Wilder, I've heard you usually show Finley a lot of love. Is this how you express it? Finley is crying so hard, and you won't even consider her feelings?"
Catherine gave Riley a sidelong glance, "Who knows what kind of spell you've cast on my granddaughter!"
As they were at an impasse, the doorbell rang again.
Landon knew it must be his daddy arriving and immediately ran to open the door. Donovan, seeing Landon at the door, was momentarily stunned and then noticed the angry expression on Landon's face. Looking up, he saw Catherine forcefully grabbing Finley's arm while Finley cried sorrowfully.
Frowning slightly, Donovan strode in and pried his mother's hand away. "What are you doing?"
Catherine's face grew colder, "If I hadn't come, my granddaughter would have become someone else's."
With that, Catherine cast an unhappy glance at Donovan.
Leaving Finley in the care of outsiders, such a significant matter, and not even informing her, especially when that outsider was Riley!
Hearing this, Donovan's gaze swept over Riley.
Riley's expression remained indifferent, her demeanor unchanging. The atmosphere in the living room was tense, a palpable silence hanging in the air.
Seeing this, Donovan looked at his mother again and said in a deep voice, "We need to talk."
With that, he turned and walked out of the villa.
Catherine, suspiciously watching Donovan's back, hesitated for a few seconds before getting up to follow him out.
Once they were outside, Catherine did not mince words. Directly confronting her son, she stated, "Let me make it clear: no matter what you say to me today, I am definitely taking Finley with me!"
