6: First Day of Family Reunion, and She Already Knocked Out Grandma

The antique-styled bedroom was crowded with people.

Eleanor Richmond lay on the bed, being assisted by Isabella to take her medicine. She was able to breathe a little more easily now, but her condition remained dire, her face ashen and grim. She didn’t even want to open her eyes, only holding Isabella’s hand weakly as she spoke, “Margaret, I don’t care if you buy her a house in L.A. or send her abroad to study, I don’t want to see her in the Richmond Family ever again...”

Margaret Richmond’s face was equally unsightly at this request, and she was just about to say something when the old lady suddenly opened her eyes, slapping the bedside angrily as she glared at her. “Are you trying to kill me? Bella saved my life when she was just three years old, crying until her voice was hoarse to get help when I was nearly poisoned by gas. Do you want your other daughter to finish the job and send me to the grave?!”

This was too severe an accusation, and Margaret Richmond turned her head to look at Sophia, who was leaning casually against the wall, watching the scene from a distance with an indifferent expression.

Normally, such an attitude would be off-putting, but seeing the way others were whispering and pointing at Sophia, Margaret Richmond inexplicably felt a sense of unease.

“Mother, what are you saying? I’ll have a good talk with Sophia, you don’t need to—”

“Talk about what? What’s there to talk about! She clearly doesn’t want to acknowledge me as her grandmother or you as her mother! You...”

“Hey—” Sophia, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised her head and spoke loudly, “I never said I wouldn’t acknowledge my mother. It’s just that I won’t acknowledge you. After all, my mom hasn’t personally said that Isabella is her biological daughter.”

Everyone was left dumbfounded as Sophia even straightened up and took a step forward, staring directly at Margaret Richmond. “So? Do you want to be like that old lady and say Isabella is your real daughter? If that’s the case, then I have to admit, I came to the wrong place.”

Margaret Richmond was stunned.

Isabella was also frozen.

She turned to look at Margaret Richmond, her eyes reddening in disbelief as she called out in a tearful voice, “Mommy?”

But Margaret Richmond didn’t dare look back.

She was trapped by the pair of pitch-black eyes in front of her, just as she had been unable to finish her scolding earlier. Now, she didn’t dare glance even once at Isabella.

The person standing opposite her didn’t seem like the poor daughter she had lost years ago, but rather a cold, detached examiner, ready to fail her at any moment and kick her out of the game—though Margaret couldn’t quite understand where this feeling came from, she instinctively knew that she didn’t want to be kicked out.

Margaret Richmond hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “Sophia, you don’t need to be so hostile toward Bella. After all, we’ve raised her for twenty years, and even if there’s no blood rela—”

“Margaret!”

“Mother!”

The old lady and Isabella’s voices rang out simultaneously, cutting off Margaret Richmond mid-sentence.

But the few words that had already been spoken were enough for those relatives who weren’t in the know to show shocked expressions.

Eleanor Richmond began gasping for air again, her breaths coming in great heaves as she forced out, “Get rid of her! Throw her out! If she won’t acknowledge me as her grandmother, then the Richmond Family won’t acknowledge her as a granddaughter either! Get her out of here!”

Having exerted herself to shout, the old woman clutched her chest and collapsed back onto her pillows.

In the midst of the chaos, the door swung open, and with the respectful greetings of “Sir” and “Mr. Richmond,” a man strode into the room. He bent down to check on the old woman’s condition.

Isabella took a half step back, timidly whispering, “Daddy.”

The man straightened up, instructing the doctor to take care of the old woman, then swept his gaze over the room. “Why are you all crowded in here? Don’t you know the old lady needs rest?”

The peripheral relatives, feeling awkward, shuffled out of the room, leaving only the immediate family members behind.

The old lady gripped the man’s hand, saying, “I can’t deal with this new daughter of yours, Alexander Richmond. It’s either her or me in this house. From now on, my only granddaughter is Bella! If you dare keep her in the Richmond Family, you might as well start preparing for my funeral!”

Having said her piece, she closed her eyes, signaling she was done with the conversation.

The man’s expression remained unchanged. “Mother, you should rest.”

Then he turned, glancing at Isabella before surveying the room. “Let’s move to the next room.”

·

The Richmond Family’s tea room was spacious, perfect for family meetings.

Alexander Richmond, the current head of the Richmond Family and chairman of the Richmond Group, sat at the head of the table in a sharp suit. He took a sip of tea that a servant had brought him before finally looking up at everyone.

Margaret Richmond hurried forward, grasping his hand like she had found a lifeline. “Haichuan, Sophia just came home, so it’s normal that she doesn’t know the rules yet. She didn’t mean to upset Mother...”

Isabella stood silently to the side, clenching her hands. The cousin with the bloodied forehead, however, couldn’t hold back anymore. “Auntie, she clearly did it on purpose! And she’s so hostile toward Bella...”

“What happened to your head?” Alexander Richmond interrupted, pointing at the blood on the cousin’s forehead.

The cousin shot a resentful glance at Sophia. “It was Sophia! Uncle, she’s gone too far! She...”

“Enough, you can leave now. This is Richmond Family business; why are you, a Fields, meddling in it?”

The man waved him off, his expression showing a hint of impatience. The cousin’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked to Margaret Richmond for support, but she just nodded in agreement.

The cousin’s mouth twitched as he cast a worried glance at Isabella, but he had no choice but to leave.

The tea room fell silent again.

Alexander Richmond finally turned his gaze to Sophia and beckoned her over. “Come here.”

Sophia considered for a moment before slowly walking over, taking the opportunity to get a good look at the man’s face.

He was a man who could only be described as handsome—deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and the kind of features that age had only made more attractive. He was the kind of man who became more charismatic with time, someone who grew more masculine with age.

He was also her biological father—the name on the paternity test was Alexander Richmond.

“Sophia, right?”

Sophia nodded.

“You can also call me Eleven.”

“And why’s that?”

“I was the eleventh child adopted by the orphanage. Everyone called me Eleven.”

“Well, you’re not an orphan anymore. Even by order, you’re the third child of the Richmond Family,” Margaret Richmond couldn’t help but interject.

Sophia, however, looked away.

Alexander Richmond’s smile gradually faded. “I need to tell you, Sophia, your grandmother is very, very fond of Isabella. She’s old now and can’t handle stress, so for her sake, we won’t easily drive Bella out of the Richmond Family.”

Sophia responded calmly, “I also need to tell you that I very, very much dislike Isabella and that old woman. If you choose them over me, then I won’t acknowledge you as my parents.”

She stood there, while Alexander Richmond sat, the distance just enough for Sophia to look down slightly.

She stared at Alexander Richmond with those cold, dark eyes and said, “Do you think I’m that desperate to be part of the Richmond Family?”