Chapter 566: Confronting Paula

An agonized scream interrupted Cecilia's music composition. Confused, she abandoned her work and went to the living room. From a distance, she saw Paula, one hand covering her face, the other pointing at Elliot. "Tell me! Did you do this on purpose?" Paula demanded. "I could have forgiven him once or twice, but this?"

Elliot looked innocently bewildered. "Granny, what's wrong? Why are you yelling at me?"

The housekeeper intervened, shielding Elliot. "Madam, I'm certain Eli didn't do it on purpose. He's always been such a good boy."

Paula remained unconvinced. "This is clearly alcohol, not iodine. My face is stinging!"

"Eli hasn't even attended kindergarten; how could he distinguish between iodine and alcohol?" The housekeeper countered, finding Paula unreasonable. "You claim to be his granny, but how can a granny be so inconsiderate towards her grandchild?"

Paula, considering Elliot's apparent age of four or five, conceded the housekeeper's point. However, the thought of Elliot harming her face prevented any affection from surfacing.

"Forget it. I can't be bothered to talk to you all. Where's Cecilia?" Paula declared, dropping the pretense.

Before the housekeeper could respond, Cecilia entered, her gaze cold. "What do you need from me?"

Paula noted Cecilia's gauze-wrapped face and altered demeanor. Initially, she'd intended to remain strong, but the prospect of her impending imprisonment forced her to soften her stance.

"Ceci, don't get me wrong, I just came to see how you're doing," Paula said.

"I'm fine. I'm not going to die," Cecilia replied flatly.

The memory of Cassandra's role in Cecilia's injury hardened her expression. "If you don't have anything else, please leave."

Paula's voice choked with emotion. "How could you talk to your mother like that? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be alive. I came to see you out of goodwill, yet you want to send me away?"

Cecilia had the housekeeper take Elliot upstairs. Then, she said, "How many times do I have to tell you? I gave your life back a long time ago. I don't owe you anything."

"Just because you say so?" Paula grabbed Cecilia's arm. "If you revoke that so-called proof document, I'll consider your debt repaid."

Cecilia immediately pulled away. "Dream on." She then added, "From what I understand, your bail conditions restrict your movement, correct?" She picked up her phone.

Seeing Cecilia about to call the police, urgency flashed in Paula's eyes. "How dare you threaten me, you bitch?"

Cecilia, once compliant, now repeatedly defied Paula. Paula lunged for the phone, but Cecilia easily subdued her. Paula stumbled back, falling to the ground, a cramp seizing her abdomen.

"I truly regret giving birth to you!" Paula hissed. "If I had known, I would have preferred you to die in my womb."

Cecilia remained unmoved. "Sorry to have disappointed you. Given the choice, I would never have chosen to be born from your womb."

Paula, seeing Cecilia's resolve, covered her face and left in resentment. Cecilia later learned of the earlier events from the housekeeper. Meanwhile, Elliot happily played with building blocks, oblivious to the drama.