Of course, Rona Langdon was beyond reluctant. She wailed and screamed the entire way, but not a single person came to her aid.

Even Alden, who was usually close to her, didn’t dare to risk the crowd’s anger and kept silent the entire time.

Seeing this, Grandma sighed deeply. "What a disgrace to our family!"

Grandma Dixon comforted her, "Don’t be too upset, my dear. It’s better to drive a woman like her out sooner. It’ll keep her from bringing ruin to the family!"

Grandma nodded and sighed, then said to the neighbors gathered around, "Thank you all for speaking up for what’s right today."

The neighbors exchanged a few pleasantries and chimed in with words of comfort for Grandma. After she nodded her thanks, they all dispersed.

Grandma looked at the cold, quiet house and let out a long sigh. ’Is this family about to fall apart?’

Her heart felt heavy. She turned to Vera Xavier and said, "Vera, it’s going to be okay. Your grandpa and I have a little money saved. Come home with me in a bit to get the passbook. We’ll pay back the Nathan Family first, and then we’ll figure out how to pull together the money for your dad’s medical bills."

Vera Xavier knew Zachary Preston’s hospital stay had been expensive. Her grandparents were old and didn’t have much cash on hand; it likely wasn’t even enough to cover the medical bills from the past few days. She knew that, ultimately, this was their "coffin money"—their life savings.

She had money on her now, but it wasn’t the right time to reveal it. However, she didn’t want to see her grandparents struggle, so she leaned in and whispered in her grandmother’s ear, "When I came back from the Xavier Family, Dad secretly gave me a passbook. He said it was to make up for things. It looks like we can finally put it to use."

’It was a shame she couldn’t take a pound of flesh from Rona Langdon today, but at least, from this day forward, Rona would never be able to set foot in the compound again. And Grandma would surely make Zachary Preston divorce her. In that sense, the matter was already half-won.’

’And even though Rona Langdon had been thrown out, she wouldn’t take this lying down. As long as Rona didn’t give up, Vera would have another chance to take her pound of flesh. The next time she struck, the cut would be far deeper.’

Grandma was stunned for a moment, then said with pleasant surprise, "Really?"

"Of course it’s true," Vera Xavier said softly. "In this world, the person who knows Mom best is Dad. How could he not have taken some precautions against her?"

It sounded perfectly reasonable, and the anxious Grandma didn’t question it. Instead, she said with relief, "It’s a good thing your dad set aside that money, otherwise..."

She trailed off, then looked at Vera Xavier with guilt in her eyes. "This has been hard on you, my child."

Vera Xavier chuckled softly. "This is nothing. Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take good care of Dad."

Grandma reached out, stroked her head, and said, filled with emotion, "Biological is biological, after all!"

Since Zachary Preston’s accident, Vera Xavier had been the one constantly taking care of him in the hospital room. Meanwhile, Cara Preston, who had grown up by his side, had only visited him once before vanishing completely.

Hearing Grandma’s words, Vera Xavier felt a surge of complicated emotions. She wasn’t a child of the Preston Family either, but she saw no need to spell that out.

In her past life, she had never been reunited with her biological parents. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell had always doted on Susan Caldwell, and Vera wasn’t sure if they would ever acknowledge her as their own.

As far as she was concerned, Zachary Preston had given her selfless fatherly love, so she would repay him with the devotion of a biological daughter. Zachary Preston was her father, and she would pour all her effort into taking care of him.