CHAPTER 268

After hearing Belle's words, the nanny's already grim face turned even grimmer, and she shot the elderly woman a glare before questioning Alex, "Who is this? Mrs. Carter doesn't like the house to be messy. Don't bring just about any of your impoverished countryside relatives over lest you want to see Mrs. Carter upset."

"You're the impoverished countryside relative!" snapped Alex as he held a tight grip on his grandmother. "She's my grandma!"

Stumped, the nanny took a doubtful glance at Belle. "Is she your actual grandmother?"

Before Alex could say anything, Belle sneered and said, "My Brian sure has gotten very competent now. He's so competent that he can buy a massive house in Dusktown but won't acknowledge his mother anymore. I've come here all the way from the mountains to see him, yet he's asked a nanny to keep me out."

The nanny's countenance turned even more awful after Belle's accusation. She couldn't afford to take such defamation. However, seeing how horrible the elderly woman and Alex's attitude were, she didn't want to let Belle in either. Thus, she continued to make an issue of Belle's identity.

"Alex, you're not supposed to call just anyone your grandmother," she said earnestly to Alex. "How can your grandmother come to Dusktown on her own when Sanguine Mountain is so far away? Not only that, she's in terrible shape. Where have you been? Do you know that you've been fooled? They simply brought an old woman to you and fooled you to acknowledge her as your grandmother."

"She is my grandmother! I…" Alex trembled in anger.

"Alright, Alex. That's enough." Belle cut him off and announced at the top of her lungs, saying, "I know that I'm an old hag from the countryside, and you elites in the big city think I'm old and disgusting. Since my son and daughter-in-law are so out of my league, we'll leave this instance."

Just like that, people nearby looked over out of curiosity upon hearing her voice.

People on this planet had a thing for gossip, especially women. Two elderly women who looked a few years younger than Belle stopped in their tracks upon hearing the woman's words and began whispering to each other while sizing the situation up.

Meanwhile, Alex looked at this grandmother with red-rimmed eyes. "Grandma."

"It's okay. Let's go," said Belle calmly as she turned around while holding Alex's hand. After seeing the two elderly women talking to each other, she instantly greeted them and said, "Hello, ma'am."

Since they had been caught gossiping, the two elderly women turned awkward and looked at each other.

Meanwhile, Belle came up to them while holding Alex's hand, asking politely, "Hi, ma'am, would you mind telling me how to get to the research institute? I'm looking for my son, Brian Carter."

The chubbier of the two elderly women smiled upon hearing so and asked warmly, "Is Mr. Carter your son?"

"Yes." Belle nodded in affirmation. "I've come to look for my son, but my daughter-in-law won't let me in because she thinks I'm old and disgusting."

Sympathy laced the cubby elderly woman at that, and she gave Belle the specific address.

After thanking them, Belle took Alex away.

Meanwhile, the two elderly women behind them whispered, "Who'd have thought the gentlemanly Mr. Carter is such a heartless person? Can you believe he won't even acknowledge his own mother?"

"Yeah, and Rachael is no kind woman either. Remember how nice of a boy was Mr. Carter's eldest son when he came? It's only been so long, and look how badly she has tortured him."

"You can say that again!"

The two elderly women's whispers died off as Belle led Alex further away, but she heard the words 'Rachael is no kind woman' and 'Look how badly she has tortured him' loud and clear.

At that, her heart twinged, causing her face to turn ghastly.

"Grandma!" Alex cried in panic upon seeing so.

After stopping to take a breather, Belle shook her head and reassured her grandson, saying, "I'm okay."

"Let's go home, Grandma. Forget about finding Dad!" Alex looked at her with teary eyes. "I don't want to see Dad. I want to stay with you forever, Grandma!"

At that, Belle caressed Alex's face with love while her heart wrenched painfully. Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

Did she not want to live forever and keep her beloved grandson from harm's way? However, she was running out of time.

Madeline and Leigh had been waiting in the car as it wasn't convenient for them to show up at the Carters' doorstep. After seeing that Belle didn't look right, the two young women hurriedly got out of the car and jogged toward her.

Leigh hurriedly pressed a few of Belle's vital pressure points, making her feel much better.

After thanking Leigh, Belle said to Madeline, "The nanny won't let Alex and I go in, so I plan on looking for Brian at his workplace. I've managed to get the address."

With that, she told Madeline the address.

Emory, who was standing behind Madeline, returned to the car at once and relayed the address to Leonard, the chauffeur for the day.

After everyone got into the car, they headed straight for the research institute.

Meanwhile, Leigh and Belle made small talk. "The research institute is a nice place to work in. You said that Brian's already the deputy director at such a young age, right? Mrs. Carter, your son sure is outstanding."

"So what if he's competent?" Belle sneered while looking out the window. "He has all the competence in the world and not an ounce of conscience. If I had known he would throw away all his conscience after gaining ability, I'd rather he work away in the field back home like my eldest, Aaron."

Leigh didn't know how to reply to that, so she just left the topic hanging.

The research institute was such a highly classified place that even armed guards were stationed at the entrance. Only authorized personnel were allowed to enter, and visitors couldn't visit at all. Hence, Belle and Madeline were naturally refused admission.

When Belle told the sentry she was here for Brian, the sentry said that Brian was currently working on a project in the research base. Since the project was confidential and the research environment was sealed off, no one was allowed to visit him.

Belle was well aware that Brian would have to stay in the research base for a month or two; at times, he'd even have to stay four or five months once the project commenced, so she didn't kick up a fuss and calmly requested, "Fine, I won't see Brian then. I want to speak to your director."

"Well…" the sentry answered hesistantly.

Though the elderly woman claimed herself to be Brian's mother, the director had so much work to do that not just anyone could meet him.

Seeing the sentry's hesitation, Belle said gravely to him, "Just tell him that I haven't seen Brian in two years. I'm critically ill now and already have one foot in the grave. I just want to see him. If he doesn't want to see me die with a grievance, please allow me to meet him."

Belle indeed looked like she was critically ill, and the sentry was successfully intimidated.

The elderly woman looked so feeble that she could drop dead any minute, and if anything happened to her because he didn't report her arrival, it would all be on him.

Thus, he hesitated no more. "Alright, I'll let them know this instance."

Half an hour later, Belle and the others met with the director of the research institution, Mack Graham.

After inviting the group into his office, Mack warmly offered them some refreshments, looking amiable.

After a quick exchange of pleasantries, the man sighed apologetically. "Mrs. Carter, I heard from the sentry that you haven't seen Brian for more than two years. Please accept my humble apology. Our work here is so busy that we tend to neglect our family. I'm truly sorry, but rest assured that I've already asked someone to bring Brian over. No matter how busy he is, we'll make sure that he comes to see you when you've come all this way."