As Gabrielle was frozen, Joyce shook off her hand and hit her deliberately while rushing towards Ben like a frightened deer.

"Ben, help me!"

Knocked back a few steps, Gabrielle had just stabilized her body when she saw Joyce's movement.

How in time he was.

"Ben, I'm hurt." Joyce sobbed softly.

Ben gave a slight frown and avoided Joyce's hug without a trace.

Joyce, who failed to hug Ben, quickly turned around and held his arm, "Ben, my wrist is dislocated. You see..."

She lifted her hand to show him.

After a cursory glance at Joyce's wrist, Ben stared at Gabrielle with a harsh look in his eyes.

Gabrielle instantly tensed up her whole body in a panic.

Would he punish her for Joyce without asking the reason like before?

To her surprise, Ben calmly ordered the housekeeper instead of accusing her, "Tom, get a doctor for Miss Smith."

Gabrielle was a little surprised that he hurried to punish her for Joyce this time.

A thought struck her that he must be anxious to cure his lover before imposing any punishment on her.

"Ben, I'm fine." Joyce said in a soft voice, "I know Miss Zane is the nutritionist you hired for Rachel. It must be because of some misunderstandings that she attacked me. I don't blame her."

Joyce's affectation was the same as before.

It sounded like she was speaking for Gabrielle, but she intended to earn more sympathy and make Ben feel angrier at her so-called attacker.

As Gabrielle expected, there was a vague emotion emerging in Ben's eyes.

Gabrielle faced up to his gaze and retorted steadily, "Miss Smith, it's you hit me first. Even if I break your limbs, it is legitimate self-defense, not to mention the dislocation of your wrist."

She was no longer the naive person four years ago who never responded to Joyce's false accusation while humbly hoping that Ben would believe her under any circumstances.

Why should she take responsibility for a fight which Joyce started?

Her voice was light, but her resolute eyes were telling.

Ben's eyes shone with an unusual appreciation. She was smart and brave enough to admit what she had done.

But that meant that she was less probably the person in his mind.

The glow in Ben's eyes instantly dimmed.

Where was his Gabrielle, anyway?

Joyce's face turned slightly pale when she saw that Ben did not punish Gabrielle as she expected, "Ben..."

"Okay." Ben pulled back his arm and said in an indifferent tone, "Tom, hurry the doctor."

After his words, he walked upstairs before Joyce could say more.

A flush of anger swamped Joyce, who gave Gabrielle a harsh glare and clenched her fists.

Staring at Ben's back, Gabrielle was lost in wonder without noticing Joyce's resentful gaze.

Did he trust her rather than Joyce? Had he changed, or was it just her delusion?

"Miss Zane, there's something I don't think you know."

Gabrielle was waiting for Rachel by the stairway when Joyce suddenly leaned over and said with an obscure meaning.

Gabrielle looked back at her, "Miss Smith, do not beat about the bush."

Joyce said with a smug smile, "Rachel is my daughter."

Gabrielle let out a laugh with a lukewarm response, "So?"

"So?" Joyce's face suddenly turned grim, "What do you mean? You don't believe what I'm saying? I'm telling you, Rachel is my daughter, me and Ben's daughter!"

"Okay." Gabrielle gave another curt reply.

As she had known it before, Joyce was bound to be disappointed that she did not act surprised and jealous to satisfy her vanity.

"You!" Joyce was enraged and scoffed, "Even if your name is Gabrielle, so what? You are a mere nutritionist! To put it straight, you're just a maid of the Taylor Family! Don't try to deceive my daughter or seduce Ben!"