Sure, blood might run thicker than water–but Stella had been adopted by the Dawson family too, and she’d managed to live peacefully with everyone there, after all.
Stella said, “It was probably different; I was just a baby when I went to them.”
Tessa nodded. “True. A tiny baby’s all soft and adorable–who could possibly have bad intentions toward a baby?
But there was more to it.
Tessa figured, “It takes kindness to earn kindness: you must’ve treated them well too.”
As for Stella and Lillian turning against each other, that all started because Lillian had wanted hey dead from the beginning.
And the mess between Stella and the Reed family–well, they had been the ones to blame her without reason or evidence.
After clashing enough times, the Reed family had developed a bias against Stella, their biological daughter.
Come on, let’s go eat”
Stella didn’t want to talk about the Reed family anymore. She stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed out.
Tessa didn’t bring them up again either, but she did mention Ethan. “Ethan’s been tearing the city apart trying to find out who owns Verdant Villa, I’d love to see his face if he ever finds out it’s you.”
Tessa burst out laughing. “Honestly? Ethan really does seem like a fool”
The two of them headed out to eat, and just as they stepped out the door, Susan arrived shortly after. Kimmy tried to call
But Stella had put her phone on silent, and no matter how many times Kimmy tried, the calls just wouldn’t go through.
Meanwhile, over at the restaurant, Tessa was slicing her steak and chatting. “Mr. Louis has had Sharon locked up at home for the past few days–hasn’t even let her step outside.”
If he’d really locked her up, Sharon would’ve flipped the whole house upside down.
away.
Stella froze, her knife and fork pausing mid–air.
Tessa continued. “Yesterday, my niece had a fever. My mom asked me to check on her at the hospital. Guess what I saw!”
“Jonathan, with a woman–and he was holding a kid, looked about two or three years old.”
Tessa said. “I got a good look; the kid had Jonathan’s features. I’m pretty sure that’s his.”
“You actually got close enough to see?”
The Reed and Parker family marriage alliance was something Susan and Patrick had always taken seriously.
Under normal circumstances, Jonathan shouldn’t have been showing up in public with that woman.
Noticing Stella staying quiet, Tessa asked, “You knew, didn’t your
Tessa sucked in a breath. “It is his? Then what’s going on between him and Sharon?”
The Parker family wouldn’t just let something like this slide. Jonathan was way too reckless, pulling a stunt like that without even thinking they might tear him to pieces.
Stella said, “It’s a long story. Apparently, the woman used to work as a hostess at Noir Lounge.”
Tessa had just gone to take a sip of water, and when she heard that, she spit it out immediately. hostess at Noir Lounge!
Jonathan actually Stella handed her a napkin. “That’s why the Reed family has never accepted the woman–or the child.”
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Tessa said, “Really? And Jonathan didn’t fight for that woman at all?”
“What was there to fight for? You think someone like him’s capable of being sincere?”
Fair enough–Jonathan had probably just wanted to mess around and ended up getting someone pregnant.
“That woman tried to use the kid to climb the ladder. She didn’t show up until the baby turned one, and even then, it didn’t
Otherwise, how would she not have known that Stella’s studio made 980,000 dollars last year? The woman kept everything low–key; if you didn’t ask, she didn’t say
Louis finds out, he’s going to grab a gun and storm the Reed family to shoot him dead!”
A woman who could carry a baby to term without ever telling Jonathan, only to show up with a paternity test in hand–that was the kind of person they were dealing with.
Tessa nodded. “Definitely not some docile thing. If she finds out the Reed and Parker families are arranging a marriage, she might pull something big
Stella’s eyes suddenly lit up at Tessa’s words.
Tessa replied, “If she truly didn’t want anything, she’d have hidden the kid forever. She wanted to use him to move up.
So basically, that woman still wanted to leverage the child to get what she wanted.
If she found out Jonathan was planning to marry Sharon, there was no way she’d let it slide.
When Stella didn’t respond, Tessa asked, “What are you planning?”
Stella said. “So they’re allowed to mess with me, but I’m not allowed to mess with them?”
The Reed family had been surring up trouble in Stella’s life non–stop; it wasn’t like Stella would just sit there and take it. If they wanted chaos-
Stella hung up. “I’ve been swamped lately–I didn’t even think of using that woman.”
Sure enough–she was from Noir Lounge.
She used to work there in private rooms. The file even had her address and phone number.
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Just as Stella was heading to her office, Kimmy stopped her. “Ms. Dawson, I called you three times. Why didn’t you answer!”
“Phone was on silent. What’s up?”
It was after hours already, what now?
Stella hated working overtime. Ever since she’d founded the studio, Kimmy knew better than anyone that their boss was incredibly lazy.
Her overtime count? You could count it on one hand,
“Madam Susan’s here.”
Stella was stunned. Susan? Again? Looks like it’s time to stir something up with the Reed family, otherwise Susan wouldn’t keep bothering me like this.
She still refused to sign the paperwork to cut ties. So annoying!
“How long’s she been here?”
Kimmy said. “She’s been waiting for two hours.”
Stella went quiet. If she had that kind of patience, it had to be about Lillian. Thinking of how Lillian had bragged to her over the phone, Stella let out a cold laugh.
Just as she was about to step into the office, her phone buzzed in her hand.
It was Abraham She answered, and his warm, indulgent voice flowed through the line. “What’d you eat for lunch?”
“Steak.”
Not that great, so she didn’t eat much.
r inte
She wasn’t into steak, and if she couldn’t have her favorite food, she didn’teare much for anything else.
Abraham said, “I’m downstairs. You coming down, or should I come up?”
Stella asked, “You’re looking for me now?”
“Yeah. Got something for you.”
Chapter 129 A Gift Too Heavy
Stella replied. “Wait for me a sec.”
Susan being here–she wasn’t afraid of her; she just didn’t want to start anything
More than that, she didn’t want Abraham to see just how repulsive her own blood could be.
Even though she tried to draw a clear line between them, the fact remained–there was still that blood tie, And that alone made her skin crawl.
As soon as Stella walked out of the Oriental Grand Tower, she spotted Abraham’s custom–made car from afar.
She strode over; Abel stepped forward and respectfully opened the door for her.
Stella climbed in without hesitation. “What did you want to give me?”
The moment her gaze met his–those deep, noble eyes–Stella’s mind wavered for a second:
It felt like she was being drawn into them.
Abraham pulled out a necklace from a blue velvet box. Just one glance at the pendant and she was breathless from how beautiful it was.
“This is the Sunflare Radiance?”
She recognized it immediately.
She’d seen it when the diamond had been auctioned. Back then, she’d marveled at how stunning it looked.
Pristine quality; masterful craftsmanship–every detail was flawless.
And now, it was in Abraham’s hands, made into a necklace.
Abraharn said gently, “Your hair.”
That soft reminder. Stella asked, “This is for me?”
“Yeah. Let me put it on.”
Stella said nothing. It was too extravagant.
But when she looked into Abraham’s eyes, she didn’t dare say no. With his temper, he might just toss her out of the car if she said something wrong.
She quickly lifted her hair.
He leaned in, in that moment, his breath brushed across her neck-
Warm breath mixed with the coolness of the necklace sent her heart into a frenzy.
His presence wrapped around her completely, making her feel like she was tucked securely under his wings.
That feeling it was so familiar, it made Stella want to cry.
Abraham fastened the clasp and adjusted it gently. “Looks beautiful.”
Stella sniffled “Why are you giving me something like this out of nowhere? It’s too much.”
11.56 AM
Chapter 129 A Gift Too Heavy
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The mage flashed in her mind–bow cold and empty her birthday had been this year, spent alone at Kingston Heights.
The Reed family and Ethan had all flow overseas to be with Lillian
And for her, they hasha’t even bothered with a phone call.
Did he forget my birthday Now cold they when Lillian and 7 were born on the same day. The truth wax theimply didn’t c
that it mattered
ver cared about them either. But th
bid Saxan still rejse të ser
“What are you thinking about?”
Abraham noticed her silence her eyes growing distant. He spoke to pull her back
Stella sa “Nothing Just it’s been years since I got a birthday present”
seat.
Ever since she’d let Abrahum she’d practically stopped receiving any gifts
mouth, Abrahams pulled her into his armis
She could feel his breath huch dightly
His magnetic voice dropped low. “You still dare to run off on me agam!”
Her tears welled up unstoppable.
“I woul. I swear I won’t
The Tom family had already bes iped out there was
a reason left to ever leave Abraham again.
His hold on her tightened.
“Tim sorry” Stella whispered
She wrapped her arms around his lean waist, nuzzling her head against his chest.
Abraham gently ran his fingers through her soft hair in response. What is there to apologize fort
Back then, he’d been heck–deep dealing with his assets, with underground forces moving all over the place.
He hadn’t had time to look after her–he’d left a gap that the Tom family scum had taken full advantage of
Stella didn‘) return to the office until half an hour later.
Kimmy saw the necklace gleaming around her neck and gasped “Ms. Dawson, your necklace is gorgeous Why does it look so familar Was it on that magazine cover
Sunflare Radiance
Stella cut her off
And the sesestid Kimmy heard the name, she gasped sharply here Rad…
le prom a
jë ho ja mes bons, madly, necklace that valuable?
That diamond alone had been hyped to be worth over a million dollars! Even the Reed family probably couldn’t afford something like that
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11:56 AM ₫ D
Chapter 130 So Now I’m Your Daughter Again.
Kimmy thought for a moment. Could it be… that mant
Stella glanced at her. “Pretty?”
Kimmy nodded, “So pretty, Seriously gorgeous.”
A necklace that expensive–how could it not be?
Stella smiled. She thought it was pretty too,
“Susan still here?”
That question caught Kimmy off guard for a second; then she realized who Stella meant and nodded. “Yeah, she’s still here.”
The smile that had finally found its way to Stella’s face instantly disappeared the moment Susan was mentioned.
When she stepped into the oflice, Susan’s expression already held a hint of impatience–clearly from having waited too long.
She didn’t have time to hide it before the door opened.
Forcing out a still smile, she said. “Where’d you go? I’ve been waiting quite a while. Your studio tried calling you and you didn’t answer,”
Just thinking about those phone calls made
le Susan even
even more irritated.
To get through to her, they’d borrowed every hospital phone they could find–and she’d blocked every single one.
There really weren’t many people this cold and heartless. It got to the point where even trying to reach her own daughter had become a humiliating challenge.
She thought. Once Lillian recovers, I’ll go have a serious talk with that Dawson family. How did they raise her? How could they raise a child to turn out like this? Do they even know how to raise one!
Stella dropped her bag on the table. “Say it. What do you want?”
If it wasn’t about Lillian, there was probably nothing else.
As she sat down, the Sunflare Radiance necklace caught the sunlight through the window–it was so beautiful it almost hurt
to look at
It gleamed so brightly, Susan couldn’t ignore it if she tried. “That necklace–what is it?”
Sunflare Radiance? She remembered seeing it at an auction.
That diamond had been valued in the millions. What was it doing around my neckt
She’d been at that auction herself–with Lillian in tow,
When that giant yellow diamond was on display, Lillian had made it very clear how badly she wanted it.
But that thing was worth tens of millions; the Reed family couldn’t just snap their fingers and buy something like that.
Susan pondered And now? The person who bought it had made it into a necklace, and given it to Stellat Who was the buyer, and what wat their relationship with Stellat
Stella said. “Sunflare Radiance”
11.56 AM (
Chapter 130 So Now I’m Your Daughter Again
“What’s it to you?”
Stella’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Susan’s breath hitched again.
“You-
She wanted to snap back, but remembering why she’d come today, she swallowed her anger
Stella had been cold to them this whole time. But still no matter what, she was her mother and this
“Just get to the point.” Stella said icily.
–
Sitting there nitpicking over where the necklace came from. Does it even matter that much?
Susan took a breath to steady herself. “Rianne and Eddie have to come back. We can’t delay any longer
Thinking of how the specialists kept insisting those two had to be involved-
Susan knew now, if they wanted Lillian to survive, those two were absolutely essential
Stella let out a cold laugh.
“You’ve been dodging my lawyer for days. I figured you didn’t care if Lillian lived or died
Susan was speechless.
Her expression, already not great, turned even worse when Stella mentioned the lawyer.
“I won’t cut ties with you. No matter what, you’re still my daughter. I gave birth to you.”
Her tone turned sharp for a moment–as if she truly cared.
But Stella knew better.
She laughed again, coldly. “You care about me? I think what you care about is what’s behind me.”
E
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et Again and again!
Freezing her accounts didn’t work. Throwing her out of the house didn’t work. They couldn’t suppress her studio either.
Even a fool could tell there was something backing her. And now here she was trying to play the loving mother here
When they froze her cards, Susan sure didn’t seem to remember she was “the one who gave birth to her.”
Susan’s face went stiff.
Stella went on. “You see the studio making 950 000 dollars”
King 950.000 dolars in
in a year, and what you’re really after is the resources behind that
“You!”
Like the bar the nail on the head, Susan’s face turned even more sour.
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