To her, the way she liked Abraham never felt clean. It was the kind of feeling that felt wrong-
The love between siblings and that between a man and a woman… they were two completely different things.
Just thinking about the phrase man and woman made her cut herself off, afraid to think any deeper, too scared to test the waters with Abraham.
If he only saw her as a sister, and she said something she shouldn’t, that would be the end of everything
His slender fingers twirled a lock of her soft hair. “I had the kitchen make soup for you tonight.”
Now that he was finally giving in, Stella wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly kissing him in her excitement.
At the end of the workday, Abraham took Stella’s hand and led her out of the office.
His whole vibe was sharp and commanding, predatory even–completely at odds with Stella’s soft, lamb–like face. The contrast hit people right in the gut.
As soon as they stepped into the elevator, a few coworkers huddled behind Kimmy.
“He looks way better than Mr. Keene–and he treats her so well.”
“Shhh! Don’t start rumors. I heard that’s her brother or something”
“Even if he is her brother, with someone like that around, Mr. Keene had the nerve to bully our boss? Yeah, he’s done for ”
No way she believed Ethan’s hand and leg injuries came from anyone else. In all of Rivermount, who else would dare lay a finger
He had all the makings of a classic scumbag.
Abraham felt the sudden emptiness in his hand. Watching her cheerful little figure run off, a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Abel followed behind him. “Ms. Dawson’s appetite has been way better lately”
Except for the tines Tessa took her out for soup, her eating habits were scattered and irregular at best.
As he said it, his eyes remained fixed on Stella, his gaze impossibly soft
Lately, whenever Abraham had to stay out, he’d call the house just to make sure she ate.
Abel froze as he took the coat. No plans? But hadn’t they just been discussing diversifying overseas!
Abraham didn’t say another word and made his way toward the dining rool
Stella was sitting at the table, staring dejectedly into a pot of clear soup, visibly disappointed.
Abraham gave a low hum. “It’s healthier this way.”
Abraham said. “You used to have it every week. That’s not once in a while, is it?”
A servant stepped forward and respectfully handed Abraham a hot, sterilized towel.
He let out a low chuckle. “Don’t feel like eating?”
Besides, she hadn’t eaten much steak at lunch; she was getting hungry.
The smile at the corner of Abraham’s lips deepened as he placed a piece of freshly cooked beef into her small bowl.
Stella picked it up and shoved it into her mouth, biting down hard. From the way she was grinding her teeth, it was obvious she was taking out her frustration on the meal.
The seasoning, especially, was something else.
Stella nodded. “Yeah, it’s good–really good.”
The disappointment vanished from her face completely. For the first time, she realized that soup without spice could actually taste pretty great too,
He turned to Valery and said, “Turn up the heat. This damn weather’s getting colder by the day.”
Louis glanced at her thin business outfit. “You’re not cold?
Valery replied, “I’m fine. Maybe you’ve caught a cold, Mr. Louis?”
Louis tossed out, “I don’t catch colds.”
Valery nodded, dropping the subject. Fine, if he said he never caught colds, then so be it.
She turned to sort through the files that had just been delivered.
Louis sat down in his office chair, but before he could relax, his phone buzzed nonstop. He glanced at it–it was Alex.
“Did you take care of that ring?”
“It’s done. I’ll have someone bring it over to you tomorrow?
As he spoke, Louis reached into the pocket of his suit jacket–only to find it empty,
11:57 AM ch
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Chapter 139 Wrong Gift, Wrong Timing
He had actually given her the wrong thing. This might just kill him for real.
Louis shot a glare at Valery. “Why didn’t you remind me?”
An apology gifi—a ring? What the heck was that supposed to mean?
Valery replied, “I did ask you. You said it was for Ms. Dawson, so I didn’t dare say anything else.”
Everyone at the Parker Group knew Louis hated when people tried to guess what he was thinking. He’d said it was for Stella, so Valery hadn’t dared to say another word.
Now, seeing the look on his face, Valery asked hesitantly. “Did you give her the wrong thing?”
“Have you ever seen someone apologize by giving a ring?”
Louis‘ tone was practically biting.
Valery fell silent. Exactly!
She had wanted to say something at the time, but Louis had been so on edge about Sharon and Stella’s argument–his face had been downright terrifying.
Valery couldn’t help asking. “So what now? Want me to ask for it back?”
The moment those words left her mouth, Louis shot her a withering glare. Valery instantly shut up.
Ask for it back? Once Louis gave something away, he never took it back.
But apologizing with a ring…
Louis felt a headache coming on.
He couldn’t exactly take it back now, but something in his gut told him that ring was going to cause real trouble.
Sure enough, right then, Louis‘ phone rang. It was Abel. He instantly put on a calm face and picked up. “Mr. Abel.”
“Our boss says we have no plans to export our mineral resources. Mr. Louis, you don’t need to waste your energy
anymore.
“What? No plans to export? But you were clearly in the process of selecting overseas partners-
Before Louis could finish, the call cut off,
He sat there, stunned.
on
What he’d said was true. There was no way the intel about Abraham going international with their mining operations wast
wrong
And now they weren’t exporting? His thoughts jumped to Sharon arguing with Stella, and to the look on Abraham’s face at the tume–ice cold.
Then he remembered Abel’s words on the phone… and the ring. Don’t tell me he saw it.
Louis sucked in a sharp breath, his head throbbing with unbearable pain,
He thought for a second, then turned to Valery. “Get me Stella’s number.”
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Chapter 139 Wrong Gift, Wrong Timing
Based on what Stella had told him before, the one rule when working with Abraham was to never from the Dawson family.
So calling Stella now was out of the question. Forget it. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.
Just then, Alex called. “Hey, I’m downstairs at your building. I came to pick up the
“Pick up what? Don’t ever call me again!”
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get involved with anyone
Damn it. He couldn’t even keep his own teoman in line, and now I’m getting dragged into this mess over some stupidring. What now? Giving that ring to Stella… did I just seriously piss off Abraham!
Abraham’s feelings for Stella were anything but simple, as shown by the way he handled the Tom family incident.
This was all Alex’s fault. If it weren’t for him. Louis wouldn’t be in this mess.
Now what the heck am I supposed to dor
Just thinking about what happened to the Tom family made Louis shudder. Abraham was no joke.
Louis suddenly snapped, catching Alex off guard. “What’s your problem? Don’t tell me you gave the ring to Marlon?”
“Gave it to who? You idiots can’t even manage your own wives. Don’t go around saying you know me.”
“Hey! What’s with the attitude?”
They were just talking fine a minute ago. What the heck was this?
Alex sounded ticked off. “Tell me the truth–did you give the ring to Marlon?”
Marion! Louis was already drowning in this disaster and had zero patience left. He hung up.
The very sound of the word “ring” now made his blood boil. Stupid ring, absolute nightmare
But as soon as he ended the call, Alex called back again. Tell me the truth–did you give the ring to Marlon?”
“Stop pushing me”
Louis was about to blow.
Alex shot back, “What if I did?”
Louis went quiet; it felt like he’d been hit by a ton of bricks.
Valery, listening nearby, couldn’t help twitching at the corners of her mouth. What a scene!
Over at Verdant Villa, Abraham had left after dinner. He didn’t return until midnight.
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Chapter 140 The Deal Just Died
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Stella had been busy late into the night with that design for Sterling Global. When she heard the sound of an engine outside, she got up right away. She was worried Abraham might’ve been drinking, and besides, she was thirsty and wanted some
Water.
Sure enough, as soon as she reached the top of the stairs, she heard Abel’s voice.
“Mr. Abraham, you don’t even need to deal with those people. Why bother drinking their wine?
Abraham was sitting on the couch at that moment.
He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, his head clearly aching. He didn’t say anything.
“I’ll have someone get you something to refresh yourself, Abel said.
“You can go,” Abraham replied, his voice low.
Even from a distance, Stella could hear the slur in his voice; it was obvious he’d had quite a bit to drink.
Abel had just turned to leave when he heard that, glancing back at Abraham before finally nodding
Once Abel was gone, Stella came down the stairs
Hearing footsteps, Abraham turned around. When he saw Stella, the stern, deep look he usually carried softened under the haze of alcohol.
“Star, come here.”
His gentle tone made Stella’s chest tighten unexpectedly.
She stepped forward and looked at his flushed checks. Unable to help herself, she reached, out and touched his forehead.
“No fever this time.”
Sometimes when Abraham drank, he’d spike a fever–and she’d be the one dealing with it all night long.
Drunk or not, Abraham never stayed out overnight. Abel always personally brought him home.
And once he was home, he wouldn’t let anyone else near him. It was always Stella who stayed with him.
Looking at Abraham’s flushed face, Stella couldn’t hold back.
“Didn’t Mr. Abel say you didn’t have to deal with those people?”
Stella pondered. If that was true, then why had he still drank their wine?
The moment the words left her mouth, his warm hand closed around her slender wrist.
Before Stella could react, Abraham pulled her onto his lap.
Completely caught off guard, she tumbled toward him, and her lips just happened to land right on his,
Her eyes widened in shock; she instinctively tried to pull away.
But before she could sit up, he cupped her small chin, and his kiss came crashing down like a wave.
His lips were soft and cool, laced with the scent of wine and roses. Stella instinctively struggled.
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Chapter 140 The Deal Just Died
Her breath hitched, she called his name in a low voice.
That one word–spoken so softly–brought Abraham to a sudden halt..
He braced himself and looked down at her.
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Their eyes met. Stella could clearly see the tenderness in his drunken gaze. And that same tenderness struck something deep inside her. The walls she’d spent years building seemed to crumble in an instant.
With just that look, Abraham leaned down again.
That night, sleep eluded more than a few people.
The hospital, of course, was a given–Lillian’s illness had gotten worse, and the pain kept her up all night
In the past, Ethan and Jonathan would always be there, but tonight, for once, neither of them showed.
Susan was the only one at the hospital. Around midnight, Lillian was in so much pain she felt like she was dying. When she turned over, she saw the pillow was covered in strands of her hair.
Her chest tightened; tears welled in her eyes.
Susan tried to comfort her. “Once you get better, it’ll grow back.”
Lillian sniffled. “Where’s Ethan?”
Even her voice was weak when she spoke.
“He said he’s tied up in Rivermount with an important business partner,” Susan replied.
That was what Madeline had told her.
She said Ethan was meeting with someone significant these couple of days–someone they really needed to lock down. The deal wasn’t even finalized yet.
At a time like this, there couldn’t be any mistakes.
Originally, because Lillian was in so much pain, Susan had called Ethan, hoping he’d step in and try something else with Rianne and Eddie.
Stella had lied to them, so that path was closed. But they couldn’t afford to give up.
Instead of Ethan, Madeline picked up.
She chewed Susan out over the phone and, before hanging up, threw one last sharp line at her. “Even if Lillian dies in the next couple of days, don’t come crying to Ethan”
Hearing Madeline talk about the child she’d raised like that… of course, Susan felt awful.
But she didn’t dare say anything back. She had no choice but to swallow it all..
The Reed family’s company was going downhill fast. The Keene family had used them up and tossed them aside.
So when Susan heard all that
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