Chapter 204 No Longer Family
Eddie swallowed nervously under Abraham Dawson’s icy gaze. “W–what’s wrong?”
Abraham asked flatly, “Brother and sister?”
“???” Eddie was stunned. What now? Aren’t they?
His brain stalled.
Abraham snatched the pill out of his hand. “If you can’t talk, maybe you shouldn’t talk at all. Make sure your mouth doesn’t get sewn shut”
“I didn’t say anything wrong, did 1?” Eddie mumbled.
I’m just stating the fact that both siblings” always got fevers after drinking. Difficult cases, both of them.
He was really confused.
Another cold look from Abraham silenced him immediately.
“Fine, I won’t say another word!”
Zipping my lips is safer.
But I still don’t know what had set this man’s nerves on edge.
“Oh, right. That woman surnamed Carter still hasn’t left. She’s still trying to find a way to see little Star”
Abraham gave him another icy look.
“What? Again?” Eddie groaned.
Talking to this guy is like walking on eggshells. Am I supposed to analyze every word just to make sure I don’t say anything offensive?
Abraham withdrew his gaze and gently pushed the pill into Stella’s mouth, helping her to drink water to wash it down.
“You don’t have a sister?”
“Me? My sister.. barely counts. More like a sootball,” Eddie muttered.
The last time I saw her, she was so tanned it hurt to look at her
“Honestly, she and Marie are a perfect match. They’ve both been fighting and competing all their lives, and their temperaments are practically identical.”
There is one difference, Edie likes to wear skirts.
Marie, on the other hand, is a total tomboy.
Abraham warned, “If Evie finds out, she’ll beat you half to death.”
“Then don’t tell her, Eddie replied. “I can’t believe you’re not a little gossipy.”
Just mentioning his sister made Eddie groan in frustration.
Other people have sweet and gentle sisters. Mine chased me around just to beat me up.
Completely useless at everything except fighting
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Chapter 204 No Longer Family
Finished
“You can go now,”
Seeing that Eddie had no intention of leaving, Abraham bluntly kicked him out.
Eddie packed quickly. He was starving and needed to find something to eat.
“What about that woman who was surnamed Carter? Aren’t you sending someone to take care of her?”
Susan had been there since the afternoon and was still waiting.
At the mention of Stella’s biological mother, Abraham’s eyes darkened. “No need. Let her wait”
Waiting is the cruelest punishment.
Especially now, when the Reed Group is already in chaos, no doubt the whole company is upside down
Eddie nodded. “All right. You want something to eat?
Stella obviously couldn’t eat like that.
“You go ahead.”
Abraham looked at Stella’s flushed little face. He would wait until her fever broke.
Eddie left with his things, finally out of the pressure zone.
Now it was just Abraham and Stella.
He reached out and touched her warm cheek again.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Abraham…”
Something stirred in his chest.
He had never known what it felt like to hear her call his name.
Just as he had expected, the Reed Group was already in chaos.
Patrick called Susan twice to ask if she had seen Stella
He even tried to call Stella himself, but of course she had long since blocked him.
Susan originally planned to leave if she couldn’t see Stella, worried about Lillian being alone at the hospital.
But after Patrick’s repeated calls, she panicked.
Now she was in the front lobby of the mansion, making a scene. “I want to see my daughter. Why won’t you give me her information?”
She had been pestering the front desk for Stella’s room number for over two hours.
They refused.
Susan finally exploded.
That brat, is the really trying to ruin the Reed family”
Ungrateful. If I had known that Stella would turn us back like that, we would never have taken her back in the first place.
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Chapter 204 No Longer Family
Then her eyes flared with anger. “What does this have to do with you?”
asa
“In that case, as a relative, you have no right to request guest information. The receptionist replied.
Send Gifts
Chapter 205 Shut Out
Susan froze.
“So what I’m saying is, you have no right to ask where she is anymore.”
The simple explanation from the receptionist nearly made Susan faint with rage.
“You… you…
As angry as she was, she couldn’t deny the truth of those words.
In this age of information, everything traveled so fast. Once it was out there, there was no taking it back.
Susan’s breath came in sharp gasps.
Before she could argue any further, her phone rang. It was Lillian.
“Lillian”
“Mom, when are you coming back?”
Her voice on the other end was soft and pitiful.
“I’ve asked the maid to bring you some food, and the nurse is there too.”
“But I miss you…. I… Lillian said pitifully.
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done here. Be good for now?
Susan’s voice was filled with comfort and reassurance.
But in her heart, the hatred for Stella only grew.
This girl had caused all the trouble at the Reed Group and had dragged everyone into the mess.
She wanted to cut ties, fine. She got what she wanted. What more did she want?
The more Susan thought about it, the angrier she became. After a few more words to Lillian, she hung up the phone.
Just then another call came in. Patrick Reed.
“Have you seen Stella?” he asked.
“She refuses to see me, Susan snapped.
That ungrateful brat, I gave birth to her, and now to see her is as hard as meeting a president.
“Why don’t you try to find her?” she shouted. “I already tried everything this afternoon.”
Patrick was already on edge.
Hearing this made him snap, too. “You’re the one who let things get to this point. Now you expect me to clean it up?”
What? He thinks this is all my matter? She’s my daughter alone?
Susan was about to retort, but Patrick had already hung up.
4:46 PM
Chapter 205 Shut Out
When she arrived and said she wanted to see Stella, Ethan’s brow furrowed.
Jason noticed his mood and stepped forward to explain. “Mr. Keene can’t reach her either.”
“What?”
Ethan can’t reach her either?
Finisher
“She blocked him after the broken engagement. None of our calls go through. And she moved. It’s almost impossible to reach her now.”
The only chance was to visit her studio, but she hadn’t been there lately
Unless she went back, we had no way of finding her
Susan stared at Ethan in shock.
She couldn’t believe that Stella had cut him off so completely.
“So you didn’t even talk to her today?”
Jason replied, “We saw her, yes, but we barely exchanged a few words.
Back at the Reed Group headquarters, it was already 9 pm, and no one had gone home. Both Patrick and Jonathan looked exhausted.
They hadn’t been back for several days.
Patrick lit a cigarette. Jonathan held one too.
“I’m coming too, Jonathan added.
I have to ask Stella what her endgame is. Is she really siding with the outsiders to destroy her own family?
Patrick’s expression darkened. “For what? So you can argue with her?”
Patrick snapped, “Have you ever acted like a brother since she came back? And now you want to interrogate her?
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be a good brother, but Stella never gave me the chance. She came back and turned the whole house upside
He looked at the screen and saw the name Rebecca Zalım,
Send Gifts
Jonathan hung up the phone.
The angry tone and the harsh words made Jonathan’s headache even worse.
He took a deep breath and said. “There’s trouble at the company now. Let’s talk about it in a few days.”
“A few days! By then you and some other woman will probably be married! Jonathan, have you forgotten your promise to
“Do you really believe in a man’s promises? Rebecca, stop being so naive. You know exactly how the child was born. I’m telling you right now, I will not marry you!”
Jonathan was so annoyed that he almost ended the call immediately.
But before he could. Rebecca’s last words reached his ears, “So this is your real face, huh? Just wait!”
Jonathan hung up without a second thought, not saying another word to her.
Unlike Ethan, Jonathan had always put business before women. To him, women were just distractions for fun.
Thinking of the trouble the Reed Group was in, Jonathan’s frustration grew.
The room was empty, so she slowly sat up and got out of bed.
As she took a few steps, she heard Abraham’s low voice from the balcony.
Stella had always known the dangers that surrounded the Dawson family. And with Abraham being the heir to the Luke family, his bloodline only made things more complicated.
Before she could think any further, the glass door slid open and Abraham stepped inside. His gaze softened as it met hers in the dim light.
“Are you awake?” he asked, his tone much softer than before.
Her forehead was no longer hot.
She had felt miserable after drinking and hadn’t eaten since the afternoon.
Abraham smiled softly and rubbed her hair. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Abraham pulled on his long black coat, and the combination of his warmth and the dark, cool aura made him even more striking.
He spoke, and Stella immediately snapped out of it, shaking her head. “Nothing, nothing.”
But then..
“What’s wrong with your lips?”
Noticing a wound on his lip. Stella reached out to touch it.
Abraham grabbed her delicate wrist. “Don’t touch.
Stella raised an eyebrow. “It’s rare for someone to hurt you in this place. Do you have a wife?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. “Let’s go eat,” she said quickly.
Without his answer, she slipped her arm through his and pulled him along, perhaps because she was afraid to hear his
answer.
Abraham glanced down at the top of her head, sensing the sudden darkness in her demeanor.
Stella’s nose prickled, and tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes.
Abraham took her small hand and brushed it against his lips. You bit me here.”
No way! I had no memory of that! Is it really?
Is that really I who did it? But I had no memory about that! Is he teasing me?
Abraham pinched her mouth, and Stella couldn’t help herself and directly opened it. “Ahh, what are you doing?”
4:46 PM ch
Who can bite, that’s who knows?
Rumors about his private life, especially concerning women, were rare. No one dared to spread such gossip.
Abraham led the way to the restaurant, where only late–night snacks were available at this hour. But if Stella wanted to eat. he’d see to it. The dining room was empty now.
What exactly had I done? Had I just bitten him or had I gone further?
What had I done? Had I ruined this sibling relationship with my actions! All these years, I’d kept my feelings so carefully hidden, and not…
this!
Abraham took a sip
Had I said the wrong thing again?
Abraham put down his glass with a humorless laugh. “So how do you want to make it up to me?”
Had the alcohol given me the courage to do what I’d never dared before?
Looking into Abraham’s deep eyes. Stella’s mind was in disarray. She couldn’t see or understand the emotions that flickered across his gaze.
“So what do you want me
When Abel. Eddie, and Victor entered the room, they saw Stella sitting across from Abraham, looking like a child who had been scolded.
Eddie stepped forward. “What is this? Still scolding the child? She’s all grown up now.”
Eddie stopped mid–sentence,
Great. Il ‘henever Abraham scolds someone, no one can speak in defense of the child.
Eddie gave Stella a sympathetic look.
Stella felt even more shy when she saw them enter and didn’t dare look
Victor pulled her gently. “Go sit next to him.”
Stella didn’t dare to move.
I had assumed earlier that it was just me and Abraham, so I sat across from him.
- up.
When Victor saw that Stella didn’t move, he didn’t dare sit next to her either.
Every time someone sat next to Stella, Abraham’s face went cold, and no one dared to face that.
“You can say a few words, right? She’s grown up. You can’t keep scolding her, Victor said, trying to defend Stella.
Seeing Stella sitting there, too scared to move, Victor sighed.
Abraham’s voice sounded low and deep. “Come here.”
Stella froze.
His tone… Is he really getting angry? Does my kiss upset him? Have I crossed some unspoken line?
Guiltly, she got up and sat down next to Abraham, feeling small and helpless.
Dinner arrived.
Abraham and Victor had begun to talk
Victor asked, “When you find Lancelot, what will you do?”
This time, Lancelot’s actions had shaken the Luke family, and Abraham wasn’t about to let it
Abraham’s eyes sharpened. He placed a piece of meat in Stella’s bowl. “Let’s eat first.”
Chapter 208 A Bitter Confession
Victor nodded and said to the waiter, “Wine”
We can’t just ea
eat; we have to have a good wine with it.
Finished
When Stella heard Victor ask for wine, she instinctively looked at Abraham. His eyebrows were knitted together, and his expression was cold.
Is it because of my kiss? Or the mention of Lancelot?
I’m not unfamiliar with Lancelot. He had caused quite a stir in Fleute in recent years, and no one’s business was safe from him.
But I hadn’t known that Abraham had problems with him. This was the first time they had been at odds.
The wine was brought.
Victor uncorked the bottle, handed it to Abraham, and poured himself a glass.
When it came to Eddie and Abel, Abel refused. He had to stay alert.
Seeing Abraham about to drink, Stella tensed. She tugged nervously at his sweater.
Abraham looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
Stella hesitated. “I’m not feeling well tonight, so I can’t make you any sobering soup.”
Victor and Eddie exchanged glances.
Eddie laughed. “Does your brother really need sobering soup? His tolerance is over the limit.
Before Eddie could continue, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg, and his teasing came to an abrupt halt.
Stella looked at Eddie in confusion.
What was that all about?
Eddie forced a smile and looked at Abraham, who gave him another cold look.
Eddie shut his mouth.
What was wrong now? Why couldn’t I speak freely in front of Stella? It made no sense,
“I know you get a fever every time, but you…”
Before he could finish, another sharp pain shot through his leg!
Eddie winced. “.”
Thu!
Stella looked at Eddie in confusion, then at Abraham.
Abraham, arms folded, stared at Eddie with cold eyes. Eddie, meeting that gaze, immediately fell silent.
I hadn’t done anything wrong, had II was just stating the obvious. Abraham had been running a fever all the time. But it wasn’t as if he hadn’t been clear–headed when it happened.
Stella blinked and asked him, “He what?”
Her innocent expression, coupled with Abraham’s cold stare, made Eddie feel like if he said another word, Abraham would
Chapter 209 The Unwanted Confrontation
Eddie winced in pain and clutched his leg.
Damn, did Abraham really want to cripple me?
The men continued their conversation, turning to business matters, occasionally touching on arms deals or the affairs of prominent families in Fleule.
Stella sat quietly beside Abraham, eating obediently as he occasionally placed food in her bowl. She always finished. everything he served her during dinner.
As the meal neared its end, loud voices erupted outside.
“It’s not all my fault! You’re her father too, aren’t you?” Susan snapped.
Stella glanced towards the entrance and saw Susan, Patrick, Ethan, and Jason entering.
Ethan’s expression was grim.
Patrick replied, “I’ve been busy with the company. Shouldn’t you be dealing with family matters?”
Susan shot back, I do handle them, and I always keep you informed. You never objected before!”
The mention of Stella made both Patrick and Susan tense.
Patrick exhaled sharply. “So what do you suggest? Her phone is off, and Ethan said she’s involved with the Luke family..”
His words stopped abruptly when he saw Stella sitting at the table.
Stella?
Stella didn’t spare him a second look.
“Star?” Patrick called out instinctively.
Susan followed his gaze and froze, Ethan’s jaw clenched when he saw Stella sitting so close to Abraham, and his fists clenched at his sides..
Patrick stepped forward. “Star, I
Abraham glanced at Abel, and Abel immediately blocked Patrick’s path.
Abraham turned to Stella, his voice soft. “Finished eating?”
Stella nodded.
“Then let’s go.”
Patrick went pale as Abel held him back. “Star, your father needs to speak with you!”
But Abraham was already leading Stella away, neither of them acknowledging Patrick.
Ethan, who had been looking for Abraham, stepped in front of them. “Mr. Abraham, we need to talk.”
His gaze flickered to Stella, simmering with suppressed anger, especially when he noticed Abraham’s hand clasping hers.
Abraham’s icy stare locked onto Ethan, the air between them turning frigid.
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Chapter 209 The Unwanted Confrontation
Abraham’s next words made his blood boil. “Then let’s go back and rest.”
Ethan was speechless.
Since when did business discussions hinge on whether Stella was tired?!
What? This…
Patrick and Susan were also stunned. Especially Susan.
Who would have thought that the girl we had once dismissed so easily now held such sway over us?
Susan’s chest tightened. When Stella started to leave, Patrick panicked, “Star!”
He glared at Susan. “Why are you just standing there?!”
Susan snapped out of her daze and ran after Stella.
Stella and Abraham had already reached the door.
Susan quickly grabbed her arm and said, “Star, your father and I need to talk to you.”
They paused.
Stella tilted her head “Father and you?”
Her tone dripped with mockery.
Finished
Susan’s grip tightened nervously as she felt Abraham’s dangerous aura. “I… I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you like this,
Star.”
Stella scoffed and tried to pull away, but Susan held on desperately.
Stella raised her eyebrows. “What is this about?”
Susan pleaded, “Just talk to us, please?”
However, inside, she was seething.
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The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In
Chapter 210 The Debt Comes Due
Susan never thought Stella could have such a powerful influence.
Patrick and Ethan both insisted that the company’s current crisis was her doing. How could this girl have so much power?
Fighting back the discomfort in her chest, Susan forced herself to sound patient. “Did you really cause all these problems for the company?”
Even with everyone pointing fingers, I refused to believe that Stella could be responsible.
Stella tilted her head slightly. “What do you think?”
Susan froze.
What did I think?
Okay, okay. Forget it. I had to stop this immediately.
“Tell me what I can do to make you stop, Susan pleaded.
Patrick had already scolded me several times today. I want this resolved quickly.
But it was too late. The situation had escalated beyond simple solutions.
Stella’s lips curved into an innocent smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “What do I want? Two years ago, when I told you that Lillian Reed was behind the car accident that nearly killed me, you asked what it would take for me to believe otherwise.”
Her voice turned sweetly venomous. “Madam Susan, you’re just paying her debt now.”
Lillian, that frail girl lying half–dead in the hospital, wasn’t even worth my attention anymore. But for all I had endured, I would collect
that was owed.
If the Reed family cared so much for Lillian, they could face the consequences together.
Susan’s breath caught. “You… You mean….
With a sharp movement, Stella shook off Susan’s grip and glanced at Abraham, whose expression had turned icy. “Let’s go.”
When Susan instinctively reached for Stella again, two bodyguards immediately grabbed her.
“Star!” Susan’s voice rose in desperation as their figures retreated. “We promised to send Lillian away after she recovered! Her existence shouldn’t upset you like this…”
Her pleas faded into the night air, only to be met by Stella’s retreat.
Only when Stella and Abraham were completely gone did Abel and the bodyguard release Susan and Patrick.
Ethan stood rooted to the spot, the iciness in Stella’s demeanor paralyzing him.
As the group left, even Patrick’s usually perfectly styled hair looked disheveled. He turned furiously toward Susan. “You….
He wanted to ask Susan to cut all ties with Lillian immediately; Stella’s anger was clearly focused on her, but Ethan’s presence stopped him.
I knew Ethan’s feeling towards Lillian.
I knew Judson was still cold to us, but the feeling Ethan had towards Lillian might still provide an opportunity to salvage our business relationship with the Keenes
Susan was originally angry enough, and now Patrick is still angry at her, which immediately causes an argument between
them.
“I didn’t treat her well? Was 1 bad to her when I started? Can she afford to be good to me for her?”
Their argument faded into the distance as Ethan abruptly turned and walked away, Jason hurrying after him.
“Mr. Keene,” Jason asked nervously, “what are we going to do?”
Mr. Judson’s ultimatum, to secure Abraham’s cooperation, now seemed impossible. Abraham had dismissed Mr. Keene without hesitation, putting Stella’s comfort ahead of important business discussions.
Ethan stopped walking and closed his eyes for a moment, “What can we do? Now that Stella…
Talking to Stella, Ethan didn’t know how to continue it
It’s clear that now everything depends on Stella.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
An email from Tower, the butler serving Judson.
As Ethan read the message, his pupils dilated and his breathing became labored.
Jason frowned in concern. “What’s wrong?”
Ethan’s grip on the phone turned bone white.
“Stella” he said hoarsely, “was raised by the Luke family?
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