Chapter 244 Sealed Tight
Jonathan’s face darkened as he hung up the phone.
Susan had heard the conversation too. Her voice rose sharply. “Lilian can’t leave the country! She can’t even go to another. city?”
Jonathan closed his eyes, a storm barely contained under his skin.
He gave a short nod. “Yeah.”
Hearing that, Susan completely lost it. “She’s trying to kill Lilian! That vicious girl!”
I’m calling your father,” she said furiously, already digging for her phone.
She called Patrick.
The first call barely rang twice before it was hung up.
Fuming, she redialed and was rejected again.
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s phone started buzzing too. It was the company.
He answered stiffly.
As soon as the line connected, the project manager’s anxious voice filled his ear: “Sir, Wendigo Corp just pulled out. They’re terminating the contract.”
Jonathan stiffened. “What?”
“They’re being very aggressive about it. They’re refusing to pay the breach penalty too. They said they’ll take us to court if we push.”
Jonathan was speechless.
Wendigo Corp was one of the few valuable assets Reed Group still had. If they lost this project, how the hell were they supposed to survive?
“My father, Jonathan forced out, “he’s already at the office, right?”
It should have been enough time for Patrick to arrive by now.
The project manager sounded even more frazzled. “The chairman? No, sir. He’s not here.”
Jonathan was speechless.
He glanced at Susan instinctively.
But Susan’s head was full of Lilian’s problems she hadn’t even registered what the other end was saying.
Jonathan felt like his skull was about to split open. “I’ll be right there.
Patrick had told him to stay at home tonight, acting like he would personally handle things at the office.
Where the hell had he ran off to?
At Sealla
Cove.
Stella was glaring at Abraham with righteous indignation.
He reached out, pulled her back into his arms. “So good, he murmured. “Time to sleep.
Now he wanted to let her sleep.
Stella whined under her breath, still furious. I’m not talking to you anymore.”
Making her do something like that, seriously–humph!
Abraham laughed lowly. “That’s not your call to make.”
Stella, pissed off but helpless, wriggled in his arms–only for him to laugh again from above her head.
“Alright, alright. No more teasing
Stella pouted, grumbling. “You can’t do that again next time.
Abraham didn’t respond only kissed her lightly on the forehead.
Stella pulled back, suspicious. “You heard me, didn’t you?”
What was that silence supposed to mean? Was he planning another round??
Abraham’s voice grew low and meaningful. “If you don’t go to sleep, there might be something even worse.”
Stella was speechless.
Even worse?What the hell did that mean?!
Seeing he wasn’t joking. Stella quickly zipped her mouth shut. Better not poke the bear.
The next morning. Stella woke up feeling hazy and warm
As she shifted, she realized she was tightly circled by strong arms.
Turning her head groggily, she found herself staring straight into Abraham’s dark, smiling eyes.
“You–why are you still here?”
She blinked, dazed and confused.
Abraham raised an eyebrow, pinching her cheek affectionately, “Forgot already?”
Stella was speechless.
In an instant, memories of the night before rushed back into her mind. Her cheeks flushed bright red.
“Then why are you still here?” she muttered again, shy and indignant.
“Hmm
Stella was puzzled-
Right. She remembered now.
It was him who insisted they sleep together. She had laid out all the pros and cons and he hadn’t cared one bit.
After last night, Abel and the house staff probably already knew everything had changed between them.
There was nothing she could do. Everything was in Abraham’s hands now.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed violently.
Marie.
She shoved the phone into Abraham’s hand immediately.
No way she was answering that call herself!
Abraham frowned at the caller ID but accepted the call.
Before he could even speak, Marie’s furious voice exploded down the line: “You little brat! Look at you, getting all cocky now, huh!”
“Running away for three years wasn’t enough? You went and tattled on me too? I’m telling you this isn’t over! You hear me? If you’ve got the guts, don’t you dare come back to Fleule! I’m so mad I could kill you! Ungrateful little thing!”
Chapter 245 Caught Red–Handed
Marie was practically howling through the phone.
–
It didn’t take a genius to guess she must’ve already been dragged back to Fleule..
Abraham’s voice cut in, low and dangerous; “Are you threatening her?”
Marie was speechless.
The line instantly went dead silent.
Stella clutched onto Abraham’s robe anxiously.
Abraham’s tone deepened even further. “Speak.”
The pressure in his voice made the air crackle.
Marie stammered, ‘A–Abraham, L. uh…”
Truth be told, Marie was still pretty terrified of Abraham when he got serious. Right now, she couldn’t even string a full sentence together.
Abraham’s coldness seemed to seep straight through the phone, landing heavy on Marie’s chest.
She shuddered visibly.
“I was just kidding with her!” Marie scrambled to say. You know how much I miss her!”
She wasn’t lying either.
When Abraham had moved Stella to the house near his school back then, Marie had wanted to go too. But she’d had to stay behind for her own schooling.
For a long time, Marie would leave treats and snacks untouched at home, always saving them for Stella
She missed her terribly.
But the anger now was real too. After everything–after all that love–the little brat ratted me out?!
Abraham gave a cold snort. That’s your idea of missing someone?”
Throwing around death threats–how touching.
Marie huffed, I’m mad, okay? I wanted to see her, and you wouldn’t let me come to Rivermount. Hmph!”
She really was furious,
Ever since she heard Abraham had found Stella, she’d been desperate to go to Rivermount. But Abraham blocked her at every turn.
This time, she finally sneaked out of Fleule and got dragged back halfway by Abel’s men
Even the one phone call she managed to make got her into trouble. No way Stella hadn’t tattled. Ungrateful brat. So mad I could explode
“Wait,” Marie suddenly realized something, “isn’t it just barely morning over there? How is Stella even awake this early?”
Suspicious
If it was Stella’s phone, and it was this early, how come Abraham had answered it?
1/2
it right inside his shirt.
Stella froze.
Her palm met warm, firm muscles. She stiffened in shock, immediately trying to yank her hand back.
But Abraham mischievously tightened his grip, refusing to let go.
Stella let out a panicked little squeak. “Let go! You jerk!”
“What are you two doing over there?” Marie’s voice demanded suspiciously from the phone.
Stella nearly fainted. Dammit–she’s still on the line!
Abraham continued to toy with her fingers leisurely as he answered Marie, voice cold and taunting “You’re very curious, aren’t you?”
Marie was speechless.
Stella was speechless.
This jerk–he’s doing this on purpose!
Marie sensed the shift immediately and quickly backpedaled. “N–no, not curious, not curious at all!”
Nobody in Fleule dared be nosy about Abraham’s private life–not even his own sister.
She still had PTSD from that one time he threw her into the desert to “cool off–two whole months without a proper bath. Never again.
“I swear, not curious, Marie repeated frantically.
But a second later, she blurted out, “Wait, Stella’s really awake this early?”
Stella was speechless.
Abraham was speechless.
In Marie’s memories, Stella was the queen of sleeping in. Back when they were kids, she was always at least an hour late to everything.
The only reason she survived school was because Abraham pampered her.
Abraham’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Marie.”
Marie, oblivious, kept rumbling. “Wow, this little brat’s really been beaten by the real world, huh? She’s gotten all diligent now?”
She clicked her tongue. “Tell me can she cook yet? Or is she still a disaster like before?”
“I still remember that pasta‘ she made–if you could even call it pasta. That was a death sentence on a plate.”
Stella was speechless
Marie kept going gleefully. I swear, one bite of that thing and I nearly had to write my will. Remember how you got food. poisoning? You were puking and passing out for days
“I’m just telling the truth. Her cooking is toxic. It’s one thing if you want to eat it yourself, but you always made me and Mom eat it too. One time it almost killed me. I even threw up all over myself”
She looked at Abraham in complete disbelief,
She wasn’t good at cooking, but ever since she was fourteen, she had learned that whenever a classmate’s family had at birthday, they would personally make longevity noodles.
way.
Later, at the breakfast table-
Stella kept her head down low as she ate. Abel had arrived, and the butler was there too.
But Abraham had already made sure everyone around them knew.
There was a teasing note in his voice that she couldn’t miss.
Stella’s mind went completely blank..
But Abraham said icily, “There’s nothing here you like to eat.
He sucked in a cold breath.
“Come on, you guys are already at this point. Can’t I even crack a joke? You’re so uptight-
Seeing that Eddie still didn’t get it, Abraham shot him another cold look. “Are you still not leaving?”
Eddie’s mouth twitched. “You’re seriously not gonna let me eat? Buddy, it’s freezing out there. I just want something warm.”
But after snowing all night, the roads outside were completely covered. Even driving was a nightmare.
Just as Abraham was about to kick him again-
In a small voice, she said, “Don’t make it hard for Eddie. Let him stay and eat.”
He could feel just how tense Stella’s body was next to him.
Stella obediently moved over and sat down beside him. Abraham reached out and began to unwind the scarf around her
She couldn’t let him take it off. If he did, and everyone saw, and if they all started asking questions like Eddie did, what was she supposed to say?
“You really think covering it up means no one knows? Abraham said casually.
She looked at Abraham with pitiful eyes.
If everyone knew, it wouldn’t take long for the news to reach Fleule.
Once her mother and Marie found out… the more she thought about it, the more panicked her mind became.
She tugged at Abraham’s sleeve. At that moment, Abraham was placing a small fried bun into her bowl.
Abraham took a sip of his milk and said, “Didn’t I already tell you what to say?”
She had never dared show them, partly because she was afraid of tarnishing the reputations of both the Luke family and the Dawson family.
But officially, they had always been considered brother and sister. That’s how everyone outside saw them.
Just a few simple words, but they carried Abraham’s unique dominance and force.
Abraham brushed another light kiss against her eyelids. “Stella, do you really not trust me?”
And if Abraham dared to do these things to her, it meant no one would dare criticize him either.
Stella sniffled and looked up into his eyes.
If Marie asks about it… I’ll just say that, okay?”
And yet, he had known everything all along and had kept teasing her.
Her face instantly turned bright red, and she didn’t dare lift her head.
Seeing her silent. Eddie gave a little laugh. “I asked you a question.
Eddie said, ‘Girls have to take better care of themselves. Abraham’s always spoiled you, but when it comes to this kind of thing, men often aren’t exactly human,”
“He doesn’t know how to control himself, but you should know how to protect yourself. You can’t treat that kind of injury like it’s nothing”
You- Eddie started,
“I know I don’t appreciate your kindness, Stella cut him off. “So I’m begging you, just stop.”
fast that if this were a school event, she would have won the track meet easily.
Eddie stood there, dumbfounded.
Did she really just say Troll That little brat… definitely no good intentions there
“Running that fast… Abraham’s years of worrying about her were a total waste. At this speed, even if enemies came after her. no one would catch her.”
In the blink of an eye, she was gone.
Looks like the medicine I had someone buy for her worked pretty well, Eddie thought, watching the empty hallway.
Scratching the back of his head, he turned–only to meet a pair of icy, sinister eyes.
Abraham stood at the top of the stairs.
Eddie froze at the sight of him. His heart skipped a beat. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Do you think she needs your concern?” Abraham’s voice was cold and filled with displeasure.
Eddie said nothing
“Sorry, I overstepped.”
Come on. max… Brother and husband are two completely different roles
Just then. Abel came over from the other side. “Sir.”
“Speak. Abraham said.
“Miss Evie has secretly arrived at Rivermount,”
Eddie stiffened.
Abraham’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“She’s accompanied by people from Miss Marie’s side, Abel added.
People from Marie’s side
Eddie’s mouth twitched. “What does that mean?”
Abel glanced at Eddie, then looked back at Abraham. “It’s likely Miss Marie sent her to try to take Miss Stella away.”
Eddie’s heart jumped violently.
No way. She wouldn’t dare, would she?Stella isn’t just Abraham’s little sister anymore.
If she dared to pull something like that now, she was asking for death.
“This must be a misunderstanding! Eddie protested. “Abel, you can’t just assume she’s here to kidnap Stella just because she brought people from Marie’s side. That’s not right.”
Abraham’s face darkened as he shot Eddie a cold glance.
Under that look. Eddie’s confidence crumbled. “Okay, okay…maybe not.”
But what if Evie rally was convinced by Marte to try and take Stella away?
“Wait a second. That doesn’t make sense. Those two hate each other. You know that.”
2/3
“Precisely because they’re enemies, it’s the perfect cover, Abel said calmly..
Eddie was getting anxious,
Damn it. Abel might actually have a point…
And with how aggressively Marie has been searching for Stella these past two years….
Chapter 249 Brewing Trouble
It wouldn’t even be an exaggeration to say Marie had already gone crazy
Eddie sucked in a sharp breath.
ing to find Stella.
He turned to Abraham. “Listen, let me explain. I really think this is a misunderstanding. Ell go find her right now.”
He was so anxious he was practically spinning in circles,
That damn tomboy… Always causing trouble everywhere she goes,
Even though he was furious, she was still his sister. What could he do? Let her screw things up in front of Abraham and get herself killed?
At a moment like this, if Stella really got taken away. Eddie didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.
As he turned to leave-
Abraham’s cold voice rang out behind him. “Beat her.”
Abel immediately replied, “Understood.”
Eddie shuddered from head to toe.
Come on. Abraham, leave it to me. I’ll handle it, no need for you to get involved.”
“Besides, Stella doesn’t like seeing your violent side. You know that. Back then, when she saw you kill someone, she almost had a mental breakdown.”
At that moment, Eddie still didn’t know that Stella had witnessed another incident the night before.
But this time, she hadn’t run away- and she hadn’t shut down, either,
Abraham leaned back against the armrest, staring at Eddie. Their eyes met, and Eddie’s entire body tensed up again.
Abraham said coolly. “Evie could use a good lesson.”
Eddie blinked.
A lesson?Coming from Abraham, that usually meant something nobody could handle.
Abraham turned to Abel. “Teach her a lesson she won’t forget.”
“Yes, sir, Abel said with a nod.
Eddie’s mouth twitched.
Teach her a lesson? Knowing Abraham, she might survive, but she wouldn’t come out of it in one piece.
God help us. What the hell was Evie thinking, getting mixed up with Marie?
He couldn’t understand it at all.
Abel was about to leave when Eddie grabbed him. “Wait a second, Abel. How exactly are you planning to teach her a lesson“?”
Abel answered calmly, “Beat her until she’s black and blue. How about that?”
Eddie’s eyelid twitched. “Just that?”
Abel said, “Considering you’re her brother, I’ll go easy on her.”
Hoki on-
“Evie’s skin is so dark. Making her bruises visible is gonna take some serious force, isn’t it?”
If they really bruised Evie badly enough to show on her skin, she might have to go straight to Hamlin to get her face fixed.
“Look, don’t go too hard on her, okay? She’s the only sister I have. Let me handle her myself. I promise I’ll teach her a lesson she won’t forget.
Abel pulled away from his grip. “Even Dr. Evie can’t be reached right now. How exactly do you plan on making her submit?”
Eddie stood there, at a loss for words.
That damned girl.
Abel was already walking off.
Eddie quickly pulled out his phone and tried calling Evie. Just like Abel said, the call wouldn’t go through. He tried another number–same result.
Eddie was so mad he started pacing in circles.
When the hell did that idzot shake hands with Marie?
Helping Marie pull a stunt like this?
During the time they had been away from Fleule, what on earth had happened between Marie and Evie?
Not long after Stella returned to her room
Abraham came in. Hearing the door, Stella turned around, her cheeks still flushed pink
Clearly, she still hadn’t recovered from Eddie’s awkward conversation earlier.
Abraham leaned lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Still that scared?”
Stella looked up at him with big, pitiful eyes but said nothing
Abraham let out a small sigh, walked over, and pulled her into his arms. “You little thing.”
He sat down and pulled her onto his lap.
Their eyes met. He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. “No need to hide anymore, okay?”
Stella said nothing.
Abraham stayed with her for a long while before finally leaving.
Not long after, there was a knock at the door.
Stella called out, “Come in.”
The housekeeper entered. “Miss, there’s a young gentleman named Reed here to see you.”
Stella froze..
Reed?
“Is he young or old?”
Thinking about what Patrick had said yesterday on Pluehville Hill – promising her anything she wanted–she found it laughable.
They really think I care about their scraps! The problem was never about resources or fairness.
She had never cared how much they favored Lilian or how they neglected her.
Everything that had happened now had nothing to do with whether they had been good parents or good brothers to her.
Chapter 250 A Price to Pay
The housekeeper waited for Stella’s response and asked respectfully, “Would you like to see him?”
“See him, of course,” she said calmly.
In this relationship, the one who should be avoiding the other was never hier.
Jonathan was stuck waiting at the gate, not even allowed to step into Verdant Villa.
That only made him even angrier. That ungrateful brat! I’m still her brother, and she treats me like this!”
Jonathan vented his frustration to Ethan.
Once upon a time, Jonathan had at least maintained some gentlemanly demeanor.
That had mostly been because, here in Rivermount, he was respected enough. Even though the Reed family wasn’t as powerful as the Keene family, no one had ever dared treat him this way–not even allowing him past the gate.
Facing Jonathan’s outburst, Ethan frowned but stayed silent.
The truth was… the entire Reed family had never meant anything to Stella.
As Stella approached, she could already hear Jonathan complaining.
he even wants Lilian’s life. She wants to trap her here in Rivermount forever. How can she be so vicious?”
“She
The more he spoke, the angrier Jonathan became.
He hadn’t slept all night, trying to figure out a way to help Lilian. But no matter what he tried, he couldn’t get her out.
Ethan had also spent the night scrambling, trying to find a solution.
Now, not a single country would accept them.
Seeing Ethan stay silent. Jonathan pushed harder. “Ethan, you have to think of something. If this drags on any longer, Lilian really will die here.”
She was supposed to be undergoing chemotherapy, but now even her medication had been cut off.
Wasn’t this just pushing her to death?
Ethan clenched one fist tightly, the other hand still in a cast that hadn’t even been removed yet.
“Lilian’s medication will run out today”
The hospital had only given her two days‘ worth of oral medication to begin with, and even that had barely helped.
Now, even those would be gone.
Ethan’s face grew darker and darker.
“Enough,” he said coldly.
This was Seaflats Cove – completely under Mr. Abraham’s control.
Jonathan, still seething with anger, wasn’t listening at all. That vicious Stella! As far as I’m concerned, I have no sister anymore. When the Dawson family turns their backs on her, we’ll see what she amounts to.”
Right at that moment, Stella turned the corner and appeared at the gate..
“You might be waiting forever for that day,” she said coolly.
Jonathan froze.
Ethan stiffened as well.
Seeing Stella suddenly appear, both of them felt an inexplicable shudder in their hearts.
Jonathan’s face stiffened.
Meeting Stella’s gaze, he forced down his rage, but the moment he opened his mouth, his tone was still nasty. “What do you want? After causing such a huge scene, what do you want?”
Jonathan was desperate now.
At this point, he actually hoped Stella would name her conditions- at least if there were conditions, there would be a way forward.
Stella crossed her arms and gave him a mocking sinile. That’s your attitude when you’re asking for a favor? Seems like Lilian doesn’t mean that much to you after all
“You–Jonathan fumed.
“Oh right,” Stella said. “Lilian made a bet with me before, about whether she could move into Seaflats Cove. The bet was one
million.
She smiled lazily. “Since you’re her brother, and you adore her so much, which of you is going to pay up?”
Jonathan’s face, already ugly, darkened completely the moment he heard the number.
“You have the nerve to ask for money? After what you’ve done to her? You still want money?”
How shameless can she be? Jonathan felt like his liver was about to explode.
Stella didn’t reply. She just stood there, calmly watching him.
Ethan shot Stella a cold glance and said, “I’ll pay
From the moment she appeared, Stella hadn’t even spared Ethan a glance.
This woman who had once been engaged to him for two years at this moment, Ethan realized she wasn’t anything like what the rumors said.
At least in matters of the heart, she was nothing like what people believed.
Jonathan panicked when he heard Ethan offer. “Ethan!”
Just the thought of handing over money to someone like Stella made Jonathan furious. He didn’t want to give her a single
cent
But Ethan ignored him and looked directly at Stella. Tll pay. Will you let her leave then?”
Since last night, they had tried every possible way to get Lilian out of Rivermount – all without success.
It was clear how absolute the orders from Mr. Abraham were this time, against both the Qi and Liang families, and against
Lilian herself.
Right now, Stella still held some standing with the Dawson family.
Ethan didn’t want to make things worse. After all, he had time to drag this out Lilian didn’t
After getting burned by her once before, he wasn’t about to fall for the same trick again..
his woman was an expert at pulling stunts.
This
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