Chapter 48
Stella thought bitterly, ‘It’s unbelievable. Henry has the nerve to say it, and they believe it. They probably know deep down it isn’t true, ye choose to collude and stubbornly insist on this fabricated “face”
This is my so called family, my very own flesh and blood
Stella demanded. “Max, don’t you n
really l
y know what kind of person Henry is?”
Max paused and then said, “What kind of persons Henry? We’ve all seen how good he’s been to you. What more do you wann
“Honestly, we’d love for you to find someone better, but with the way things are for you right now, is that even possibler”
Stella’s single voice was no match for their four. They could twist black into white with their words, while all she could do was swallow her simmering rage in silence.
She managed to maintain her rare composure and said, “I’m calling off this engagement with Henry, whether you agree or not
“If you have a problem with that, then either marry Anna off to him, get the Quinn family to invest, or, Max, you can always cash in on your lo
“I’m sure plenty of sugar mommies would be happy to sponsor your Just stop trying to pawn this off on me.”
The others were enraged, but this time, Stella seized the initiative, cutting them off before they could say a word. She said, “And one more thing, believe iter not, I will make sure Henry ends up behind bars. That’s all I’m exhausted. Cat out.”
With that, Stella flung herself down, making it clear she had no intention of speaking to her family.
They looked at Stella, wanting to say something, but she defiantly pulled the covers over herself, making it clear she had no intention of listening
Fiona snapped, “Stella, you’ll be the death of us all. You ungrateful wretch” With that final remark, she and her family of four stormed out.
Tears streamed down Stella’s face. She thought, “Why was born into a family tke this? What did I do in my previous life to deserve so much suffering i
this one?
fit weren’t for Grandma still being alive, I would have cut all ties with them without hesitation. What else can I do now but endure this?”
Stella lay there and dritted into sleep without even realizing it. As she slowly regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was Henry looming over her. a twisted smile playing on his lips.
Stella wasn’t faced. Aber all she’d been through, nothing could shake her now
Noticing Stella’s composure and with nothing let to hide, Henry dropped all pretense before her. He said, “See, Stella? This is what your desperate struggle to come home has earned you.
“Your family all believes in me. Even if I dragged you away right now, they wouldn’t lift a finger to stop me.”
Stella knew it all too well. Back in that smaller town of Middle–South Yaria, she had already realized one truth: if she didn’t save here, no one would..
She asked, “Henry, haven’t you heard the saying–play with fire and you’ll get burned“!”
Henry’s smug, triumphant grin widened once again. He sneered, “So what? Did you think being in a hospital would stop me from drawing your blood?”
Stellaxed Henry with a death glare. She said, Henry, I may be too weak right now to light you off, but if you dare la,
with me
. I’ll drag you down
Henry stood there, the very picture of a man who held all the cards. He sneered, “Go ahead, let’s see how you plan to take me down with you.”
Stella scanned her surroundings, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. Aher searching everywhere and finding nothing she lived him with a
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death glare,
She said, “I’ll kill myself right in front of you. There’s no way you’ll ever get a single drop of my blood Tve heard all about it. Lately, you havent hund anyone else to be your blood donor except me
“Your precious first love has such a rare blood type. If she gets too upset, she won’t make it either.”
Hearing this, Henry lunged forward and grabbed her by the neck, his eyes blaring with brutal fury. He snarled, “How dare you threatan me? Don’t forget, the late of your family’s company is still firmly in my hands.”
Stella scoffed, “After how they’ve treated me, why would I care about the company’s fater
Henry kept his predatory gaze locked on her
Stella stood her ground, unflinching. When it came to enemies, she always knew that she had to be scarier than they were
After what felt like an eternity, Henry finally released his grip on her. A sinister smirk curled at the comers of his lips, unreadable yet deeply unsettling i said, “Stella, you’ll never escape my grasp.”
With that, he rose and strode out, his threat still hanging in the air.
Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, but she just couldn’t put her finger on what it was
She didn’t have her phone now, so there was no way to access the secret recordings she’d made earlier. Although she’d already backed up the audio files to her computer before her phone broke, she didn’t have her computer with her either
Stella stared blankly, feeling completely at a loss. She felt like she was back to the same old days. But at least in the hospital, the felt free.
Before long, a nurse came in with her medication
All Stella wanted was to recover quickly. She thought. The more life tries to knock me down, the harder i have to fight to surviva
So she took the medication. She vaguely noticed something off about the nurse, but she was too exhausted to dwell on it.
Just then, a knock came at the door, Stella turned to see Lionel. She turned her head away, ignoring Lionel completely.
Lionel was carrying many items, including a pack of adult diapers, which he set down on her bedside table.
He said, “Stella, I know you don’t want to see me right now, but after everything you’ve been through, I just had to come and check on you.”
Stella remained silent.
Lionel continued, “I brought you some supplies you might need. if there’s anything else, just let me know.”
Stella shot a cold glance at the items on the nightstand and said, “Take them away. I don’t want any of this”
Lionel said, “You do need them, Stella, I know. Please don’t push me away. Even as your future brother–in–law, it’s only right for the to help you with
these things.”
Stella scoffed bitterly, “I’d rather die of humiliation than accept your help.”
Lionel said, “Stella, I know it will take time for you to forgive me, but that’s okay. I’ll keep trying to make things right until you do.”
Stella shot Lionel a cold look and asked, “Is my forgiveness really that important to you?”
Lionel nodded solemnly.
Stella said coldly, “True. Only my forgiveness can ease your conscience. Lional, tell me, do you know how Henry’s previous two wives died?
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A shadow crossed Lionel’s face, his expression darkening. He thought. “Stella knew it all now!
Noticing Lionel’s expression, Stella understood everything. She sneered, “So your knew all along. Of course you did, otherwise,
those things you told me before?”
Lionel said, “Stella, please, just hear me out. I didn’t want to tell you because I was afraid that in our current situation, even if I did tell you you wouldbe
believe me.”
Stella fixed him with a cold, unwavering stare. She accused, “Lionel, this is the second time you’ve hat stood by and watched me plunginta a try pt. Admit it, you’ve been in love with Anna all along.
“All that kindness was just a setup so you could stab me in the back when I needed you most, wasn’t it?”
Lionel shouted, “No.”
He tried to explain himself, but Stella cut him off coldly, refusing to listen to a single word
She snapped, “Shut up! Nothing you
say could ever make me trust you again. How could I have ever fallen for someone like you? I regret it with fiber of my being. Do you get that now?”
Lionel’s expression froze. He stammered, “Stella.”
Stella snapped, “Don’t you dare call me that. Get out!”
Lionel hesitated, then continued with difficulty, “Actually, I came here for a reason.”
Stella felt her head grow woozy, an unsettling sensation she couldn’t quite place, Seeing Lionel pull out a syringe, she demanded, “What are you doing!”
Lionel took her arm and held it down firmly. He said, “Stella, I know I’m hurting you, but have to do this.”
Stella couldn’t move a muscle. Her body was paralyzed as if under some invisible control. All she could do was watch helplessly as Lionel drew blood from her arm.
Lionel said, “Don’t blame me, I had no choice.”
