Chapter 60
Stella felt no fear whatsoever. After everything she had endured, nothing could break her now.
Trey and his usual gang strede toward Stella, all smiles, but their presence was unmistakably menacing. “Your family sure has some nerve, daring m mess with us like that. Well, I’m going to have a proper talk with you now.”
stella stood her ground, neither retreating nor flinching, her face an impassive mask. “Whatever my family did to you, take it up with them. Leave the out
efit:
“How can you say it has nothing to do with you? If your fasily hadn’t played the victim card to win public sympathy–claiming they’d always bail you out and accusing us of maliciously ganging up on your family our families wouldn’t be in this mess
“Stella, this is all because of you. If you won’t answer for it, who will?” Before Stella could react, Troy suddenly yanked at her clothes, pulling them open just enough to expose her skin.
Stella yanked her clothes back into place and slapped Troy hard across the face. “Troy, if you hadn’t had your twisted designs on me from the very beginning, would we even be here now! Serves you all right.”
Troy’s buddies crowded around, reaching out to grab Stella.
Stella had been on guard all along. Spotting a fire extinguisher cabinet right beside her, she quickly opened it, pulled out the extinguisher, and aimed it straight at them. “Stay back. One step closer and I won’t hold back
Seeing sh
was just a woman, the men dismissed her threat entirely and kept advancing
Stella had learned how to use a fire extinguisher long before this. In one swift motion, she pulled the pin and blasted it straight at them.
Troy snarled, “Damn it, you bitch. You’re gonna pay for this.”
As they closed in, Stella pressed the fire extinguisher to her head, “Lay a finger on me and I’ll bash my own head in with this. Let’s see if you can Eve with a death on your conscience.”
Troy scoffed in disbelief, “Go ahead, Stella, do it then. Who do you think you’re fooling? You-”
Before Troy could finish, Stella swung the extinguisher and smashed it directly against her own head. One wasn’t enough. She hit herself again. And
again.
They were all left completely dumbfounded. Blood immediately streamed down Stella’s head. The commotion quickly drew a crowd of shocked onlookers
One of Troy’s lackeys said anxiously, “Boss, this ain’t good. If they really think we smashed her head in, we’re gonna be held accountable for this,” One of Troy’s men said anxiously, “Even if we didn’t lay hands on her, we still drove her to this. We can’t let things spiral out of control.”
Troy shot Stella a vicious glare and snarled, “Just you wait.” With that, the gang scrambled away.
Just as Kevin returned with a new phone, he spotted, Troy and his gang running off. Sensing something was wrong, he immediately aber
With the help of the doctors and nurses, Stella had her head wound properly bandaged.
Kevin saw a janitor cleaning blood off the hallway floor and rushed to Stella, asking anxiously, “Stella, what happened?”
Stella said, “It’s nothing.” She wored that it Kewin found out, he’d go after Trey to settle the score. Kevin didn’t have the kind of backup Troy did, and she feared he’d end up getting the short end of the stick,
“How can you say you’re fine?” Kavin insisted, clearly not buying it
Chapter 60
Stella tried to play it down. “I just bumped my head.”
Kevin demanded, “Don’t try to fool me, Stella. I just saw Troy and his gang humming away. Was it him?”
Stella shook her head. “No, it was just me.
Kovin kept his eyes on her.
Stella reached out her hand and quickly changed the subject, asking, “So, did you get the phone?”
Kevin handed her the phone. Thanks to a classmate of his working at the molalle service center, he’d managed to get t I replacement SIM card even
without her ID.
Stella took the phone, downloaded the necessary apps, logged into her payment account on the social app, and transferred some money to Kevin,
Kevin stared in astonishment, “Stella, I just bought you a phone. Why did you send me money?”
“Phones aren’t cheap. I can’t let you pay for it. Take the money, or I’ll be upset.”
Kevin didn’t want to upset her, and knowing how stubborn Stella could be, he reluctantly accepted the transfer. “Alright, dinner’s on me
“Alright.” Though Stella could only eat a little due to her limited appetite, sharing a meal with Kevin still felt heartwarming.
Kevin glanced around. “You’re supposed to be discharged today, right? How come no one came to pick you up?”
Stella wasn’t surprised. She’d made things clear to Fiona last time, so their absence was expected. Eleanor probably didn’t even know. Stella didn’t even want them to come. She was perfectly fine going back alone,
Kevin asked, “But are you really okay to go home like this?”
“Yeah, I can. I’m going home,” Stella said firmly. She had already packed her meager hospital belongings.
Seeing that he couldn’t persuade Stella, Kevin offered to take her home. Stella didn’t stand on ceremony.
At the doorstep, Stella didn’t invite Kevin in. The Hayes were notorious social climbers, so long as someone had money, nothing else mattered. Stea knew they might make some cutting remarks to Kevin, and she wanted to spare him that,
“Let’s keep in touch,” was all Stella said to him before entering the Hayes residence.
“Sure thing.
As soon as Stella stepped inside, she didn’t see Fiona and her family of four anywhere. Instead, it was Eleanor who greeted her.
The moment Eleanor saw Stella, she rushed to her side. “Stella, you’re back already? Did the hospital discharge you? And what’s with this bandage on
your forehead? Where are they?” Eleanor asked, her voice full of surprise and co
Stella didn’t answer right away.
Eleanor glanced around, appearing just as clueless.
Mary stormed over, fuming “I just heard from the servants that they haven’t had a buffet in ages. Since it’s the weekend, they And get this, it’s pretty expensive.”
Eleanor’s face darkened instantly. “No wonder they’ve been sneaking around all morning. They were trying to keep it from me.”
not for one today.
Stella didn’t mind being left out herself, but when she realized they hadn’t even Invited Eleanor, her anger flared up, “Grandma,” Stella declared, “I’m going to treat you to the buffet
“Let’s just have a simple meal at home, No need for the buffet. At my age, I can’t eat much anyway, and neither can you. Why waste money?” Eleano
“Even if we can’t eat much, we’re going. How dare they feast with the blood money they’ve drained from me while we’re left out? We must go.”
Mary chimed in eagerly, “That’s right, ma’am, you and Stella should go. Ijust happened to overhear which buffet they’re at. When you get there, if they refuse to pay for you, just make a huge fuss. Aren’t they terrified of losing face?”
Eleanor turned to Stella, her expression hardening with resolve. Those four had truly gone too far. “Let’s go.” Eleanor declared firmly
With the family car still available, they had the driver take them straight to that buffet restaurant At the front desk by the entrance, Stella approached the staff and said, “We’re looking for Fiona and Andrew.”
The receptionist suggested they make a call. “I’ll do it,” Eleanor said firmly. She picked up her phone and called Andrew.
The
phone rang for what felt like ages with no answer. Just as Eleanor was about to try calling Fiona instead, Andrew finally picked up. The moment Andrew stood up, Stella spotted him.
Andrew edged toward the exit, careful not to draw attention from other patrons. “Mom, did you need something?”
“Where are e you?”
“I’m out. What’s up?”
Eleanor asked,
“Never mind. But why is it so noisy on your end?”
Andrew said nervously, “Uh, just got some things to do. Mom. If that’s all, I’ll hang up now.”
