Chapter 66
Eleanor’s face turned livid that Max would think that way about his own sister, Stella
“Let me make this clear. Anna isn’t going to die, and Stella didn’t do it. Believe it or not, no one will ever hand Stella over to the police again. Anyone who dares try will find themselves in police custody instead.”
Eleanor’s unyielding stance left Max speechless. Finally, before leaving, Max warned, “Grandma, when Stella turns against you, you’ll live to regret it.”
“Hmph!” Eleanor scoffed at Max’s retreating figure.
Now, the house was quiet with only Eleanor, Stella, and Kevin remaining.
Eleanor sighed, “Kevin, you’ve seen how things are for Stella in this house. Before, they used underhanded tactics, but now they’re not even pretending anymore. I told her to leave, but she won’t. She stays because she doesn’t want to leave me behind.
“I could go with her, but those people would surely come after us. They’re like madmen, dead set on getting us.”
Kevin remained silent
Her heart aching, Eleanor gazed at Stella. “The whole paint of bringing her back was so she could finally recuperate properly, but not once has she had the chance.”
“Grandma, what if we take Stella away for a while?” Kevin suggested,
Eleanor shook her head. “She won’t agree to that.” She knew her own health condition too well. Stella would never leave her side. But what worried Eleanor most was the terrifying thought that Stella might lose her life even before she herself passed away. “What should we do then?” Kevin really wanted to help.
Eleanor sighed, “I don’t know either. This trouble Anna stirred up this time definitely won’t blow over easily. Let’s see what they’re up to before we make any moves.”
Kevin nodded. After having lunch with Eleanor and Stella, he left in the afternoon.
Just then, Andrew and Max trudged back, looking utterly exhausted. The moment they spotted Eleanor and Stella lounging on the sofa watching TV, Andrew was instantly infuriated and strode over to switch off the television.
Eleanor shot Andrew a glare. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Andrew snapped, “Mom, Anna is in the hospital fighting for her life. How can you just sit here watching TV like nothing’s wrong?”
Eleanor shot back sharply, “Why shouldn’t I? Stella’s had countless close calls, and none of you seemed to care then. What, do you think she’s some kind of fragile doll? Stella’s still standing strong here. So what could possibly happen to Anna?”
“Mom, how can you say something so heartless?”
“You think I’m heartless? Look at yourselves. The way you treat Stella is exactly how I’ll treat Anna.” After Eleanor finished speaking. her face icy cold, she demanded, “Turn on the TV.”
Andrew kept glaring at her.
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Chapter 66
Eleanor couldn’t care less. She turned the TV back on and kept watching
Andrew was seething with rage, his fists clenched, but in the end, he held himself back..
Max was fuming. He couldn’t stand seeing Andrew act like this. He switched off the TV and snapped at Eleanor, “Grandma, the scene you caused at the buffet yesterday has gone public. Now our company is in crisis.”
Eleanor’s peaceful TV time was over. “Me, making a fuss? If you hadn’t pulled that stunt, would any of this have happened? You should’ve seen this coming long ago.”
“Grandma, you and Grandpa built this company from the ground up. How can you just wash your hands of it all now?”
“Enough. I’m done with this mess and won’t lift a finger to help. Sort it out yourselves,” Eleanor declared coldly.
Max said sharply, “Fine! If you won’t take care of it, then hand over the shares to me. I’ll take control.”
Max’s blunt demand made both Andrew and Eleanor snap their heads toward him. Even Stella stared at him in utter disbelief.
Max didn’t think he’d said anything wrong, “Grandma, I’m not the majority shareholder yet, so there are decisions I can’t make. But once you transfer the shares to me, I’ll be able to take the reins. I’ll steer the company to great success.”
Andrew shot Max a silencing look.
Max remained utterly convinced he was in the right. “Just hand over the shares to me, and we’ll consider this matter closed. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad about Anna’s case, and they’ll drop all charges against Stella.”
Stella was speechless.
Eleanor scoffed, “Max, let’s cut the crap. All this drama is just about getting your hands on my shares, isn’t it?”
Max froze for a moment. “No, Grandma. The Hayes family will be mine eventually. Since you’re not managing the company anymore, why not just transfer all the shares to me now? That way, if anything were to happen to you…
Andrew kept shooting Max warning glances, but Max simply ignored them, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Eleanor.
“As the man of this family, the legacy is naturally mine to inherit. If it weren’t for this situation, I wouldn’t be asking now. But since it’s come to this, Grandma, just be reasonable and hand over the shares already,”
Eleanor’s smile twisted into a mocking sneer. “Max, I’ll give you this. You’re certainly more blunt than either of your parents. But let me make this clear. No way in hell am I giving you my shares.”
“Grandma, if not to me, then who? To Stella? Look at her condition. Who knows how much longer she’ll even last? What good is she for anyway?”
“Shut up!” Eleanor jabbed a trembling finger at Max. “Get out, right now. I don’t want to see your face.”
Max was about to argue further when Andrew hurriedly pulled him out of the room.
Max was practically freaking out, but Andrew shook his head and said, “You’re being way too reckless.”
“But Dad, if we don’t go for the shares now, when will we? The company just barely recovered, and now it’s all falling apart again
Andrew snapped, “Of course I’m anxious. Can’t you see how disgusted your grandma is?”
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Chapter 66
SOAT H
“She’s definitely going to give all the shares to Stella. What right does she have? She’ll be married off eventually anyway. I’m the only rightful heir to this family.”
Andrew said, “Alright, let’s drop it for now.”
Eleanor and Stella paid no attention to what Max and Andrew were discussing outside. Stella looked at Eleanor and asked, “Grandma, do you really think Anna is okay?”
“Of course she is. At worst, she just passed out. Honestly, I’ve always thought she was faking it, and now I’m convinced that she’s definitely putting on an act,” Eleanor replied.
A gentle warmth spread through Stella’s chest. But as she thought of Fiona, her lips curled into a cold sneer.
When Anna had the slightest issue, Fiona rushed to her side. But when Stella was in real trouble, at best, Fiona just put on a show Sometimes she couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.
Max confronted Stella once again, launching into emotional blackmail. “Stella, this company crisis is all your fault. Grandma even stuck her neck out for you. If you still want this family to survive, there’s one thing you must do.”
Stella couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Max said coldly, “If you won’t speak, I’ll take your silence as consent.”
Stella stared at his ice–cold expression, and a sudden sense of dread crept over her. She wondered what Max was up to.
AD
