Chapter 199
Something was seriously wrong. Max’s grip tightened on the phone. “What did you do? What’s going on?”
Before Max could respond, a rough voice cut in, “Mr. Quinn, 90 million shouldn’t be a problem for a man like you. Pay up, or say goodbye to your future heirs.
“I hear the Quinn family only produces one son per generation. Wouldn’t want to be the one who ends that legacy, would you? Your ancestors would be so… disappointed.”
Max’s blood ran cold. “Lionel… tell me you didn’t gamble this away.”
“It wasn’t supposed to go this far!” Lionel’s voice was ragged with desperation. “I just played a few hands. It wasn’t even high stakes.”
“A few hands?” Max nearly laughed in disbelief. “Since
is
$90
high stakes‘? Do I look like a billionaire to you?”
The Quinn fortune had once been vast–back when Eleanor and Desmond built their empire. But under Andrew’s mismanagement, the money had dried up. Max had never even seen that kind of cash.
“I had no choice!” Lionel’s voice broke. “No one would lend to me anymore. I begged your sister for help, but she refused. She told me to crawl away and rot. I tried everything, but she’s heartless. What else was I supposed to do?”
Max’s head spun. ‘Since when have people around
me become So…
pathetic?‘
A sudden scream pierced through the call.
“Lionel? Lionel!” Silence. The line went dead.
Max’s pulse hammered. He wanted to help, but in his condition, he’d only make things worse. He thought, ‘Who else could I call? Who is left?‘
Then he remembered his grandmother. Fumbling with the phone, he dialed her number.
“The number you have reached is no longer in service…” Max froze. ‘No. No, no, no. Why is everyone unreachable? What the hell had happened while I was gone?‘
Then it hit him: Mary. She had to still be reachable. Relief flooded him when the call finally connected, but Mary’s words shattered him. “You’re asking about your grandmother now, Max? Why didn’t you wake up sooner?”
Her voice cracked with suppressed grief she didn’t dare to show in front of Stella. “This family’s ruin was destined. She’s gone, Max. Your grandmother is dead. Do you hear me?”
Max’s breath seized. “No. That’s impossible. Her health wasn’t perfect, but Stella would’ve taken care of her. She wouldn’t just-”
“Stella did care for her,” Mary snapped. “But that didn’t stop someone from wanting her dead.”
“Who would kill Grandma? I don’t believe it. I can’t.”
“I don’t have proof,” Mary said bitterly. “But Stella traced her last call. It was from Emily.”
Max’s stomach lurched. “Emily? No. She loved me. Helped me countless times. She’d never hurt Grandma.”
“Whether she did or not, Emily turned up dead soon after. Too convenient, don’t you think?”
1/2
Chapter 199
Ice slithered down Max’s spine. “Emily’s… dead too?”
Mary exhaled sharply. Of course he didn’t know. He’d been comatose. She laid out the horrors he’d missed: his grandmother’s death, Emik emise, Stella’s imprisonment, all orchestrated by Andrew and Anna.
Max stood paralyzed. His family had imploded while he slept. ‘How could they turn on each other like this? And Mary’s insinuation is absurda That timid, kind Anna could murder a doctor to frame Stella?‘
Yet as Mary unburdened herself, her tone softened. “You’re awake now, Mr. Hayes. That’s what matters. Pull Anna back from the edge. Sisters shouldn’t be enemies. If she doesn’t stop… she’ll destroy herself.”
Max’s throat closed. ‘So that’s why Anna and Andrew avoided me. Because I’d sided with Stella before the crash‘
Since waking, he’d fixated on one memory: Stella watching his accident, not rushing to save him. But he couldn’t blame her. ‘How many times have failed her when she’d hovered near death?‘
And Stella hadn’t abandoned him. When the family cut off his medical funds, she moved him to a basic hospital, keeping him alive. Cold on the surface, yet the softest heart underneath.
Then there was Fiona. His mother is the architect of their ruin. The Hayes family wasn’t crumbling; it was already ashes.
When Stella returned home, Mary immediately told her about Max’s phone call.
“He called me too,” Stella said. “But I didn’t say much to him.”
“I’m sorry,” Mary admitted. “I couldn’t hold back. I told him everything that’s been happening.”
Stella shook her head gently. “It’s fine, Mary. I know you needed to vent. Ever since Grandma passed, you’ve been so careful about my feelings. I should’ve been more considerate of yours. If talking about it helped, then I’m glad.”
Mary managed a small smile. “You’re too kind, Stella. Why does life have to be so cruel? I just wish things could finally go right for you.” Stella pulted her into a light hug. “Maybe someday. Life’s full of hardships, but as long as I’m still standing, I’ll keep moving forward.” Mary nodded, her expression softening. When Jordan walked in and saw them both smiling, some of the tension left his shoulders, though his concern for Stella’s health lingered.
“I’m fine,” Stella assured him, catching his look. “I’ve been eating normally these past few days, haven’t I? As long as my body isn’t pushed to its limit, I’ll manage.”
Jordan exhaled. “Alright. But speaking of normal, there’s a new movie tonight. Think you’re up for it?”
Mary immediately nudged Stella. “Go ahead. You’re young, and you should be out enjoying life.”
It had been ages since Stella last went to the movies, and the idea was tempting. “Let’s eat first,” she said. “Mary’s already made dinner.”
Jordan happily nodded.
After the meal, they headed out like any ordinary couple. The theater was dark, the sound system booming, overwhelming at first, but Jordan’s hand closed firmly around hers, steadying her.
