Chapter 222
Chapter 222
Jordan spent three days in the hospital, and he was already bouncing back pretty quickly.
On the afternoon of the third day, Alex hurried into the hospital. “Mr. Erwin, there’s been a problem with Hasan,” he said, his face grim
Jordan was going over the medical reports with Stella. He frowned and said, “What do you mean?”
“The cops said Hasan refused to confess, and-” Alex cast a glance at Stella. “He wants to see Ms. Hayes and says he has something important to tell her He swears he won’t confess unless he meets her.”
Hearing that, Stella felt a surge of conflicting emotions. She wondered, ‘Why would Hasan still want to see me? What else could he possibly have to say?‘
“Turn him down,” Jordan said firmly. “A man like Hasan can’t possibly mean well.”
Alex said, “But the police said if he keeps refusing to confess, the case will become complicated. He insists it was an accident and won’t admit to
intentional harm.”
Stella bit her lips, torn inside. She longed to know what Hasan wanted to say about Jordan’s past and what tied the two of them together. Those questions lingered in her heart, leaving her restless.
Perhaps meeting Hasan once could bring her the answers she sought.
“Stella, what’s on your mind?” Jordan caught the change in her expression.
Stella hesitated for a moment. “Maybe we should go see him.”
“No.” Jordan’s voice grew sharp. “Hasan is twisted. He cannot possibly have good intentions.”
“What if he keeps denying it?” she said.
Jordan cut her off. “Even if he doesn’t confess, the evidence we already have is enough to convict him. Stella, I don’t want you to be affected by him any
longer.”
As Stella saw the nervous look on Jordan’s face, her suspicions gnawed at her. She couldn’t understand why he was so against her meeting Hasan.
She thought, ‘Was he worried I might get hurt, or was he afraid of some secret being exposed?‘
“One more thing.” Alex continued his report. “Hasan said if Ms. Hayes doesn’t meet him, he’ll tell the media everything he knows.”
Alex paused here, glancing first at Stella, then at Jordan.
Jordan understood this was Hasan’s threat. If Stella didn’t go to him, he would drag every secret into the light.
“He wouldn’t dare,” Jordan roared.
Stella said softly, “Jordan, I know you’re worried about me,
but what Hasan said made me realize that maybe I don’t really know you that well.
“I’m not saying I don’t trust you. I just want us to be more honest with each other. I want to know more about you.”
Jordan tried to speak but couldn’t. Stella had said exactly what was on his mind.
He did worry about Stella, but more than that, he feared the timing was wrong. If he revealed everything now, he wasn’t sure if Stella would ever forgive
him.
“Stella, it’s not-” Jordan began to explain.
Stella cut him off. “What exactly are you trying to say? Are you going to brush me off again with that ‘wrong timing‘ excuse?”
1/3
Chapter 222
When Jordan caught the doubt in Stella’s eyes, pain flooded his chest. He knew a crack had already formed between them. He glad i was houten ta her to hear the truth from him than a twisted story from Hasan.
Jordan took a deep breath. “Stella, sit down. There’s something I need to tell you.”
The stern look on his face struck Stella with sudden dread, as though something terrible was about to unfold.
Jordan struggled to speak. “When we first met, I really did keep a lot from you. Sure, you asked me for help, but there was no way I could have found you that fast or pulled together that kind of team.
“That was not something a regular businessman could do.”
Even though Stella had long harbored suspicions, hearing Jordan admit it aloud still left her shocked. She sank slowly into her seat, her voice trembling. “What do you mean by that?”
Jordan looked into her eyes. “Stella, I’m not a decent person. I’ve done things way.”
I’d never dare expose. Even the first fortune I made didn’t come the right
The words struck Stella hard. She had always believed Jordan to be a somewhat mysterious but capable businessman–talented, but still played by the rules. Yet now, he was telling her he wasn’t that good.
“What have you done?” Stella asked, her voice faint and shaky.
Seeing the fear in her eyes, Jordan wanted nothing more than to strike himself. “I was once a man of the streets. The Quinn family’s downfall truly had something to do with me, but I swear to you, my love is true.
“From the moment we agreed to this marriage, I knew I didn’t want it to remain just a contract. Everything I’ve done has been to make myself good enough for you and to protect you.”
Every word shattered Stella. She felt her entire world collapse. The man she had slowly fallen for, starting from a sham marriage, turned out to carry such a nasty past.
From the very beginning, their relationship had been built on lies and secrets.
“I need time to process this.” Stella stood up, her tone flat. “Jordan, I don’t know how to deal with you right now.”
“Stella.” Jordan tried to stop her.
“Leave me alone.” Stella walked toward the door. “I won’t see Hasan. There’s no point.”
He said, “Stella, if you really want to see him, I’ll go with you.”
3
Stella replied without turning back, “No need. Jordan, we both need time to think about everything that’s happened.” With that, she opened the door and walked out.
Watching her walk away, Jordan felt his heart twisting in agony. He feared he might have lost her forever.
“Mr. Erwin, did I say something wrong?” Alex asked cautiously, staring at Jordan. “Do you want me to kill Hasan?”
Jordan said coldly, “No. Even if the Quinn family has fallen, they still have ways to get him out of the police station.
“He only said all that to drive a wedge between Stella and me. Now that I’ve told her the truth, his plan won’t work.” Alex nodded, though unease lingered. He wondered whether Jordan’s confession would push Stella further away from him.
