Fiona nodded.
Only Stella and Fiona were left in the hospital rooni..
After Stella weke up, she felt everything was surreal. Her parents, who had always tried to milk her dry of every last bit of value, were suddenly taking to her in annually sweet tone. Stella felt there was definitely something fishy going on.
Fiona said, “Do you want some polenta? I’ve had some brought over for you. You haven’t eaten in days, and you usually eat little as it is. Your health will be in worse condition”
Stella kept her lips sealed.
When she was little, she secretly peeked through the crack at Anna’s door. She found that every time Anna fell ill and lay in bed, Fiona would personally spoon–feed her
Stella was so envious back then, hoping that one day Fiona would treat her like that too. But when the day finally came, she didn’t need it anymore
Stella abruptly pushed aside Fiona’s hand holding the bowl and said, “No. I don’t want it.”
Fiona quickly pushed the bowl forward again. “At least eat some. It’s good for your health. The doctor suggested you eat something when you wake up. Even if you want more later, you won’t be able to. Be a good girl and eat some, okay?”
Stella–said, “No.”
Fiona persisted in urging her, and Stella got annoyed. With a surge of strength, she pushed the bowl from Fiona’s hands to the floor.
The reporters happened to arrive and froze in shock at the scene before them.
Fiona had been seething with rage, but when she saw the reporters, a smile instantly plastered itself onto her face.
Fiona said, “Stella just woke up and isn’t quite herself yet. No worries. I’ve got plenty more polenta prepared. I can feed her another bow
The reporters started rolling their cameras, with some even livestreaming
Fiona prepared another bowl of polenta for Stella and returned to her bedside. Fiona said, “Come on, Stella. Just take a little bite.”
Stella definitely knew what was going on. She glared fiercely at Fiona and said, “Are you putting on a show for the reporters?”
Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Fiona shot her urgent glances and whispered tensely, “We’ll talk later. Now stop saying that.”
Stella snapped, “Why can’t I say that? Isn’t it just about saving your precious reputation? Fiona, do you really think I should spare you that dignity?”
“Stella,” Fiona snapped in a low voice. Rape twisted her features as her gaze turned dagger sharp.
Stella said, “Cut the act. What’s your purpose this time? Is this your new stunt to deal with me because I refused to marry Herary and even h4 him jailed, and now that the Hayes Group is falling apart?”
Fiona was absolutely livid. She frantically signaled Stella with warning glances, but Stella pretended not to notice.
Stella said, “Fiona, is it my fault the Hayes family has come to this? When you had to choose between saving moor Anna that day, you didn’t hesitate for a second before picking her
“If only you’d called the police back then, I wouldn’t be in this miserable state now
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Chapter 58
“When I came back, thought you’d finally treat me better. But you just went
curther. You dimniond all my thoughts as absurd.
“You took it for granted that Anna stole my identity to get into Quentilam University and spent the 1 billion dollars I worked my fingers to the befor
“We’re family, right? So just because I have something, I should hand it over? Like it’s my fault I ‘stole‘ Anna’s putrients in the womb. And now my beloved Lionel is marrying her, and still not one of you has ever apologized to me
“You even brought in the media back then, all just to use me
Before Stella could finish, the reporters instantly sensed a major scoop unfolding
if Stella kept talking like this, there was bound to be even more explosive revelations, which would be a blockbuster exclusion.
The reporters swarmed in, thrust their microphones toward Stella, and began to interview her.
A reporter asked, “Stella, is what you just said true?”
Another one asked, “Are you saying your family has always mistreated you, and all the harmonious scenes are just an act?”
The third one asked, “Stella, what else happened? Can you give us all the details?”
Fiona was furious, but she couldn’t let it show. She said, “I’m sorry. Stella has just woken up, and she is still feeling a bit groggy. Perhaps you couldall spare the room for us.”
However, the reporters stood their ground, all hungry for Stella’s response.
Seeing that Stella was about to say something, Fiona seized the moment when no one was looking and dug her nails sharply into Stella’s thigh. The searing pain made Stella shriek recklessly.
p? What happened!” A wave of concern swept through the room
“What’s wrong?
Fiona hadn’t imagined Stella would be this defiant.
Stella stared at Fiona and said, “Why did you dig your nails into me? Fiona, are you afraid all the dirty things you’ve done will be discovered? Then you shouldn’t have brought them here. Don’t expect me to play along with your act.”
Fiona blushed with rage and humiliation. Powerless to stop Stella, she could only hastily usher the reporters out.
The reporters were reluctant to leave because they sensed the next revelation was about to be absolutely explosive.
However, there was nothing they could do. They had no choice but to leave.
As the door clicked shut, Fiona took a deep, seething breath and asked, “Stella, what the hell do you want?”
Stella said, “it’s not about what I want. It’s about what you’re trying to pull here. For once, actually thought your concern for me was real.
“But you just had to bring the reporters in and put on this whole act to show everyone how much you love me and how responsible you are. Fiona, doesn’t your hypocrisy make you sick?”
Fiona replied, “So what? The Hayes Group is finally starting to show some signs of recovery. Can’t you just lend a hand? Did I raise you all these years just for you to turn against us like this?”
Stella abruptly fell silent. She let out a cold, mocking laugh, and then chuckled bitterly to herself.
After a long pause, she finally said lightly, “Fiona, you should know, if it weren’t for the family, I would have out all ties with you long ago.”
Fiona snapped, “Don’t you dare threaten mu, Stella. if you really want to cut ties, then make it clean. The Hayes family doesn’t need you to survive
Stella stated at Fiona, and Fiona instinctively bit her lip.
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Chapter 58
Fiona thought, ‘That’s not true. Stella is my flesh and blood. I carried her for nine long months. I still remember how overjoyed I was when the doctor told me I had twins. No one could have been happier than I was at that moment.
‘I bare twins. They weren’t artificial creations. They were naturally conceived. Thinking of my two precious daughters coming into the world, I felt I must be the happiest mother alive.
“After all the suffering and bullying Stella endured these past three years, how can she still be so defiant and unreasonable? Since she came back, she has done nothing but constantly gotten on my nerves and hasn’t even lifted a finger to help the family.
“She even wanted to cut ties with me. How dare she?‘
“If you’r
‘re not going to eat, then I’m leaving.” Fiona snatched up her clothes and stormed out.
Stella was left alone in the hospital room.
She thought, “Fiona never truly cares about me. Whether I eat or not doesn’t matter. All she cares about is keeping up that “loving mother” act for everyone to see
“She never loves me at all. I’m just dead weight to her. The sooner I get away from her, the botter.”
Later, Eleanor came to visit her, and Stella grew stronger with each passing day.
Just as Stella was about to be discharged from the hospital, Lionel came to visit her.
es with him. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze, yet remained in the room.
Stella locked eyes
He only heard Stella say, “Get out of here.
