Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 154

Before Kenneth could say another word, Harvey clamped a hand over his mouth. “He’s just messing around, Harvey told Stella. “Ignore him. Just stick to the plan I told you about.”

“Okay,” Stella agreed, though she still looked a bit uncertain.

After the meal, she and Erica left first.

Once they were gone, Harvey finally let Kenneth go. The first thing Kenneth did was burst out, “What the hell. man? A sneak attack? You play dirty! Can’t handle me straight up, can you?”

“You want to keep this up?” Harvey asked with a dangerous smile.

In the bullet–riddled cities of the Free Federation, Kenneth’s goofy personality was a welcome relief from the constant tension.

But back home… it was just grating.

Kenneth instantly straightened up. “Alright, Harvey. What did you really bring me back for?”

Harvey spoke slowly. “Besides what we’ve already discussed, I want you to take back the Harris family.”

Things here weren’t like they were abroad; you couldn’t just solve problems with force. To truly take down the Lloyds, they needed powerful allies.

And Kenneth’s family, the Harrises, were one of Seabrook’s oldest and most influential dynasties.

The moment Harvey’s words fell, a chilling hostility filled the private room.

Kenneth’s face was a mask of frost, his voice devoid of warmth. “Harvey, it’s just a damn company. Why go through all the trouble? I could just take some men and wipe them out.”

He’d rather face the colossal Lloyd family head–on than go back to that filthy home and play nice with those people.

“What, you got a death wish?” Harvey shot him a look.

Trying to pull off a violent takeover here would get the authorities on them in a heartbeat.

They’d barely have finished the job before they were in cuffs.

If it were that simple, Harvey wouldn’t have waited for him. He would have done it himself long ago.

“But…”

“No “buts,” Harvey cut him off coldly. “Forget everything else. That company is rightfully yours. After all those years of fighting to survive abroad, after everything you’ve built, are you really going to tell me you don’t want

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to take back what belongs to you?”

Conflict flickered in Kenneth’s eyes.

Did he want it?

Of course he did.

When he was forced to flee the country, the one thing that kept him going was the vow to take back the Harris family enterprise.

His parents had died young, and his grandfather had raised him, grooming him to be the heir. But before Kenneth could take over, his grandfather passed away.

His uncle and his family had seized the opportunity, forging the will, taking everything, and forcing him out of the country.

In the years he’d spent with Harvey, he’d gained more than enough power to take back what was his. The only reason he hadn’t was that his uncle was his grandfather’s own son. He knew his grandfather would never have wanted to see his family tear itself apart.

Harvey didn’t press him for an immediate answer. “Anyway, the choice is yours. You can think about it. But I think…”

He sighed, a rare moment of reflection. “I think if your grandfather were alive, he wouldn’t want to see his life’s work fall into the hands of a good–for–nothing who’s running it into the ground.”

“You’ve been keeping tabs on the family for the past couple of years. You must have seen the state it’s in.”

Kenneth nodded, his voice muffled. “The company’s a mess. They can barely even pretend everything’s fine anymore.”

If it weren’t for the old foundations, it would have gone bankrupt already.

“If the Harris company really goes under, even if you build a new one, it won’t be the same one your grandfather built.”

Having said his piece, Harvey clapped him on the shoulder one more time and walked out.

*****

The next day, Stella was up at the crack of dawn.

After getting ready, she came downstairs and saw Harvey sitting on the sofa in casual clothes, reading the paper. “Harvey, where’s your friend?” she asked.

“He’s at a hotel,” Harvey replied. “Why? You need him for something?”

“No reason, just asking,” Stella said casually, turning toward the dining room.

She could already smell the pleasant aroma of the oatmeal Aunt Evelyn had made,

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“Bring a bowl out for me,” Harvey called after her, only to get a light smack on the back of his head.

‘I see you’re too lazy to even move your ass off the couch, huh?” Marvin said, appearing from behind him.

Harvey drawled, “Dad, you know how busy I’ve been. Now that I finally have a moment, I’ve got to get some

rest.

“Fine. Then after you’re done ‘resting, remember to drive your sister to work. Marvin grabbed his jacket and left.

“Marvin, Evelyn made oatmeal. Don’t you want a bowl before you go to the office?” Stella called, following him with a bowl in her hand.

“I’ll pass. You guys have it,” Marvin waved without looking back.

“His loss is my gain.”

He took a happy mouthful, then added, “Dad told me to give you a ride to work, so eat up. I’ve got a few errands to run first.”

“Harvey, if you’re busy, you don’t have to drive me. I can take my own car.”

“No can do. If Dad finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Alright, then. Let me just grab a couple of breakfast buns and we can go.”

Stella went back to the dining room, put two buns in a bag, and then got into Harvey’s car. They headed straight for Lumière Group.

*****

In front of the office building, before the car had even come to a complete stop, the usual suspect was already waiting.

“Harvey, Stella,” Jessica Slater chirped, standing by the car window with a bag of breakfast and a beaming smile. “Have you two eaten yet? I just happened to bring extra…

“We’ve eaten,” they both replied in unison.

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Jessica was left speechless.

‘Well, I guess I should have expected that, she thought.

“I’m heading out,” Harvey said, giving Jessica a quick nod before saying goodbye to Stella and driving off.

“Stella,” Jessica sidled up to her, her voice full of concern. “I heard you were in the hospital, something about your eyes. Are you okay now?”

She put on a helpless expression. “I was going to visit you, but I asked around and nobody knew which hospital you were at.”

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“Then how did you know I was in the hospital?” Stella asked bluntly,

“I… I heard people talking.”

A secon

Jessica froze for a second, clearly not expecting Stella to press the issue.

She’d heard about Stella’s hospitalization from Noreen Lloyd, but she couldn’t let that slip.

She was supposed to be on Stella’s side now, while secretly still tangled up with Noreen–playing both sides for her own benefit.

If Stella found out she’d been in contact with Noreen without her say–so, it would definitely raise suspicion.

Stella seemed determined to get to the bottom of it. “Who?”

That single, soft–spoken word made Jessica go rigid.

She was cursing Stella out in her head, but on the surface, she had to maintain her composure. “It was at a get- together with some girlfriends. I just overheard someone mention it. By the time I wanted to ask more, I couldn’t find the person who said it.”

“A get–together…”

“Stella, it was a private party. I can’t really share the details.”

‘Wow,‘ Stella thought dryly. ‘She’s learned to be quick on the draw.

AD