Chapter 1 She Plays Dirty, I Pay the Price!
The day Stella Dawson was born, the family maid threw her away—just so her own daughter, born on the same day, could have a better life.
Eighteen years later, her family finally found her. But instead of guilt and compensation, what awaited her was something else entirely.
“You’re gorgeous!”
Stella stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a wedding gown. The fitted bodice hugged her slender waist, and the voluminous skirt made her look like a fairytale princess.
Even without makeup, her delicate features were striking.
The boutique manager helping her adjust the gown couldn’t help but praise her.
“Mr. Keene didn’t come with you? Men and women have different tastes when it comes to these things.”
Stella smiled politely. “He’s busy with work. Couldn’t get away.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID before picking up. “Tess?”
“Stella, I just saw Lillian with Ethan!”
Stella’s expression froze.
The satisfaction on her face disappeared bit by bit, buried under the weight of Tessa Miller’s words. Her gaze turned cold.
Ethan Keene was her fiancé. Their wedding was in a week.
And just hearing Lillian Reed’s name made a flicker of disgust cross her eyes. Lillian—the maid’s daughter. The girl who stole her parents at birth and now had the nerve to come after her fiancé.
Stella shot a look at the boutique manager, who instantly understood and nodded.
With a simple hand gesture from the manager, the other employees quickly left the room.
Once they were gone, Stella glanced at her manicured nails and asked casually, “Where’d you see them?”
Tessa hesitated. “The hospital. OB-GYN department.”
Stella raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Well, that’s an interesting place.”
A man and a woman showing up together in the OB-GYN department—what could they possibly be there for?
Tessa scoffed. “Lillian’s nothing but a two-faced manipulator, and Ethan’s a bastard. Call off the wedding!”
Stella hadn’t even gotten angry yet, but Tessa was already fuming.
She took a slow sip of water from the glass in front of her and smirked. Every time she pulls one of her stunts, I’m the one who pays for it. What are you mad about?
Two years ago, Lillian had left the country of her own accord, claiming that since the real daughter of the Reed family was back, she had no right to stay. And yet here she was again—cozying up to Ethan.
Had Stella been too kind these past two years? Or just too forgiving?
Tessa huffed. “She came back right before your wedding. What do you think that means? She’s up to no good.”
Stella’s gaze darkened. “I’ll call you later.”
Tessa sounded alarmed. “What are you gonna do?”
Stella smiled. “If someone’s selling a lie, how could I not buy into it?”
With that, she ended the call.
She turned to the mirror, looking at herself in the pristine white gown.
Her fingers trailed over the bodice.
With a sharp rip, the fabric tore apart in her hands. She tossed the shredded dress to the floor.
The boutique employees watching from a distance gasped in shock, but seeing Stella’s expression, none of them dared to say a word.
Just as she finished changing into her own clothes, her phone buzzed again.
She glanced at the screen.
Ethan.
The moment she picked up, his cold voice came through. “Once you’re done trying on the dress, come to the office.”
Two years.
For two years, Ethan had been nothing but gentle and considerate toward her.
And now? This change in attitude… was it because Lillian was back?
A mocking smile flitted across Stella’s lips. She didn’t even bother replying—just hung up.
Half an hour later, Stella stepped into Ethan’s office.
He stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, talking on the phone.
Bathed in sunlight, his features were sharp yet refined. His side profile alone was enough to make anyone stop and stare.
God had favored him, gifting him a face that was unmatched in all of Rivermount.
The moment he noticed Stella, he hurriedly said into the phone, “Eat lunch by yourself. I’m hanging up.”
He walked over to the couch and sat down.
The warmth in his voice from the call was gone. His expression turned cold as he looked at her. “Come here.”
Stella met his icy gaze.
She walked over but didn’t sit next to him like she used to. Instead, she took a seat across from him.
Ethan noticed the distance she put between them, and his expression grew even colder.
With a click, he flicked open a lighter. The sharp scent of gasoline filled the air.
Stella disliked the smell and waved a hand to clear it.
Ethan didn’t seem to care. He lit a cigarette and took a drag. “Lillian’s back.”
A flicker of guilt flashed through his eyes, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from saying what came next.
“Our wedding… needs to be postponed.”
The moment Stella picked up Tessa’s call, she’d already expected this.
“What do you mean?”
Lillian came back, so the wedding gets postponed?
Ethan exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “She’s sick. It’s serious.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a document and handed it to her. “Bradford University’s admission letter. You should go study abroad.”
The way he said it—like it was a favor. Like it was an order.
Stella glanced at the envelope in his hand. She didn’t take it. Instead, she let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“You want me to leave? To make room for her?”
Ethan’s expression darkened. “Isn’t this the school you’ve always wanted to go to? Now—”
“Ethan.”
Before he could finish, Stella cut him off, her voice ice-cold.
She reached out, snatched the envelope from his hand, and tore it to shreds right in front of him.
The pieces fluttered to the floor like snowflakes. One stray scrap stuck to her palm. She flicked it straight at Ethan’s face.
Whatever warmth was left in his eyes disappeared completely.
Stella didn’t bother softening her tone. “No need to postpone the wedding. Just cancel it.”
Why delay?
Canceling was much easier.
The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In novel Chapter 1
Ethan’s face changed dramatically. He stared at Stella in disbelief. Her attitude caught him off guard.
Cancel the wedding? Was she… crazy?
His voice was unsteady. “She’s sick. Once she recovers, she’ll leave again. When that happens, I’ll give you an even grander wedding.”
“Is she sick, or is she pregnant?”
The moment the words left her mouth, the air went still.
Ethan’s gaze darkened. “What do you know?”
Stella didn’t answer. She simply said, “You and her, showing up at the hospital together. And not just anywhere—the OB-GYN department. And now you’re here talking to me about a grander wedding. Don’t you think that’s a little ridiculous?”
Their wedding was only a week away. Yet he had been at the OB-GYN with Lillian. And now he was standing in front of her, talking about the scale of their ceremony?
Did he really think she wouldn’t have the guts to throw him away?
Ethan’s expression turned even uglier. “She’s not pregnant. She’s sick.”
“Oh? And her being sick means you have to take her to the hospital? What exactly is your relationship with her now?”
The sharp question made Ethan’s face darken further.
Stella had no interest in looking at his expression any longer. She turned and walked toward the office door.
As she walked, she spoke casually. “Since she’s back, she might as well stay. After all, she still owes Rivermount quite a debt.”
Two years of a steady relationship.
Lillian’s return had torn a hole in it. And Stella? She wasn’t the type to patch things up—she’d rip it apart completely.
A relationship was supposed to be a two-way street. Why should she be the only one putting in the effort?
Ethan’s voice sank. “Don’t make things difficult for her.”
Stella let out a cold laugh, her hand already resting on the doorknob.
Ethan gritted his teeth. “Do you really think you can afford to cancel the wedding? Or do you believe the Reed family will take you back?”
The Reed family.
Stella’s gaze grew even colder at the mention of them.
A family that didn’t even know the meaning of loyalty.
She didn’t care if they weren’t an option for her.
The Reed family—her blood relatives—the same people who had raised Lillian.
Years ago, Lillian’s birth mother had been the Reeds’ maid. She and Stella’s mother had been pregnant at the same time.
Because the maid’s gambler husband was unreliable, she wanted her child to grow up wealthy. So, after giving birth in the hospital, she swapped the babies.
And this woman wasn’t even the least bit guilty about it. After taking Stella away, she didn’t raise her—she abandoned her.
Meanwhile, she continued working as the Reeds’ maid, watching over her real daughter, Lillian, making sure she lived a good life.
It wasn’t until three years ago, when Mrs. Reed was in a car accident, that they discovered Lillian wasn’t actually her biological daughter.
The shocking truth came out, and the Reeds launched an all-out search for their real daughter.
They found Stella.
But despite all that effort, when it came down to it, they still favored Lillian—the daughter they had raised with their own hands.
Ethan wasn’t wrong. Calling off the engagement meant she had nowhere to go. The Reed family had never truly welcomed her.
Ethan stepped forward and grabbed her slender wrist. “Once she gets better, I’ll send her away again. Alright?”
He kept his voice low, as if he were coaxing her.
Stella looked at him, her gaze icy. Slowly, she pulled her hand free.
“You—” Ethan’s face darkened even more.
Stella couldn’t be bothered to say another word. She turned and walked out of the office.
The sharp click of her heels echoed down the hall, carrying the same cold arrogance as the woman herself.
Ethan, always the one being fawned over, felt his temples throb with anger.
He refused to believe Stella would actually cancel the wedding.
After all, for the past two years, everyone had seen how much she cared about him.
With that thought, he didn’t chase after her. Instead, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
The secretaries outside all heard the noise and exchanged looks.
Two years ago, when everything had exploded, everyone thought Stella was the one who had stolen Ethan from Lillian.
Now that Lillian was back, they were practically celebrating.
One employee whispered, “Miss Lillian is finally back. Stella deserves this.”
“Exactly. Two years ago, she forced Miss Lillian to leave. What’s stolen always has to be returned.”
The moment the words left her mouth, the sound of heels clicking against the floor grew louder.
Stella walked straight toward them.
The two gossiping employees froze under her shadow, instantly falling silent.
She reached out, grasped one of their chins, and forced her to look up. The secretary was young and quite pretty.
But the second their eyes met, the woman was completely overwhelmed by the coldness in Stella’s gaze.
“M-Miss Dawson…”
Stella narrowed her eyes. “Having fun gossiping about me?”
The secretary’s face turned pale. “N-no, I…”
Pathetic.
Stella let go of her chin in disgust and swept her gaze across the entire department.
Everyone immediately lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe.Chapter 3 Like a Wet Sandbag Hitting the Pavement
The moment Stella stepped out of the company, she saw Lillian getting out of a car.
Ethan’s assistant, Jason Harrison, personally held the door open for her. Lillian handed him several shopping bags.
“Distribute these to the secretarial department.” She carried herself like a proper lady of the house.
Jason took them respectfully. “Thank you, Miss Lillian.”
Lillian gave him a soft nod, then turned—and her eyes met Stella’s.
Stella narrowed her gaze.
Lillian froze for a split second, then walked over with a warm smile. “Stella.”
Her voice was gentle, like that of an understanding older sister.
Back when the Reed family had found Stella, they told her that Lillian was older than her—by one hour.
This softness in Lillian’s voice was for Jason’s ears.
But the look in her eyes? Pure provocation.
She lowered her voice as she reached Stella. “You’re his fiancée, yet he sent me here to find him. Tell me, where does that put you?”
Stella’s expression turned cold. She let out a quiet laugh. “As long as I want, I can have any position I want in the Keene family. But you? Besides showing up at his office, can you go anywhere else in the Keene household?”
Lillian’s face stiffened, and her gaze turned venomous.
Obviously not. The Keene family elders would never allow it.
Her reaction made Stella quite satisfied.
Lillian glared at her. “Don’t get too full of yourself. As long as I’m here, you’ll never have that wedding.”
Stella smiled, completely unbothered. “You do realize there’s more than one man in this world, right? It’s not like I have to marry him.”
A man like Ethan—clinging to an unattainable love? No thanks. Might as well end it early.
Lillian’s expression stiffened. “What do you mean?”
She stared at Stella in disbelief. Didn’t she love Ethan? Two years ago, she had fought so hard—so what was with this nonchalant act now? Was she faking it?
Stella smirked. “What’s not to understand? If I lose Ethan, I can find another man. But you? He’s the only one willing to marry you, and yet he still won’t give you a grand wedding.”
Lillian already looked bad, but after hearing that, she was seething. The fake sweetness on her face shattered, and Stella couldn’t be more pleased.
Did Lillian really think she could get away with this? It looked like she had forgotten how Stella had put her in her place a couple of years ago.
Stella was not interested in wasting more time with her. She turned to leave.
But of course, Lillian had to pull her usual tricks. She suddenly grabbed Stella’s wrist. “Stella, I only came back for medical treatment. I never wanted to ruin your relationship with Ethan. Don’t misunderstand me, okay?”
“Let go.”
The moment Lillian touched her, disgust flashed across Stella’s face. She only meant to pull her hand back, but somehow—
Smack!
Lillian went crashing to the ground.
The sound was awful, like a wet sandbag hitting the pavement. Just from the noise alone, anyone could tell it was a nasty fall.
Before Stella could even react—
A furious voice rang out from not far away. “Stella!”
Well, that explained the sudden dramatics. No wonder Lillian had gone all out with the theatrics—her biggest fan had just arrived.
Stella looked down at the pitifully sprawled-out Lillian, then glanced at the fountain near the building entrance.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
She stepped forward, grabbed a handful of Lillian’s hair, and yanked.
Lillian let out a sharp scream. “Ah—!”
Splash!
Lillian’s face was shoved into the freezing water. Her chest slammed against the edge of the fountain, pain shooting through her ribs. A suffocating pressure filled her lungs as the air was yanked from her body. She flailed wildly, struggling for breath.
Stella’s face remained cold as she pressed down hard on the back of Lillian’s head, not giving her even a sliver of air.
Lillian wanted to put on a show?
Then fine, let’s make it real.
“Help! Ah—!”
The second Stella pulled her up, Lillian shrieked for help.
But it was only for a moment.
Because Stella shoved her straight back into the water.
She wouldn’t kill her—but she’d make her wish she was dead.
Again and again, Lillian flailed helplessly.
Not far away, Ethan finally reached them, his voice thundering in anger. “Stella, are you insane?”
Lillian felt like her chest was going to explode. Her lungs screamed in pain as she thrashed desperately.
Ethan stormed forward, shoving Stella aside and pulling Lillian out of the fountain.
Lillian was completely drenched, shivering from head to toe. Ethan’s eyes were full of concern. “Are you okay?”
Lillian’s face was pale as she coughed uncontrollably, her lungs burning. “I… ugh…”
She looked up at Ethan with teary eyes, barely able to form a complete sentence.
Ethan’s gaze turned ice-cold as he looked at Stella.
But Stella didn’t hesitate.
She stepped forward and stomped down—hard—on Lillian’s ankle.
Lillian screamed. “Ah—!”
Ethan was furious. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
She dared to attack Lillian right in front of him?
Angry, he shoved Stella back.
She barely stumbled, then stepped forward again and swung her purse—smashing it straight into Ethan’s head.
His vision blurred for a second as rage flared in his eyes.
This woman…
Before he could react, Stella kicked Lillian’s leg several more times.
Lillian could barely breathe, and now her legs were swelling up too.
Chapter 4 Blacklisted All of Them
After a chaotic mess, Jason finally managed to pull Stella away.
Lillian was in so much pain that her face twisted, tears welling up as she looked pitifully at Ethan. “Ethan, I…”
Ethan’s face was stormy with rage.
He turned to Jason and barked, “Get her out of here. Now!”
Stella tried to shake Jason off, but there was no way he dared to let her go.
Jesus, how is she this strong?
“Miss Dawson, let’s go,” Jason urged.
Stella huffed. “My bag.”
She had just used it to smash Ethan, so now it was lying right at his feet. Furious, Ethan grabbed it and threw it at her.
Jason caught it mid-air and shoved it into her arms. “Alright, alright, you got your bag back.”
The whole situation was a mess.
In the end, Stella was dragged into a car by Jason.
Jason wanted to send her home, but there was no way in hell she was letting Ethan’s people drive her. She got behind the wheel and sped off herself.
Ethan, still dazed from getting hit, took a moment to register everything. By the time he snapped out of it, Lillian was sitting there with her hair a mess, her leg swollen. His anger toward Stella only grew.
He scooped Lillian into his arms. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Lillian nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. She looked absolutely pitiful.
Ethan turned to Jason. “Go get the car.”
Jason glanced toward the parking spot from earlier.
Empty.
“Uh… Miss Dawson took it.”
During all the chaos, Jason had intended to drive Stella himself, but she had taken off instead.
Ethan’s face darkened even further.
Jason swallowed. “I-I’ll go to the underground lot and get another one.”
The keys were still in the office. He’d have to go get them first.
As Stella waited at a red light, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Her biological mother, Susan Carter.
“Come home tonight. I have something to discuss with you.”
Stella twisted open a water bottle and took a sip. “I’m busy. No time.”
She already knew what they wanted to talk about, and she couldn’t care less.
Susan clicked her tongue. “Busy with what? You’re not exactly bending over backward for Ethan.”
Susan had always had a complicated mix of emotions toward this biological daughter of hers.
Stella smirked. “So you let Lillian come back to do it instead?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Stella wasn’t stupid. She knew exactly why Susan was calling. Two years ago, her fight with Lillian had gotten ugly. If Lillian hadn’t left back then, she’d probably be rotting in prison by now.
Now that she was back, both Ethan and the Reed family had to be worried that Stella would make trouble again.
Since she already knew, Susan didn’t bother hiding it anymore. Her tone softened slightly. “That was years ago. Can’t you let it go?”
The wind from the half-open window carried a chill, brushing against Stella’s neck and seeping into her chest.
For a moment, she felt cold.
But just for a moment.
“Madam Susan,” she said flatly. “I almost died in that car accident. It’s only been three years. Have you already forgotten what I looked like when I first came back?”
When they finally found her, she had spent two full months in the hospital.
Lillian had orchestrated the whole thing. She had been terrified that Stella would return to the Reed family and take away what was hers.
That accident had been meant to kill her. To stop her from ever making it home.
And now Susan wanted her to just let it go?
Susan sighed. “It really wasn’t her. You can’t keep assuming the worst of her.”
Stella casually tossed her empty water bottle into a street-side trash bin. She rolled her eyes.
“Lillian says I’m treating her unfairly, and you just believe her? If you trust her so much, why even bother looking for me back then? You love her so much—should’ve just stuck with her.”
“Stella!” Susan snapped. “Can you be reasonable for once? Do you have to throw a tantrum every time we bring this up? When will it end?”
Every single time the topic of Lillian came up, it turned into a fight. Susan was sick of it.
She sighed heavily, clearly trying to hold back her irritation. Then she got to the point. “Fine, you don’t have to forgive her. But this time is different. She’s sick. Very sick.”
Stella let out a cold laugh. “She’s sick, so my wedding with Ethan has to be postponed? So Ethan has to stay by her side?”
She didn’t give a damn about Ethan, but the way these people thought was so twisted that she couldn’t help but throw in a few jabs.
Susan sounded even more annoyed. “She and Ethan grew up together. She’s always relied on him. Don’t worry—Ethan will still marry you in the end. But for now, can we all just focus on Lillian’s health?”
Right.
They could treasure Lillian all they wanted, but they expected her to step aside, too?
What kind of logic was that?
Susan noticed her silence. “Are you listening?”
Listen to what? This ridiculous attempt at brainwashing?
Stella let out a sharp scoff. “Focus on what you want. Just don’t drag me into it.”
Then, without another word, she hung up and blocked Susan.
Chapter 5 The Only Way to Handle Trashy Cheaters? A Savage Queen
Back at Kingston Heights.
The moment Stella stepped into the elevator lobby, she spotted Tessa sitting on the couch. When Tessa saw her, she immediately stood up and walked over, pulling Stella into a hug.
“My dear, men aren’t worth a damn. Give me a day, and I’ll introduce you to someone way hotter—tall, handsome, the whole package.”
Stella simply replied, “Okay.”
Tessa had been all set to comfort her, but now she was at a loss. Wait a minute—wasn’t her reaction a little too calm?
Stepping back, Tessa gave Stella a once-over. When she noticed bloodstains on Stella’s coat, her expression changed. “Whoa, wait—are you hurt? Where?”
Stella glanced down at her beige coat. Sure enough, there were a few drops of blood. “It’s not mine.”
Tessa’s voice wavered slightly. “Then whose is it?”
“Probably Lillian’s or Ethan’s.”
“…Huh?”
“I beat them up.”
Tessa’s eyebrows twitched violently. She had just run into Ethan and Lillian at the hospital earlier this morning, and now, before noon, Stella had already given them a thorough beating.
She couldn’t help but give Stella a thumbs-up. “Being hotheaded might stir up trouble, but when it comes to dealing with scumbags, your attitude is exactly what’s needed.”
Forget just Stella—even Tessa was fired up.
She had worried Stella would come home crying after seeing Lillian.
But not only had Stella not cried, she had handed them both a beating.
Tessa wasn’t sure she fully understood this approach, but she found it deeply satisfying.
Stella wasn’t usually the type to lose her temper, but when it came to anything involving Lillian, she always seemed to snap.
“Don’t go upstairs. Let’s just grab lunch—it’s already late.”
Stella nodded. “Did you take time off just for this?”
“Of course. I left work early for you, but I still have to head back after we eat.”
With the wedding only a week away, Tessa had been genuinely worried Stella might do something drastic.
The two of them found a steakhouse nearby.
Stella struggled to cut into her steak. “Let’s not get this next time. It’s not even good.”
She still preferred a steaming bowl of soup, and Tessa knew it.
“It’s just ‘cause we’re short on time for lunch. Next time, I’ll take you out for some real soup at night, okay? Be good.”
Most people just grabbed a quick bite on workdays anyway.
Tessa asked, “So what’s your plan with Ethan?”
The mention of Ethan made the steak taste even worse.
“Help me put out an announcement—one that straight-up cancels the wedding. Oh, and throw in a blessing while you’re at it: Wishing the bitch and the bastard a lifetime together!”
Tessa’s hand paused mid-cut. That… was quite the blessing.
But, “Did the Reed family and the Kneene family agree to this?”
Was Stella really this efficient? In just a few hours, she had already beaten them up and gotten the elders’ approval?
Stella scoffed. “Why would I need their approval?”
Tessa was speechless.
Fair enough.
After all, this engagement had never been Stella’s choice to begin with.
The Kneene family elders had initially opposed the match once they found out Lillian wasn’t actually the Reed family’s biological daughter but just a maid’s child.
The Reed family had panicked.
With several business projects relying on the Kneene family, Susan and her husband Patrick had quickly arranged the engagement behind Stella’s back.
Two years ago, when Stella and Lillian had a massive falling out, Ethan had suddenly taken Stella’s side for the first time.
After Lillian was sent away, Ethan had showered Stella with affection, acting as if she was the only one who mattered.
She had thought he had finally seen Lillian’s true colors.
But looking at things now, back then, he had probably just been trying to keep Stella in check.
Because two years ago, Stella had been determined to send Lillian to prison.
Now that Tessa had put the pieces together, she cursed, “Ethan is absolute trash. But wait—didn’t you already know what kind of person he was two years ago? So why did you agree to the engagement? You even went to try on wedding dresses today. Were you actually planning to go through with it?”
Tessa was confused.
Hearing the word “why,” Stella’s gaze darkened for a moment.
Why? Because they each had their own motives. They were both playing a game.
“Don’t ask so many questions. Just make sure to include a photo of them together at the hospital. And make sure the department name—OBGYN—stands out.”
Tessa saw she wasn’t going to get an answer and didn’t press further. As long as Stella wasn’t actually hopelessly in love with Ethan like people had been saying, that was all that mattered.
“Got it. I’ll announce it now.” With that, Tessa pulled out her phone.
She owned several social media accounts with millions of followers. The moment she posted, the news spread like wildfire.
After all, Ethan was the heir to the Kneene family—the number one powerhouse in Rivermount. Everyone was watching his wedding.
If this wasn’t handled right, Stella would be the one taking the fall in public opinion.
Half an hour later, a trending post popped up:
The Reed family’s adoptive daughter suspected to have returned and spotted with the Kneene family’s heir at the OBGYN department.
Just like Stella said, OBGYN was highlighted.
Right after that, another bombshell followed:
The Reed family’s daughter announces her breakup with the Kneene family’s heir.
Both posts shot straight to the top of the trending charts.
The contrast between the adopted daughter and the real heiress… everyone still remembered the drama from two years ago, and now it was back in the spotlight.
And then, Stella’s phone started blowing up…
Chapter 6 Cut Off Her Money? No Problem—She’s Got a Black Card!
Tessa watched as Stella’s phone screen lit up, went dark, and then lit up again.
In short, it just wouldn’t stop ringing.
Tessa couldn’t help but suggest, “Why don’t you just turn it off?”
Blocking the calls wasn’t working anymore—all the incoming numbers were unfamiliar. No need to guess who was behind it. Madam Susan must have been borrowing the housemaids’ phones to keep calling.
Stella took the advice and shut off her phone.
But Susan’s punishment came swiftly.
When it was time to pay for their meal, Stella turned her phone back on to scan the payment code, only to receive a notification: “Your bank card has been deactivated. Please choose another payment method.”
The card linked to her phone was one Susan had insisted on binding to her account shortly after Stella had returned to the Reed family years ago.
Now, it was completely useless.
Tessa glanced at her screen. “What the hell is this?”
“They froze my card,” Stella replied.
Tessa’s lips twitched. “Because of Lillian? What kind of family treats their own daughter like this?”
Hearing that the Reed family had outright cut off Stella’s credit card, Tessa felt sick, like she’d swallowed a fly.
How could people like this exist? They were treating their own daughter worse than an adopted one.
Stella just smiled, unfazed. “It’s not the first time.”
Tessa scoffed. “I got it.” She pulled out her phone and paid.
As they left the restaurant and got into the car, Tessa said, “I’m wiring you twenty-eight grand. Don’t let them intimidate you.”
They were cutting off their own daughter over a little spending money? Who were they trying to pressure with this petty move?
Hearing how effortlessly Tessa was throwing money around, Stella felt a rare flicker of warmth. “It’s fine, I have money.”
Tessa snapped, “You don’t even have a job—where the hell is the money supposed to come from? Those Reed family bastards!”
She was so pissed she could feel a blood vessel about to burst.
Stella said, “I really do have money. It’s… a long story.”
Her financial situation was complicated, to say the least.
She might have spent the last two years by Ethan’s side, but that didn’t mean she was dependent on him or the Reed family.
Tessa waved her off. “Fine, you have money. But take the twenty-eight grand anyway.”
A woman who’d spent two years revolving around a man, living off the Reed family—what money could she possibly have?
Tessa simply didn’t believe Stella.
“I don’t need it,” Stella insisted.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on—”
No matter how she looked at it, she just couldn’t believe Stella actually had money.
Left with no choice, Stella dragged Tessa into a shopping mall and spent tens of thousands in one go.
Tessa finally believed her.
Seeing the black card Stella had used, her eyes practically sparkled. “Where did you get this? Who gave it to you? Ethan?”
Right now, the only possibility she could think of was that Ethan had given Stella the card.
Stella glanced at the card in her hand, momentarily dazed.
A storm of emotions flickered through her eyes.
“Ethan? Not a chance.”
There was no way Ethan would ever give her his black card.
Tessa frowned. “Then who did?”
If it wasn’t Ethan, it couldn’t have been the Reed family either.
“Since when did you know big shots?”
Stella thought of the card’s true owner. Her gaze softened slightly, but she said nothing.
“Let’s go.” Without further explanation, she grabbed her bags and walked out of the mall with Tessa.
…
After parting ways with Tessa, Stella returned to Kingston Heights—only to find Ethan waiting at her door.
He looked frustrated. Glancing at his watch, he muttered, “I’ve been waiting for two hours.”
“Why was your phone off?”
Stella threw out a simple response. “Too noisy.”
They hadn’t called her this much in a whole month, but today, because of Lillian, her phone had nearly exploded.
She pulled out her keys to open the door, but Ethan suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Stella.”
She cast him a cold glance. “Your unattainable love must be so lonely in the hospital.”
The words unattainable love made Ethan’s eyes darken with anger. “We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
She yanked her wrist free and pushed the door open, reaching to shut it behind her.
Ethan moved fast—his arm shot out, stopping the door from closing.
The moment he tried to squeeze inside, Stella’s foot aimed straight for his weakest spot.
Ethan clenched his jaw. “You—”
He dodged just in time, but in doing so, he had to pull his arm out of the doorway.
Stella immediately tried to shut the door again.
But Ethan was just as fast. He caught the door before it closed and forced his way in.
She narrowed her eyes coldly. “I suggest you leave. Now.”
Ethan sneered, “How the hell do you have the guts to act like this?”
Only now did he realize—this woman was completely ruthless, with not a trace of softness in her.
Ethan strode inside and sank onto the couch, pulling out a cigarette.
Before he could even light it, Stella walked over, snatched it from his fingers, and tossed it straight into the trash.
Ethan’s face darkened. “What the hell are you doing?”
When had anyone ever treated him like this?
Back when he was with Lillian, no matter what he did, she never said a word.
Stella simply said, “I don’t like the smell of smoke.”
Ethan was speechless. This woman… fine, whatever.
Gritting his teeth, he held back his anger. But the two trending posts from this morning still burned in his mind. His family had been blowing up his phone all day.
“The news today—Tessa posted it for you?”
Was she seriously trying to cancel their wedding? Wasn’t this going too far?
Stella didn’t answer. She walked over to the fridge and took out a small cake.
She hadn’t eaten enough at lunch, and after shopping with Tessa for two hours, she was starving.
Ethan nearly exploded at how she was ignoring him. “The wedding is between the two of us—why did you have to make it a public spectacle?”
Fine, if she wanted to vent at him, he could take it. But blowing it up like this, letting the whole city watch? Ethan couldn’t forgive her for that.
Stella asked, “Is it really just between the two of us?”
If it were, things would be a lot simpler.
She cast a cold glance at Ethan and added, “Even if I hadn’t made it public, somebody else would’ve. Better for me to get ahead of it first.”
Ethan knew exactly who she meant by “somebody.”
“Can you stop thinking of Lillian as some kind of villain?”
Stella laughed, scooping up a bite of cake. “If she’s so innocent, why were you so eager to send her away two years ago?”
Ethan had no response.
If she hadn’t brought up the past, he might have been able to let it go. But now that she had, his expression turned ice-cold.
“You were ruthless back then. If Lillian hadn’t left, you really would’ve thrown her in jail, wouldn’t you?”
Stella took another bite and nodded. “Yes.”
Ethan’s face darkened even more.
Just thinking about that time filled him with frustration. If she hadn’t been so over-the-top back then, she wouldn’t be in this position with the Reed family now.
Still, canceling the wedding wasn’t an option.
Ethan forced his expression to relax a little. “Lillian is just sick. Once she gets better, I’ll send her away again.”
Stella gave him a cold glance and said nothing.
Ethan continued, “Your parents won’t let you keep acting out like this. The only one who’ll suffer is you.”
He knew exactly how the Reed family handled Stella. Her credit cards were probably already frozen.
His gaze flicked around the apartment. “How long did you pay the rent for this place? When’s the next payment due?”
He remembered she had rented this place after moving out of the Reed family home.
Kingston Heights wasn’t cheap. The unit she was in had to cost at least fourteen hundred dollars a month.
Bringing it up now was a not-so-subtle reminder: she didn’t have the luxury of throwing tantrums.
Stella said flatly, “You should leave.”
“You—” Ethan’s face darkened even more.
Just as he was about to say something else, his phone buzzed.
He didn’t even bother avoiding Stella as he answered. “Lillian.”
So this was how it was?
She was the one being forced to beg, yet she didn’t even deserve basic respect?
He claimed he didn’t want to fight with her, yet he had no problem taking a call from his mistress right in front of her?
Now that Stella was retaliating, Ethan’s real colors were showing. The mask he’d worn for two years was slipping.
Who knew what Lillian was saying on the other end, but Ethan immediately stood up. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.”
After hanging up, he glanced at Stella.
“Think carefully about what I said. No matter how much you act out, everyone’s priority right now is Lillian’s health.”
His meaning was clear—nothing Stella did would change a thing.
Stella ignored him and walked to the entryway, grabbing the shopping bags she had left there earlier.
Luxury brand logos covered the bags.
Ethan froze. “You still have money to go shopping?”
Had the Reed family not punished her after all?
Every time she made a scene before, they froze her cards for at least ten days to a month.
He was trying to remind her—if the Reed family accepted her, she was their daughter. If they didn’t, she was nothing.
Stella threw him a look. “Is it illegal for me to have money?”
Ethan had no response.
This woman… She really had a way of getting under his skin.Chapter 8 Cutting Her Off Financially? Sorry, She’s the Boss!
Ethan stormed into his car, his face dark with anger.
From the driver’s seat, Jason glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “So? Did Ms. Dawson finally calm down?”
To everyone else, Stella was just throwing a tantrum, trying to force Ethan to send Lillian away again.
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Like hell she did.”
Jason stayed silent. Fair enough.
Lillian had suddenly returned, and no one had even given Stella a heads-up.
“So she’s serious about canceling the wedding?”
Ethan didn’t answer. Is she really serious?
Thinking back on the past two years, he let out a cold chuckle. “What do you think?”
Serious? Could she really walk away that easily?
Jason thought about it. Probably not.
The Reed family despised Stella. If she didn’t marry Ethan, she had no other way out.
Not to mention, she had spent the past two years invested in Ethan.
Jason felt even more convinced—she was just throwing a fit. Sure, she was taking it too far, but it was nothing more than that…
…
Back at Kingston Heights, Stella stared at the pile of shopping bags in front of her and sighed. Thinking about the card she had mistakenly used earlier, she could feel a storm brewing.
She didn’t want to think about it anymore.
It had been a long day—trying on wedding dresses, shopping with Tessa—her legs were exhausted.
Deciding to treat herself, she ran a hot bath.
Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed, the doorbell rang urgently.
“Who is it?”
She didn’t open the door, just asked through it.
Susan’s voice came through. “It’s me. Open the door.”
Stella opened the door to find Susan standing there, dressed in an elegant long gown, a pearl necklace resting on her collarbone.
Her makeup was flawless, but her expression was harsh.
Susan strode in without waiting for an invitation, taking a seat on the couch with an air of authority.
Stella closed the door behind her, towel-drying her hair as she did.
Susan was already furious, but seeing how leisurely Stella was acting only made her angrier. “Tell me, what the hell are you trying to do?”
“I already told you, Lillian had nothing to do with this! She just got back, and you’re already hitting her? And then you go and cancel the wedding in the most public way possible—do you want the whole city to think the daughter I raised for twenty years is a shameless homewrecker who stole your fiancé?”
The more she spoke, the more heated she got, firing off accusations like a machine gun.
Stella tossed the towel aside and met Susan’s gaze, cold and unflinching.
Susan’s temper flared even more.
“Do you have to drag the entire Reed family into a scandal before you’re satisfied? Ugh, I never should’ve brought you back.”
In her mind, all of this was because she had found Stella.
This wasn’t like bringing home a lost daughter—it was like inviting a curse into their home.
Hearing Susan’s words of regret, Stella let out a mocking laugh. “I agree. You shouldn’t have found me. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been in that car accident either.”
Susan’s face stiffened.
She hadn’t just ruined their lives; they had ruined hers too.
Susan clenched her fists. “You—”
Stella cut her off. “Didn’t I already say? Just act like you never found me. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Oh, and you do realize the daughter you raised for twenty years really is shameless, right? At least you’re smart enough to be scared of people finding out.”
Having barely spent any time with the Reed family, Stella felt no attachment to them.
Her sharp words only made Susan angrier. “You—! You’re going to be the death of me!”
At this point, there was nothing left to say.
Susan stood up abruptly. “Think it over. The moment you stop targeting Lillian, I’ll reinstate your card.”
With no better way to punish Stella, she resorted to financial control.
Leaving those words behind, Susan stormed out, convinced that Stella would eventually cave once she ran out of money.
When that time came, she wanted to see how much fight Stella still had left in her.
…
After Susan left, Stella went to the kitchen, washed an apple, and bit into it.
She had no intention of “thinking it over.”
Her phone rang. She answered, “Hello?”
“Ms. Dawson, we’ve got a huge job. A really big one.”
“How big?” Stella asked.
“Triple the usual rate.”
Hearing that, Stella suddenly found her apple even sweeter.
Taking another bite, she stood up. “I’ll be right there.”
She changed quickly and rushed out the door.
Half an hour later, she arrived at the studio.
Her assistant, Kimmy York, greeted her with barely contained excitement. “Ms. Dawson, we landed a massive project!”
Grinning, Kimmy handed over the proposal.
Stella flipped through it and asked, “Sterling Global again?”
Sterling Global’s tourism business was huge. This was already her second major project from them this year.
And they paid well. Each project had been worth over two hundred thousand dollars. This time, the offer was even higher…
Kimmy nodded. “Yeah! Their representative said they love our work. From now on, they want to give us all their design projects.”
Hearing love our work, Stella finally broke into her first real smile of the day.
“Gather all the designers for a meeting.”
“On it!”
…
After leaving Kingston Heights, Susan headed straight for the hospital.
Ethan was already there, along with Susan’s son, Jonathan Reed.
Before Susan arrived, Jonathan had been comforting Lillian.
Having grown up with her, Jonathan always took Lillian’s side over Stella’s.
Now that Lillian had been beaten up by Stella, his anger only burned hotter.
When Susan walked in, Lillian looked up, her face full of guilt and sorrow. “Mom, I’m sorry. I made Stella upset again…”
Susan’s heart ached. She stepped forward and held Lillian’s hand. “Silly girl, it’s not your fault. I know what kind of temper she has.”
At the mention of Stella’s temper, everyone’s expressions soured.
Susan sighed. “Who knows what kind of family raised her to be like this…”
They only knew that she had been adopted by the Dawson family.
Beyond that, they had no idea whether her adoptive family was from the countryside or the city.
They had asked before, but Stella never answered.
Jonathan scoffed. “What kind of family? With a temper like that, she was probably raised in some backwater village.”
To him, Stella was nothing but a loud, brash, and uncivilized woman.
Susan sighed again.
Jonathan added, “You froze her card. Don’t unlock it this time.”
Let her struggle without money for a while. Let her suffer.
Then they’d see how long she could keep up her arrogance.
Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
At the mention of freezing Stella’s credit cards, a glint of satisfaction flashed through Lillian’s eyes.
Stella, nothing in the Reed family belongs to you. There can only be one daughter here, and that’s me.
Despite her delight, she put on a concerned act. “But if you freeze Stella’s cards, how will she survive? She’s been living off the Reed family for the past two years–she doesn’t even have a job.”
Jonathan said firmly, “Lillian, stop speaking up for her. This time, she needs to be taught a lesson.”
Lillian hesitated as if she wanted to argue but then turned to Susan.
Susan nodded in agreement. “Your brother’s right. It’s time she learned how to behave like a proper lady.”
Just thinking about Stella’s temperament gave Susan a headache. She refused to believe Stella had truly let go of her feelings for Ethan. In her eyes, all the trouble Stella caused two years ago was because of Ethan. That nonsense about Lillian orchestrating the car accident? Just an excuse–Stella was obsessed with Ethan, and that was the real issue.
Lillian shifted her gaze to Ethan.
Ethan frowned but said nothing, clearly agreeing with Susan and Jonathan’s decision.
Susan turned her attention back to Lillian’s ankle. “How’s the injury? Is it serious?”
Lillian shook her head. “Not too bad. Ethan insisted on taking me to the hospital.”
Susan nodded approvingly. “It’s better to be careful. Your father arranged the best specialist for you. We’ll have them check you again.”
“Thank you, Mom.
“Silly girl, there’s no need to thank me.”
Hearing Lillian call her ‘Mom‘ so sweetly made Susan’s heart ache with affection.
And so, while fussing over Lillian’s injury, they also finalized Stella’s punishment.
The consensus? Cut off her $2,700 monthly allowance to force her into submission. They believed that without financial support, Stella would eventually have no choice but to drop the whole thing about Lillian’s involvement in the car accident.
At the root of it all, they were certain of one thing: Stella loved Ethan too much to actually walk away.
This time, they weren’t even giving her the chance to throw a tantrum,
Stella spent the entire afternoon in meetings at the studio.
A massive project–a record–breaking deal in the design industry. Of course, she had to give it her all.
A golden–ticket client like this? No way she was letting go.
By the time she left the studio, it was already six o’clock.
“Stella?”
Hearing her name, she turned to see Tessa standing a few steps away, looking utterly shocked.
1/1
Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
Finished
Before Stella could answer, Tessa jumped to her own conclusions. “I told you to take my money, but you refused. Now you’re out here scrambling for a job?”
Stella sighed. “Let’s grab dinner first. I’ll explain while we eat.”
Her studio was something Tessa had no idea about, and it wasn’t something that could be explained in just a few words.
This time, they picked a restaurant known for its soups.
Half an hour later, after hearing the full story. Tessa was stunned. “You’ve been hiding this from me? I had no ideal”
If even she didn’t know, then the Reed family and Ethan definitely had no clue.
Stella shrugged. “It’s not like it ever came up.”
Tessa thought about it. That was true.
She and Stella had met abroad, and their conversations were always about casual things.
Even when they did talk about work, it was usually just in passing
“You’ve been running it for a year?” Tessa asked.
Stella nodded. “Yeah, a year
now.”
“Are you making good money?”
That was the key question.
As long as Stella had financial independence, she could say no to the Reed family and Ethan whenever she wanted.
Stella casually replied. “A couple hundred thousand, give or take”
Tessa’s mouth dropped open.
Her definition of a little money and mine are we even talking about the same numbers?
-Wait–you’re telling me a tourism design studio makes this much? In just its first year?”
Most small studios struggled just to break even in their first year, and yet here Stella was, making serious profit.
Stella smirked. “If you’re good at what you do, of course, you’ll make money. Just keep it to yourself.”
“Got it.” Tessa nodded, fully understanding what Stella meant,
That wretched Lillian would want to steal anything Stella had.
And Tessa distinctly remembered–Lillian had majored in this field too.
Then there was Ethan. That guy had already proven he had no bottom line. Now that things were turning ugly between them. he’d probably resort to underhanded tricks.
Tessa scoffed. “Then you don’t need to pay any attention to them. Right now, they’re just trying to use money to force you into submission.”
Freezing her card? The message was obvious to anyone.
They wanted Stella to personally say she was letting go of the car accident issue.
All that effort just to protect an adopted daughter. That family really bent over hackward for Lillian
Rianne King–Stella and Tessa’s mutual best friend and a renowned genius in gynecology.
As soon as Rianne was mentioned, Tessa suddenly remembered something. “Last time I called her, she said the hospital got approval for a new weight loss drug. Come with me tomorrow to check it out?”
She glanced Tessa up and down. “Why are you even looking into that?”
Tessa wasn’t fat at all.
Personally, she thought life was too short to obsess over appearances–especially weight loss.
Dieting meant giving up so much joy in life. You couldn’t eat what you wanted, couldn’t wear what you liked, and worse, you ended up hating your own reflection.
After parting ways with Tessa, Stella returned home.
Seeing the pile of shopping bags on the couch, still unpacked, her chest tightened slightly.
She walked over and sat beside them.
Reaching into one of the bags, she pulled out a receipt. Her gaze lingered on the payment account listed.
There was no need to guess why the Reed family was trying to contact her.
Immediately after, Patrick himself called.
Stella didn’t even bother. She let it ring and then hung up.
Susan’s face was stiff. This time, it really wasn’t Lillian’s fault, she just…. Ugh!
Trying to explain the situation between Stella and Lillian was exhausting.
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