Chapter 112 Caught Off Guard
Eddie leaned in with a smirk. “Let me guess–he’s looking at Stella. Who else could make Abraham smile like that?”
Abraham shot him a look.
Eddie held up his hands. “Alright, I get it. I shut up. I’ve got a sister too, you know.”
It was obvious–Stella wasn’t just anyone to Abraham.
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They’d all watched Stella grow up. Eddie had always had a decent relationship with her. Every time they saw each other, she’d greet him politely.
But apparently, even that was enough to irritate Abraham.
Like someone was trying to steal his little sister.
Seriously, relat, Eddie thought We ve all gor sisters.
Abraham gave him a side glance. “Then bring your sister out sometime.
Eddie stopped cold. Yeah, no thanks.
His sister was… well, a bit on the boyish side. If he brought her around, people might think he was dating a dude.
It had happened before. And honestly? It was a nightmare.
Why is it that other people’s sisters are cute and girly, and mine’s not? Other guys had sisters who wore skirts, styled their hair and looked adorable. His? Short hair. Military background. Strong as hell.
“Fine. My sister can’t compete. Happy now?” Eddie muttered. Yeah, yeah–your sister’s the best.
Still, he had to admit–Stella was gorgeous. Ever since she got back from Ealvaria, her skin looked perfect, and she had this easy, natural glow.
Abraham looked pleased with himself and opened the photo Abel had just sent again.
He texted back: “What is she doing?”
Abel replied: “Eavesdropping”
Abraham’s expression shifted. “On whom?”
“The Reeds”
Abraham went quie
quiet. Seriously? Where did she even learn that?
I If she needed info, all she had to do was ask–he could get it in seconds. But crouching by doors? Unbelievable.
Back at the hospital
Inside the room, the tension was thick
All eyes were on her, and Lillian’s heart was pounding in her throat.
She had no idea how much they’d heard. Or what they were thinking
But judging by their expressions, they clearly suspected something
Especially Ethan. He’d overheard something before–and now this?
Chapter 2 Gauge Of Bud
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That should’ve been the end of the cond’ve been able to man..
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weurned. Lillian‘, her dream. She bured out — 201 Mummed out of it!”
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cht were threatening to throw someone in jail.”
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al–chey nook foureen grabe thram me Of mure.
Suur les ou a breath of reher. “Well, it’s just fourteen downed Noxworth warming pers
Send Gifts
$ 1.08
Chapter 113 Cut Ties
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next
Jonathan gave Lillian a warm smile and gently ruffled her hair. “Yeah, just a scam. Just don’t answer those kinds of calls n time, alright?”
It was obvious–both Jonathan and Susan believed her.
Ethan, though. His expression didn’t change. His eyes were still unreadable.
Lillian picked up on it immediately. She looked at him and asked carefully, “Ethan, is something wrong?”
His expression was impossible to read. She couldn’t tell if he believed her-or not.
After a beat, Ethan shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’ve got something to take care of. If you need anything, call me.”
“Okay.” Lillian nodded quickly, not daring to say more.
She couldn’t risk slipping up.
Outside the room.
Stella had been listening the whole time. The second she saw Ethan heading out, she nudged Abel and made a quiet escape,
But before they could slip away. Ethan spotted her.
He caught up in just a few long strides.
He caught up fast, falling in step with them as the elevator doors slid open. The three stepped inside. Ethan’s face soured the moment he noticed she was with Abel.
Seriously? A nete guy again? This woman…
When the elevator reached the lobby, it dinged open. Stella started to walk out with Abel
But then-
She felt a grip around her wrist. She turned and met Ethan’s eyes, her tone sharp. “Let go.
“You’re really cutting ties with the Reed family?” Ethan asked, still clinging to disbelief.
He had honestly thought she was bluffing–just trying to stir up drama. But clearly, she meant every word. She’d actually sent a lawyer to deliver the paperwork to Susan.
Right on cue, a lawyer walked up with documents in hand. “Ms. Dawson,” he said politely.
Stella didn’t even flinch. ‘Go ahead. Get it done quickly,” she said coolly
That was it. Stella didn’t need to explain anything to Ethan anymore–this was her answer, loud and clear.
She wasn’t bluffing. The lawyer had arrived–papers in hand.
Ethan’s grip on her wrist tightened. “Why? Is this because of Lillian?”
Stella shot him a look. “Still not thinking straight, huh? That bucket of water clearly wasn’t enough.”
She wasn’t going to explain anything. She didn’t owe him that.
Ethan said nothing: his face darkened at the mention of the incident. Damn woman. That attitude–hore do these other men even
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Chapter 113 Cut Ties
Ethan red and glared at him furiously
siella rased an eyebrow “What now? You want to fight about it?”
When than all duln’t let go, Stella’s voice dropped–cold and sharp Ethan’s expression darkened even more
Uand tally, he did..
stella pulled her hand free and walked away with Abel, not even glancing back
+S Peans
Ethan stood there, watching her back as she disappeared down the hall–so tiem so cold, like she’d made up her mund and there was no turning back
For the test tune in forever, Ethan felt the quiet ache of something slipping away–something he might never get back.
tumed to Abel. “Yourteen thousand dollars was transferrest out of Lillian’s account. Find out where it
The rest of the Reed family might’ve believed Lillian’s story about being scammed–but Stella wasn’t buying it for a second
Abel gave a nod. Understood.”
Of course he was going to dig into it.
That evening
Stella returned to Verdant Villa. Abraham wasn’t home yet. After dropping her off. Abel headed out again to follow up.
The dinner table had been set with all her favorite dishes–the ones she’d loved back when she lived in Falvaria.
Halfway through her meal. Abraham’s call came in.
This time, before the butler could even answer. Stella grabbed the phone herself “Don’t start. I’m eating–and it was just one bowl, not even that much.”
He treats me like a child sometimes… Always watching how much I eat. I savdh dogs he ever get tired of worrying about me And if he does burnout, he probablyyay it because I never grew up and he always had to take edge of me. I’m not taking the blame for that one.
II
His voice came through, smooth and low carrying that familiar warmth he only used when talking to her. “Sounds like someone’s behaving tonight.”
Stella rolled her eyes, but her voice softened. “If I’m full, I stop. You really don’t have to stress over every little thing”
“If it’s you, how could I not care?” Abraham replied.
Stella fell quiet for a second Fise he wants to care and fuss over the little things let him, Just don’t come complaining about it later
She changed the subject, her voice softening “When are you coming back? Did you drink tonight?”
Send Gifts
Chapter 114 Unraveling
“Til be home in about two hours, Abraham said over the phone. “Had a couple of drinks. Don’t wait up–just go to bed.”
“Got it,” Stella replied, then hung up.
She made her way back to the dining room. There was no way she was going to stop eating–she was still hungry.
The butler watched as Stella went back for two more bowls, a bit surprised–but hey, having a healthy appetite was a good thing.
After dinner, Stella headed out to the yard for a quick walk to help it all settle.
That’s when her phone rang again.
Ethan. The moment she saw the name, she wanted to hang up.
“What is it now? Seriously–what do you want? Haven’t you caused enough chaos already?” Her tone was sharp, full of irritation. She was absolutely done with Ethan.
His breath caught on the other end, clearly worked up. “Who owns Verdant Villa?”
“Why?” she snapped.
“Just ask him what he wants for it I’ll pay whatever,”
Stella went quiet for a moment.
That desperation in Ethan’s voice? It could only mean one thing–Lillian must’ve stirred something up again. Of course she did, Whenever it came to Lillian, Ethan completely lost his head.
“He’s not selling. Stella said flatly. “Give it up.
Ethan nearly lost it. “Just tell me who owns the place! I heard he’s sixty–six. Seriously, Stella? You’re with someone old enough. to be your dad?
Lately, every time Ethan turned around, there was a different guy hanging around Stella.
Now he couldn’t even tell who actually owned Verdant Villa anymore.
With everything going on with Lillian, his head was all over the place. He couldn’t think straight–everything felt like a mess
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stared at her phone, utterly speechless. Did Ethan hit his head or something? Has he completely lost it?
“So what if I want his inheritance? You really think I’m into him? Please. Compared to your insane family, he’s a dream. No parents, no nosy relatives–just peace and quiet. Sounds like heaven to me
Ethan fell silent. His chest tightened. His head was pounding. Stella didn’t just argue. She crushed him. He had no comeback. She left him speechless.
That’s just how Stella was. You threw a pebble, and she’d come back with a boulder.
His thoughts were a blur, his whole brain buzzing.
And just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, Stella hit him with the final blow, “You really should see a doctor, Ethan. Something’s definitely off–you’re not thinking straight.”
Chick. She hung up before he could even react,
Meanwhile, Ethan was still on his way to the hospital, furious.
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Chapter 114 Unraveling
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somehow, she still managed to sneak out. I ate trying to kill hersely? Does the have a death wish or whatthat’s the thinking!
Jason,” he called
Yes, Mr. Ethan‘”
“Do you think Stella, she” Ethan started voice low. hat about Stella! He didn’t even know what he was asking anymore.
His mind was a mess. A dozen different faces flashed through his head–every guy who’d been around Stella lately.
Who was actually with hert Eddie! That gay from earlier!
Everything was complete chaos. All these guys suddenly showing up around Stella had completely messed with his head. He
couldn’t think straight.
They got to the hospital quickly.
As soon as Ethan‘ stepped into the room he saw Susan sobbing uncontrollably. “What were you thinking: With your condition, you still run off? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. Lillian said softly. “I didn’t mean to worry you
Susan wiped at her face, her voice trembling, “What if something had happened to you? You can barely walk right now
When they found her, she was slumped on the edge of a garden bed, completely out of breath
Lillian looked at Susan, her lips parting like she wanted to speak–but in that moment, she couldn’t get a single word out
She’d gone out to find that man. She wanted to kill him.
But she hadn’t realized her body had become this weak.
When Susan spotted Ethan at the door, she turned to him in desperation. “Ethan, please talk some sense into her. She scared the life out of me today. Tell her to stop doing things like this.”
Seeing Lillian like this broke Susan’s heart more than anyone else’s,
Ethan nodded.
Susan stood, gave Lillian a look, and said, “Talk to Ethan for a bit. I’m going to get someone to warm up your food–it’s all cold now.”
She’d gone to deliver the meal herself, only to find Lillian gone. What followed was pure panic as everyone scrambled to find her.
Chapter 115 Just Let Me
Go Home
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Susan stepped out, leaving just Ethan and Lillian alone in the room.
Lillian glanced at Ethan, guilt in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
Ethan pulled over a chair and sat beside her bed with a sigh. “Why did you sneak out! Do you have any idea how worried everyone was–especially Madam Susan?”
Lillian lowered her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just… I can’t take the smell anymore, Ethan. You don’t know how hopeless that disinfectant makes me feel. The moment I walked into this hospital, it felt like the whole world shut down. I can’t feel the sun. It’s like I’m cut off from everything. I don’t want to stay here. I just can’t
Only someone who’d been seriously ill–who’d spent long stretches confined to a hospital room–could understand how hopeless that felt.
Lillian’s life hadn’t been easy to begin with.
She didn’t want Stell:
Stella to have it good… But the truth was, she wasn’t doing any better herself
Hearing her break down, Ethan’s brow tightened. “Even so, you can’t just run off like that.”
“What choice did 1 have? Would you have let me leave! Of course not, she snapped.
“You’re in no condition right now. Even if you do leave, we have to prep everything. The team, the equipment–everything has to be ready”
They’d need a full medical team, the necessary equipment, and access to immediate testing–everything had to be in place. That was why Ethan had been trying to buy Verdant Villa. Lillian’s current care involved almost twenty medical staff. The estate was big enough to hold them all and still make space for a dedicated treatment room.
Lillian looked away, her voice trembling “So what–you think I’ll ever make it out of here? That I’ll just… die in this place?”
“Don’t say that,” Ethan snapped, his voice low and sharp
Lillian went quiet immediately.
Her Eyes welled
up again, and Ethan’s heart
see several strands come loose in his handled even more. He sighed, reached over, and gently ruffled her hair–only to
Lillian saw it, too. Her body began to shake. “Ethan…” Her voice cracked. “My hair.
He held back the pain in his chest. “It’s okay. Once you’re better, it’ll grow back.”
-wille “Will it?” she asked, her voice barely holding together.
To her. losing hair wasn’t just about appearance–it felt like her body was giving up. When it started falling out from illness, it was like a warning sign that things were only getting worse.
“I’m really scared,” she whispered.
Ethan said nothing
“I want to leave the hospital,” she said, broken. She never mentioned the real reason she’d run away–and Ethan didn’t press
her
Looking at her pale, devastated expression, Ethan let out a quiet breath and gently pulled her into his arms. “Okay. We’ll get
you out. Soon.”
“Ethan ”
“I promise.” he said “I have you discharged within a week. Deal?”
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Chapter 115 Just Let Me Go Home
And for the first time in days, she felt a little peace settle in her chest.
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just
She really didn’t want to stay in the hospital. The smell of disinfectant filled her with endless dread. It terrified her. She j wanted out. And she was terrified she wouldn’t make it in time.
Back at S
Stella’s side.
Abraham had returned. The two of them sat across from each other, and Stella felt a little uneasy
under his gaze.
“What’s with that look?” she asked, glancing at him.
Abraham, a little buzzed from the wine, smirked. “So you like old men now? Planning to inherit someone’s fortune?”
Stella was speechless. Great, Just great. Seriously, when did he even get back Of all the things to overhear, of course it had to be that part.
“Come on, I was just messing with Ethan! He said the owner of Verdant Villa was some 66–year–old man–I was just trying to get under his skin, that’s all.” She rushed to explain. Especially with Abraham. If she didn’t clear this up fast, she’d be the one paying the price.
Abraham chuckled at her explanation, then pulled her into his arms. His fingers, warm and steady, traced along her jaw. “Ethan really hasn’t figured it out yet, has he? Still clueless about who actually owns Verdant Villa?”
With Abraham, she never held back–she always laid things out plain. But with Ethan? Yeah, she had no patience left.
He and his family were always so full of themselves–cutting off her credit cards, threatening to shut down her business, doing everything they could to block her path forward.
Stella never would’ve guessed that after all that digging. Ethan would land on such a ridiculous conclusion. At this point, it wasn’t just his lack of common sense–clearly, his whole team was clueless. A sixty–six–year–old villa owner? Seriously? I here tere they even getting their inteft
She glanced at Abraham and asked, “Didn’t you say you’d be home in two hours? Why are you back so soon?”
Abraham gave her a look. “You’ve really lost all self–control at night, haven’t you?”
“You’re a grown woman–aren’t you even a little worried about gaining weight, eating that much right before bed?”
The truth was. Abraham had rushed back because he was worried she might get sick from overeating
Stella shot him a look. “Seriously? That’s why you came back?”
Of course Abraham heard her. He gently ran his hand down her slender back, full of quiet affection. He knew–how could he not? She hadn’t eaten properly in years. That’s why, lately, she’d been overeating, craving everything like she was trying to make up for lost time.
The second he said Abel would take care of it, all the warmth vanished from his voice.
Ever since the incident at the hospital, Susan had gone quiet–avoiding any legal follow–up Stella’s attorney had tried to arrange. She clearly didn’t want anything official documented. No signatures, no formal closure. Just… avoidance.
No one knew exactly what Susan and her family were thinking anymore. Maybe they believed if they stalled long enough. Stella would come around. But Stella wasn’t budging.
On the third morning. Stella woke up to a new text on her phone: “Just four more days until I’m discharged!”
Yesterday’s number had already been blocked. Today, it was a new one
She never wasted time when it came to the Reed family. The second she recognized one of their numbers, she blocked in That’s why no one from the Reed family–not even Ethan–could get through to her anymore.
Abraham replied, calm but firm. “Yeah, and then she’ll overdo it trying to burn it off. That’s not good for her either”
After that, Abraham made one thing clear–he wasn’t going to tolerate any binge eating in the house.
Stella sat across from him at the breakfast table, all innocent. “Are you saying I eat too much now?“
Abraham didn’t miss a beat “Yes.”
Stella went quiet. Has he seriously that concerned about how much I was eating? Then again… maybe he meant well. Maybe he was scared I’d end up like Marie–gain a little weight, freak out, and crash–land in the hospital trying to lose it all.
She remembered the feeling–like something soft and cold wrapping around her as she slept, then the weight of someone’s arms drawing her in close. She’d tried to move, to pull away, but her body wouldn’t respond. It was like she was frozen in place. It had to be a dream right|
Abel continued, “Ms. Lillian’s been pushing hard to get discharged. And Mr. Keene’s still trying to uncover who owns Verdant Vill. Should we drop a hint–maybe get him to back off?”
Abraham smirked. “If she dies before he ever figures out who owns this place that’d be the biggest joke of all
Being kept in the dark–that was what really drove people crazy.
Abel added. “He already knows Ms. Dawson lives here. He’s been pestering her nonstop, asking who the owner is–every single day”
He was literally asking the owner who owned the place–looked like a total idiot.
He remembered that nonsense Ethan spouted a few days ago–about the villa belonging to some sixty–six–year–old man. Where did he even get that information And how was someone like that still running the Keene Group!
The worst torture was k
the other side had all the answers–while you had nothing.
ad been blowing in her abone for days, insisting Lillian needed to move imo Verrian Villa for her marvey–lite
Cleary, Lace had finally done is borewexit and figured on her connection in Abraham Whm hr bainit expected was ther Sacila was Abroadoomed den
Louis kept smiling Sharon was out of line–I’m here to apponitzygmiste com tback, butaiff She’s been dealt with. I’ve made sure completely cut off from the outside world.”
- me. This deal really matters”
Louis’s eve twitched “Wait, what
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