Chapter 231 No Mercy Left
Stella glared at him, cheeks puffed, her eyes still shimmering with a few stubborn tears.
Abraham cupped her small chin and kissed her still slightly feverish lips.
“What should I do with you, Stella, when you’re this silly?” he murmured.
“Hmph!” Stella huffed.
“Who says I’m silly? I lived just fine without you these past three years! Last year I even made seven million.”
Who calls someone who makes millions a year stupid? I’d like a whole stack of idiots like that.
Hearing her say “seven million,” a deep, amused light flashed in Abraham’s eyes.
“Alright, my Stella isn’t silly,” he said softly.
Just adorably foolish.
Stella sniffed. “I can’t walk.”
When she tried to get out of bed earlier, the pain from her injury was excruciating. She could barely move now.
Without a word, Abraham scooped her into his arms.
Stella looked up at his sharp jawline, her heart thudding uncontrollably.
Even now, it still felt like a dream last night felt like an unpossible dream come true.
She had fantasized about this so many times, always believing it could never happen.
Yet somehow, it had.
And judging by Abraham’s attitude, he didn’t seem to reject the change between them at all.
Downstairs
Abel was already waiting.
When he saw Abraham carrying Stella down the stairs, he immediately stood and bowed slightly. “Abraham”
“Back to Verdant Villa,” Abraham instructed.
Seeing Stella curled up in his arms, Abel could pretty much guess what had happened the night before.
After all, he had been ordered to “get lost, and Eddie had been sighing all night while sending people to buy medicine.
After years of restraint, it had finally exploded.
Hearing that Abraham was taking Stella home, Abel hesitated and stepped forward. “Patrick’s outside.”
Abraham was speechless.
Stella was speechless.
The two of them exchanged a glance.
Stella looked at Abel. “He’s standing outside?”
Seriously….he hasn’t frozen to death yet? Stella thought.
Abraham lowered his head to look at her. “Dors Stella want to see him?”
Abel added, “He’s here to see you.”
Abraham’s frown deepened.
The irritation in his eyes was clear.
He said coldly. “Not seeing him.”
Exactly the answer Abel expected.
After everything the Reed family had done to Stella, there was no chance Abraham would show them any mercy.
Especially after what happened with the car accident – Abraham would make sure they suffered.
And right now, they were like fish being fried alive in hot oil.
Without even glancing toward the door, Abraham carried Stella straight outside.
Patrick, realizing he couldn’t get through Abel, had been waiting in the freezing cold.
The snow and wind whipped across his face like knives.
Patrick had no idea how long he would have to wait but he knew he had to see Abraham and Stella today, no matter what.
Just when he was starting to lose feeling in his legs from the cold the front door finally opened.
He saw Abraham carrying Stella outside.
She was bundled up in a creamy white down jacket, her head tucked into a thick hood.
In Abraham’s arms, she looked tiny almost like a little girl
Seeing Stella like that. Patrick didn’t think much of it.
Rubbing his frozen hands, he instinctively tried to move forward.
Only to realize that his legs were so numb he almost collapsed into the snow.
“Mr. Abraham, Stella!” Patrick called out urgently, barely keeping his balance as he staggered toward them – but the bodyguards immediately stopped him.
Patrick’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
“Stella, Stella!”
Seeing Abraham’s icy face, Patrick quickly turned his desperate gaze to Stella instead.
But Stella’s face remained buried firmly against Abraham’s chest, ignoring him completely.
“Mr. Abraham, we need to talk! And Stella- you’ve misunderstood your parents! Tell us what you want we’ll do anything!”
Patrick’s voice cracked with desperation.
Danned Susan, he cursed silently. Adhways stirring up trouble!
Especially now, when Stella wouldn’t even give him a glance – Patrick’s hatred toward Susan reached new heights.
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The moment their eyes met, Patrick instinctively swallowed hard.
Chapter 232 No Forgiveness
“Mr. Abraham,” Patrick called out hoarsely.
Abraham’s cold eyes glinted with sharp mockery, “Mr. Patrick, what exactly do you think she needs from you?”
Patrick’s mouth opened – but no words came out.
Right… what could Stella possibly still need from them?
Growing up in the Luke family–a place like that she probably never lacked for anything.
Thinking back to how, after Stella returned to the Reed family, they kept cutting her credit card limit lower and lower, Patrick felt a wave of shame burn through him.
Abraham let out a low, mocking laugh. “Everything happening to the Reed Group now has nothing to do with her. Don’t bother her again.”
“She has nothing to do with you anymore.”
Patrick felt the words like a slap across his face.
Nothing to do with them…
It struck him how true it was. Aside from a sliver of blood ties, there really wasn’t anything connecting them to Stella
anymore
Especially when he thought about how they had treated her after bringing her back from Stella’s point of view, they had done nothing but hurt her.
But… she had been so rebellious!
Remembering all the stories Susan used to tell him about Stella’s attitude, Patrick’s headache grew worse.
Abraham turned to leave.
Patrick stumbled forward, nearly slipping on the icy ground, and managed to grab the hem of Abraham’s coat.
“Mr. Abraham.” he pleaded. “Can’t you be merciful and spare the Reed Group?”
Abraham lowered his gaze.
When his eyes met Patrick’s again, the icy coldness was suffocating.
Patrick’s chest tightened under that stare.
“We’re her parents,” he said, voice cracking.
“Parents?” Abraham sneered. “Parents who nearly cost her life? Mr. Patrick, you really have the nerve to use that bond as a
shield?”
The danger in his voice was palpable.
In an instant, the mocking stile disappeared from Abraham’s face, replaced by a cold, deadly aura.
Patrick’s heart stuttered.
But–but that wasn’t Lilian’s doing! Stella misunderstood Patrick blurted out in panic.
The words had barely left his mouth when Abraham pulled free from his grasp and climbed into the car without a backward glance.
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Chapter 232 NO
“And since you are supposedly her parents that only makes it even less forgivable. Don’t you think?”
The people who should have protected her were the ones who shoved her to the edge of death.
Patrick was speechless.
The word “unforgivable” hit him like a thunderclap straight to the heart.
Already pale from the cold, Patrick turned ghostly white.
Before he could say another word, the car window rolled up, the engine roared to life, and the car pulled away.
Panicked, Patrick tried to rush forward- but he slipped on the ice and barely managed to catch himself.
By the time he stood upright again, all he could see was the car disappearing into the distance.
The frigid wind howled around him.
Inside the warm car, Abraham cradled Stella in his arms.
“You didn’t kill her on the spot?” he asked softly.
many people on her side that day. I was alone.”
Stella sniffled and looked up at him. “I couldn’t. There were too n
Her voice was soft, almost casual.
But those simple words made Abraham’s gaze darken with a deadly chill she couldn’t see.
Meanwhile, Patrick didn’t even remember how he got back to the company.
He stumbled in. looking like a ghost.
Jonathan, who had pulled another all–nighter and was still getting hounded by Rebecca, rushed up to meet him.
“Dad, how did it go? Did Stella agree to talk to Mr. Abraham?”
His voice was full of urgency.
That damned girl. Jonathan seethed silently. Colliding with outsiders to destroy the Reed Group.
Thinking about the trouble Stella had brought upon them, Jonathan’s rage only deepened.
Patrick looked at his son, opened his mouth – but no words came out.
The fury and frustration boiling inside him left him completely speechless.
Jonathan saw the tension in his father’s face, the veins bulging at his temples.
“Dad, don’t tell me Lilian was right all along that Stella’s willing to sell herself just to get revenge on us?”
Saying it out loud made Jonathan even more furious
“If that’s really the case, then she’s no sister of mine.”
Disgraceful!
Selling herself to an outsider just to get back at her own family.
Even if Mr. Abraham was powerful–she was nothing but a plaything to him.
Once he got bored, he’d toss her aside like garbage
Chapter 233 Awakening Too Late
Patrick’s face was already ugly, but hearing Jonathan’s words now made his anger surge even higher.
“You ever treated her like a real sister? And you think she still gives a damn about that now?”
“Lilian, Lilian, Lilian- what exactly has Lilian been filling your heads with?”
Only now did Patrick start piecing things together.
Every time something happened at home–whether it was Susan or Jonathan it always came back to: “Lilian said…”
Especially when it had anything to do with Stella.
Patrick’s sudden outburst made Jonathan instinctively stiffen.
For the first time, he beard the unmistakable displeasure in Patrick’s voice.
“What, Lilian wasn’t lying? Dad, you–Jonathan’s breathing quickened, full of disbelief.
Was he seriously defending that backstabbing brat?
The same brat who colluded with outsiders to crush her own family?
Patrick’s face darkened further. ‘Hmph. Stella grew up in the Luke family. She’s officially Mr. Abraham’s younger sister- like Lillan is to you.
“And you people all you do is slander her with your filth, Was this what Lilian taught you?”
The final sentence exploded out of Patrick like a thunderclap.
The entire office was thick with rage, suffocating-
Jonathan’s mind buzzed, as if something heavy had just smashed into it.
Same as Lilian and him…..
Jonathan stared at Patrick in disbelief. “You–you’re saying.
Patrick snapped, “She grew up with the Luke family. Understand now?”
“And if I hear one more filthy word about her out of your mouth, I’ll rip your tongue out.”
Patrick’s hands clenched tightly.
The company had been a chaotic mess recently, and now he realized–Susan and Jonathan had been poisoning Stella’s name all along.
Every filthy guess, every cruel judgment all influenced by Lilian.
Thinking back to Lilian’s pitiful doe–eyed act, Patrick suddenly felt his mind clear sharply.
His gaze turned icy, his breathing cold.
Jonathan stared at him, still unable to process it. “But… wasn’t she raised by some poor family in the countryside?”
She had never mentioned her adoptive family- almost like she was ashamed.
So how had she turned out to be the youngest daughter of Fleule’s mighty Luke family?
Jonathan’s brain ground to a halt.
just
Jonathan hesitated.
Nowo, she hadn‘?.
Thinking back carefully, Stella had never once talked about her upbringing or her adoptive family.
“So it was Lilian who said it, wasn’t it?” Patrick pressed
Jonathan froze.
Lilian… it was Lilian!
He suddenly remembered.
The first time they learned Stella was supposedly raised in the countryside was at her first birthday back at the Reed family.
Susan had prepared her a strapless dress for the party.
But when Lilian saw it, she said: “Stella grew up in the countryside. She’ll be shy wearing something like that.”
And what happened afterward?
The fancy dress ended up on Lilian, and Stella wore a much plainer, conservative gown picked out from Lilian’s closet.
Now that he thought about it. Stella never said a word.
Seeing Jonathan’s expression, Patrick no longer needed confirmation.
His face turned even darker.
–
“Tm telling you Mr. Abraham is furious about how Stella was treated during the two years she lived in Rivermount
*All the trouble the Reed Group is facing right now – it’s because of his anger”
In other words, unless Stella spoke up for them, there was no way this disaster would just blow over.
Jonathan snapped back to reality, his face flushing with rage. “So what do you want us to do? Get on our knees and beg her?”
“When she first came home, didn’t we treat her well? She’s the one who kept picking fights with Lilian!”
Thinking about that explosive confrontation between Stella and Lilian two years ago, Jonathan’s fury reignited.
They had barely managed to stop Stella from sending Lilian to jail.
She had nearly beaten Lilian half to death.
At the time, Stella’s ferocity had been shocking like a wild little beast.
Patrick’s eyes blazed. “And you still dare to talk?!”
“You–you’re really going to be the death of me. Fine. You deal with this mess.”
Thinking about how he had nearly frozen to death this morning at Pluchville Hill, and then seeing Jonathan’s shameless. atitude now, Patrick’s fury erupted again.
Chapter 234 No Way Back
Jonathan’s expression darkened.
He had to handle it? How was he supposed to handle it? Was he really expected to get on his knees and beg Stella? As if she deserved that
Meanwhile at Pluchville Hill.
Abraham brought Stella back, and after checking her temperature, placed her gently onto the herl
He brushed her forehead with a tender touch. “How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?
Stella pouted and nodded, her big eyes watery as she stared at him. “It hurts.”
it hurt a lot.
She never would’ve imagined that the usually elegant, restrained Abraham could be so wild and brutal in bed.
Her throat was still hoarse from crying and begging him to stop – not that he had.
Abraham chuckled lowly and gently pinched her little nose. “Then you better stay put in bed and rest, hmm?”
Seeing Stella’s slightly sulky expression, Abraham pinched her cheek indulgently. “What’s on your mind?”
Stella peeked up at him. “I was thinking.. will Mom be mad if she finds out?”
At the mention of it, Stella felt so embarrassed she wanted to bury herself under the covers.
When she first woke up, the person she had been most afraid of facing was Abraham.
Now that she had gotten through him.. her next fear was Madam Evelyn,
Ugh, just imagining Madam Evelyn’s reaction made her heart tremble.
Would she be furious? Refuse to speak to her ever again?
The thought filled Stella with dread.
Abraham’s smile grew even softer. “Scared?”
“You don’t look scared at all, Stella muttered.
Why was he so relaxed?
Abraham leaned down and kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. “If she finds out, just blame it on me.”
Stella blinked. Wait that workst
Then her eyes immediately lit up with sparkling admiration. “I worship you.”
Abraham ruffled her hair with a low chuckle. “Get some sleep, alright?”
He tucked her in carefully.
Stella grabbed onto the covers and looked up. “Are you going out?”
Abraham said, “Not going far. Just meeting someone. They’re probably already here.”
But before she could really fall asleep, Tessa’s call came through.
“Stella! Oh my god, it’s insane! Even after Ethan tried to pull strings with the Keene family, Lilian still got kicked out of the hospitalTM
Stella stirred. “She actually got kicked out?”
Tessa’s voice was gleeful. “Dead serious! They even called in security. I saw it with my own eyes- Susan crying and wailing as they wheeled Lilian out.”
Stella:
Tessa continued cheerfully, “Honestly, the way her health’s going, she probably won’t last long.”
Stella frowned. “Why don’t they just move her to another hospital?”
Tessa scoffed. “Come on, use your brain for once. If someone’s determined to crush her, and even Ethan’s influence couldn’t stop it, you really think there’s a hospital in Rivermount that would dare take her in?”
True enough.
If even Ethan couldn’t fix it, there was no chance for Lilian in this city,
Stella thought for a moment. “She could still go abroad.”
“Yeah, that’s her only shot, Tessa said. “Otherwise she’s dead meat. You should’ve seen her today- getting wheeled out in a chair, looking half–dead. Still trying to fight you, though! What’s she gonna do with Ethan now? She doesn’t even have the body to keep a man.”
Stella snorted. Was that a dirty joke?”
Tessa: “Pif. What, you don’t understand?”
“Just because I haven’t eaten pork doesn’t mean I haven’t seen a pig
Stella:…..
Well she couldn’t exactly argue with that.
At least not anymore–pot after last night. She was officially a groen wOMIEN NOW.
Tessa chuckled. “Anyway, brace yourself the Reed family’s gonna start bugging you nonstop.”
With Reed Group crumbling and Lilian’s treatment falling apart, everything was tied to Stella now.
Stella hummed dismissively. They won’t be able to find me.”
The words were crisp, cold, and ruthless.
Tessa laughed. “God, I love you. That’s how it should be! Who the hell volunteers to be someone else’s punching bag?”
She had seen firsthand how the Reed family had treated Stella these past two years and it still made her blood boil.
Thank goodness Stella hadn’t gone back begging like a fool.
They looked down on her once–now they could rot.
And knowing Stella, if they pushed too hard, they might just get a beating too.
Chapter 237 Storm Incoming
“Last night, Abel went to see the driver who caused your car accident two, Abraham said casually. “What was said between them, I don’t know”
Stella snorted inwardly.
Yeah, like hell he doesn’t kno
Abraham raised an eyebrow. What’s wrong? Feeling soft–hearted toward her?”
Do I look weak to you? Stella rolled her eyes.
As if The only ones who could ever stir her heart were the Dawson family. As for the rest no one had ever gotten close.
Abraham chuckled.
Stella shifted on the bed. “Now that she’s desperate, she’s probably going to try leaving the country for treatment, right?”
“She can’t Abraham said lightly.
Stella’s eyes widened in shock.
His face was as warm and calm as ever- but the words he spoke were enough to completely cut off someone’s escape.
“You’re really planning to trap her alive?”
In Rivermount, without any hospital willing to admit her, Lilian would have nowhere left to turn.
And if she realized she couldn’t even leave Rivermount?
She’d probably break completely.
Abraham stayed with Stella for a long while before finally getting up to leave.
Before he went, he made sure to feed her some more
ore medicine.
Stella had just curled up under the covers again when her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the caller ID- her heart jumped and she immediately pressed “Answer, holding the phone to her ear.
“Mare” she whispered.
The moment the word left her mouth, a familiar voice roared from the other end.
“Three hours. Come pick me up at the airport.
Stella nearly dropped the phone
“You—you’re coming to Rivermount?”
If Marie saw her injuries right now, how was she going to explain? Say she got bitten by bugs? Fell down?
Marie’s voice was full of rage. “Dead girl! Let’s see how I deal with you this time. You little brat, you’re really good at running, huh? Your brother already found you and you’re still playing hide–and–seek with me?”
Just thinking about it made Marie’s blood pressure skyrocket.
Chapter 237 Storm thcoming
Hearing the threat in her voice, Stella shrank under the blankets, “Where are you now?”
If she’s three hours away she must already be out of Fieule?
Stella broke into a cold sweat. She’s seriously coming! The demon queen is on her way!
Marie’s snort crackled through the line. “What, thinking of warning Abraham? You even think about ratting me out and I’l break your legs.”
Stella whimpered silently.
Marie barked, “Three hours. I want to see you the moment I land.”
The way she threatened it was exactly the same as when Abrahamn had first shown up in Rivermount.
No wonder–born from the same blood, after all. They even threatened people the same way.
Stella rolled around in bed, miserable. Wait – you really already left Fleule?”
Marie “hmph’ed. “Trying to warn him? Better pray I don’t catch you.”
If Marie could crawl through the phone and smack her, she would.
–
Three years ago, Stella had run so fast she might as well have been training for the Olympics then gone completely off- grid
Stella could only whisper pitifully, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Ahhh, so scary.
–
Marie snorted. “You better not. Just wait, I’ll teach you a lesson. Running so far why didn’t you just launch yourself into outer space?”
“If you’d starved to death out there, maybe you’d have learned your lesson.”
Stella was speechless.
“Three hours. Don’t be late.”
With a final barrage of scolding, Marie hung up.
In her mind, Stella was still the soft, clumsy little girl she had grown up with the one who needed protecting.
During those years when they couldn’t find her, Marie had truly worried that something terrible had happened.
Listening to the disconnected beeping of the call, Stella gritted her teeth and dragged herself out of bed, wincing at the pain.
There’s no way I’m not telling Abraham.
If Marie showed up and saw her like this, she was doomed.
Stella quickly threw on a coat and padded out of the room.
She checked the study first no sign of him.
Then the living room still no sign.
Finally, a housekeeper spotted her and approached respectfully. “Ms. Stella”
Hait there’s a billiards room here?
They had only just moved in recently. She hadn’t even had time to explore properly yet.
Chapter 235 No Mercy for Regret
Just like Tessa had predicted.
Right now, the Reed family was frantically scrambling to find Stella, practically losing their minds. And after hearing that Ethan hadn’t been able to buy off Verdant Villa either, panic only deepened.
“Mom…. this is all Stella’s doing, isn’t it?” Lilian gritted out, shaking violently, sweat dripping down her pale forehead. “She told her foster brother to do this to me.”
I’ll save you I swear I’ll save you. I won’t let you die I won’t.”
After being kicked out, they had tried taking Lilian to several others, but every single hospital rejected her with flimsy excuses the moment they heard her name.
“Mom, I realize I was wrong. Lilian sobbed. “I’ll give her back to Stella- everything. If that’s what she wants, tell her she can. have it all. I don’t want anything anymore. I’ll give everything back.”
‘T’ll tell her I’m sorry! I’ll tell her I’ll never fight her for you again, Mom!”
“I know I was wrong. I was bad. I hurt Stella. I admit it…”
After being rejected by four different hospitals in a row, Lilian finally understood the gravity of the situation.
And with that realization came slicer terror
“You didn’t move into Verdant Villa,” Stella said lazily, so you lost our bet. Don’t forget to send me a million.
She had once flaunted to everyone that Ethan would buy her Verdant Villa to recover in even using it to taunt Stella.
And Stella wasn’t done twisting the knife.
That murderer kept extorting her constantly she was barely holding on.
When Abraham walked in, he saw her lying on the bed, hugging a fruit platter and nibbling on oranges.
But then, Lilan’s desperate voice came through the phone: “Stella, it was my fault before. I’m sorry. Please, please let me go.”
“Stella, I really know I was wrong Lilian sobbed. “I’ll give you back Dad and Mom. I’ll leave the Reed family. Please… just don’t mess with the hospitals anymore, Please.”
“You can keep them,” she said coolly. Those disasters are better off staying with you.”
Abrahan sat down on the edge of the bed.
He pushed the fruit platter away from her. “Don’t eat like that. It’s bad for your stomach.”
Abraham lified an eyebrow. “Hmm?
He’s even stricter i
Abraham asked, “Who were you talking to just now?”
“Talian,” Stella said. “She made a bet with me. Said if she didn’t move into Verdant Villa, she’d pay me a million.”
Abraham raised an eyebrow. “You need a million”
Right then, Stella was certain–Abraham hadn’t just been angry about his own car accident..
Scooting closer, Stella peered up at him. “Abraham, are you hiding something from me?”
“Lilian’s hospital situation… it was you, wasn’t it?”
Getting kicked out overnight–and no hospital willing to take her?
Abraham immediately frowned when he saw her grimace. “Still hurting?
Stella whined. “Be gentle, will you?”
Hearing him say that word made Stella shiver.
Thank goodness he hadn’t claimed to forget what happened otherwise she wouldn’t even have anywhere to lodge a complain
Abraham gently massaged her legs. “Hurting here?”
3
“Straight ahead down this hallway, miss. I can escort you, the butle
On a sofa nearby, Abraham sat languidly, legs crossed, a cigar between his fingers.
“Cooka, do you really want to die here tonight?” Abel said, voice terrifyingly calm.
Then, with the ease of long practice, he drew a pistol from his waistband – the click of it cocking filled the room.
Cooka shook like a leaf. “Mr. Abraham, I swear, I really don’t know! I-
Her fingers slipped against the doorframe with a soft thud.
Abraham and Abel both turned toward the door.
Stella’s heart trembled as she tore her gaze away from the bloody scene and met Abraham’s eyes.
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