Chapter 262 A Memory That Never Died.
“Hey, don’t-
Abraham’s smile grew even more teasing. “Getting bolder now, daring to insult me to my face?”
“Hmph, it hurt,” Stella muttered.
She still remembered how she had begged him, her throat going hoarse.
If you asked her, Eddie had been absolutely right–men really weren’t human.
Abraham tightened his arms around her. Stella hurried to change the subject. “Did you find Evie yet?”
Abraham said, “No.”
“What?” Stella blinked.
Evie had come here to kidnap her, and now they hadn’t even found her? How was she supposed to step outside tomorrow? Though looking at this awful weather, it didn’t seem like going out tomorrow was a good idea anyway.
Before Abraham could answer, his phone rang. It was Marie..
On the other end, Marie’s anxious voice exploded. “Hey, you need to send people after her right away! I can’t get in touch with Evie anymore!”
Abraham’s face instantly darkened.
Stella couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth
They had plotted together to kidnap her, and now she was saying she couldn’t reach Evie?
Seeing Abraham stay silent, Marie got more frantic. ‘I swear, I really can’t reach her. Don’t misunderstand, I only sent her to pick up our little Stella. I didn’t want to hurt her,”
Marie’s voice was full of panic.
She knew Abraham too well. If he wasn’t talking, that meant he was already planning something big.
“You know how much I miss Stella too.”
Stella was speechless.
Hearing that made her feel a bit touched.
Abraham snorted coldly. “You and Evie plotted this together, and now you say you can’t reach her?”
“I didn’t know either! She gave me a number, but now she’s disappeared, I swear! Marie was about to lose her mind.
What the hell was Evie doing? It was one thing if others couldn’t reach her, but even Marie, her boss now, couldn’t get through?
After all the benefits Marie had given her–now she couldn’t even follow simple instructions!
You could just have Abel’s people catch her, right? By the way… where is he?”
When she said “he, Marie’s tone softened, cautious.
For so many years, no one had dared touch that old scar in her heart.
She had buried him deep, accepting his death and mourning him quietly.
Abraham frowned. “You caused this mess-
“Abraham, I’m your biological sister. Can you really bear to let me stay a widow for life?”
In Marie’s mind, after that man had died, she had already planned to stay alone forever.
Abraham’s breathing stiffened..
Stella didn’t fully understand what they were talking about, but she heard the cautious, pleading tone in Marie’s voice.
She tugged gently on Abraham’s sweater.
He lowered his head and met her eyes, which were shimmering with watery light, filled with a soft pleading.
He instantly understood.
Facing Stella’s gaze, Abraham finally said to Marie. “You really can’t reach Evie?”
I swear! I wouldn’t joke about him.”
Him? Meaning that man.
Abraham thought about it carefully. Marie wasn’t someone who would use that name lightly.
Finally-
Under Stella’s persistent gaze, Abraham reached out to pinch her soft little cheek and said into the phone, “Frapucu
“What?”
Frapucu!That desert city two hundred kilometers away from any other town?
“Why would he be there?”
Marie had been there once before. Her impression of it was terrible–its location, the people, everything.
Abraham said calmly, “It might not be him. You know that.
The phone fell silent.
“Abel ran into him once, Abraham continued. “He didn’t recognize Abel.”
On paper, everything matched–but when Abel had approached, there hadn’t been even a flicker of recognition.
Marie finally said, her voice tight, I’ll go see for myself.”
“He died right in front of you,” Abraham reminded her coldly.
“And I didn’t see him burned to ashes, did I Marie shot back.
Abraham was speechless.
Stella was speechless.
Listening to this, Stella finally understood who they were talking about.
That was something from live
e years ago— The man who had once made Marie give up her usual masculine style and start wearing skirts.
Send Gifts
Chapter 263 A Heart That Never Healed.
That man had left a deep mark on her life, only to disappear just as Marie had fallen for him the most.
Abraham pressed his forehead. Till send a few people with you. It’s complicated over there.”
Because it was so far from the surrounding cities, it had become a regular gathering place for underground figures.
Marie said. “No need.”
“Marie.” Abraham’s tone grew heavier.
Ever since the Tom family incident, he’d been overly protective of everyone around him.
Especially the people who mattered most.
Marie said, ‘I have someone.”
She wasn’t foolish enough to head to a place like Frapucu alone. She knew perfectly well just how dark that place could be.
Hearing her say that. Abraham grunted in acknowledgment, agreeing.
The call went quiet,
Stella looked at Abraham. “Mr. Morris is still alive?”
Dan Morris. Stella still remembered the first time Marie had brought him to meet her.
The man had neat short hair, tightly pressed thin lips, and those phoenix eyes that seemed to speak on
their own.
His character was wild and unruly, a sharp contrast to Abraham’s cold sternness, which made him particularly memorable to
Stella.
She had only met him three times. By the fourth time, she’d received news that he was gone and with him, he’d crushed
Marie’s heart.
Abranam said. “It might not be him.”
Stella said, “I hope it’s a miracle.”
She ached for the feelings Marie had buried in that man.
Abraham played with her slightly chilly hand. “Cold?”
“Not at all.”
It didn’t even feel cold inside.
Still, Abraham fetched a soft, furry jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
He knew Stella hated wearing anything too heavy in winter, especially anything that restricted her arms, so her wardrobe was full of all kinds of jackets.
Stella said, “I’m really not cold.
“Be good.”
His voice was full of indulgence. In the end, Stella obediently put the jacket on
Dinner that evening was warm and lively. With the heavy snow outside, Stella loved nothing more than cooking up all kinds of hot dishes.
1/3
Abraham asked, “Why do you like eating this way?”
He wasn’t too fond of this kind of soupy meal.
Stella said, “It’s warm”
“Are you cold?”
No, but when you see the snow outside, eating like this just feels right
Abraham chuckled. “So you still know how to catch a feeling, huh?”
So much drama over eating.
Stella asked, “Where are Eddie and Victor?”
It was unusual for both of them to be missing.
Abraham said, “Eddie went to find Evie. No idea where Victor is.”
Hearing that Eddie went to find Evie, Stella swallowed a mouthful of radish and said, “You really scared Eddie today.
She had been scared too.
Jonathan had just caused trouble in Scaflats Cove today- who would dare mess with him at a time like this?
Abraham said, “Scared of what? I just told Abel to throw her out of Rivermount.”
Stella was speechless.
Throw her out of Rivermount! A girl?
Her mouth twitched. “That’s not very nice, is it? What were you planning for Abel to do? Beat Evie up? Let me tell you. Evie’s just a girl. You can’t treat her like that.”
Everyone said you should be gentle with girls
Abraham raised an eyebrow. “Evie’s a girl? News to me.”
Stella was speechless.
Fair enough. With the way Evie had dressed all these years, she really didn’t look any different from a guy.
Sometimes when Evie stood next to Marie, Stella would even get the illusion that they made a nice couple.
‘Still, tell Abel not to go too hard. She might not look like it, but she really is a girl”
Abraham said, “At the very least, a bruised face.”
Stella was speechless. That’s all? Then she could relax.
Wit, hold
Suddenly thinking of Evie’s skin tone, Stella grew uneasy.
She looked nervously at Abraham. “Evie’s skin. that might not be so easy.”
In her memory, Evie had always been a girl who loved the sun.
She spent her summers sunbathing at the beach, and winters soaking up the sun on balconies.
2
Chapter 264 The Missing Piece
Just then, Abel returned. “Sir.”
“How is it?”
Abraham’s thin lips parted slightly, spitting out two words.
Abel said. “We found and brought back all of Evie’s people. Evie wasn’t with them.”
Abraham raised an eyebrow and glanced at Abel.
Abel explained. “They said Miss Evie ditched them as soon as she got off the plane.”
Eddie came bursting in from outside, snow clinging to him, just in time to hear Abel’s words. His heart skipped a beat again.
No way. What did she mean by ditching Marie’s people? What was she planning?
Eddie felt like he was about to fall apart.
He cursed Evie a thousand times in his heart, then felt like something was wrong.. but couldn’t figure out what it was.
Abraham’s long fingers tapped rhythmically on the dining table.
The steady rhythm only made the tension in the air worse. Eddie glanced nervously at Stella.
Stella kept her eyes down, pretending to see nothing, hear nothing.
Why was he looking at her? She didn’t dare speak up for Evie either. Since childhood, Abraham had taught her to be ruthless toward anyone who tried to hurt her.
Evie was trying to steal her away. If she spoke up for her now, Abraham would definitely give her an earful later when no one else was around
Eddie was about to lose it. “I don’t think that girl has the brains to pull anything crazy
“Oh? Really? Then what is it when she ditches Marie’s people?”
Eddie was silent
He wanted to cry. He wanted to kneel down before all the ancestors.
Seriously, why would Evie ditch Marie’s people? What the hell was she thinking?
Abraham didn’t bother talking to Eddie anymore. He turned to Stella. “You’re staying by my side for the next few days.”
Evie was a handful.
If she managed to steal Stella away now, after shaking off Marie’s people, who knew where she’d take her? She might just drag her all over the world out of spite.
Stella nodded obediently. “Okay”
But then she realized something was off. “I have to go to the studio tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to go to the studio”
“What?”
Abel’s sudden words made Stella’s mind go completely blank.
1/1
“Ma’am, something big happened. Sterling Global just pulled out of our partnership.
Kimmy’s voice was full of urgency.
Stella was stunned.
How could that not be a big deal? A client paying several million a year was leaving?
She jumped to her feet, knocking over her chair with a loud bang.
She didn’t care that Abraham. Eddie, and the others were all there.
Holding the phone, she hurried to one side. “What happened? Weren’t things going well?”
“And didn’t they already pay the deposit for the design?”
out?
How could they just pull out!
And they’d always been satisfied with the designs before!
Kimmy said, “I don’t know. I just got a call from their business department saying the partnership is terminated.”
“Did they give a reason?”
NO
No reason?
Losing a client that big was basically a death sentence for her studio.
Stella gasped. “Maybe they think we’re dragging our feet with the drafts? Tell them we’ll finish everything in three days. Three days, tops.
It was all Abraham’s fault for getting her hurt. Now even her big client was running away.
The studio couldn’t fail. There were so many designers relying on it
Kimmy said, “They just said the partnership’s over. The only reason they gave was: not needed anymore.”
“Not needed anymore?”
What kind of reason was that?
Stella asked, “Do we have to refund the design deposit?”
“They said no.”
Stella’s mouth twitched. “No?”
Sterling Global really was a big company. Tens of thousands in deposit and they just waved it off like nothing!
Were they so rich that money just blew in with the wind?
Stella gnawed on her fingernail, frowning. “There’s really no way to turn this around?”
Kimmy said, “No.”
Stella went silent.
The deal was just over? No proper reason at all?
H
2/3
that your sister’s people are here, my sister’s missing”
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Finished
Chapter 265 No Way Out
Eddie was panicking too.
With Abraham’s current attitude being so terrifying. Eddie didn’t care anymore. He decided to counter–accuse him first and figure the rest out later.
After all, Stella wasn’t missing. The one missing was Eddie’s sister.
On the phone, Kimmy was still saying, “Boss, losing Sterling Global is a huge blow for us.”
Stella said, “Ah? That’s…
She pulled her gaze away from the dining room.
It was a pretty big loss, but the reason she had been planning to hand the studio over to Tessa was because of Sterling Global.
Now that the partnership with Sterling Global was gone, was there even a point in keeping the studio anymore?
She thought about how hardworking Kimmy had been these past two years, and about the other designers. Honestly, even without Sterling Global, the studio’s smaller orders were enough to keep them all afloat. “You should come to Seaflats Cove tomorrow, Stella said after thinking for a moment.
Kimmy said, “Seaflats Cove?”
Was it the place she was thinking of?
Stella hummed an acknowledgment. “Bring some of the company’s business documents too.”
At this point, she probably wouldn’t be able to leave tomorrow.
With Evie ditching Marie’s people, there was no telling what crazy move she would pull next.
She might as well stay holed up safely at Seaflats Cove
After hanging up with Kimmy, Stella returned to the dining room just in time to hear Abraham telling Abel, “Find her tonight”
“Got it”
Evie was still in Rivermount. Tracking her down wouldn’t be hard.
As Abel turned to leave, Eddie quickly followed. “I’m coming with you.”
He had missed his chance earlier when Abel ran off by himself, leaving Eddie on edge all day.
He was terrified Abel would actually find Evie and beat her into a bruised mess.
His mother still held onto a tiny hope that her daughter’s skin would one day return to its snow–white beauty. He couldn’t let her face get ruined
Eddie and Abel left together.
Abraham turned to Stella. The stern look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a gentle warmth. “Come here.”
Stella shuffled over in small steps.
As soon as she got close, Abraham pulled her into his lap.
Stella’s cheeks flushed pink.
Abraham pinched her cheek lightly. “Still hurt?”
Stella’s face, already starting to turn red, practically exploded at his words.
“It hasn’t been that long. Don’t tell me you’re already…”
Abraham held her slim waist, burying his head against her small shoulder. “I miss you.”
Stella was speechless.
Finished
“Let go of me,” she said.
Her mind was preoccupied with the studio situation. She wasn’t in the mood to mess around with him.
Abraham sensed her distraction
“Who was that call from just now?”
Now, out of nowhere, without even a real reason, the partnership was over. Stella couldn’t help but feel a little upset.
“You’re going back to Fleule anyway. If they don’t want to work with you anymore, just let it go.”
Abraham sounded completely indifferent.
They couldn’t just end the partnership without even giving her a proper reason.
She looked up. “Abraham, I remember you said you know the CEO of Sterling Global?*
Abraham’s broad palm pressed down on the back of her head, forcing Stella to tilt her head upward naturally.
The moment their eyes met, Stella caught the fleeting trace of teasing in Abraham’s gaze. “You can ask,” he said with a smirk. “but how does Star plan to thank me?*
“Didn’t everything I have come from you? What more is there to ask for?”
Abraham said, “You are y
The next morning, when Abel went upstairs to wait in the study, the last thing he expected was to see Abraham walking Stella’s room.
Unable to avoid it, Abel respectfully called, “Mr. Abraham.
Yes.”
Hearing this. Abel felt as though he had been pardoned and quickly made his way to the study.
Looking at Eddie’s exhausted face, it was obvious he had stayed up all night. He had planned to chase Abel, but his stamina gave out, and he nearly tripped as he went after him. By the time he stood up, Abel had already left. He spent the entire night worrying that Evie might have really gotten beaten up by Abel…
Those under Abraham are known to be ruthless, with no regard for restraint when they take action.
Abraham walked over to the sofa, sat down, and took out a cigarette. He asked Abel coldly, “So, how did it go?”
The question was naturally about whether Evie had been found. Eddie’s face also tightened as he looked at Abel
Abel replied, “Evie has already left Rivermount.”
Eddie screamed, “What the heck is that supposed to mean?”
He glared at Abraham, completely losing it. “Seriously, man? Do you just go around hitting everyone now?”
Abel said, “Mr. Eddie, keep quiet and don’t speak.”
Abel said. “It was Ms. Evie who got rid of our lady’s people and then left Rivermount right after.”
Abraham frowned and glanced at Abel. “What do you mean?”
Abel said, “She left and only had a layover in Rivermount, staying for the time between landing and taking off.”
Eddie ran a hand through his hair, feeling conflicted. What is Evie up to? She really just left? Or is this part of her strategy? Is there
Eddie said. “Are you sure she left?”
Toured Rivermount with Maree’s people. She did nothing, just brushed them off and goalked away? That is hard to believe. Or maybe she was trying to make a deal with Marie, and it fell through? Hold on…
Eddie turned to Abraham, “Did Marie offer Evie any kind of reward for stealing Star away?!
Eddie lost his words. Hiss!!
She had not changed one bit; she saw a chance to milk benefits off Marie and just went all in. Did she really think Marie’s benefits were that easy to snatch? Has she not learned her lesson after all these years!
Abraham lit a cigarette and took a drag.
It was almost ten o’clock by the time Stella finally got up. A cup of water sat on the bedside table, kept warm by the thermal cup. The warmth of Abraham was no longer in the blanket, so he must have gotten up early. Stella sat on the bed, still feeling a bit dazed. Although she often used to stay close to Abraham when they were kids, sleeping together now felt entirely different. Especially when he hugged her, his body responded without any restraint.
The man’s magnetic voice broke through, interrupting Stella’s thoughts. Stella looked toward the door and spotted Abraham walking in, wearing a set of smoke–gray loungewear. Good–looking people can pull off anything they wear. Though Abraham dressed casually, it did nothing to hide the coldness and innate nobility that surrounded him.
Still half–asleep, Stella mumbled, “Bro.”
Abraham stepped forward, gently pulling her from the blankets and pressing her against his chest. “Say my name,” he murmured, “let me hear it.”
“Turry up and call me, Abraham said.
“Ah… What are you doing. Abraham?” A sudden pain shot through her neck, and Stella yelled out in a panic.
She wanted to escape, but in the man’s hold, there was no way to get away. The man’s low chuckle came from her neck, “Star is being naughty. Stella immediately got flustered
She felt a sharp pain in her neck. “Did you bite me hard enough to make me bleed? We only have half a month left before we return to Falvaria, How am I supposed to explain this when we get back?”
Watching her flustered and frantic like a little tiger, Abraham gently kissed her forehead and said, “You don’t need to explain.”
Please do not let it be what she thought. Stella felt her heart leap into her throat at that moment. Abraham pinched her little nose, then turned and grabbed the clothes, about to help her put them on.
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How could he possibly break this kind of news to the elders?
While saying that. Abraham began helping her out of her pajamas. Stella’s brain short–circuited. He really just said it like that?
“So, how did Mom take it?”
Mom just went along with it? How? What did she say exactly?
She was clearly panicking, “What exactly was her reaction?
Abraham gently pinched her little face. “Don’t worry, she won’t eat you.”
Abraham’s lips twitched. What does “won’t eat me” mean? Could it be that Mom did not react? That seems unlikely. This is absolutely impossible.
Abraham said, “Let’s go.”
Stella said, “Go where? It’s freezing outside; I don’t feel like going out. And Tessa’s dropping by soon.”
Byer since he arrived in Rivermount, her hours at the studio had become unpredictable. Now that they were about to return to Falvaria, she really wanted to sort things out quickly.
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