Chapter 311 Escaping the Crossfire
Oh, right! Tessa was three years older than me.
“I clashed with my zodiac, not the god of death. Does Heaven really have to be this harsh?” The more Tessa spoke, the more aggrieved she became.
Stella said, “Alright, it’s over now.”
Tessa’s sudden appearance had been completely unexpected.
Stella comforted her for a while before returning to Abraham’s side and asking, “Can we take Tess
with us?”
“Things on Kealis Island are complicated. It’s not safe.” Abraham pointed out.
Stella’s lips twitched slightly.
Not safe… That meant all kinds of unexpected dangers were bound to appear. Tessa had lived her whole life in the peaceful comfort of Rivermount. Taking her along wasn’t an option.
“She’s definitely too scared to go back by herself right now.” Stella had seen it just now. Tessa’s legs. had been shaking, and there was even a clean round hole torn in the fabric of her pants.
There was no need to ask. The bullet must have grazed right past her leg.
Tessa must have been terrified.
Abraham glanced at the time on his wristwatch. Just as he was about to instruct Abel to assign two people to escort Tessa back, Victor set down his wine glass and stood. up. “You go on ahead. I’ll take her back and head straight to Kealis Island afterward.”
All eyes turned sharply to look at Victor.
Eddie blinked. “You? You’re taking her?”
Something about that didn’t sit right…”
Before Eddie could finish the thought, Victor shot him a warning glare, silently telling him to shut up.
Eddie shut his mouth resentfully.
What I meant was, Tessa’s probably even more afraid of Victor…
Back in Seaflats Cove, Tessa had seen Victor kill someone with her own eyes. She had not just been frightened. She had passed out cold. She had barely taken two steps before fainting right there in the snow.
Tacca had been waiting for Stella but when the cow Victor walking toured her her mind
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Chapter 311 Escaping the Crossfire
She instinctively took a step back.
Victor brushed past her. “Let’s go.”
“Go… go where?”
“I’m taking you back.”
“I’m not getting off the plane!” Tessa blurted out without thinking.
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She had just escaped from the airport terminal. Those people were terrifying. She was scared.
Even though no one doted on her, and her mother barely kept in touch, one thing she knew for sure. She was not ready to die.
Victor glanced at her. “If you don’t get off the plane now, those thugs will be swarming over here
in a minute.
Tessa gasped, “What? Then I don’t want to drag Stella into this!”
Not far away, Stella overheard this and felt a surge of emotion..
Victor said coldly, “Then move.”
Seeing how frightened Tessa was, Stella began to reconsider. The airport did seem more dangerous than they had expected.
Maybe it would be better to just take her to Kealis Island after all.
But before she could say anything. Tessa turned to her. “Stella, I’m going now.”
Without waiting for a reply, she followed Victor without hesitation.
She trusted that this man, who was just as ruthless as those criminals, could get her out of the airport safely.
Watching her go, trembling like that, Stella felt a twinge of guilt. “Maybe I should…”
Before she could finish, a hand gripped her wrist, and she stumbled right into Abraham’s arms.
“What are you doing?” Stella shot him an annoyed look.
The man cupped her chin. “Stella, do you like that Tessa so much?”
Stella was speechless.
Eddie was shocked as he overheard the conversation.
What the hell? So girls aren’t allowed now either?
Chapter 311 Escaping the Crossfire
Meanwhile, the situation at the airport remained tense.
48 Pearls
As they passed through a corridor, Tessa could already hear gunfire echoing from a distance. Her entire body tensed.
Her wide eyes were filled with terror.
Victor turned around and saw her staggering, her legs trembling so much she could barely walk straight.
His eyes darkened. “Scared?”
Tessa nodded. “I… I’m terrified.”
No kidding. Sure, she enjoyed watching action movies, but being in one was a whole differe story. Movies were thrilling. But this? This was just life–threatening.
They kept a meter apart, but Tessa stuck to him like glue, not daring to slack off for even a second.
Victor strode forward, and Tessa scrambled to keep up. The man had long legs to begin with. Even running, she struggled to match his pace.
Hearing her panting behind him, Victor slowed down slightly.
Then, just as they rounded a corner, two masked men appeared in front of them. In the split second they met, the men raised their weapons.
Send Gifts
Chapter 312 Possessive Hearts
Victor’s eyes turned sharp.
In one swift motion, he wrapped an arm around Tessa’s waist, and gunfire rang out. The two men crumpled to the ground.
It all happened so fast that Tessa’s pupils contracted. She clung to Victor’s neck for dear life. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist..
Victor carried her back to the corner and pinned her against the cold wall.
Feeling the weight around his waist, he spat two cold words: “Get off me.”
“No! I won’t! I won’t! I want to go home… I want to go home… Tessa shook her head frantically, eyes squeezed shut, refusing to get off him no matter what.
Victor’s chilling presence, along with the dangerous aura radiating off him, wrapped around her like a net.
Tessa prayed to her great–grandmother in her heart.
Please, please let me live through this.
Victor reached out, ready to pry her off him by force. But the moment he did, Tessa collapsed onto the ground like jelly.
Her legs had completely given out.
Tessa kept thinking about Stella. “I…I need Stella. I want to go back to the plane and find Stella.”
All that brave talk earlier about not dragging Stella down is gone. She had broken down completely. The only thought left in her mind was that Stella’s side was the safest place in the world.
Victor looked down at the trembling girl curled up on the floor and rubbed his forehead in
frustration.
He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet. Then he slung her over his waist and walked off without a word.
Dangling like a rag doll, Tessa swayed with each step, feeling dizzy and too afraid to utter a sound. Because right now, the man carrying her was more dangerous than the thugs.
Eddie had not planned to excuse himself until Abel warned him that staying might earn him another beating.
Stella still in Abraham’s arms asked “Why are you angry?”
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Chapter 312 Possessive Hearts
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She looked at his not–so–pleasant expression, completely clueless as to what she had done wrong.
He had not been exactly gentle with her on the way back from Pagena.
Abraham cupped her chin and kissed her. As their lips tangled, his voice remained gentle but with a touch of dominance: “Next time, don’t stare at someone for more than five seconds.
What? Who had I stared at? Tessa?
Stella asked, “Does Tessa count too?”
Abraham answered, “She counts.”
For real?
The plane took off.
Stella, drained from Abraham’s kisses, asked weakly, “Are we really not waiting for Victor?”
She was worried about whether Tessa had made it out of the airport safely.
Who the hell had the guts to stir up trouble here? At the airport, of all places?
Abraham simply carried her into the lounge. “You need to sleep now. Once we get to Kealis Island, there’s no guarantee your schedule will stay normal.”
Sleep again?
Abraham had already taken off his suit jacket. Next came his shirt. Then his pants.
Stella’s mouth twitched, but she did not move.
Abraham turned around and saw her frozen. His lips curled into a mischievous smile that made her heart tighten.
When he reached for her to start undressing her, she quickly grabbed his wrist. “I don’t feel like sleeping anymore.”
She remembered how much he had tormented her on the way back.
Sure, she was tired. But not tired enough to sleep with him…
Stella was starting to realize that her definition of ‘sleep‘ and his were not the same at all.
Abraham’s hand paused on the buttons of her vest. When she did not let go, he looked down at her. Then how about we do something else?”
See? I knew it! We weren’t even close to the same page.
Abraham chuckled lowly “Relay lust sleeping”
Chapter 312 Possessive Hearts
+8 Pearls
Abraham raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”
Stella gave him a timid glance. “Okay, fine. But I’m sleeping alone.”
That wicked grin on Abraham’s lips deepened.
Stella hurried to the bed and dove under the covers, but the next second, he climbed in after her.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Outside, Eddie heard the muffled sounds coming from the lounge and clicked his tongue. “Abraham waited a long time for little Stella to grow up. Makes sense. Totally understandable.”
Abel glanced at him. “You may understand, but keep your mouth shut.”
“I am keeping it shut. I’m just saying, once they’re back in Falvaria, Stella’s probably in for a rough time. Eddie said.
Abel did not understand what Eddie meant.
You mean… Madam Lorette?
Abel looked at Eddie. “Madam Lorette’s already having people prepare the wedding.”
Eddie’s eyes
widened. “What did you say?
Preparing the wedding? Madam Lorette? Wait, seriously? She’s accepted it? Wouldn’t she at least try to break up Abraham and Stella?
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Chapter 313 In the Lion’s Dent
Well, they were both her own flesh and blood, one born to her, one raised by her. Of course, she ended up being biased toward both
After an eight–hour flight, they finally arrived on Kealis Island.
Having been stuck on the plane for so long, Stella’s ears were still buzzing. She desperately needed to get off and breathe some fresh air, but unfortunately, she was nestled in Abraham’s arms and did not have an ounce of strength left.
She grumbled, her lips muttering. “You’re bad. You’re really, really bad.”
She truly did not get it. How could someone who supposedly never had even a single female friend around him know so many tricks?
Abraham was helping her change clothes. “Mm, my bad.”
“I’m exhausted…” Stella was limp as a noodle, letting him fuss with her however he wanted.
He picked out a white T–shirt for her and paired it with a pink A–line skirt.
Stella eyed the pink puffy skirt and muttered, “I’m a grown woman, you know.”
Especially the white T–shirt. It even had a Peter Pan collar. And that woven fisherman hat off to the side… Put it all together, and she looked like a complete child.
Abraham slipped the skirt onto her. ‘Abel had someone prep these based on your style back in Falvaria.
To be fair, this little thing’s taste in clothes had changed quite a bit over the years.
She had worn some fairly mature outfits during their recent visit to Rivermount. Probably forced. into growing up too quickly by the Reed family.
The thought of the Reed family darkened Abraham’s eyes as he scooped her up.
Stella responded with an “Oh.”
Style based on what I wore in Falvaria? All the clothes I had in Falvaria were ones you had picked out for
Jure.
In his heart, she had never grown up. So naturally, everything he had prepared was fit for a little princess.
“Is the UV outside really strong? I need sunscreen,” Stella said.
Abraham renliad “Mms. I’ll de
Chapter 313 in the Lion’s Den
– Pearls
Without waiting, he carried her into the bathroom, washed her face, applied a custom cream, and sprayed on sunscreen. “All set now?
Stella stretched out a pale little arm. “Here too.
Abraham chuckled. “So vain.”
Once they were done, the two stepped out of the lounge together. Eddie was already waiting outside. He took one look at Stella’s outfit, then looked at Abraham. He wore black slacks and a white shirt.
Eddie mocked, “What is this? You don’t look like you’re traveling with your wife. You look like you brought your daughter.
Stella’s face turned cold.
Abel turned his face away, feeling that all the warnings he and Victor had given Eddie were totally wasted.
Eddie’s mouth moved faster than his brain. Realizing what he had just said, he immediately ducked behind Abel for cover.
Abraham took Stella’s hand and led her off the plane. Their pickup crew had already arrived.
Abel stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door for Abraham Stella got in first. followed by Abraham.
Eddie took the front seat.
As the car started, he looked back and asked. ‘Are we heading to the hotel first?”
Abraham looked down. ‘Straight there.
Eddie blinked. “Huh?”
He instinctively glanced at the girl sitting beside Abraham. He was seriously taking the little princess with him? In the past, Abraham would never let Stella be anywhere near those kinds of
scenes. So now…?
Eddie asked, “Are you sure she won’t end up traumatized into muteness?”
Stella was clueless. Where exactly were they going?
She turned to Abraham. “Where are we headed?”
Looking into her starry eyes, Abraham recalled the time she fell seriously ill from fright.
He hesitated.
Before he could answer, Abel’s phone rang. He answered via Bluetooth. “Hello?”
Chapter 313 In the Lion’s Den
Then turned to the back seat. “Sir. Derrick is on Kealis Island too
Stella’s brow twitched. “That black–hearted bastard?”
Eddie nearly choked on his own saliva at her nickname for Derrick.
With Derrick also here, there was no way Abraham would let Stella go to the hotel alone.
Ignoring Eddie, Abraham gently ruffled her silky hair. “Are you scared, Stella?”
This question…
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It instantly brought her back to the first time she witnessed Abraham’s violent side. It had rained heavily that day in Falvaria.
She had seen him shoot someone in the head. His once–gentle eyes filled with bloodlust.
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Chapter 314 The Truth Behind Her Independence
Stella had been so terrified, she ran straight out of the house.
Later..
When Abraham found her huddled between two parked cars, he held out his hand and said softly. “Come out.”
To be honest, she had been truly afraid back then. She was still so young, and that was her first glimpse of such brutality. The brother she always thought was warm and kind had suddenly become terrifying.
She really had been scared.
For a long time afterward. Stella was on her absolute best behavior. Because she was afraid. Abraham would hit her.
So many years had passed….
Now, facing those gentle eyes again, Stella knew all too well what kind of viciousness and bloodthirst could lurk beneath.
She shook her head. “I’m not scared.”
Those three words cleared the hesitation from Abraham’s
He pulled her into his lap and kissed her cheek. “Good girl.”
eyes.
Stella leaned against his chest. “So what’s that black–hearted Derrick doing here? Is it related to your business?”
She honestly did not want Abraham to have anything to do with Derrick.
Their stop in Pagena had been brief, but she could tell Derrick was not nearly as Eddie had claimed.
Abraham said, “It’s unclear for now. Abel is looking into it.”
down–and–ow-
Stella was worried. “Abraham, I’m telling you… Derrick must have a lot of power in Pagena. You saw it last night, didn’t you?”
Abraham nodded, “Yes, I noticed.”
Of course he had. Abraham had suspected that Derrick had been hiding out in Pagena for two years. The events of the past few years… he knew very well what Derrick had done.
Stella said, “Then you need to be extra careful. You should check what kind of connections he has internationally too.”
Chapter 314 The Truth Behind Her Independence
Stella frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Abraham replied, “Little Stella’s finally learning to use her brain?”
Her mouth twitched.
What’s that supposed to mean? Is he calling me dumb?
Stella fought back. “What the hell? I made 980,000 dollars this past year. Don’t tell me I’m brainless.
The moment ‘980,000 dollars‘ came out of her mouth, the car fell into silence.
A weird kind of silence.
Seeing Abraham stay quiet, Stella grew indignant. “What? You seriously don’t believe me?”
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Abraham chuckled. “I believe you.” But his tone was light, too light, like it meant something else entirely.
retom
Even Abel had to clear his throat, and Eddie, who usually could not shut up, was suddenly mute.
Stella felt something was off. “Abraham, are you hiding something from me?”
Abraham shook his head. “Not at all.”
“You are. You totally are!” Stella kept pressing.
Every time she mentioned making 980,000 dollars a year, he never praised her. Not even once….
Up front, Eddie was trying hard to hold back but finally burst into uncontrollable laughter. The sound was strangely contagious.
Stella was clueless. “What? Is 980,000 dollars a year that funny?”
Eddie could not stop laughing.
What the hell?
It was not just loud laughter. It was long and dramatic, complete with a doubled–over belly laugh.
In her eyes, Eddie’s laughter right now felt borderline immoral.
Stella stared coldly at Eddie. “Are you mentally ill?”
Am I not allowed to make money or something?
Eddie said, “Hahaha, I don’t know if I’m crazy, but you’re definitely dumb.”
eslle wanted to dan Eddia
Chapter 314 The Truth Behind Her Independence
aren’t you?”
“Hahaha, and you’re actually asking him? Hahaha!” Eddie continued laughing.
Stella’s expression turned dark. “I’m seriously getting mad now.”
+8 Pearls
Eddie revealed the truth. “Your 980,000 dollars? That was Abraham making sure you wouldn’t starve out there. He pulled strings to make it happen.”
Stella was shocked.
Eddie continued, “You didn’t actually think you were some kind of genius, did you? A hothouse flower thinking she can weather a storm? Hahaha!”
Stella’s brain froze on the spot. She looked up at Abraham. “Abraham, you…?”
He… he actually….
“You always knew where I was?” Stella asked.
Abraham pressed her small face to his chest, saying nothing.
Stella tried to sit up. “Say something.”
She was really getting mad now. She had thought he could not find her. Every time she swiped a card and he showed.
up, she thought…
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Chapter 315 Behind the Curtain
Abraham pressed her back against his chest once again. “There were things I hadn’t finished dealing with.”
“You knew about the Reed family too?” Stella asked.
Otherwise, how could he have let me get away with a few hundred thousand so easily?
Abraham said calmly, “I knew some. Not a lot.”
Not a lot? How much exactly?
Stella tried to lift herself up again, but Abraham gave her no chance and held her down.
Up ahead, Abel finally could not hold it in. “Ms. Dawson, actually, the moment you fought with that adopted daughter from the Reed family, Mr. Abraham already knew where you were.”
What? He found out that early?
She looked up at Abraham, her vision suddenly misted over.
Abel added, “If he hadn’t been worried you’d get suspicious, he would’ve given you a few hundred million for design fees.”
Stella did not know what to say.
At that, Eddie burst into loud laughter. “Yeah, yeah, if I hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve handed. you a few hundred million straight up, scared you’d starve to death out there.”
Listening to that obnoxious laugh and those ridiculous words, Stella was completely stunned…
She looked at Abraham, sniffled, and muttered, “You… you… you…”
Seeing her look so wronged and resentful, Abraham lowered his head and pecked her soft lips. “What? Angry?
Stella wiggled in his arms, clearly expressing her displeasure..
Abraham soothed her, “Be good.”
Stella let out a proud little snort.
She really had believed she made that 980,000 dollars on her own this past year. And now? It was
all a lie.
“Then Sterling Global…? Stella asked softly.
Eddie chimed in, “Don’t think much about it. That’s Abraham’s.
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Chapter 315 Behind the Curtain
At this moment, not only did Abraham want to tear Eddie apart. So did Stella.
“You tell me, she demanded.
Abraham gave a soft “mm,” which was answer enough.
Stella snuggled deeper into his arms, and he looked down at the fluffy little head.
Her fisherman’s hat was crooked from all the burrowing.
That puffed–up little expression made Abraham suddenly feel like he was losing control.
He was… turned on. This little thing really knew how to get under his skin.
Abraham ruffled her hair. “Alright, don’t be mad anymore, hmm?”
Stella said with rare grievance, “I was trying so hard to make a living on my own.”
+8 Pearls
When she started the studio, she had already begun to get sporadic orders. The design fees were not high, but it was enough to support herself.
And yet Sterling Global had given her such exorbitant fees, and she had not suspected a thing.
She even naively believed that the boss admired her talent and paid her so much because he valued her work.
But in the end? Nothing was real.
Abraham said gently, “You’ve done very well. Even knew to earn your own living.”
When he heard she had opened a studio, Abraham had a pretty clear picture of her financial situation in the Reed family. And the moment she suddenly used that black card he gave her, hist heart had gone into chaos.
He thought she was in serious trouble.
Even though there were still many things left unresolved around him at the time, Abraham had dropped everything.
Eddie nodded. “Yeah, our little princess really did well. Even knew how to make money.”
“Don’t talk.”
Shut up.
Both Abraham and Stella spoke in unison.
Eddie rolled his eyes.
Great I’m the bad www.aonin
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Chapter 315 Behind the Curtain
When they passed by a supermarket, Abraham said to Abel, “Go buy some snacks.”
Abel nodded, “Alright.”
Who else could the snacks be for? Of course, they were for Stella.
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She had not eaten enough on the plane, and hours had passed. Her diet was now quite regulated. and she had a serious appetite.
Abel got out of the car go pick out
and looked at Eddie, who remained seated. “Mr. Eddie, want to something you like?”
Eddie shook his head. “I’m not going. What snacks does a grown man need?”
He had laughed so hard earlier that his stomach was still sore.
Abel was speechless.
This kid is hopeless.
So Abel went alone.
Back in Falvaria, Abraham had never let her eat stuff like this. Now, she used it as a staple.
Abraham frowned. “What are you doing?
So she really had tried everything in Rivermount. Broth, weird snacks, all the junk food she had no tasted before, she had gone through it all.
He then finally took a bite. It was way too sweet. Not his thing.
Eddie had no clue what this was about, but Stella did.
Special discipline? What, was Ethan going to get spanked at his age?
As soon as they got out, a wave of heat hit them. Stella quickly tugged her fisherman’s hat down. low. She did not want to get sunburned.
“Abraham, do I have a sun–protection jacket? Stella turned and asked Abraham.
He stumbled and nearly fell into the water. “What? I didn’t even say anything that bad!”
While being led toward the yacht’s boarding ramp by Abraham, she dialed Tessa’s number.
Tessa cried. “Stella sob sob…”
“My first kiss is gone. Sob…”
Seeing she could not get free, she whispered into the phone, “What happened? How did your first kiss gone?”
Stella was completely stummed…
It was Victor? Then this… No… What does that even mean? Wasn’t it supposed to be a dangerous situation? Why would Victor kiss her in such a tense moment? Although he’d always been unpredictable. But even so, in that kind of situation, surely he wouldn’t….
Stella was sweating. “What are you talking about? Of course my brother is a good man. A very good man.”
When he’s good, he’s really good. But now that the thin veil between them had been pierced, when he was bad. he was truly terrible.
Victor might be a terrible man, yes… But Tessa is my best friend! Wasn’t this kind of terrible’a little indiscriminate?
kinds of women around him. But wait a minute… They were all big–chested, curvy, long–legged types, and Tessa didn’t seem to have any of that. So Victor, what the hell?
No… still not right. Hadn’t Marie said before that Victor never took those women seriously? He wasn’t just someone who flirted in every flowerbed. He practically walked over their heads.
And even the ones he looked at had to have killer bodies. But Tessa…
“How could it not be real? Do you know where he was touching me?” Tessa threw in another bomb.
When she saw Victor’s expression, so murderous and so brutal, she did not even dare speak, let alone ask for anything.
Stella asked uncertainly. “So what are you saying now?”
Abraham and the others had already boarded the yacht. Stella moved closer to him and asked, “Abraham, has Victor changed his taste in women?”
What kind of comment was that? Was he implying it was an honor for Tessa? Absolutely not! Still… with how cold Victor always looked, why were there so many women from all over the world who liked him?
Stella did not know what to say. “You…”
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