Chapter 63 What Happens When You Grab a Wolf
Later, after Jonathan’s call and that infuriating conversation with Susan. Lilian was so furious she nearly coughed up blood
Damn, Stella! Il here on earth did she get such nerve?
It was lunchtime
as supposed to
Abraham took Stella to a famous street food spot in Rivermount. As she ate, Stella mumbled in protest. I was have broth with Tess today”
“No more eating that junk. It’s not healthy. You need proper food, Abraham said firmly
Back when she lived with the Dawson family, her diet had always been light and clean. Abraham had every intention of keeping it that way, for the sake of her health.
Stella pouted. “Unhealthy? Don’t you know the saying? “To the people, food is everything. Joy is found in eating. Ever heard of that?
She never got to eat anything like broth when she was with him. But the sun. And out of all those flavors, broth was her favorite.
Abraham shot her a look. “And stomachaches bring joy too?”
Stella shut her mouth immediately.
the past two years, she had tasted everything under
She had to admit leed Coke and hot broth was a divine pairing. Even if it left her curled up in pain afterwards, it was worth it.
This restaurant was renowned and held a five–star rating. The second floor served street food, and the third floor served seafood.
After the meal.
Abraham held Stella’s hand as they exited the restaurant. But just as the elevator doors opened, they bumped into Ethan.
Ethan’s gaze drifted down and landed squarely on their tightly clasped hands.
For a second, his fury nearly boiled over.
These two. This shameless pair! Did they have no shame? Flaunting themselves in public like thist
“Stella Dawson!”
Her name was ground out through clenched teeth..
Stella blinked at the sight of him, internally sighing. “Enemies really do cross paths often.”
What else could it be? She was just out for lunch. How the hell did she run into him?
Abraham exuded a deadly chill. His deep eyes were like a frozen lake, reflecting a cold light that sent shivers down the spine.
Ethan, completely blinded by anger, did not sense how much danger he was walking into. “So it wasn’t enough to break off our engagement for this man? Now you’re out parading around with him like a trophy? You’re not just shaming yourself. You’re dragging the Keene and Reed families down with you!”
Stella raised a brow. “What does your family’s reputation have to do with me?”
Ethan choked. His breathing, already ragged from fury, became completely unsteady after hearing her indifference.
Too much. She’s gone too far.
Chapter 63 What Happens When You Grab a Wolf
+8 Pearls
He was livid. After all, he was the one who got dumped. That bruised ego could not rest until he found out when exactly they had started seeing each other.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Stella’s eyes dropped to the hand clutching Abraham’s arm, and then, a sickening snap of a bone echoed in the elevator
“Agh Ethan screamed in agony
Just watching him made Stella wince
Had he already forgotten the time at Kingston Heights When he see Abraham holding a gun? And he still dared to provoke him?
Abraham did not even let go of Stella’s hand through the whole exchange. With just one hand, he broke Ethan’s arm. Clean
With an expression of pure disdain, he fling Ethan’s hand away and walked out with Stella. “Let’s go.”
Stella spared one last glance at Ethan.
Just moments ago, he was all tue and tury, demanding answers. Now? Curled over in pain, sucking in cold breaths. He did not have the strength to utter a wond
At the entrance, Jason watched in shock as Stella and a man walked our hand–in–hand. His eyes widened. He could hardly
believe it.
Stella glanced his way and tossed out a few words. “Call an ambulance”
Jason’s bow twitched hard.
Ambulance? They got into another fight? So this man is he the one from Kingston Heights? That aura… seemed dangerous..
As soon as they got into the car. Abraham reached out, his hands wrapping firmly around Stella’s waist, and the next second, she was sitting in his lap
Her breath hitched. “Abraham.
In the close confines of the car, her calling sounded far too ambiguous, too suggestive.
His warm breath grazed the side of her neck. “Told his assistant to call the ambulance? Were you worried about him?”
Stella frowned “Of course not…”
Worried? For Ethan? In what universe?
Abraham’s grip on her waist tightened. “Not even a little?”
Stella quickly shook her head. “Not even a little. You have to believe me.
Even as she spoke, she tried to put some distance between then. But it was hard, too close, especially with his breath trailing along her skit…
It was enough to make her heart thump and awaken thoughts she was not ready to name
Send Gifts
Chapter 64 Blacklist, Block, Goodbye
Trapped in the iron cage of the man’s arms. Stella had nowhere to run.
“Abraham this is… she tried to protest.
Abraham looked down at her. “What?”
“I’m not a child anymore, she said again, trying to sound firm.
“So?” His voice cooled a few degrees. That means I’m not allowed to hold you anymore?”
The shift in his tone made her heart jolt painfully,
Abraham drove her straight to the Oriental International Tower.
Before she got out, he reminded her that his driver would pick her up later in the evening. She should eat a proper dinner jonce she got home.
Stella hesitated. “I was going to have
dinner with Tess_”
Then the driver will take you to the restaurant,” he replied.
But she did not want that. She and Tessa were planning to have broth, and from the look on Abraham’s face, that was clearly off–limits.
Fine, Stella muttered, her voice small and clearly disappointed. No broth… What a tragedy.
Abraham glanced at her, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile. Then he signaled Abel to drive off.
Left behind, Stella stood at the entrance, her face still flushed pink
Kimmy had just returned from lunch when she saw her boss standing there with a flushed face, looking dazed. She crept closer to get a better look
Stella stariled, quickly stepping back. “What are you doing?”
Kimmy chuckled, “Boss.. your face is so red. Are you in love or something?
Bark when Stella was engaged to Ethan, everyone at the studio felt sorry for her. It was
was an open
open secret that Ethan had feelings
for Lilian.
Everyone thought Stella deserved better. Marrying Ethan would have been a lifetime of misery. But as it turned out, she had never even planned to marry him.
“Love? Don’t be ridiculous,” Stella snapped, flustered.
That was her brother. The man who raised her…
Kimmy shrugged. “You’re single now. Falling in love isn’t some crime.”
Stella was speechless. She had a point, but Stella did not want to go there.
Ashadow flickered in her eyes, too fast for Kimmy to understand.
The afternoon at the studio was chaos.
Stella barely had time to breathe, juggling multiple calls from major clients. By the time it was close to the end of the workday, her phone started blowing up again. This time with calls that had nothing to do with work
The first one was from Fihan
10:07 AM
Chapter 64 Blacklist, Block, Goodbye
“I’m going to rip his head off” Ethan was fuming.
+8 Pearts
The bruises from their last encounter at Kingston Heights had not even faded, and now his wrist was broken too. If he didn’t get revenge, how could he hold his head up?
Hearing his rage. Stella chuckled coldly. “You’re so capable, why not go find out yourself? Why ask mel
“Stella Dawson!” he exploded.
If Jason had been able to find out who that man
man was, trould I be here barking at her?
“Lunatic.” She hung up on him and, unsurprisingly, added his number to her blacklist.
Not long after, Susan called, “What’s going on with that studio of yours? How much have you been hiding from me?!”
“Hiding Stella sneered “Why would I bother hiding anything from you?”
She never hid it because. frankly, she owed the Reed family no explanations
Susan was livid. “What do you mean ‘why‘? I’m your mother!“.
“Oh, please. Isn’t it enough that you’ve got those two wastes, Jonathan and Lilian, calling you Mom? Don’t drag me into it.” Stella scoffed.
The implication was clear. Anyone who called her “Mom was doomed to become useless.
Susan had always known this daughter of hers had a sharp tongue, but today’s venom nearly made her cough up blood.
Especially over the past few days, every conversation with Stella made it painfully obvious she was cutting ties for good.
It all made sense now. So this was why Stella had become so defiant. She must have made a fortune last year.
Fuming, Susan almost shouted, “I’m coming to see you. Right now!”
Stelia, in no doubt, rejected, “Shouldn’t you be busy looking after your sickly darling. Lilian? I’ve got no time for you.”
She was too busy making money y to waste time on someone like Susan.
Stella hung up again.
She was starting to regret not having two separate phones. One for work, one personal. If she had, she would not have to worry about picking up unfamiliar numbers, just in case they were clients.
But of course, up until now, none of the Reed family or Ethan ever called her first. And now!
They were calling her more in a few days than they had in the past year combined.
It was exhausting!
Chapter 65 Sleeping Her Way Up?
On the other end of the line, Susan furiously shoved the phone back into the nurse’s hand.
At this rate, she was convinced she would end up blacklisting every nurse’s number in the hospital.
“Find out where she is right now,” she snapped, furning-
Jonathan answered stiffly. “She’s on the 26th floor of Tower One, Oriental Grand Tower.”
That, at least, he had managed to confirm
But his expression was not any better. His assistant had just called with troubling news. The companies they tried to sway into cutting ties with Stella had all rejected the idea.
Almost like they were afraid of something. And when asked for more details, the other side would not say anything.
Then there was the most outrageous one of them all. The Sterling Global, a company that had only entered Rivermount two years ago. When his assistant called, they did not just refuse politely.
They exploded. “What the hell? We collaborate with whoever we want. Who the hell are you to tell us
otherwise
That kind of arrogance was unheard of for a newcomer company. Even when the assistant dropped the name of the Keene family, they scoffed and cursed them too.
That unyielding, domineering tone. It was exactly like Stella’s.
When Susan heard this, she could no longer sit still. “So none of them are willing to cut ties with her?”
Jonathan’s face darkened further.
And then, Lilian, who had been silent ever since waking up, suddenly spoke. “How exactly did she get those deals?”
The moment the question left her lips. Susan and Jonathan locked eyes. Both sensing the same storm brewing in the distance.
Of course. It was impossible for them not to think the worst.
That girl… Surely she hadn’t done something shameful to earn all that, had she? After all, she had grown up in the countryside. No connections, no background. What real skills could she possibly have to earn over 980-000 dollars in just one year? No, there had to be a price she had paid.
Susan’s expression twisted in fury. “I’m going to see her. Now”
Steam practically billowed from her head.
Meanwhile, Stella was still dealing with calls. Luckily, none of them were from Susan or Ethan. Otherwise, she would really start considering tossing her phone into the sea.
Right after she hung up, Tessa called. “Let’s have broth tonight!”
Stella sighed, “Can’t.”
“Oh? You’re already being watched?” Tessa immediately picked up on it. Truly, someone who cared about her would always
know.
w days in
Barely a and even her meals were being controlled.
Somehow, being raised by someone who was not blood–related still beat having what they called a ‘real‘ family. At least Abraham, the one who raised her, truly cared.
Chapter 65 Sleeping Her Way Up?
Sadly, Stella answered, “Then I’ll just go home and eat.”
“Fine. The day you escape your prison warden, we’re going straight for broth.”
“Mm.” Stella agreed softly, though with Abraham still in town, that broth fantasy might as well be a dream
They chatted a bit more before hanging up
Soon, it was nearly time to clock out. Abraham called, his voice low, “Are you done for the day?
Stella sounded sulky. “Yeah. Just have the driver take me back to Seaflats Cove.”
Abraham was surprised at her change of plan. “Not meeting your friend?”
“We wanted broth. Is that okay?” Stella’s mood was down
“No” His refusal was instant and absolute.
Stella hung up with a pout, then began shoving things into her bag.
It was an expensive piece, after all. Even a tiny scratch would hurt its value.
Kimmy replied helplessly. “This material’s really delicate. Why don’t you just use a canvas tote next time? You can toss that around all you want.”
“Alright,” Stella said seriously. “Buy one for me. I’ll pay you back.
Kimmy gave a small nod. “Understood.”
Once Kimmy had left, the room settled into a stillness that pressed against Stella’s nerves. She sat in silence, thoughts swirling. If she did not go hard this time, she could forget about ever having peace in this office again..
Soon, Susan stepped in. her face etched with fury, just as Kimmy had predicted.
Stella waved a hand, dismissing her. The door clicked shut behind her assistant.
“You walk in here accusing me without facts, without proof? Who told you that?” she asked, her voice steady but frosted over with disdain.
“You really need proof?” Susan snapped. “A girl like you making 980,000 dolars in one year? What? Do you expect me to believe you charmed all those companies just with your talent: Please.” Her words cut deep, not in truth but in presumption, as if conviction was reason enough.
Two months spent in a hospital bed. The remaining one spent realizing what a twisted game the Reed family was playing and walking away.
Her words struck Susan like a blow to the chest
Stella took back her phone with one smooth motion. “Curting ties with you people. Isn’t that perfectly reasonable?”
Susan gaped. Every sentence felt like a knife, carving a chasm between them. I nearly died giving birth to you? I hemorrhaged! I gave you life! And you repay me like this?”
That crash… She really had almost died. A gaping wound in her head, blood pouring endlessly. She had slipped into unconsciousness more than once.
If it had not been for emergency surgery, she would not be here now,
Stella said. “My life was saved by doctors. You? At most, a month in the hospital? I stayed two. Double it.”
When they found Stella and brought her home, she had promised Lilian nothing would change. That she would always bet her daughter.
And Stella, well, it would be a lie to say that did not hurt.
“You won’t cut this, you won’t cut that. You sure are greedy,” she said with a cold smile.
Susan raised her voice again. “If you dare post that article, I’ll go public too. I’ll say you’re lying. Do you want that kind of
It was almost funny now. They really hadn’t learned a thing
“You kept the maid, who swapped me with her daughter at birth, and you protected her. Now you’re defending the thief and punishing your real daughter?” Stella looked at her. “Madam Susan, are you out of your mind?”
What kind of mother wouldn’t resent the person who stole their child? Only in the Reed family would such twisted logic
exist.
“She paid with her life for what she did. But Lilian, she has her own debts. She didn’t do it! Why can’t you believe it was just an accident?” Susan felt like she was going crazy.
She stood, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door.
Susan stopped her “Where are you going? We’re not done!”
“What more is there to say?” Stella shot–back. “What right do you have to demand explanations?”
If they wanted a clean break, I’ll give it to them.
She dialed Abel’s number. “Take care of the matter with the Reed family,” she said simply. “Our so–called connection.”
Sudin dared at her in dishelief “Who did you call? What are
e vou taking care of? Tell melt
Susan’s mind blanked with rage. Her face burned with shame. And not long after, her fury would come back to haunt her.
Leaving the building, still on her way to the hospital, Susan’s phone rang.
It was Patrick. You went to see Stella again?”
“Yes,” she snapped. Tm telling you, she’s not as simple as she looks. Last year, she made 980,000 dollars! No wonder she doesn’t care that I cut off her funds. She doesn’t need them! She’s calculative: Cold. Too dangerous.”
All he knew was… because of Stella, their side was getting crushed.
She had just worked herself into a fury over Stella, and now this man had the nerve to ask her to give Stella whatever she wanted Was that a joke?
Patrick’s voice was cold. “Half an hour ago. I got a call. The message was simple. If we don’t give her what she wants, we can forget about running the company.”
This was Rivermount. Who could possibly threaten us like that? And more importantly, who made the call! Half an hour ago didn’t I just leave Stella’s place?
Two major projects, gone in half an hour. Whoever was behind it was clearly no ordinary person.
She had assumed Stella’s last phone call had just been a bluff. But now? Clearly not
young girl pulling in 980,000 dollars in a year. There had to be someone powerful backing her. But her methods…..
Thinking about it made Susan’s heart ache. That was her daughter. How could she bear it!
Patrick’s breath hitched. “She really said that?*
At this point, Susan wished Stella had asked for something material. Jewelry, a house, money. She would have agreed in a heartbeat.
As long as Rianne and Eddie were still willing to help treat Lilian, she could agree to anything
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