After a tense moment, Martha hunied to speak en stella’s belult “II–honey, is thene something you need from Stella? Her family situation is complicated. Her mother’s in the hospital, and she needs to leave inunediately.”
***It won’t take long.” kereim saud, his yoke calus but eilged with authority, Without waiting for a response, he tumed and walked away.
Mutha burned with tage. Assion as bas back was tumed, she pinched stella sharply at the waist. “Say one word out of line, and you’ll regret it.”
Stella had no choice but to swallow her words and follow him.
Inside the study on the second floor, jetene spoke up, “Aren’t you going to take off your mask”
Stella hartedly replied, “Tus sorry, Mr. Parket. I—I’ve caught a cold too… I’d prefer to keep it on for now
Tecemy watched her intently, his eyes tracing the familiar features of her face. From the auch of her brows to the curve of her eyes, and the small mole just beneath her lower lash line, everything about her telt hauntingly tumiliar.
Over the past few days, he had memorized every detail of the woman from that shadowy night. Stella was undeniably the one.
However, she was pregnant. The hospital report couldn’t have been fald, Jeremy had bumped into Stella by pure chance, with no time for deception. So, wh be seen a prenatal diagnosis?
The question nagged at him, his brow furrowing as his thoughts swirled restlessly.
His piercing gaze seemed to cut through Stella, maling her feel uncomfortable under its weight.
Trying to deflect his suspicion, she spoke in a hoarse voice, “Is there something you need fromme, Mr. Parker?”
had
Jeremy snapped back to reality and handed her a check. “You’ve been at the villa all weekend. Since you’re pregnant, you should be taking better care of yourself. Consider this a bonus.”
Stella glanced at the check–it was a six–figure sum. She didn’t dare reach for it. “This is too much, Mr. Parker”
“Martha caentioned that your mother is seriously ill.
- I’m sure money has been tight for you.” Jeremy seemed unfazed by her hesitation, effortlessly shifting to another subject.
For some reason, Stella hesitated to speak about Alison.
Martha had already used Alison’s illness to torment her, making her feel trapped in an unbearable situation. She didn’t want anyone else to tum Allson’s suffering into a weapon for manipulation.
my shift is over.”
Stella’s expression stiffened, and she said, “Mr. Parker, my:
It was the first time Jeremy had seen this quiet woman display any sign of anger. Every other time he’d encountered her, she’d kept her head down, too afraid to speakup as Martha humiliated her.
That meekness had always stined a bitterness in his chest. As proud as he was, Jeremy couldn’t stand overly submissive women.
If Stella was truly the one he’d shared those nights with, if she was to become the mother of the Parker family heir, she couldn’t be someone who let others walk kall over her.
Fortunately, there was more to her than just her quiet nature. Beneath the surface, he sensed a spark of resistance.
Seeing that fire in her eyes, Jeremy’s lips curled into a faint smile. He placed the check in ber hands. “Take it.” This time, Stella didn’t hesitate. She was pressed for time and saw no reason to linger over something so trivial. Alison’s illness couldn’t afford to wait another day. She wasn’t one to dwell on sentimentality. Why tum down money when it could be put to good use Nat least Jeremy’s check provided her with some leverage to use
Stella tucked the check into her bag, silently grateful for Jeremy’s consideration with that, she humed to the hospital
order to stay the night, she would need to get acaregiver’s pass
By the time she arrived, it was already evening. Most visitors were leaving, and in ord
After obtaining the pass, she went to grab some dinner for Alison. Just as she was about to knock on the door, she overheard voices from inside the room. “Tell me, if you hadn’t been the mistress who destroyed my family years ago, would I have ever met your daughter?“”
“Berior, aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
“Retribution? The one who should fear retribution is you, Alison,” Bernice spered, a satisfied smirk spreading across her aging face.
Meanwhile, Alison Jayin bed, gripped by tear. She had just woken from surgery and was hit with this devastating news. The shock of it nearly caused her to lose consciousness again.
Alison argued, “Back then, I was also a victim. Xavier never told me he was mainted. If I had known, I never would have been with him!
“When I found out he was your husband, I immediately cut all ties with him. By then, I was already pregnant, but I never tooka single penny from the Nord family!” Teats streamed down her face as she delicately gripped the hem of herclothes.
She continued, “I know you hate me. I’m sorry. Stella is my daughter, I never intended for her to leam her real identity, nor did I ever plan to take your daughter’s inheritance from the Nood family. We’ve already fallen so far, so what more do you want from us?
“If an apology is what you seek, tine. Take my life. Just please, don’t torment my daughter!”
Her words were spoken with inch sincerity that anyone listening couldn’t help but be moved. Especially Stella, who had always adored the woman who had raised heronherowWL
Chapter 7 A Wondi for fent
Seeing Alison break down, her heart twisted with pain, as if it were being pierced by a thousand needles. But now, more than sympathy, Stella was left in shock by the words Alison had just uttered.
What was she talking about?
What did pregnancy, being a mistress, and the Nord family have to do with anything? As far as she knew, she didn’t even have a father,
When she was younger, Alison had always told Stella that her father was a pond man- —a hem who had sacrificed his life in an accident to save others. She’d even reassured Stella not to feel inferior and to take pride in their single–parent family.
It was Alison’s incluence that had shaped Stella into the kind–hearted, hardworking, and strong person she was,
But now, she was learning that Alison had been the mistress in someone else’s marriage. So, who was her father? Could it possibly be Martha’s dad?
It felt like the cruelest jolie she’d ever heard. Stella’s lips twisted into a bitter, disbelieving smile.
No, this couldn’t be true. There was no way she and Martha were related by blood. Something just didn’t add imp.
Even if Alison had once had ties to the Nord family, that didn’t automatically mean she’d carried their belt,
Stella couldn’t listen any longer. She stepped forward, ready to push open the door and put an end to this nightmare.
But, just then, Bemico’s sey voice cut through the air like a blade. “What a shame… I can’t allow that. Your daughter arrived at the perfect moment. How could I possibly let her slip away? Tonight, I’m going to make stella carry her sister’s child!”
