Chapter 24
Stella was shaking all over. It started small but got worse.
Max saw something was up. Worried, he asked, “Stella, what’s wrong? Stella!”
She looked like she’d seen a ghost, shaking badly.
Max knew he should take Stella to a doctor. But reporters were everywhere. If they found out she had mental issues, it’d be
way worse.
Max decided right then. He put Stella in the car. Watching her calm down, he sighed with relief.
Andrew got in the car, smiling. He thought about how much good press his show would give the company.
“Let’s go,” Andrew said, feeling great. He turned to Stella. “Stella, what do you want? Just say it, and as your dad, I’ll make it happen.”
Stella started shaking again.
Andrew didn’t know what was going on. He looked at Stella anxiously. “Stella, what’s wrong?”
Max sat in the passenger seat. He saw Stella shaking again. He suddenly said, “Could she have some mental illness or epilepsy?”
Andrew panicked even more. ‘How could my daughter have that kind of problem?’ He thought it’d be embarrassing if people found out. He wanted to take Stella to the hospital for another check. But reporters were all over the entrance.
Everyone was talking about the Hayes family and praising their good relationship.
Max warned him, “Dad, we can’t go back. If we do, the press will be all over us. Then Stella’s illness…”
Andrew got it. “Right! We can’t go back. Drive.”
Stella tried to speak but couldn’t. She shook uncontrollably. She was furious, wanting to lash out, but couldn’t do anything.
A phone rang. Andrew didn’t notice at first. After a bit, Max heard it. He turned around and said, “Dad, isn’t your phone ringing?”
Andrew realized his phone was ringing. He took it out and answered, “Hello?”
The call ended abruptly. Max saw Andrew’s angry face in the rearview mirror.
After hanging up, Andrew slapped Stella on the head. She’d been shaking, but it stopped her.
Max was about to blame Andrew. But seeing Stella was okay now, he was surprised. “So it worked.”
Andrew pointed at Stella and shouted, “Stella, you bad luck charm! Why did I give you that name? You’re not here to honor our family; you’re here to ruin it. Tell me, why did you mess with Troy again?”
Max was shocked. “Dad, what’s going on?”
“Go ask her what she did to Troy.” Andrew glared at Stella like she was his foe, not his daughter.
Max quickly turned to Stella. “What did you do this time? You were gone all day. What were you up
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Chapter 24
Stella gave them a cold look. They were supposed to be her family. She was hurt, but they never trusted her. They always
blamed her.
“Saying something!” Max was getting annoyed.
Stella turned her head. “I didn’t do anything.”
Andrew lost his temper right away. “If you didn’t do anything, why did the Carvers call to threaten me? Why do they want you to say sorry online for everyone to see?”
Stella stared at Andrew, shocked.
Max yelled at Stella, “What do you want? Isn’t our family in enough trouble? Stella, you said you weren’t back for revenge. If not that, then why?”
Seeing that they didn’t believe her, Stella didn’t want to talk. Whatever she said would just make them mad. They only saw things their way.
Max turned to Andrew. “Dad, what else did they say?”
Andrew answered, “They also said if Stella doesn’t do it, when the stock market opens tomorrow, they’ll get other companies to push us until we go broke.”
Max’s face turned grim. “We can’t agree to that. We need another idea.”
Having Stella apologize in private was okay, but a public video was a no-no. It definitely would harm the Hayes family’s
name.
When they got home, everyone looked down. Stella, with no expression, went straight upstairs.
Eleanor was too worried to sleep. When she saw Stella come back, she walked over to her.
Andrew looked at Stella. “Stella.” Just saying her name showed he was threatening her.
Eleanor followed Stella back to the room and shut the door.
Max was still worried. “Dad, she won’t blab, right?”
Andrew sneered, “She wouldn’t dare.”
In the room, Eleanor asked Stella what had happened. Stella didn’t say a word but hugged Eleanor tightly.
Eleanor knew Stella well. The quieter Stella got, the more it meant she was hurting inside. Eleanor wondered, They just went out for a bit, and it seemed the two cared about Stella, but why didn’t it look like they had fun?’
“Don’t want to tell me?” Eleanor looked at Stella, who had taken off her wig. Stella’s hair hadn’t grown back yet. The doctor said it would take a while because her injuries were bad. Eleanor really felt sorry for Stella.
“Grandma, just let me hug you like this.” Stella closed her eyes, holding back tears, scared Eleanor couldn’t handle it.
Fiona had hinted to Stella about Eleanor’s health before. Stella knew it wasn’t a lie. Eleanor was really sick and could pass away anytime. Stella didn’t have much love left in this world and didn’t want Eleanor to go.
Eleanor knew Stella would not say more, so she stayed put.
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Chapter 24
It was getting late. Stella knew Eleanor shouldn’t stay up, so she said, “Grandma, go get some sleep.”
“Wanna sleep next to me?”
Stella looked shocked, and then smiled, “Can I?”
Eleanor touched Stella’s rough cheek, which was once smooth. She made up her mind to take care of Stella. “Sure.”
Thinking of something, Stella lowered her head. “But I move around a lot at night and might wake you up.”
