That rainy night, Stella returned to the mansion in complete disarray
The wound on her cheek had formed a layer of dried blood, sticking to her hair, the pain excruciating. Blood trickled down her white neck, creating a gruesome sight.
She slowly entered the house, checking the time. Evan should have returned from kindergarten by now.
She called out loudly: “Evan! Evan!”
However, no one answered.
Stella’s heart lurched as she searched room by room.
The strong autumn wind made the curtains billow ominously.
Unable to find Evan, she finally entered Alexander’s study
He generally forbade her from entering, but concern for her child overrode his rules
However, the study contained no child.
By the floor to ceiling window, Alexander reclined on a soft couch, a book covering his face.
Hearing movement at the door, he removed the book without looking up: “Get out.”
Stella felt a wave of panic. She approached him step by step, kneeling beside him, asking in a choked voice: “Alexander, where’s Evan? Do you know where he’s gone?“]
Alexander felt the weight on his knee and finally looked up.
He hadn’t yet noticed her facial injury, merely saying c coldly: “He can’t stay here anymore. I’ve sent him to France to live with my aunt.”
By now, Alexander deeply regretted ever agreeing to let Stella bring the child back
If he had refused from the beginning, only occasionally visiting the child abroad, perhaps everything that followed would never have happened.]
Stella‘ throat released a strangled sob: “Alexander, I’m his mother. Why take my child away?”
Just then. Alexander finally noticed her facial wound. He lifted her chin toward the light from the window: “What happened to your face?”
Stella clutched his hand, tears instantly streaming down.
“It was Renee,” she spoke pitifully, hoping to soften him once more: “Alexander, I don’t object to you marrying someone of your social standing, but why her?
“I just invited her for coffee to apologize for that night, but she had her bodyguards pin me down and cut my face.”
She made herself sound utterly pathetic, placing herself in the humblest position
However, Alexander remained completely unmoved
After a long moment, he scoffed: “Stella, these tricks won’t work on me anymore.“]]
Stella stared at him in disbelief: “You think I’m lying? Using this facial wound to deceive you?”
Alexander neither confined nor denied at his cold gaze told Stella everything
Opce, a single tear from her could make him ache with sympathy, desperate to compensate her in any way possible
Yet now, she stood before him covered in blood, unable to evoke even a shred of compassion
Everything Bailey had once experienced at her hands, she now felt herself
Stella closed her eyes briefly. She lowered her head, suppressing all her resentment.
After a moment, she spoke softly “Alexander, I understand you have a new love interest now.”
“Like before, I won’t interfere this time.” She tugged gently at his sleeve, her voice quiet. “I’m willing to take Evan far away–France, Europe, anywhere, with just a place to live and some living expenses, I’ll raise him well and never disturb your life again.”
Her tone was gentle, without a trace of hostility. She decided to yield, just as Alexander had once demanded when he asked her to leave[]
However, this time, she had misjudged.
“Evan will be raised by my aunt from now on. You can’t visit him.” His voice was ice–cold. “I’ll give you money, then send you abroad.”
As he spoke. Stella instantly clenched her fists. She looked at Alexander in disbelief. “What do you mean? You want to separate me from Evan?”
Alexander brushed her hand away dismissively
al wretch.“[]
He looked at her as if she were excess garbage: “I can’t let you corrupt my son. With you nearby, you’d only raise him to be an ungrateful Stella met his gaze, and in that instant, countless memories f flashed through her mind like a film reel.]
Yes, Alexander himself had been an illegitimate child.]]
His mother had instilled in him seeds of revenge, which led him to harm Mrs, Winters and her son when he came of age
And now, the tables had turned.
