Trevor was astonished by the chaos unfolding at his father's residence, 'It looks like this matter concerning Chris is rather severe.'"By the way, don't let Stella come home for now. Things are a mess, and I'd rather not burden her with this," stated Wenham."Why are you being so protective of Stella? Are you afraid she might have made the wrong decision?" Trevor teased.Wenham snorted, his tone filled with pride, "Stella told me about the situation a few days ago. She asked if it was okay for her to fire Chris. She's much more level-headed than you and knows when to strike."Trevor was stunned. He could not believe Stella had informed their father about the problem without giving him a heads-up. In response to Wenham's smugness, Trevor decided to bring down his spirits a little."Stella won't be coming back tonight. She's not in Rivera right now.""Where did she go?" asked Wenham, taken aback.Trevor's tone was cryptic, "I thought you two were close. Didn't she tell you?"Wen
Wenham pretended not to know about the incident, "I'm not involved in the affairs of the jewelry store. Stella did not tell me anything, so I have no idea what's going on. Please stop crying. I'm sure you don't want your children to witness you like this. I'll inquire about the situation when Stella returns. Trust me. I won't stand by her if she's in the wrong."Chris's wife, usually preoccupied with looking after the children and playing Mah-Jongg, lacked the sharpness of mind to see through Wenham's act. Moreover, Wenham's gentle demeanor and apparent lack of awareness left her uncertain. She cautiously glanced at Darcie.Darcie's expression remained stern as she addressed the situation, "Chris changed our material supplier in secret and padded his own pockets. What more is there to discuss? I've treated him well over the years. I thought he was diligent and reliable. I let him assist Stella, thinking it was a good way for him to earn some extra money. If his salary wasn't enough,
Trevor let out a sigh, "Look, he probably fooled you.""Wh-What do you mean?" Chris's wife thought her lie had been exposed, her voice trembling.Trevor pulled out his phone and scrolled through the photo album before handing it over to her. "When Stella discovered that he embezzled money from the company, she considered he might have his reasons, so she took the trouble to check the flow of funds in his account. Turns out, most of his money went to this woman. He even spent two million dollars to buy her a property that's less than a kilometer away from your place."Chris's wife looked at the photo of the young and attractive lady and instinctively denied the allegation, "This can't be true. You're making things up!"Trevor remained calm, "Almost all of his friends know about this woman. If you don't believe me, you can take her photo and ask around."The woman was still doubtful when her daughter suddenly spoke up, "That's Cassie."Chris's wife was taken aback, "What did you sa
Wenham furrowed his brows. "Freesia wouldn't have fussed with the kids."Darcie's face turned pale, and her heart was shattered.Wenham was about to say something else, but she had already turned around and left without a word.Trevor leaned back on the couch and observed his father's troubled expression. "Shouldn't you go upstairs and comfort her?" he casually remarked.Wenham shot him a glare. "This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you!"Trevor shrugged. "I'm just telling it like it is. Who would've thought that Darcie would be so sensitive?"Wenham was frustrated. He had little experience in comforting women. His late wife was a straightforward person. It was easy to know whether she liked something or not. She would tell him whenever she was angry.Darcie, however, was different. Although she was understanding, her temperament was far less carefree. She would always overthink people's words and come up with many interpretations. She was both perceptive and sensitive.
Stella was momentarily stunned, and she turned to look at Keegan.He kept his gaze lowered, and his voice was soft but clear. "Even though it was you who initiated the idea of getting married on Valentine's Day, I believe that men should still be the ones to propose.""We didn't really know each other well when we first met. Our marriage started hastily, and I wasn't mature or attentive enough at that time. I failed to notice the underlying issues in our marriage back then, leaving you feeling anxious and insecure, which ultimately led to a tragic end.""I used to think that marriage was simply about two people living together. I provided you with respect and everything you wanted. I was faithful to our marriage, thinking we could just grow old together. But, later on, I realized that my feelings for you were more than that. I realized I can't live without you, Stella. I've always hoped that you'd only have your eyes on me and that your heart belongs to me," he added."I-I've been
"You don't have to do that," Keegan leaned in and whispered in Stella's ear. "I gave you that money so that you can have a safety net. I've already hired a lawyer to come up with an agreement. With the money, you will have the right to leave any relationship in any unforeseeable circumstances."Stella was momentarily stunned. She felt a bittersweet pang in her heart. "Why are you saying it as if you would no longer be with me in the future?"Keegan gently nuzzled her cheek. "Grandma was hospitalized again recently. Although it's for the same reason, I notice she's not as energetic as before. Life is unpredictable, Stella. Who knows what'll happen? I want to make sure you're well taken care of, so I can have peace of mind."Stella understood that Keegan was thinking ahead for her sake, but such topics always left her uneasy. "Why do you always bring up things like these when I'm happy?"Keegan noticed that she was upset and changed the subject. "Let's freshen up and go out for a wal
"Stop," Keegan playfully pinched Stella's cheek and said. "If you're being too greedy, I bet none of them will come true."Stella pouted and reluctantly complied. "Alright. I'll just go with the last wish I made." She then turned to Keegan and asked, "Where's my birthday gift?""It's closer than you think it is."Stella immediately grabbed her fork and began to search within the cake.Keegan was confused. "What are you doing?""You said it's close by." Stella did not even look up, and her face was filled with excitement. "What did you hide in the cake? Is it a piece of jewelry or a credit card? It might be a bit cliché, but I like it. Wait, where is it? Why can't I find it? Did you hide it at the very bottom of the cake?"Keegan did not know how to break the news to her. "Your gift this year is me."Stella paused and glared at him. Following that, she put down her fork and waved her hand. "Goodnight."Keegan's mouth twitched when he heard that. He stepped forward, wrapped his a
Caline had specialized laboratories and different rooms for storing various scents. When Stella was there, she got to smell fragrances she had never encountered before. It was a delightful experience for her.Darcie was very gracious and decided to accompany Wenham in giving Stella a comprehensive tour. She held a high position in the company, and everyone treated her with the utmost regard. Amidst the respect, there seemed to be a hint of awe.Stella did not have enough time to observe the situation to be entirely certain, but she realized something strange—the headquarters surprisingly did not have any employees with more than twenty years of service.Wenham mentioned that Caline's predecessor was called Enchanted and was established twenty-eight years ago. At the time, they recruited girls around 18 or 19 years old to work in the store. 'Based on their age, they wouldn't be retiring yet, right?' Moreover, when the classic fragrances were first introduced, Enchanted had already ma