Wenham didn't particularly want to go either, but he couldn't bear to disappoint Stella. "Darcie, ask your assistant to reschedule your work. Stella has put a lot of effort into this, so let's take it as an opportunity to relax," he suggested.Darcie clenched her fist and glanced at Stella before forcing a warm smile. "Since you put it that way, there's no reason for me to refuse," she said.Stella inwardly clicked her tongue, thinking, 'Darcie is incredibly patient and composed. Apart from the day we met, the only time she lost her cool was when Leighton exposed Jaylene's fake illness by throwing Noah onto her.'Even then, Darcie regained her composure within minutes. However, it revealed a vulnerability that Stella could exploit.If Darcie didn't have a clumsy daughter like Jaylene dragging her down, she would have been a much more formidable opponent to deal with.The impression Darcie had crafted in front of Wenham was impeccable—gentle, considerate, always siding with his bio
Stella was taken aback. She had always viewed this matter from her and Trevor's perspective, neglecting to consider it from Wenham's viewpoint.She had to acknowledge that Wenham marrying her late mother's best friend had stirred a sense of discomfort within her.However, Stella hadn't been present to witness the events that unfolded back then, nor did she understand the circumstances surrounding Wenham's marriage to Darcie.There were six years between Stella's mom dying and Wenham getting married again. Only Wenham knew how hard those years were.Wenham had been a widower with a kid and a sick mom back then. Darcie helped them a lot. Wenham's mom worried about him being alone after she died, so she wanted him to marry Darcie, who was nice and could help with the household.Stella thought maybe Wenham meant there were things he couldn't change. Perhaps he didn't want to upset his sick mom and couldn't bring himself to leave a woman who had helped him so much, even risking her lif
Aurora was not someone who would do someone's chores for some new clothes. "I'll pass," she snorted and spoke.Stella looked at Keegan. "Did you give her a raise? She sounds cocky."Keegan said, "Nope, her salary is still seventeen thousand.""This is not adding up. She lives in our house, which is a bungalow, and you're not deducting the rent from her salary? Five thousand a month sounds fair, right?"Aurora's eyelid twitched. She sensed that something bad was coming her way.After a brief thought, Keegan said, "It seems too cheap. Not only that her room have an independent bathroom, but the house also has a swimming pool, a sunroom, and a massage chair. Aldor used to rent an apartment near the office for seven thousand a month, and we're talking about a villa here.""She's your sister, after all. It's only right for us to give her a discount."Keegan nodded. "Fine. Let's settle with five thousand then. I'll have the finance department transfer it to your account directly."St
Stella piled the clothes up and looked up, asking, "Do you know who gave me these clothes?"Keegan shook his head, but as he saw Stella's expression, he took a guess. "Jaylene?""Good guess."Keegan frowned. "Even if you weren't pregnant, these clothes wouldn't fit you, right? Why would she give you clothes that don't fit?"'To mess with me, obviously. She's mad because she had to apologize, so she's giving me these,' Stella thought to herself.But she said something else, "To show off that she's skinnier than me. Her legs are like twigs, so slim and straight. They're much prettier than mine, don't you think?""I haven't really noticed."Keegan wasn't about to get caught in Stella's trap. It wasn't because he saw through it, but because he simply hadn't paid attention to Jaylene's legs. To Keegan, there were only two types of women: Stella and everyone else.He never really cared whether other women were conventionally attractive or had a great figure. The only thing about Jayl
Keegan shook his head. "You always carry yourself in a sophisticated manner, and wearing a cheap watch might draw attention. Aldor said this piece suits you perfectly.Even if it's stolen, it won't be easy to sell because of its high value. I can definitely track it before the thief finds a buyer, but I hope that day never comes."Stella felt offended by the phrase "suits you perfectly." Then, she said through clenched teeth, "What do you mean by 'suits me perfectly'? You think I have a flashy attitude?"Keegan paused, hugged her with a smile, and kissed her hair. "Actually, I'm really attracted to your practical approach to money."Stella glanced at him. "Well, your tastes are certainly unique.""That's because I have a lot of money," he whispered.Stella was left speechless, realizing that Keegan had only said that to show off his wealth.Early the next day, Xavier arrived to pick up Stella. Before heading to Caline, they first dropped off Wenham and Darcie at the airport.Xa
Aubrey took the lead in clapping, and others followed suit. However, their applause seemed somewhat insincere as they glanced at Stella with disdain.Stella thought to herself, 'Well, I wouldn't feel great either if someone who knows nothing about perfumery became my general manager.'She had seemingly appeared out of nowhere and assumed such a prominent role in the company. Moreover, she was the reason everyone had to pause their work just to welcome her, despite not having proven herself to the company yet. It was understandable that people weren't pleased with her.With Darcie absent, Aubrey didn't make things any easier for Stella.Stella raised her hand, signaling for everyone to stop clapping.When the applause gradually subsided, she asked, "Aubrey, when Jaylene joined the company, did you also organize such a grand welcome for her?"Aubrey responded with a smile, "Jaylene is just a team leader in the fragrance department, like everyone else who joins us. But you're differ
After the crowd dispersed, Aubrey led Stella upstairs to her office.Reflecting on her situation, Stella considered, 'Darcie is sneakier than Jaylene. Darcie would plant traps in unexpected places but wouldn't openly make things hard for her target. Like this office, it rivals Keegan's office in quality. It's spacious and brightly lit.'"Ms. Hall, this is your office. We've prepared an office for your assistant and the secretarial team next door. If you need anything, they're just a call away," Aubrey explained.Surveying the space, Stella inquired, "And where is Darcie's office?""It's one floor up from here," Aubrey answered.Stella dismissed Aubrey with a wave. "Okay, you may leave now. I'll explore the area myself."After Aubrey had left, Stella turned to Xavier and requested, "Xavier, could you get me a boba tea? Choose any flavor, just ask for less sugar."Xavier nodded and left the office.Once alone, Stella swiftly locked the door and retrieved a bug-detecting device fr
Realizing that her threats had no effect, Stella shifted her strategy, employing charm. She messaged: [Honey, help me out, and I'll do whatever you ask for the rest of this month.]Keegan, eyeing the calendar, responded: [There's only 13 hours left in the month.]Stella quickly bargained. [Then I'll extend it to next month. You can call the shots next month, your word is law.]Having been promised the moon too many times, Keegan did not buy it. He feigned reluctance, typing: [Nah, I don't have the knack for being in charge. I'd rather not take on that responsibility. I think you're doing a fine job and I'm happy to let you take the reins. The hard work of being Mrs. Kane suits you.]Stella was momentarily speechless, realizing that she had overplayed her hand with promises. To make a compelling offer, Stella decided to play her trump card.She suggested: [Honey, do you remember that queen's costume from the drama? There were more gorgeous outfits. If you like, I could call Daniel,