'How could it be negative?'He stared at the report for a while before he picked up his phone and called someone. Then, that person picked up."Yvette, is the result out yet?"A woman's voice could be heard on the phone. "I was just done with a meeting. I'll go and ask about it for you. It's probably ready by now."The lady paused and asked, "Trevor, do you have an illegitimate child?"Trevor frowned. "Cut it out. Go on and send it to me if it's ready.""Okay."After hanging up, Yvette sent him the test results about ten minutes later. Trevor looked at it and brought his brows even closer together. Both tests used the same sample, yet the two hospitals' results differed. He picked his phone up again. "Yvette, is the result accurate?""Of course, it is. We're specialized in doing this. We should look for another job if something goes wrong with this."Trevor personally gave her the sample to do the test. Nobody else other than the two of them knew about it. It just could not go
The officer said, "The system can't be wrong. It shows you have a mansion in Midvale Mountain and a four thousand square feet property in Clouditude International. Therefore, following the relevant legislation, you cannot purchase another house."Stella was confused.Midvale Mountain was a very popular residential area in Rivera with many mansions. Royalpark Villa, where she used to live with Keegan, was located at Midvale Mountain. Stella had no idea if that officer was referring to that.'What's happening? Also, Clouditude International? What's that about? I have no idea at all.'Stella said in a low voice, "Could you check when my name was registered under these two properties?"The officer did something on the computer and said, "It was March last year for the mansion in Midvale Mountain and September last year for the unit in Clouditude International."The look on the seller's face turned angry after hearing what the officer said."Why would you waste my time if you're not
Ever since Stella discovered the dates her name was registered for those two properties, she felt uneasy. They were not transferred to her by Keegan after their divorce. Instead, it was transferred to her before their marriage fell apart.The discovery left Stella with an indescribable feeling. Unlike expensive bags or beautiful clothes, a house provides security. She used to browse forums and often came across posts similar to topics like these:[I've been married for five years and have two kids, but my husband won't add my name to our property title. I'm starting to wonder if I should divorce him.][My fiancé paid for the down payment on our new house, but he wants me to cover the renovation costs and split the mortgage with him. When I asked him to add my name to the property title, he said I shouldn't be so materialistic. Should I still go ahead with the marriage?][I've been paying off the mortgage for our house for three years and just recently found out that the property ti
"Those houses are yours. The Housing Authority office close at five-thirty, so we should be able to make it. Hurry up and come over," said Stella.Keegan felt that Stella did not want to dwell on when he transferred the properties to her name; she was more concerned with cutting ties with him. He clenched his fists and said coldly, "I'm busy."Stella furrowed her brows and asked, "Then when are you free? I'm in a hurry to buy a house.""If you hurry, go— Mhm..." Before Keegan could finish speaking, Vermont, who had just run over, covered his mouth and said, "Hey Stella, it's Vermont. Keegan and I are outside. We're about to kick off a new project, and Keegan's been joining me for on-site surveys lately. Unfortunately, I don't think he'd have much free time."Keegan glared at Vermont, wanting to pry his hand off. Pressing the phone tight, Vermont whispered to Keegan, "If you still want Stella as your wife, you better watch what comes out of your mouth."Keegan's hand stopped, and h
Keegan frowned, "You sure know how to make words from a scumbag sound refreshing, huh?"The corners of Vermont's eyes twitched. "Since when am I a scumbag? I am just gaining more experience for my future wife. The only way to know how girls are and what they like is to be with different types of girls, okay? I'm telling you, you're inexperienced. I mean, so many girls were chasing you back then. You should at least date two of them. That way, you won't be so helpless when facing Stella."Keegan did not like this theory at all. "You talk about experience, but I don't see any girls you've dated here."Those words stabbed through Vermont's heart. Every time he was in a relationship, it never progressed further. Whether it was him or the girls he's been with, most of their love and care were materialistic.Stella was also one of them. She never went easy on spending Keegan's money, but she was kind to Keegan.Keegan used to flaunt that Stella made his lunch boxes, and Vermont always s
The students in Vermont's class all came from upper-class families, and each was richer than the other. For example, Vermont's parents ran a seafood business and supplied half of the hotels in Rivera.Some children at school whose families owned the hotels said he was a stinky fishmonger. They deliberately formed cliques to isolate him. But a few of them never joined in; one was Keegan, and the other was Marshall. The two were so close that it seemed like they wore the same pair of pants.At first, Vermont did not want to associate with the two guys after being bullied by those so-called aristocrats. 'What a bunch of assholes. You're all just nepotism babies,' Vermont thought.Once, a school bully from the next class maliciously shoved Keegan to the ground while they were on the basketball court. He broke his leg, and Marshall started to fight the kid on the spot.The bully was tall and robust. Marshall had not hit puberty then, so he looked relatively thin and frail. He did not se
The accident caused two deaths and one injury, yet the victims only received one million dollars as compensation. It was strange that they did not press charges. Now with the Jewell family driver on the line, the passengers' side of the story was no longer highly important. As long as Detective Karl could get something out of the driver, he may be able to follow the clues and find the truth. Stella was satisfied with Karl's progress and continued to transfer the second payment to him.When Stella was done with work in the afternoon, Cordelia called. "Stella, Baldwin made a heap of dried mangoes recently. I couldn't finish them, so I delivered some to you. Have you tasted them?"Stella remembered the WhatsApp message from Felicity in the morning, saying that she had received a large box of dried mangoes. 'Oh... Cordelia sent them,' she thought. Her eyes softened as she said in a low voice, "I'm still outside right now, but I'm sure they taste great since Baldwin made them.""That's t
'Of course not! I'm going to fight! She must be delusional to think that I would let her take away the company I worked so hard to build,' thought Albert.Hylda picked the phone up and put it on the table. "Don't get mad, Albert. It's not good for your health."Take a look at this subpoena," Albert said while tossing her the document. "I was thinking about why she was so quiet after the divorce. This is why! She was planning this all along! Does she think she could win the case with the little evidence she has in her hands?"Hylda said, "Albert, the lawsuit is not the most important thing right now. Walter just called me.""Who?" Albert was not paying much attention at that moment."Our previous driver," Hylda said in a low voice.Albert frowned. "Why did he call?""Someone went to his town and looked for him."Albert's face changed slightly. "Do you know who?""No. But think about it, who else would look into Walter?"Albert's expression turned serious. "You mean... Stella?"
Keegan moved from initial resistance to reluctantly listening, and eventually to questioning."Why do these novels portray men as so stupid and brainless, yelling at the female lead as if they have intermittent explosive disorder?""Is the male lead sick? Forcing the female lead to donate a kidney, is he out of his mind?""How many years would they get for calling the police in their world?""Why is he so dumb? The supporting actress claims the female lead pushed her into the water and he believes it? Is checking surveillance footage illegal?""Stella, are you making fun of me?""I can't learn this. It all feels so neurotic. What does the female lead see in him?"Stella retorted, "Who cares if it's neurotic? Just mimic that stupidity, that's how these innocent women like men who protect them like that."Keegan was very reluctant, but his brain was more compliant than his body. Without needing to study deliberately, everything he heard stuck in his mind.So when Keegan mentione
Keegan's expression darkened with anger. "You're being completely unreasonable!"Stella crossed her arms, wearing an expression that seemed challenging. "You let her take it. Let's see if I dare."Jaylene hadn't actually wanted those junk items in the first place; she was deliberately trying to stir up discord between them. Now that her goal was achieved, she put on a sympathetic look."Keegan, I don't want it anymore. Don't be angry. Your health is more important. Didn't the doctor say to keep your emotions stable?"Turning her head, she reproached Stella. "Stella, are you here to help Keegan recover his memory or just to provoke him?""Shut up, you brat! Do you even have a say here?"Acting under the guise of a drama, playing the role of someone lacking in manners, was incredibly satisfying.She’d wanted to curse this brat for a long time!Jaylene's lips twitched, but she held back, tearfully saying, "Stella, if you don't like me, I'll leave. There's no need to humiliate me l
Jaylene understood the situation perfectly. Even though she didn't particularly like these cold, mechanical devices, she put on a pretense of surprise, saying, "Really, Keegan?"Keegan nodded. "Choose one you like.""Keegan!" Before Stella could finish her sentence, she couldn't hold back her sharp voice, "With your pile of junk that I can't even touch normally, she takes a look and now you want to give it to her? What's the meaning of this?!"Keegan frowned, apparently not comprehending her current anger at all. "Jaylene gave me a gift, and I'm giving her one in return. What's the problem?""What problem?" Stella's eyes started to redden. "I can't touch them, so why should she be able to? Have you forgotten, or do you have inappropriate feelings for her?"Keegan's expression darkened. "This makes no sense!"Jaylene secretly delighted in this, hypocritically trying to calm things down, "Forget it, Keegan. Since Stella minds so much, I don't want it anymore. You've strained your r
The standoff lasted for over twenty minutes before Keegan grabbed a book and knocked the beetle off Jaylene's neck. The beetle fluttered twice and suddenly flew up, landing on Jaylene's face.Jaylene screamed, rolled her eyes, and fainted.As she collapsed, the bug flew off again."Jaylene?"Keegan called out to her.He looked up at Stella and said, "You go start the car, I'll carry her to the hospital."As he spoke, he signaled to Stella.She understood and coldly grunted, "So troublesome."Walking over to Jaylene, she squatted down beside her and slapped her face twice.Jaylene immediately opened her eyes and reached out to push her away. "What are you doing!"Stella was prepared and had already moved back before she could be pushed.She shook her tingling hand and innocently said, "Jaylene, you fainted because of the bug. I was just saving you. Don't believe me? Ask Keegan."Jaylene nearly ground her teeth. Did she think she hadn't heard? She was intentionally exposing h
Her fingertips trembled with a mix of horror and excitement. Just as the teapot was about to slip from her grasp, Keegan suddenly said, "Jaylene, don't move."Jaylene froze, instinctively thinking Keegan had regained his memory. She had barely twitched when Keegan loudly stopped her again, "Don't move, absolutely don't move."Jaylene wanted to say something, but then felt an itching sensation on her neck, as if something was crawling slowly. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.By now, Stella had turned around and saw Jaylene standing stiffly with the teapot in hand. Her eyes quickly assessed the situation and then she noticed the beetle crawling on Jaylene's neck.It was an unknown species, not overly tentacled but as long as a little finger, its mouthparts slightly twitching, genuinely alarming in appearance.Stella murmured, "It's so big."Jaylene couldn't see what was on her neck, unsure if it would bite or if it was venomous. She stood frozen in place, her voice trembling,
Seeing him, Stella even lowered her eyes and softly praised, "Mr. Kane, you acted very well."Keegan glared at her, his voice low and intense. "If you keep watching like this, Coco will cut ties with me tomorrow."Stella replied confidently, "No, she won't. After accepting the red envelope, she can tolerate you a little longer."Keegan asked sharply, "Did you teach her to ask for red envelopes like this?""Don't falsely accuse me; I didn't teach her.""You may not have taught her directly, but you set an example. Have you forgotten how you always make me buy things for you?"Stella was speechless. Whenever she wanted Keegan to buy her something, she would often say, "Gifts are only surprises when given voluntarily. If reminded, it shows they don’t like me that much."It had to be said, Coco had learned the essence of it.Stella also felt a bit awkward, thinking that in the future, she needed to avoid such flirtatious conversations between spouses in front of the children. They
Could she figure all this out?Keegan frowned, casting a disappointed look at Coco. "Are you not listening to me now?"Coco raised her gaze defiantly and stated, "Aunt Stella taught me that if I don't want something someone gives me, I can say no. I don't want this hairpin.""Didn't she teach you that even if you don't like something, you should still say thank you?"Coco fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said to Jaylene, "Thank you, Aunt Jaylene, but I don't want it."Jaylene hesitated with her hand extended, unsure whether to retract it or leave it there, managing a strained smile. "Then what do you like? Next time, I will get you something you do like."Coco asked, "Do you want me to do something for you?"Jaylene was taken aback. "What?"Coco replied seriously, "Aunt Stella says offering help without reason is either deceitful or thieving. Since you don't like me, why else would you give me something? You want me to do something for you, right?"Jaylene forced a s
Leighton's incident did indeed revive their suspicions.Jaylene was gullible, but Darcie might see through this scheme. "Keegan, why didn't you go to work today?" Jaylene chose to ask directly at first.Keegan remained composed. "I've been busy with the press conference lately and haven't had much rest. Now that things have slowed down, I thought I'd take a break and relax."Jaylene spoke gently, "You should rest well. Since you came back, you've been busy, and you've been postponing Dr. Stone's follow-up appointments. Keegan, I'm really worried about your health. Since you're resting these days, I'll arrange for Dr. Stone to give you another check-up. Stella has been living here to assist your recovery for so long. We need the doctor to give a clear assessment of whether there's been any improvement. Otherwise, it's not good for Stella's reputation to stay here so long, unmarried and under one roof."Keegan nodded. "Okay, please arrange it. Thank you."His response was decisive,
Stella had just descended the stairs when she heard that remark, causing her eyelids to twitch as she thought to herself, “Damn it! He really knows how to come up with excuses!”Upon hearing this, Jaylene's eyes briefly flashed with disdain, but she ultimately accepted the shoe covers Keegan handed her. As Keegan led Jaylene into the house, her eyes continued to scrutinize every corner.There were a couple of pillows on the sofa, couple mugs on the table, wedding photos of Keegan and Stella on the walls, and even headbands and hair ties scattered on the table. The house exuded an unmistakable feminine touch.Jaylene's expression darkened, but when Keegan turned to ask if she preferred tea or coffee, she adopted a gentle, harmless demeanor. "Tea would be perfect."Keegan invited her to take a seat and called for Maria to prepare tea. Jaylene spoke softly, "Keegan, I heard from Stella that you brew Dragon Well tea better than anyone else. Is there a special technique?"Stella paused