Chapter 169 You Want to Trade Her?

Could there really be a connection between the two?

Ethan’s expression changed the moment Madeline said it.

Judson turned to him, his irritation barely contained.

Ethan quickly said, “It has nothing to do with Lillian

“Shut the hell up.”

Judson’sglareshut him down before the sentencefinished.

“I’m tellingyou, Lillian has nothing-

“Go. Call his assistant,”Judsonsnapped, not interested in hearing another word.

Now that Madeline had brought it up, he was starting to thinkshewas right–this might reallyhavesomething to dowith

Lillian

That Reed family girl really is something. A full–blown disaster wrapped in a dying body.

Judson looked to the butler. “TellhimI’ll personallysendLillian tohim.”

“Father!”

Ethan instantly panicked.

The butler nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Her

Judson had no interest in further discussion. He cast Ethan a cold, warning look and turned to go upstairs.

Ethan made to follow, but Madeline stopped him. “Ifyouactually want Lillian to survive this, you’d better settle down.”

This was no time for tantrums.

The Keene family was standing at the edge of a cliff. If things weren’t handled right, it’d be the end ofthem.

And Lillian? The familyhadnever planned to accept her in the first place. The fact thatEthanhad been getting so close to her these days–Madeline had long since had enough.

NowthatJudsonwashandling things himself, and if the Luke heir reallywasinvolved, thentherewasno choice but to cut

Shegathered herdogintoherarmsandheadedupstairs.

“Mom” Ethan called after her.

Madeline paused and looked back. “Ethan, that man holds the one thing that could destroy us”

Ethan’s voice trembled. “What if it’s not because of Lillian?”

He was desperate.

Lillian was too weak to go through anything likethis.

Madeline didn’t answer She didn’t even look at him again–just kept walking with her dog

Chapter 169 You Want to Trade Her?

Stella hadn’t eaten much for dinner

By ten–thirty, she was rolling around in bed, too hungry to sleep

Eventually, she snuckdownstairsto find something to eat.

she hadn’t expected to see Abraham in the living room

Abelwas

was there too.

She only heard a single sentence. “Sir, Judson’s butler just called. He said he wants to send Lillian to you,”

She was halfway down thestairswhen she heard it–and immediately lost her footing,slipping two steps down.

If she hadn’t grabbed the railing, she would’ve tumbled all the way.

Abrahamlooked up at the noise and saw her gripping the railing, wide–eyed and shaken.

His gaze darkened. He put down the laptop on his legs and strode toward her.

Without saying a word, he scooped her up. “You’re agrownwoman. How doyoustill trip on stairs?”

Stella pouted.

It’s not my fault—what Abel just said was horrifying.

The Keene family wanted to send Lillian to Abraham? What the hell did that even mean?

Were they trying to bribe him? Trade a woman for influence?

And of all people, they pickedahalf–dead girl like Lillian? Was that supposed to be flattering or aninsult?

Abraham carried her down the stairs.

Noticing her in a thin sleep dress,he grabbed his coat off the couchandtossed it to her.

Stellacaughtit and wrapped herself up.

It still hadabit of Abraham’s warmth.

What are you doing up so late?” Abraham asked.

Stella hesitated

Finished

She wanted to say she was hungry–but didn’t know if he’d let her eat. He wasusuallystrict about late–night food. He always had rules about what to eat and when.

But she was seriously starving tonight.

I’m hungry

She looked pitiful as she

– just two sin all words.

Abraham raised an eyebrow. “You ate plenty at dinner”

Sure, she only had one bowl of rice–but she ate a lot of side dishes. It wasn’t alightmeal

Stella blinked up at him, eyes big and watery.

Chapter 169 You Want to Trade Her?

Abel couldn’t stand to watch.

“Should I tell the kitchen to make something?”

The poor girl looked hall dead from hunger.

Finished

Abraham was strict with her food intake–Abel had always known that. Honestly, from what he remembered, Stella probably never got to eat her fill

Just as the words left Abel’s mouth, Alabam shot him a look.