+8 Pearls

Chapter 81 Checkmate, Mr Keene

Whether it was about Rianne or Eddie, truth be told, it should have been Ethan and the Reed family begging Stella all along. But the reality? These people were playing both good cop and bad cop with her.

Ethan lifted his coldeyesand glanced at her. “What do youwant?”

“What do I want?” Stella laughed, “Since you’ve already found out aboutmystudio, I’m sure you also know how much I earn annually?

These people… always trying to solve everything with money. If that was not enough, they even tried to threaten her with it.

She thought back to how smug they were when they cut off her cards. The audacity of it all. Now? Itwasalmost laughable. Ethan’s face darkened by the second.

Stella met his gaze calmly. Imakeseveral hundred thousand a year, Mr. Keene. What can’t I afford myself? And I’m not some gold digger, chasing what’s out of my reach. The money I earn is enough to handle every single mess in my life. So tell me,whatdo you think I need?”

Thatsentence alone was enough to shut down anyone who thought money could solve everything. Including Ethan, who found himself utterly speechless.

He narrowed his eyes. “Bring the two of them into her treatment team immediately, and I’ll sever all ties with her. Is that what

youwant?”

“Youthinkthat’s what I’m after?” Stella raised an eyebrow.

She set her water glass down,gaze cool.

Listen to him. “Is that whatyouwant?. As if he was making some grand sacrifice in this matter. As if if she asked for more, shewouldbe the one being greedy.

She snorted. “Even if I wantedsomething, it sure as hell wouldn’t be you. You’ve got a bad temper, treat me likecrap, and you’re clearly still hung up on someone else. I make several hundred thousand a year. What kind of man do youthinkI can’t get? Why would I settle for you?”

“You…” Ethan felt his brain go blank. A buzzing filled his skull. The veints in his temple pulsed furiously.

Ethan had no memory of how he left her studi

But the moment he stepped out, he called Jason. “I don’t care what it takes. Make her studio go bankrupt today.”

Arrogant. Absolutely insufferable. The way she talked to him and that smug look on her face, if all came from that damn studio. She could earn her own money now? Fine. If her wings had grown, I’ll be the one to break theme

Jason’s voice came through the line, cautious. “Sir, it’s…notthat easy

“What, it’s difficult? Ethan’s tone dropped a few degrees colder.

Jasonhesitated. “Tye been on it all morning. Sent out several notices, but… alltheresponses were the same. No one dares to end their collaboration with her.”

“Dares not?” E

Ethan’s voice was like ice.

The companies collaborating with Stella were refusing to drop her? Could it be that man behind her was far m imagined!

“And Sterling Global, Jason added, “was particularly brazen

as far more powerful than uw be

Chapter 81 Checkmate, Mr Keene

They dared insult the Keene family to my face in Rivermount?

Jason sighed. “I think it’s the handiwork of the man behind Ms. Dawson.”

He did not need to say it. The facts were crystal clear now.

First, the studio. Now, they could not even touch her studio. Who would believe there was not a man backing her?

Ethan closed his eyes, trying to suppress the fire burning inhischest.

Jason waited quietly for further instructions. “Whatdowe do next?”

One thing was clear. Theycouldno longer threaten Stella.

After thecallended, Ethan sat silently in the car, mind inchaos.

+8 Pearls

A year ago, her studio had opened right under his nose. And yet, she had grown to a point where he could no longer control her. She was supposed to be his fiancée. But in the blink of an eye, with just a few words, she shattered everything between ihem.

And the man behind her, who the hell

was he?

By noon. Tessa finally got to have lunch with Stella.

She took one look at her and gasped, “What’s up with your lips? They’re so swollen!”

“Bug bite, Stella replied flatly.

Everyone she met today had asked the same thing. Honestly? It was driving her mad.

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