Chapter 171
Hearing Stella speak, Jeremy felt utterly frustrated, and the worst part was he couldn’t even get mad about it.
Not that he had the gall to.
Sure enough, as soon as Ronald heard Stella’s words on the phone, his tone went ice cold.
“Tell him to get lost!”
Jeremy was like, “…”
A twitch formed at the corner of Stella’s mouth as she instinctively looked towards Jeremy.
Jeremy felt his head pounding with frustration. What was Ronald implying here? It was as if he thought Jeremy had done something terrible to Stella.
Instinctively moving forward, Jeremy heard Stella explaining to Ronald on the phone.
“He said he got the delivery wrong and wanted to take it back.”
She finally explained.
That should do it, Jeremy thought.
A mistake was made yesterday, and he immediately sent a message saying there would be no collaboration. So, what now?
Just as Jeremy was waiting for Ronald’s reply, Stella, unfortunately, added, “He brought a bracelet to exchange for it.”
Stella had opened the box and saw the bracelet inside, narrating everything clearly.
The moment Jeremy heard her mention the bracelet, he knew this was bad news.
And sure enough, the next moment, Ronald’s voice came through the phone again, “Tell him to get lost right now.”
With that, Ronald hung up.
Never before had Jeremy doubted his life choices as much as he did at that moment.
After Ronald hung up, Stella looked at Jeremy, “You see, nice words just can’t be said.”
So, she suggested giving up on using her as a connection.
Did she really speak up for him? Not at all!
After taking a couple of deep breaths to subdue his inner storm, Jeremy managed to grunt out a “Thanks” with great reluctance.
Jeremy couldn’t stay in the office a moment longer. He felt Stella was literally a life threat.
Jeremy stumbled at the door, gritting his teeth before spitting out, “No need!”
As he was about to leave, Stella caught up and grabbed his sleeve, “You should take this back,” referring to the bracelet Jeremy had just given back to her.
“I can’t accept it,” Stella insisted.
From a young age, Ronald had taught her never to accept any gifts from men, not even a needle.
The incident with the ring yesterday was nearly a disaster; if she dared accept the bracelet, it would be indefensible.
She definitely didn’t dare to dance in Ronald’s off-limits zone. And when she mentioned the bracelet earlier, Ronald had told Jeremy to get lost!
Jeremy looked at Stella and then thought back to what Ronald had said on the phone.
“Forget it,” he thought. He took the box back, “What about Sirena’s issue?”
“Just drop it,” Stella said.
Though she said to drop it, Jeremy felt something was off with her tone at that moment.
From what he knew of Stella, she wasn’t someone to mess with. Her words seemed suspiciously non-committal.
But he was too annoyed to care at this point. After the phone call Stella had with Ronald, things had gotten even more complicated. He needed to find a way to explain himself to Ronald and had no time to deal with Stella.
Chapter 172
Jeremy had left.
Tabitha walked in, “Boss, did Mr. Patel lose something? Looks like he’s trying to pull a fast one on you, doesn’t it?”
It seemed to Tabitha that everyone was out to scam Stella these days.
Stella retorted, “You think everyone’s like Cloudia, huh?”
Tabitha was silent. She was just worried about her boss and that was all.
Their studio had been open for almost two years, and they had never seen so many visitors before.
Cloudia was carried out just yesterday, and today, Jeremy claimed he lost something here. This made Tabitha wonder if everyone was out to get her boss.
Stella clarified, “He actually lost a ring, and by the looks of it, it’s worth close to one million.”
Tabitha choked.
Really?
Wasn’t this just a scam targeting their boss?
Someone lost something worth millions in her boss’s office, and if that was not a scam, Tabitha wouldn’t believe it.
“I bet he’s trying to scam you, boss. Don’t think of people too innocently.”
Stella countered, “And you shouldn’t think so poorly of people, or you might end up without a boyfriend.”
Tabitha was speechless. Was her concern really misplaced?
Who visited someone and “accidentally” lost something worth millions? That had to be intentional.
Stella uttered, “Alright, make me a coffee, will you?”
Scam or no scam, it didn’t matter to Stella. She wasn’t an easy target. After all, she wasn’t scamming anyone herself.
Last night, Ronald had given her quite the headache with his drunken antics, and she was still feeling a bit woozy.
Tabitha nodded and left.
As Stella was left alone, her phone buzzed.
It was Ronald.
Stella answered, “Hey, Ronald.”
“Jeremy left?”
His voice was deep and carried an intimidating seriousness.
Stella confirmed, “Yes.”
Ronald inquired, “His bracelet?”
Fortunately, she had returned it. Judging by Ronald’s tone, if she hadn’t, she would’ve been in deep trouble.
“That I can’t accept gifts from men, and I didn’t,” Stella whispered, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.
Ronald softened, “Alright, good girl.”
“Good girl”, was that term really appropriate for her now?
This question had an undertone of testing the waters.
Thinking about it made Stella’s cheeks flush with warmth.
Ronald might not remember anything, but Stella wanted to test what his plans for her were.
There was silence on the line.
Stella’s heart was racing.
After about five seconds, Ronald asked, “How do you feel about accepting gifts from men, Star?”
“Huh? I haven’t accepted any!”
Honest to God, during her years in Portis City, she had never accepted a gift from any man.
Ronald pressed, “Not even from me?”
Stella hesitated, “Um?”
Ronald asked, “How does it feel?”
Stella was speechless.
The question was so unexpected, that Stella couldn’t even begin to process a response.
Chapter 173
At Jeremy’s side.
After leaving Stella’s office, Jeremy immediately received a call from Caius, who was on about the ring again.
Jeremy had flipped his mood too quickly yesterday, making Caius suspect whether the ring ended up with Kellan or not.
Jeremy asked, “Where are you right now?”
“At home. You coming over to deliver it?”
Deliver what? That ring was long gone, vanished into thin air. Was he expected to rummage through a landfill?
“I’ll be right there,” with those words, Jeremy hung up.
Half an hour later, Jeremy pulled up at Caius’s place, where Caius demanded, “Where’s the ring?”
“Get in the car.”
Caius questioned, “Where is my ring?”
Jeremy assured, “I’m taking you to it.”
Caius, now fuming with suspicion, thought Jeremy might have indeed given the ring to Kellan. Exasperatedly, he got into the car, ready to confront Jeremy if the ring wasn’t retrieved today.
Caius was expecting to head to Kellan’s, but the route Jeremy took was unfamiliar.
“This isn’t the way to Kellan’s. Where are we going?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Caius said, “Did you sell my ring?”
Jeremy was at his wit’s end with Caius and preferred to keep silent.
After an hour’s drive, they stopped in front of a cozy-looking café, greeted politely by the server, “Mr. Patel.”
“Which room is Mr. Quinn in?”
The server’s expression stiffened at the words; he was clearly uncomfortable as he glanced at Jeremy.
Jeremy slipped a few bills towards the server, “No worries, I won’t make it hard for you.”
“I really couldn’t…”
Overhearing the name “Mr. Quinn”, Caius was visibly shocked, pondering if it was the influential figure he was thinking of.
Jeremy knitted his brows, “Then I’ll find him myself.”
Jeremy’s glare intensified.
If they allowed that, the café staff knew there would be hell to pay.
The server approached and relayed the message to Idris in a low voice, “Idris, Mr. Patel is here to see Mr. Quinn.”
Idris’s demeanor darkened upon hearing Jeremy was here. Glancing at Ronald, who was engaged in conversation with someone with gray hair, he instructed curtly, “Make him wait.”
Idris knew since Jeremy came here especially for a meeting, he wouldn’t leave resignedly.
The server nodded and left.
Taking a look at Ronald, Idris approached and informed, “Sir, Mr. Patel has arrived.”
Ronald remained composed at his words, picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.
His phone, lying on the rattan table, buzzed with a message.
He glanced at the phone; it was from Stella.
“What should I have for lunch, Ronald?” followed by a pitiful emoji.
Even through the screen, Ronald could sense Stella’s pleading demeanor.
Ignoring Idris, Ronald held his phone to reply to Stella.
Chapter 174
But then, a message from Stella popped up on his screen, “Can I have lunch with Susie?”
Susanna, in Stella’s presence, went by Susie.
Ronald had intended to offer to pick her up, but since she mentioned Susanna, it seemed they had already made plans.
Eventually, he replied, “Sure.”
Then, he quickly added, “No spicy food.”
Stella responded with a sad-faced emoji.
Ronald couldn’t help but smile fondly, typing back, “Be good.”
After setting his phone aside, he turned to Idris and said, “Tell him to wait.”
“Will do.”
Idris nodded and left.
Picking up a chess piece, Ronald placed it on the board, instantly drawing a serious look from the elder across from him.
“Cheeky lad, you never give an inch, do you?”
Ronald, sipping his coffee nonchalantly, responded, “When have you ever seen me lose?”
“Just because you haven’t lost doesn’t mean you won’t. Just you wait.”
“Oh?”
“Xander Schultz and Mervin Burton are teaming up.”
At that, Ronald’s demeanor shifted, a hint of sharpness flickering in his eyes, “Mervin Burton?”
“Yes, you know what Xander wants with Star. If not, he wouldn’t have let Regina Schultz pull that stunt. He’s been on the lookout for Star for years now.”
But Stella was too good at hiding.
A chill emanated from Ronald as he set down his cup, his gaze turning even more piercing.
He closed his eyes, momentarily gathering his thoughts.
The elder, Arlo, eyed him sternly, “You intended to completely cut him off, didn’t you?”
Yes, he intended to utterly crush Xander.
Nothing, which meant what he had done to the Schultz family back then was no different from total annihilation.
“If he dares to return to Ferrowland, he’s dead!”
With that, Ronald placed another piece on the chessboard, sealing any chance of victory for Arlo.
“Yvonne called me yesterday, asking about your whereabouts.”
“She heard you found Star and wants to come over. I told her to wait, not to interfere with your parenting.”
Ronald was speechless.
Outside, Jeremy, hearing he should wait, breathed a sigh of relief. Being asked to wait meant Ronald was willing to see him. That was all he wanted; the fear was to be avoided.
Caius, shocked, turned to Jeremy, “Mr. Quinn, is it the one from Ferrowland?”
He had heard rumors that the man had arrived in Portis City. This was excellent news. He’d wanted to meet him but hadn’t found a way to connect. A man like Mr. Quinn wasn’t someone they could just meet whenever they wished.
Jeremy simply hummed in affirmation.
Caius caught his response, his eyes lighting up, immediately asking, “What are we doing here to see him?”
Could it be that he sold the ring to Ronald?
If that was the case, there was no way he’d ask for it back.
“You sold that ring to Mr. Quinn? If so, then I don’t want it back,” Caius hurriedly added.
He should’ve said so sooner. If Mr. Quinn was interested in something he liked, it was an honor. He wouldn’t dream of reclaiming it.
Chapter 175
Jeremy shot Caius a look that screamed, “Really, dude?”
Caius was puzzled, “What’s with that look?”
Jeremy scoffed, “You really think he’d care about some ring?”
It was not like it was a sought-after prize; Caius made it seem like someone had swiped it from him.
Caius replied, “Well, that’s true. Then why did you bring me here?”
Jeremy revealed, “His sister lost the ring.”
What? How did it happen?
“Sister? What sister?”
Hearing “sister” made Caius’s jaw drop.
“Wait, Mr. Quinn’s sister? Who?”
How did Ronald’s sister end up losing his ring? What on earth had Jeremy done? This was getting too convoluted.
Jeremy mentioned, “Stella, ring any bells?”
Caius blinked, “Who?”
“Stella.”
Caius paused, the gears turning.
Stella? That name sounded so familiar. Wasn’t that the ex-fiancée Yorick dumped?
“The Larkin family’s own daughter? The fiancée Yorick ditched?” Caius was nearly shouting.
The scandal of Stella and Yorick calling off their engagement had been the talk of the town. It also exposed the harsh reality within the Larkin family, where the biological daughter was less favored compared to the adopted one.
Now, he was told that she was Mr. Quinn’s sister?
Jeremy rolled his eyes, “Correction, Stella dumped her fiancé Yorick.”
The viral news had been spun by Stella herself, marking her decision to kick Yorick to the curb. In essence, it wasn’t about Yorick rejecting his fiancée; she rejected him.
Caius was flabbergasted.
“So, if she’s Mr. Quinn’s sister, doesn’t that spell disaster for the Larkin family and Yorick?”
This was more dramatic than expected.
Even Mrs. Larkin, when mingling in high society, would boast about her daughter Ursula instead.
Jeremy nodded, “Yeah, they’re probably done for.”
The Quarry family was desperate for a new source of minerals as the Larkin family’s mines were running dry.
The only viable replacement now was under Ronald’s control. Offending Stella was like poking a hornet’s nest.
All of Yorick’s attention had been on Ursula lately. Imagine the Quarry family chairman’s reaction; he’d probably have a heart attack!
With that question, Jeremy’s expression darkened, assuring, “He is.”
Like Jeremy, he had been irked by Yorick for ages. The idea of swapping fiancées within the family was despicable.
Caius mused, “How thrilling! This is going to be quite the show.”
But one thing puzzled him.
“If Stella is Mr. Quinn’s sister, why stay silent? Speaking up would’ve spared her the Larkin family drama.”
Jeremy replied, “Think she cared for the Larkins’ favor?”
Caius fell silent.
Right, with someone like Ferrowland‘s king of the underworld at her back, what were the Larkins but mere dust?
“And Ursula made such a scene over it, not knowing Stella couldn’t care less.”
That summed up the absurdity, highlighting the Larkins’ cluelessness about Ursula’s true nature, which was evident to everyone else.
…
Meanwhile, Stella’s message to Ronald was a test, gauging if he was upset.
Chapter 176
For reasons she couldn’t fathom, every time Stella crossed paths with someone of the opposite sex, she’d feel inexplicably guilty. It was peculiar, especially since she felt nothing significant for these individuals. What was there to feel guilty about?
When Ronald didn’t seem upset, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Her phone vibrated.
Stella glanced at the caller ID; it was Imogen calling. After a moment’s hesitation, she declined the call and went a step further by blocking the number.
She had distanced herself from the Larkin family, and by extension, she felt no obligation to engage with their circle anymore. Stella had little patience for pointless socializing, especially not with those who flaunted their seniority over her.
Shortly after, a landline number tried to reach her. Without a doubt, it was someone from the Quarry family. True to form, she hung up and blocked that number too.
It was only when Tegan’s name flashed on the screen that Stella picked up, “Hey Tegan.”
“The Larkin family are frantic right now,” Tegan shared.
“They can be frantic for all I care. Are they bothering you non-stop?” Stella asked.
“Yeah, they’ve been relentless. Ursula’s been through a string of specialists and experts, and for some reason, they’ve latched onto me.”
Stella said, “Because it’s a complicated case. Heard they mentioned there are a few types of cancer.”
Tegan responded, “Last I heard from the hospital, it’s been getting worse, beyond control.”
Stella raised an eyebrow. “So, Ursula’s on her way out?”
This brought to mind their bet of a hundred thousand dollars.
Would Ursula even be alive to pay up?
If she lost, could she be frustrated enough to kick the bucket?
Tegan continued, “Hard to say if she’ll make it, but the Larkins and Yorick are freaking out.”
“Have they tried threatening you?”
Threats were a tactic the Larkins and Yorick were all too familiar with, judging by their past attempts to strong-arm her.
Hearing the word “threat”, Tegan laughed dismissively, “Would they dare?”
“Of course not!”
Stella had momentarily forgotten about Uriah, Tegan’s low-key but formidable backup. No wonder Yorick and the Larkins were pestering her instead of directly confronting Tegan.
“When are you coming back?”
“Uriah wants me to stay with him a bit longer, so I won’t be returning anytime soon.”
Indeed, their current desperation for Tegan’s return would only add to their frustration.
With Tegan not having contacted Susanna, the former naturally wasn’t aware that Stella had Ronald’s backing now. She was afraid of Stella getting into trouble once the Larkins went desperate.
“Alright. Call me if anything comes up,” Tegan said.
Karma served them right; the Larkin family got their comeuppance.
Stella then called Susanna to catch up, while Susanna jabbed upon hearing the lunch plan.
Given his protective nature over his sister, she might be in trouble if she continued taking Stella’s time.
Stella said, “He’s busy during the day.”
“Alright then.”
…
Elsewhere, Jeremy found himself waiting for an unprecedented half-hour for Idris, a situation unheard of in Portis City.
However, both he and Caius dared not complain.
They were led to the place by Idris. It was merely a modest café, but both Jeremy and Caius were acutely aware of the numerous bodyguards lurking in the shadows.
Caius whispered to Jeremy, “Did you see what those men take on their waist?”
Jeremy asked, “What do you think that is?”
Caius remained silent.
Was it guns?
No wonder Yorick had been at a disadvantage when facing Ronald, considering what kind of a man Ronald was – a man brooking no provocation from others. He should feel lucky that Ronald hadn’t just shot.
Chapter 177
When Idris led Jeremy to the private room, they found Ronald, the sole occupant, lounging on the porch.
Upon laying eyes on Ronald, Jeremy stepped forward with a respectful nod. “Mr. Quinn.”
Ronald set his cup of coffee aside, fixing Jeremy with a frosty gaze that sent a chill down his spine.
Behind him, Caius caught the sharp glint in Ronald’s eyes. He quickly looked away.
The man emanated an aura so commanding, that one could hardly bear to look directly at him. Was this the man who had raised Stella like his own?
Caius couldn’t help but feel a surge of dread. With such a figure in her corner, the Larkin family and Yorick had truly stirred a hornet’s nest, oblivious to the danger they courted.
Ronald’s icy stare fixed on Jeremy. “You expect Stella to compensate you?”
Jeremy was momentarily lost for words, as was Caius. The chill in Ronald’s tone made their hearts skip a beat.
Jeremy was the first to recover. “Oh, Mr. Quinn, it’s not like that at all. I wouldn’t dream of asking Ms. Quinn for compensation. I was merely concerned that the ring might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Since Ms. Quinn lost it, let’s just forget about it. I only hope you don’t hold any grudges.”
The very idea of demanding anything from Stella was ludicrous. Jeremy could feel Ronald’s displeasure radiating.
To even suggest Stella should compensate? That might just seal his fate.
Caius, listening to Jeremy’s deferential tone, was struck once again by Ronald’s formidable reputation. Not even in Portis City had he seen anyone command such respect.
“So, Mr. Patel, you’re saying this was all just a misunderstanding? You have no romantic intentions towards Stella?” Ronald asked, his voice calm but heavy with unspoken implications.
Jeremy caught the underlying threat and quickly clarified, “Absolutely not! I harbor no such feelings towards Ms. Quinn.”
“Please, Mr. Quinn, don’t get the wrong idea.”
Ronald lit a cigarette, taking a drag before tossing the pack to Jeremy as a peace offering.
Such devotion to a sister was rare indeed. Jeremy couldn’t shake the thought: Ronald’s feelings for Stella seemed too intense to be purely fraternal, though it was none of his business. His main concern was appeasing Ronald.
“Absolutely. If you doubt my word, I’ll have Sirena thrown in jail this instant.”
The corner of Caius’s mouth twitched at Jeremy’s declaration. Was this really how a brother acted?
Idris’s gaze was just as cold as he intervened. “Mr. Patel, you should leave now. We’ll be in touch.”
“Mr. Quinn,” Jeremy began, but Idris cut him off.
“Mr. Quinn is already aware of the situation.”
Jeremy hesitated, his gaze lingering on Ronald’s inscrutable expression. He wanted to say more to Ronald, to glean some insight from his inscrutable expression.
But Ronald was an enigma, leaving Jeremy with more questions than answers.
As Idris escorted him out, Jeremy couldn’t help but ask, “Idris, does Mr. Quinn still have doubts?”
Chapter 178
“Mr. Quinn is not stingy, you know.”
Jeremy just stared blankly.
Really?
He seemed pretty tight-fisted, especially where Stella was concerned. A little spat with Sirena, and Ronald acted like it was the end of the world.
And yet, Idris claimed he’s not stingy?
…
After seeing Jeremy off, Idris returned to Ronald’s side. “Sir.”
“He’s gone?”
Idris nodded. “Yes.”
“What do you think of him?” Ronald asked, his voice carrying a weighty tone.
After a moment’s thought, Idris replied, “Compared to the others, Mr. Patel is indeed a solid choice.”
“Then it’s settled,” Ronald said, his tone turning icy as he made the decision.
Idris inclined his head in agreement.
Jeremy was indeed the right choice- mostly because he was ruthless! Beneath his laid-back demeanor, Jeremy had proven himself tough as nails during the Patel family feud.
Ronald glanced at his watch, noting it was lunchtime, and dialed Stella’s number.
“Ronald?”
“I’m coming to pick you up.”
Stella seemed taken aback. “Huh? Didn’t I tell you I’m having lunch with Susie?”
“Cancel it.”
Ronald’s voice was gentle, yet the quiet authority in his tone left no room for refusal.
On the other end, Stella pouted. “Okay, fine.”
Ronald added, “I’ll take you somewhere fun to eat.”
“Fun to eat? What’s that?” Stella asked, her curiosity instantly piqued. “Then hurry up and come get me.”
Who could resist the promise of good food and fun? Certainly not Stella.
Ronald chuckled softly, affirming with a ‘Hmm’ before hanging up.
Stella quickly called Susanna. “My brother said he’s taking me somewhere fun to eat, so don’t come over.”
To her, it sounded like Ronald was just luring Stella away with vague promises of a good time. As a born and bred Portis City girl, Susanna found the idea of food being both delicious and entertaining hard to imagine.
After briefly chatting with Susanna, Stella hung up.
About half an hour later, Ronald arrived.
Seeing Yorick, Stella’s mood soured. “What do you want?”
Yorick’s expression was grim. “What do I need to do to get Finley and Tegan back?”
Yorick tightened his grip on her wrist. “Just tell me, what do you want?”
Stella, already short-tempered from Yorick’s pestering about Finley and Tegan, snapped.
She shook off Yorick’s grip. “Let go, you lunatic.”
“Stella!”
“What? Why are you yelling? Got a problem?”
Yorick clenched his teeth. This woman!
Stella continued, “Didn’t Cloudia explain it to you? And you’re still bothering me?”
Yorick bit back, “That’s your mother!”
“So what if I say I’m your ancestor? How’s that?” Stella rolled her eyes at Yorick.
Yorick was speechless.
This woman!
Stella went on, “We’ve signed a disownment agreement. Ever heard of it?”
Yorick tried to argue, “But she’s your mother, your attitude…”
“Shut it. If your brain’s not working, should I knock some sense into it?”
Without waiting for a response, Stella slapped him sharply on the forehead, not holding back. The force of the slap left Yorick reeling, his anger soaring to new heights.
Chapter 179
Stella couldn’t be bothered to engage with him any longer and turned to leave.
But Yorick grabbed her again, his head pounding fiercely. It was clear that Stella hadn’t shown any mercy earlier. It felt like his brain was being scrambled.
Catching Yorick’s gaze, Stella raised an eyebrow. “Again?”
In that brief instant, Yorick’s gaze shifted, catching the swelling on Stella’s lips and the marks peeking out from the edge of her scarf.
His mind went blank, and his vision shattered.
He reached out and yanked the scarf from around Stella’s neck, revealing several hickey marks.
In that instant, Yorick found it hard to breathe.
“You and those guys?”
Yorick couldn’t finish his sentence. He was an adult, after all. He knew exactly what those marks meant.
No one knew how he had spent the past few days, tormented by the thought of Stella with other men, convincing himself she was just angry with him and that it was all for show.
But now… was it all for a show?
“Are you nut?”
Talking about Ursula was one thing, but bringing up her man? That was something else entirely. Did he think he could just talk about her man like that?
Stella tried to shake off Yorick’s grip, but the damn man held on tight.
Furious, Stella delivered a swift kick to his stomach, accompanied by a loud ‘thump’. The moment Yorick groaned and released Stella’s wrist, Ronald stood there, hands in pockets, his gaze icy.
Yorick, clutching his stomach and gasping for breath, glared at Ronald.
So it was both Stella and Ronald who had kicked him simultaneously.
Yorick felt as if his insides were shattered; the pain was unbearable!
He glared at Stella. “You… you…”
Seeing Ronald, Stella asked, “How did you get here?”
“When did you become so weak?”
Ronald took off his coat and wrapped it around her.
Ronald’s cool, fragrant scent enveloped Stella, pleasant and slightly sweet, drawing her in.
Did women even possess such strength? Stella must have fought dogs for food with that kind of ferocity.
Ronald pulled her up by the hand, his gaze warningly fixed on Yorick, who was still struggling with the pain.
Before she could respond, Ronald approached Yorick with an icy demeanor.
With a kick, Ronald sent Yorick sprawling on the ground, and Yorick could swear he heard a ‘crack’. Without a doubt, his already injured hand must have been damaged further.
Before he could even attempt to rise, Ronald stepped on his back.
“You bastard!”
Yorick was furious. No one in Portis City had ever dared to treat him this way. This was an insult!
Seeing the situation from his car, Orion immediately rushed over.
Even Stella, seeing Ronald’s dangerous demeanor, felt her heart jump to her throat.
For a brief moment, a bloody scene flashed through her mind, making her fear that someone might get seriously hurt next.
Ronald’s voice was icy. “You think bullying her is fun?”
Yorick, gritting his teeth, shot back, “Let me go if you’re so tough.”
Ronald pressed down harder with his foot. “If you can’t even stand up from under my foot, what could you possibly do if I let you go?”
Yorick gasped for air, his anger palpable as he glared at Stella. “Stella, get your man off me.”
Chapter 180
Stella crossed her arms with a huff. “If you’re so tough, get up yourself.”
Yorick was fuming. Especially now, feeling engulfed by a humiliating rage, he wished he could tear both Stella and this man apart.
Orion, instinctively stepping forward, found the man’s presence too intimidating. He kept shooting desperate looks at Stella for help.
But Stella ignored him completely.
Orion was sweating bullets.
Yorick, trying to regain some control, turned to Ronald. “Who the hell are you?”
In Portis City, he had never come across such a character.
Ronald pressed down with his foot, a ‘crack’ sound making Yorick grunt in pain. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the pain intensified.
“I’ll kill you! And you too, Stella, you damned woman. I want you dead!”
Furious, Yorick spat out the deadly threat.
But that only made Ronald’s lips curl into a bloodthirsty smile. Especially when Yorick wished death upon Stella, Ronald’s previously gentle demeanor vanished, leaving only cold, dangerous intent.
“Guess if you’ll make it out of here alive?”
As he said that, his hand moved towards his belt.
Orion, witnessing Ronald’s action, especially what he was about to draw, felt his blood freeze. Even the wind seemed to carry a cruel chill.
Just as Orion thought Yorick was done for, Stella casually walked over.
She grabbed Ronald’s wrist. “Ronald.”
Ronald regained his composure, his gaze chillingly turning towards Stella, “Can’t bear it?”
“Priorities first,” Stella reminded him lightly.
With that reminder, she stepped on Yorick’s hand.
Already injured, Yorick felt insulted added to his agony, never having been so humiliated.
For Stella, Ronald’s interests came first. Ronald had been in Portis City for quite some time, and that was for a reason. If something happened to Yorick now, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary trouble. After all, Thane was a name with considerable weight in Portis City.
Feeling the pressure lift, Yorick felt drained of strength. It was only after Stella and Ronald’s car had disappeared that he let Orion help him up.
Clearly, the memory still haunted Yorick.
Orion nodded, “Yeah, exactly that guy!”
Carrying something so dangerous, it was clear just how perilous he was.
Orion replied, “Feels familiar somehow.”
But where exactly, he couldn’t recall.
And the man’s backing, those who could have stopped them from finding anything about him, showed just how extraordinary his influence was.
“Ugh,” Yorick groaned in pain: “Get me to a hospital.”
The pain was unbearable, his hand now completely immobile.
…
In the car, Stella put the object back at Ronald’s side. “Is everything settled in Portis City?”
Ronald took her cold hand into his. “What’s wrong?”
“I miss Mom and Yvonne.”
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