Chapter 14
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When Claude returned with a dark expression, Stellar immediately set her utensils down.
“Uncle Claude, you don’t look too happy. Did something happen during that call?”
Seeing her concerned face and recalling Yvonne’s venomous behavior, Claude felt a sharp pang of heartache. Not wanting to ruin Stellar’s mood, he brushed it off casually. “It’s nothing, just ran into a barking dog.”
Stellar paused, then offered her own calm reassurance.
“Well, if it’s just an animal, there’s no need for us to stoop to their level.”
Claude burst into hearty laughter, his mood instantly lifted
Picking up his utensils, he placed more food on Stellar’s plate.
“Here, eat more, Stellar. You’re far too thin. You need to take better care of yourself. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure you’re well–fed and never mistreated.”
A warm feeling blossomed in Stellar’s chest. It felt wonderful to be cared for like this.
After the meal, Claude went to fetch the car, leaving Stellar waiting outside.
She had barely stepped out the door when she unexpectedly ran into a group of familiar faces, chatting and laughing as they exited.
At the front were Percy and Yvonne, walking arm in arm.
Trailing behind them were Percy’s parents and Yvonne’s parents–the people who used to be Stellar’s own family.
The moment they crossed paths, the atmosphere froze.
Percy’s expression shifted, and almost instinctively, he pulled his arm away from Yvonne
Even he didn’t fully understand why he did it.
However, that small action made Yvonne’s blood boil.
Suppressing her fury, she quickly looped her arm back around Percy’s, smiling sweetly as she greeted Stellar.
“Sister, what a coincidence! Are you here for dinner too?”
Stellar snapped out of her initial shock but had no intention of engaging with her.
She turned to leave.
But Yvonne stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Wait a moment, Sister. Since we’ve run into each other, there’s something I’d like to tell you.‘
Yvonne paused deliberately for a couple of seconds, then broke into a beaming smile, her voice brimming with pride.
“I’m about to get engaged to Percy. Both of our families have finalized everything. Since we were once family, it would mean so much to me if you came to my engagement party. It’s such an important day. You’ll come, won’t you?”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 14
Stellar froze mid–step. Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this, hearing the news firsthand still felt absurdly ironic.
If this had been in the past, she might have felt heartbroken, devastated even.
But not anymore.
She had moved on, and Yvonne’s petty attempts to provoke her seemed laughably childish.
For a moment, Stellar said nothing, her silence causing Yvonne to misinterpret her reaction. Yvonne, convinced she had struck a nerve, felt a wave of smug satisfaction, though she masked it behind a falsely innocent expression.
“Sister, are you upset?” she asked sweetly, then turned to her mother, Pauline Turner, with a feigned look of helplessness.
“Mom, could you ask her for me? I really want to share my happiness with her.”
The moment Pauline’s eyes landed on Stellar, her expression soured.
“Yvonne, you’re too kind. She stole eighteen years of your life, and now, at your happiest moment, you think she deserves to be part of it?” Pauline’s tone was sharp and hostile. “She doesn’t belong there.”
Pauline was well aware of the complicated history between Percy and Stellar. Inviting her would be asking for trouble.
Stellar’s chest tightened slightly at Pauline’s guarded and defensive gaze.
Once, Pauline was warm, loving, and doting, treating her like her own daughter.
But now, it was as though she became their sworn enemy, loathed and despised.
Everything had changed.
“Mom
Yvonne whined, sidling up to Pauline and clinging to her arm, shaking it playfully.
With a voice laced with faux understanding, she said, “That’s all in the past. I don’t mind anymore. Let Sister come, please! I even heard she has a new boyfriend. She can bring him along, too.”
She emphasized the words ‘new boyfriend‘ deliberately, her expression flashing with smug satisfaction.
“Hah, no matter what, I’ve already won Percy’s heart. And Stellar? Let’s see which so–called ‘boyfriend‘ she dares to bring,” Yvonne thought..
Yvonne didn’t believe for a second that any respectable man would publicly acknowledge Stellar as his girlfriend. Pauline sighed, clearly worn down by her daughter’s persistence, and finally turned a cold gaze toward Stellar. “You heard her. Yvonne is being gracious enough to let you come. You should accept the invitation.”
Stellar didn’t respond.
Instead, her eyes shifted quietly to the other side of the group–to Percy’s parents.
Once, she went out of her way to win their favor, hoping it would make Percy happy. She cared for them attentively
serving tea, massaging their shoulders, buying them supplements, and taking care of every little detail.
But now, as they looked at her, their faces were completely blank.
It was as if they didn’t recognize her at all, as though she were a stranger who never existed in their lives.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 14
For a moment, Stellar found it absurdly funny.
Finally, she shifted her gaze to Percy and spoke clearly, her tone calm but sharp.
“Are you sure you want me to attend?”
Percy’s hand tightened in his pocket involuntarily.
He felt guilty before.
But then Percy thought about how Stellar had been opposing him lately–challenging him at every turn, stealing projects, and even blocking his number.
It was absolutely outrageous.
With that thought, his expression shifted to one of nonchalance. “Suit yourself.”
Those two simple words shattered the last shred of goodwill Stellar held for him.
She was done.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Percy froze, caught off guard.
Then, to his surprise, Stellar’s face lit up with a dazzling smile–bold and radiant. “If you have the audacity to invite me, then I certainly have the audacity to attend.”
Her vibrant smile felt like a slap in the face, blindingly out of place.
But Percy quicklyc
Percy quickly convinced himself that she was just putting on an act, hiding her pain behind that façade.
After all these years of loving him, how could she possibly move on?
Yvonne clearly thought the same, her face brimming with arrogance and triumph.
Stellar’s sharp eyes swept over the two of them before her lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile.
“Mr. Moore, Miss Harlow, you’d better not regret inviting me to your engagement party.”
After all, revenge against Yvonne was something she’d been planning for some time.
This would be the perfect opportunity.
Some things needed to be set in motion.
After saying her piece, Stellar turned on her heel and strode away confidently.
Yvonne frowned, a flicker of unease flashing through her mind.
Could that woman really dare to cause trouble?
But she quickly calmed herself.
If Stellar truly tried to disrupt the engagement, the Harlow family wouldn’t hesitate to make her pay.
Yvonne’s lips curled into a sneer.
“If she’s foolish enough to pull something, I’ll make sure to beat her down while she’s vulnerable and never give her a chance to rise again,” she thought.
Chapter 14
+25 BONUS
Not long after Stellar walked out, a sleek Cayenne pulled up right in front of her.
Claude stepped out and opened the door for her, ever the gentleman. After making sure she was settled, he drove her back to the villa, explaining that he had other matters to attend to.
Before he left, though, he hesitated, his usual composed demeanor giving way to a hint of concern.
“Stellar.”
She turned back, meeting his worried gaze.
“If you ever find yourself in a situation you can’t handle, promise me you’ll come to me first. All right?”
