Ch. 1351..1360
Chapter 1351 A Bad Guy
Fortunately, Calvin continued to drive a bit further. Otherwise, there would have been a collision.
The driver was taken aback.
Just as he was about to apologize to his boss, Darren had already stepped out of the car first, heading toward Calvin's car.
When Madeline saw Darren, she realized, it was him who had been following her.
Unfazed by Darren, Calvin too, stepped out of the car.
Darren was about to strike Calvin.
With a swift and agile move, Calvin managed to dodge.
Madeline stepped down immediately, blocking Darren's path. "Darren, are you out of your mind? This is my boss!"
"Boss?" Darren chuckled. "What kind of boss escorts a female employee home late at night?"
"It's all because you were following me. He thought you were a bad guy!" Madeline explained.
Darren was taken aback.
Madeline glared at him fiercely, then turned her gaze toward Calvin. Her eyes were filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, Mr. Reese!" Mr. Reese?
When Darren had just gotten out of the car, he caught sight of Calvin and felt a sense of familiarity with the man.
Upon hearing Madeline address him as Mr. Reese, it all came rushing back to him.
"Are you Calvin Reese?"
With a calm expression, Calvin responded, "Yes."
Darren's eyes turned icy. "So, you've shifted your attention from Cecilia to my wife? The rumors were indeed true. Your taste, Calvin, is truly unique. You have a thing for married women!" Coldly, Calvin slowly tightened his hand, but for the sake of Madeline's dignity, he refrained from laying a hand on Darren.
Madeline's face turned even redder in frustration.
"Darren, watch your language. There's absolutely nothing going on between Mr. Reese and me."
She had known Calvin for less than a month.
The commotion outside had caught a few people's attention, including Cecilia.
After they emerged, they realized that Darren and Calvin were arguing.
When Nathaniel laid eyes on Calvin, the temperature around him seemed to drop a few degrees. "Darren, what's going on?" he asked.
When Darren saw Nathaniel emerge, he calmed down slightly. "It's nothing, I just came to see Amy."
He spoke with an air of calmness, feigning indifference on the surface, but in reality, a storm was already brewing within him.
"You are not allowed to visit Amy!" Madeline instantly positioned herself in front of Darren.
Darren glanced at her. "I came to see my daughter. Is it any of your business?"
A single sentence left Madeline utterly at a loss.
She slowly lowered her hand.
Darren, on the other hand, had walked straight in.
Supporting her belly, Cecilia arrived in front of Calvin. "What just happened?"
"After work today, I saw Madeline all by herself with a car following her Concerned for her safety, I escorted her here, not expecting it to be misconstrued," explained Calvin.
en
Madeline, who was on the side, kept apologizing, "I'm sorry, Mr. Reese. I've caused you trouble."
Calvin shook his head. "It's nothing."
Realizing it was all a misunderstanding, Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief.
"You guys probably haven't eaten yet, right? How about having a meal before you leave?"
Glancing at Nathaniel who was not far away, Calvin responded curtly, "Fine."
Nathaniel knew that he had to be magnanimous at this moment. Otherwise, he would be pushing Cecilia toward his love rival. "Mr. Reese, it's been a while."
"Long time no see."
The two love rivals shook hands, both of them exuding an offbeat vibe.
However, as Cecilia was present, everyone was rather gentlemanly.
Inside the house, Darren held his dauglia, unwilling to let go.
It had
been a little over a month since he last saw her, yet she had grown a lot.
"Amy, call me Daddy," he coaxed softly.
The little was so young at that time, she could only gurgle and coo while watching Darren speak, completely unable to speak own.
Chapter 1352 Is He My Son
Darren watched his daughter happily. He was about to tell the housekeeper that his daughter had spoken to him. Then, he saw Calvin and his entourage walk in.
He hid his joyful expression and looked toward Calvin with a less-than-friendly gaze.
After all, this was the Smith residence, so he didn't feel it was his place to say anything.
Madeline walked straight toward him. "Have you seen enough? If you have, then leave. Don't disturb my daughter."
Darren held Amelia close.
"What do you mean 'your daughter'? Can you have a child on your own?"
Madeline choked up.
"Listen, you and the child should come back with me," Darren urged again.
For so many days, he had given Madeline her freedom.
Without a second thought, Madeline declared, "I've told you, I won't be going back with you. Instead of wasting time on this, you might as well hurry up and divorce me." She's talking about divorce again!
Seeing the two about to start arguing, Nathaniel calmly stepped in. "Darren."
Darren understood as well. It wasn't appropriate for them to argue in someone else's house.
Reluctantly, he returned Amy back to Madeline.
"I'll come to see her again in a few days."
After he finished speaking, he left without looking back.
Once outside, Darren found himself alone in the car on the way back, unable to suppress his annoyance.
Judging from the earlier interaction between Calvin and Madeline, he realized that he might have misunderstood the situation.
He initially intended to implement what Zachary had suggested, hoping to make Madeline willingly return. Unexpectedly, his plan fell through at the last moment. After work, both Calvin and Madeline hadn't eaten. The two found themselves dining in a restaurant.
Elliot knew he had arrived and made a special trip to see him.
"Mr. Reese, why are you getting off work so late? In the future, try to leave work earlier and have dinner sooner."
Elliot knew that Calvin was a good man. In the past, he often found himself wishing that Calvin was his father.
Calvin gave a smile. "Alright, I will."
"You must honor your promise," Elliot said again.
The two of them were chatting and laughing.
Nathaniel watched from not too far away, feeling somewhat upset.
Is this really my own son? Is he always this close with others?
The thought of Elliot once introducing himself as Elliot Reese, and claiming to be Calvin's son, only served to intensify his jealousy.
After finally managing to send off Calvin, Nathaniel took Elliot for a leisurely walk.
"Sc*mbag daddy, the look you gave Mr. Reese earlier was as if you wanted to kill him." Elliot was the first to speak.
"I'm not that petty," Nathaniel stated firmly.
Elliot was no fool, but he still warned, "Let me make this clear. If you ever mistreat Mommy in the future, I'll take her away with Mr. Reese." This little rascal...
Nathaniel sternly lifted him up. "I
don't want to hear such words again. And remember, I won't mistreat Ceci. However, you and Jon need to take good care of Mommy in the future, okay?"
He was educating the child.
Upon seeing Nathaniel carrying their son again, Cecilia immediately approached him. "Nathaniel, you need to put Eli down right now. You're well aware of his health condition."
My goodness, it's as if he doesn't understand his own son's condition.
Nathaniel didn't dare to upset Cecilia, so he immediately let go of Elliot.
At the Jamieson residence, for the first time ever, Cassandra experienced such humiliation today, having been chased out of a shopping mall. Stella poured her a glass of water. "Don't be upset, it's bad for your health."
"How could I not be furious? I wished that Cecilia was dead!" Cassandra stated, each word punctuated with her rage.
Stella shared the same notion.
She pursed her lips, and then said, "If you're willing to help me, I'm ready to help you get rid of Cecilia." Cassandra was somewhat puzzled. "Can you really get rid of Cecilia? What do you need me to do for you?"
"Indeed, I was an orphan, but I found
my biological parents back during my university days. They were just ordinary folks, who had sadly passed away prematurely due to an accident."
Chapter 1353 A Glaring Headline
"Did you rush over to the Jamieson residence to deceive them? Do you know what the consequences could be?" Cassandra was instantly furious.
Stella wasn't afraid. She knew this was her last chance to turn things around.
"I was truly at my wit's end. Zachary had me in a position where I could neither live nor die. Nathaniel had also abandoned me, and all I wanted was a safe haven." Stella fell to her knees in front of Cassandra. "As long as you help me, tamper with the DNA test, I will be at your service. Whatever you ask of me, I will do."
"Not only Cecilia, I'd even willingly harm her child if you asked me to!" Stella declared.
Just moments ago, Cassandra was seething with rage. But upon hearing Stella's words, she couldn't help but start to ponder.
She had to admit. She was somewhat tempted.
Back then, upon discovering that Cassina was a false heiress, she had considered exploiting Cassina.
However, Cassina was quite a rebellious individual. Cassandra needed someone who would obey her commands.
And now, that person was right there before her, sharing her own intense dislike for Cecilia.
"Back then, I helped Cassina, but she betrayed me and wanted me dead. What if you harbor the same intentions?" Cassandra cautiously probed.
Stella raised her hand to swear, "If I dare to betray you, I won't die a peaceful death."
Afraid that Cassandra might still not believe her, she added, "I'm not as foolish as Cassina. Just share the fact that I'm not Queenie's daughter with someone trustworthy. If something were to happen to you, I'd be in trouble too."
Seeing her speak in such a manner, Cassandra no longer harbored any doubts.
"Alright, remember your words. I scratch your back, and you scratch mine."
"Don't worry, I've already figured out how to deal with Cecilia. Isn't her due date next month?"
Stella's eyes were filled with fierce intensity.
In an instant, Cassandra understood. "Leave the matter of the DNA test to me," she said.
She happened to know the doctor who conducted the DNA test for Queenie.
Moreover, she had another plan in mind, which was to find out if Cecilia was indeed Queenie's biological daughter.
The following day, Cassandra had someone collect the hair strands that Cecilia had left behind at Rainsworth Manor for analysis.
She labeled Stella's name on the sample.
In addition, she also bribed the person conducting the DNA test.
A few days later, a piece of groundbreaking news made its appearance on the news.
"Boss, we've got a problem." Charlotte rushed in, phone in hand.
"What's wrong?" Cecilia asked, somewhat puzzled.
Charlotte handed her the phone to take a look.
Cecilia then saw the glaring
headline: Stella Ross, the renowned singer, s Queenie Jamieson from
Jamieson Group's
This news was simply unbelievable.
It took a while for Cecilia to snap back to reality.
If her memory served her right, it seemed that Stella's biological parents were just ordinary people.
Back in their university days, Stella
had once confided in Regas, telling him that she had found her
biological parents, but sadly, they had passed away unexpectedly.
Could it be that everything Stella did in the past was a lie? Was it all just to gain sympathy?
Vivian had also made a call to Cecilia.
"Did you catch the news earlier?"
"I saw it," replied Cecilia.
Vivian expressed her disbelief, "How could Stella be Queenie's biological daughter? Could there be some mistake?" Cecilia felt that it wasn't probable.
After all, this was not the first time Queenie had made a mistake. Making another one was somewhat indefensible. What Cecilia didn't realize was that the DNA test that Queenie had received was actually between her and Queenie. After learning about this incident, Cassandra couldn't help but feel fearful.
Luckily, Cassina did not reveal the secret. Otherwise, there would have been no place for her in the
Jamieson family in the future.
Chapter 1354 Not The Same Mistake Again
As soon as Stella received the analysis results, Queenie promptly sent her to the hospital for examination and treatment.
Queenie only then realized the countless injuries on her body. She had become so thin that she was nothing more than a bag of bones.
"How could this happen?" Queenie's eyes were filled with heartache.
Stella's eyes were full of consideration. "It's okay, I'm not hurt. It's all my fault for being young and naive, offending others."
She and Cassina were worlds apart.
Upon hearing these words, Queenie felt an even deeper sense of guilt.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for not finding you sooner."
For reasons unknown, facing such a sensible Stella, Queenie felt a pang of heartache, yet lacked the initial excitement she had when she found Cassina.
Perhaps it was due to having been deceived once, she felt more apprehensive this time.
"Mom, please don't say that," Stella spoke softly. "It wasn't your fault that I was left at the orphanage. My sister told me that you've always been searching for me, that you never gave up on me. That touched me deeply."
Upon hearing Stella call her 'Mom', Queenie was visibly taken aback, taking a while before she could regain her composure.
"Take a good rest first, the doctor will be here shortly to administer your treatment. I'll step out for a bit and see you later."
"Alright."
Queenie stepped out of the hospital room, inexplicably letting out a long sigh of relief.
The secretary trailed behind her. "Mdm. Queenie, would you like to take a break?"
Queenie shook her head.
"Why do I still feel so uneasy?" she wondered aloud. "We've already found the child, but it feels as if there's still a weight pressing down on me."
"You must be upset because of Cassina. She's so despicable, deceiving you like that."
Queenie let out a sigh. "Maybe you're right. Come on, let's go see her together." "Alright."
Cassina's hospital room was just a regular one.
When Queenie and her secretary arrived, Cassina immediately sat up.
"Mdm. Queenie, is my son Dylan alright?"
"How dare you ask about Dylan! If it wasn't for Mdm. Queenie, could he have survived such a severe illness? You actually refused to tell us where the real second young lady is!" The secretary scoffed, then added, "Well, now Mdm. Queenie has finally found her!"
"You found her?"
Cassina couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Now that you know the truth, please spare my Dylan," she pleaded.
She had assumed that Queenie knew that Cecilia was her biological daughter.
To her surprise, the words that followed from Queenie took her aback. "Tell me, did Cecilia use you to deceive me?" Cassina was taken aback.
Before she could even speak,
Queenie asked again, "What was the
real purpose behind you, Cecilia, and
your mother getting so close to me, and intentionally deceiving me?"
en
From the way Cassina responded, it was clear to her that Queenie didn't recognize Cecilia as her own daughter.
"-Who is your biological daughter?" she asked.
Queenie wasn't sure why she was being asked that, but she responded, "Stella Ross!"
Upon hearing such an unfamiliar name, Cassina simply shook her head.
"It's not her. It absolutely can't be her!"
Before she could finish her
sentence Cassandra barged in from
outside "Cassina, haven't you
caused enough trouble? Do you
want me to make Dylan disappear?"
Immediately, Cassina closed her mouth, daring not to say anymore.
Queenie, however, became suspicious. What did Cassina mean by 'definitely not Stella'?
Did Cassina really know something, or was she just pretending?
After she left, Queenie instructed her secretary to arrange for another DNA test. This time, they would seek multiple agencies.
She absolutely couldn't make the mistake of misidentifying her daughter again.
If she had failed to properly identify her daughter, she would truly fail her own daughter.
"By the way, could you arrange a meeting with Old Mr. Sinclair for me?"
If Stella really was her daughter, it was about time she addressed the way Zachary had been treating her.
Chapter 1355 No Longer A Pauper
Zachary had also seen the news.
"Are you kidding me?"
How could a liar like Stella possibly be Queenie's daughter?
Vivian also found it hard to believe. "Indeed. She's so nasty, so who knows if she's lying."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
If it's true, then it'd be tricky indeed. I'm not certain I can go against the Jamieson family alone.
At that moment, Jonathan walked out of George's room and said to Zachary, "Great-grandpa wants you to go in."
Zachary had a sinking feeling when he observed the serious expression on Jonathan's face.
"Care to give me a hint as to what it's about?"
Jonathan answered, "It's about Stella."
After Zachary heard that, his expression darkened even further. Nonetheless, he steeled himself and went into George's room.
He had thought George would blame him for offending the Sinclair family, but to his surprise, the elderly man said, "See? I told you long ago that this Stella is not a good person at all!"
Seeing his usually mild-mannered grandfather speak so harshly, Zachary could not help feeling somewhat incredulous.
"Queenie contacted me today. She said she's willing to let bygones be bygones but insists that you stop bullying Stella in the future."
After hearing that, Zachary responded grudgingly, "Got it."
To his surprise, George turned his wheelchair around and glared at him.
"Are you really so spineless? Do you just agree to whatever others say?"
Zachary was dumbfounded. "What do you mean, Grandpa?"
"We may not be able to compete with the Jamieson family now, but who will prevail in the future is still uncertain," came George's reply.
Zachary had not expected his
grandfather to be so open-minded. Beaming, he responded, "Don't worry, Grandpa. Stella dared to. deceive me back then, and she should pay the price now. I'll also crush Jamieson Group-"
Before he could finish speaking, George interrupted him.
"Your top priority now should be to have a few more children with Vivian. Once your kids grow up, they'll be able to stand up for you," George said casually.
After all that, Zachary finally realized that his grandfather was indirectly urging him to have children.
We haven't even had our wedding yet and he's already urging us to have children. I'm truly at a loss for words.
"Okay, okay," he finally replied dismissively before promptly leaving the room.
George's voice could be heard coming from the other side of the door, saying, "Remember what I told е you. Children are more important than anything else. A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong. Have more children. Surely one of them will prove useful."
Vivian had hurried over with the intention of eavesdropping to see if Zachary would end up getting. scolded but ended up unexpectedly hearing George urging them to have children.
When Zachary emerged, the two of them happened to come face to face, making the situation particularly awkward.
"Your grandfather didn't get mad at you, did he?" she asked casually.
Also feeling a bit embarrassed, he replied, "No."
Then, he added after a pause, "I'm heading to the hospital."
He had recently developed a surgical treatment for hearing impairment, it would be possible to perform such a surgery soon.
He hoped to help treat Cecilia's hearing after she gave birth.
The pair shared a tacit understanding, and neither brought up the matter of having children.
After receiving treatment at the hospital, Stella was eager to be discharged.
"Ms. Stella, you haven't fully recovered yet. It's best to stay at the hospital and rest more," suggested the housekeeper who had come to care for her.
Stella glanced around. "I don't like this place. Can I go home to rest?"
After hearing that, the housekeeper checked with Queenie before taking Stella back home.
When Stella was back at the sprawling Jamieson residence, her eyes glittered with greed. She finally had a suitable status now and was no longer the pauper from before.
Chapter 1356 True Colors
The housekeeper explained to Stella, "This is just the Jamieson family's temporary residence. Their family home is in Drocver, and it's exceptionally luxurious."
Stella nodded and murmured an acknowledgment. "I really want to see it."
"Once you're feeling better, you can go and see it," the housekeeper replied.
The room Stella was staying in was previously occupied by Cassina.
In the past, she would not have even dared to dream of staying in such a place.
She lay on the opulent bed and picked up her phone. After unlocking it, she began to browse through her old contacts. The first name that caught her eye was none other than Yvette.
"Yvette! Oh, Yvette! You never thought the tables would turn, did you?"
Back when Yvette learned that Stella had betrayed her and was now with her fiancé, Francis, she had sent Stella to Royale Club's lowest-tier establishment.
Stella was later coincidentally discovered by Zachary, and after that, she suffered all sorts of inhumane treatment.
She knew that she was not in a position to go against Zachary and the others just yet. For now, she could only find an easier target to manipulate.
Yvette and Francis got married.
Ethan's fate was unknown ever since he attacked Nathaniel back then, so now, Francis was the one holding up the Murdock family. However, he was tactless and incompetent, spending his days indulging in food and drink, having fun, and chasing after women. Yvette reasoned to herself that their union was, after all, a business arrangement. Also, since he had betrayed her before, she decided to turn a blind eye to his behavior.
She had also seen the news that Stella was Queenie's daughter and was a little worried.
Francis returned reeking of alcohol and flung his clothes aside. "Look at what you've done! Now, my family is at odds with the Jamieson family!"
Also aware that it was all her fault, she could not help but lower her head.
"Let's get a divorce right now!"
Francis was nothing like his older brother. He was solely focused on having fun and could not care less about her wellbeing.
She was taken aback. "How can you be like this?"
"Even if we're a couple, it's every man for himself when disaster strikes! Besides, let's not forget I'd be married to the Jamieson
family's heiress now if it wasn't
you, he retorted shamelessly
swnov
for
It was only now that she finally felt regret. I didn't see Stella's true colors back then, and even now, I've still failed to see my husband's true character.
He showed no mercy as he packed her bags and told her to return to the Harrison family.
Before she even made it back, however, she saw Stella's car pull up in front of her.
"Yvette, it's been a long time."
Yvette clenched her fists. "Stella Ross! What are you trying to do?"
"What do you think?" Stella, having finally regained her power and status, was naturally unwilling to spare those who had once bullied her.
Eyeing her coldly, Yvette replied, "I can't believe considered you my best friend never thought you'd stoop so low. As if it wasn't bad enough that you seduced my fiancé, now you want to harm me too?"
swney
Stella stroked her somewhat rough hands and let out a cold snort.
"Well, I've news for you. I've never considered a dumb*ss like you a friend."
As she spoke, several people emerged from the car.
Yvette was filled with immense regret as she watched them walk slowly toward her.
If I'd recognized Stella earlier, I wouldn't have ended up in this current predicament. Back when Cecilia warned me that Stella wasn't a good person, I didn't believe it... The night sky was as dark as ink.
Over at the Smith residence, Cecilia was resting when she heard that a woman had been murdered mere seven or eight kilometers away from the house.
"We really need to be careful from now on," said Lucille.
Charlotte hummed in agreement, her expression also turning serious.
They turned on the television, and soon after, they saw a breaking news. It was only then they learned that the victim was none other than the eldest daughter of the Harrison family.
Chapter 1357 A Message From Stella
"I never thought that even daughters from wealthy families are in such danger nowadays," Lucille expressed in surprise.
A vague sense of unease crept over Cecilia as she watched the news report, and her heart fluttered slightly with distress. "Yvette was once my classmate. I have a feeling that her death isn't as simple as it seems." She rested her hand on her stomach.
Upon hearing what Cecilia had said, Lucille and the others sighed even more deeply. They had not expected that the person involved in the incident would be someone they knew.
Having also seen the news, Nathaniel instructed that it was crucial to make sure Cecilia was well-protected during this period.
She was due to give birth next month, and after that, Elliot would be performing surgery on her.
That night, Cecilia lay in bed, unable to fall asleep.
The sound of a text message chimed. She picked it up to check, only to see that it was from an unknown number.
The message read: It's been a while since we last met. Can we chat? It's me, Stella.
Nathaniel looked over, his brows slightly furrowed. "Go to sleep."
Just as she was about to switch off her phone, she received another text message from Stella that said: I truly regret my past actions. I was just too jealous of you. Now that I've found my biological mother, I hope we can resolve our animosity. I'm currently waiting for you near the Smith residence.
Cecilia stared at the message, unsure of what Stella's intentions were.
She was still planning on ignoring it when, to her surprise, Stella texted yet again: Cassina has already told us the truth. If you refuse to meet with me, that means you're refusing to admit it.
Somewhat puzzled, Cecilia climbed out of bed.
"I'll go see what she wants."
She wanted to know what Stella was planning to do and what she had to say.
"I'll go with you," Nathaniel said, also getting out of bed.
"Okay," she replied.
She was also wary of Stella, so she decided to go with him and even brought along a bodyguard.
Stella was seated in her car. When she saw Cecilia and Nathaniel appear together, jealousy surged within her. Nonetheless, she forced herself to act calm as she stepped out of the car and walked toward Cecilia with a smile. "Ceci," she said.
Then, she turned to look at Nathaniel. "Mr. Rainsworth."
"Go on. What do you want to talk to me about?" Cecilia responded, cutting straight to the chase.
Stella replied, "Cassina said that you instructed her and her mother to
deceive my biological mother. Now, my mother is ready to hold
younoveldrama
accountable."
Upon hearing those words, Cecilia could not help thinking how utterly absurd it was. "Do you have any evidence?"
"A testimony is also evidence." Stella let out a sigh before continuing, "Ceci, don't get so worked up when you talk to me. I just feel that I've made too many mistakes in the past efoo and want to repent. That's why I came to tell you this in advance."
Cecilia did not believe a single word she told her.
"Is that all? Got it. You may leave now."
Stella had assumed that Cecilia would be terrified upon hearing that Queenie was planning to sue her. However, the latter was unexpectedly calm.
She got into her car, feeling somewhat bored.
"Remember to reach out if you need my help with anything," she said.
Before she left, she gazed deeply at Nathaniel.
The man I love but can't have. She clenched her hands tightly, her fingertips digging deep into her palms.
When Stella returned, she found that Queenie and the others had not yet retired for the night.
"Stella, where have you been?" Queenie asked.
Stella answered frankly, "I went to find Cecilia." ""Whatever for?"
"I'm sorry, Mom. After all, the Smith family has been kind to me in the past. Although Cecilia did do something wrong and used Cassina to deceive you, I still wanted to personally ask her if she had her reasons," Stella replied. With every word she spoke, she seemed to display an exceptional sense of loyalty and righteousness.
Hearing that, Queenie asked, "So, did you manage to find out anything?"
Chapter 1358 A Colorful Past
Stella shook her head. "I'm sorry, but even now, Cecilia still doesn't think she's done anything wrong. She even said that she helped fulfill your wish of finding your daughter." Queenie could not help but let out a cold laugh.
"That woman is really something else. No wonder she was able to make you suffer so much back then. It's getting late. You should go and rest."
"Okay," Stella responded before politely taking her leave.
Once she was gone, the smile dropped from Queenie's face.
Unlike before, she had now become much more level-headed and would not blindly trust that newly found daughter of hers.
Caliste noticed it too. "Why are you so indifferent toward Ms. Stella?"
"Don't you think her appearance is too much of a coincidence?" Queenie asked.
After saying that, she pulled out a stack of documents. "Take a look at her past. It's very colorful."
She emphasized the word "colorful."
"Moreover, I think the way she's obedient and sensible is all just an act," she added.
When Queenie had a clear head, she was still capable of discerning right from wrong.
Caliste flipped through the pile of documents and saw that Stella had done many questionable things in the past.
"It's all because those from the Sinclair family and the Rainsworth family made her their target."
Queenie pinched the bridge of her nose. "If she really is my daughter, then I need to guide her properly."
Although she's not exactly a saint, she's far from being a villain.
She looked up at Caliste and said, "Cecilia's new company is doing quite well. You get what I'm saying, right?"
Queenie now felt that Cecilia was not that good of a person. I can't believe she dared to deceive me about my biological daughter. On top of that, she has bullied both Cassandra and Stella. I'm determined to teach her a lesson! "I understand. I'll have someone take care of it right away," Caliste replied.
The following morning, the first light of dawn was about to break through when Cecilia was rudely awakened by a phone call. Madeline had gone to the office early in the morning and discovered that all the confidential files there were gone.
Moreover, the office's computers and the like had all been deliberately damaged.
"Did you call the police?" Cecilia asked, sitting up.
"Yeah, I've called the police."
"Okay. I'll be there right away."
As Cecilia clumsily tried to get up, Nathaniel also woke up. He immediately stopped her and said, "Take it slow. Don't rush. If there's anything, I'll go handle it."
"That won't do. Something serious has happened at the office," she responded.
How could I possibly not rush? What's important isn't the computers but the confidential files. Ceci Corporation has only just gotten on track, securing contracts with numerous businesses. If these documents were to fall into the wrong hands, I'd be slapped with a
bunch of lawsuits. What'smith anoveldrama
the
majority of the companies I'm working with include friends who believe in me, such as Meredith, Helen, and many others.
Nathaniel felt somewhat helpless. All he could do was lift her from the bed and carry her to the bathroom.
Unaware of what had transpired, Lucille and Charlotte felt as though they were being subjected to a public display of affection first thing in the morning.
"I wonder if Mason can still carry me now that I'm eight months pregnant," Lucille murmured to herself.
In truth, Cecilia also felt somewhat awkward, but he simply did not give her a chance to refuse.
Hence, she decided to ignore her embarrassment. After quickly freshening up and changing her clothes, she was ready to head to the office.
Just like earlier, he wanted to carry her.
"It's fine," she protested.
"Weren't you in a hurry? I can carry you. It'll be faster that way," he responded earnestly.
And so, she was carried to the car in his arms.
When it was time for her to get out of the vehicle, she simply could not bear the embarrassment and said, "Forget it, forget it. There's no need to rush."
Chapter 1359 The Chaos Within Ceci Corporation
For some reason, after Nathaniel's unexpected antics, Cecilia found herself feeling less anxious and much calmer.
When she arrived at Ceci Corporation and saw the chaos inside, she remained composed.
Shortly after, Charlotte and Lucille arrived.
Charlotte immediately began investigating with Madeline, and before long, she stormed back angrily, saying, "It's clear now. It was an employee from our company who did it, claiming it was to sell confidential documents for money." "Was it just for money? Then why smash the company's computers?" Cecilia asked.
On her way over, Cecilia had also suspected it was an inside job. With surveillance cameras and security guards in place, it would be nearly impossible for an outsider to break into the company.
"He claimed it was purely out of frustration," Madeline reported, "saying something about slaving away here every day and being overworked."
Charlotte didn't buy a word of it. "Our company is easily the best in Tudela when it comes to employee benefits, and he dares to complain about being overworked. Frustration my foot! I bet someone put him up to this." Even Charlotte had figured it out, so naturally, Cecilia understood as well.
"Let's not get worked up just yet. Go check which confidential files are missing," Cecilia said.
"All right."
Charlotte led Cecilia and Nathaniel to the CEO's office.
Once inside, Cecilia felt her head pound. All the important project files were missing.
Who on earth is trying to destroy me?
Her chest tightened with frustration, but before she could catch her breath, news of the breach had already made headlines. Reports about the missing documents were spreading like wildfire.
Within ten minutes, the company's business partner began bombarding her with calls, demanding accountability and even threatening to terminate their contracts.
Fearing that Cecilia might become overly anxious, Nathaniel took it upon himself to handle the situation.
Charlotte could only pace around anxiously.
Nathaniel truly lived up to his reputation as a former Orion Corporation CEO. Remaining calm under pressure, he quickly convinced the clients to give Ceci Corporation one week to resolve the matter.
"Make sure to investigate thoroughly this week and find out who is behind all of this," Nathaniel instructed.
Cecilia nodded. "Understood."
"You should head home and rest. I've got this covered," Nathaniel added.
Just then, Calvin opened the office door, standing in the doorway. "Ceci, Mr. Rainsworth's right. You should rest. I can help manage this." Aren't they just some small business partners?
After hearing the news, Calvin had already begun his own investigation.
Charlotte noticed that as soon as Calvin entered the office, the entire room felt colder, sending a chill down her spine.
"Uh, I'll go outside and reassure the employees. Tell them to take the day off," she muttered, finding an excuse to leave.
Cecilia also sensed the tense atmosphere and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
Nathaniel grabbed her arm. "Darling, you're in the late stages of pregnancy. I'll go with you."
She shot him a fierce glare, thinking, Are you insane?
But with Calvin in the room, she reluctantly replied, "That's unnecessary. If I need anything, I'll call you."
With that, she quickly pulled her arm free and shuffled out of the office.
As Cecilia's figure faded into the distance, the polite facade Nathaniel and Calvin had been maintaining dissolved.
"Calvin, I'll manage this. Cecilia is my wife and the mother of my child. She doesn't need your help," Nathaniel said coldly.
Calvin smirked. “But Ceci and I grew.
up together. If she's in trouble, ofer
course I'll step in. If you have a
problem with it, you can let Ceci tell me herself."
Nathaniel wouldn't dare bring this up to Cecilia. One wrong word, and he'd spend ages trying to placate her.
Seeing Nathaniel's grim expression,
Calvin added, "Relax. I'm not here to compete with you for Ceci. She's already told me she chose to be withnoveldrama
you. As long as you treat her well, I won't interfere in your relationship again."
Chapter 1360 Web Of Deceit
"Hopefully, you truly think that way." Nathaniel dropped one last remark before leaving the office.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Eric standing at the entrance.
Eric had originally wanted to witness the two rivals tear each other apart, but to his surprise, they'd reconciled.
Nathaniel didn't spare him a glance and walked past him, heading to deal with other matters.
Calvin came out behind Nathaniel, and upon seeing Eric, his eyes were full of disdain. "Don't think I don't know you secretly told Nathaniel about my return! I despise scheming men like you the most!"
Eric, not one to back down, replied, "We're just pursuing the person we like in our own way. How does that make it scheming?"
Calvin sneered coldly. "You like Ceci very much, don't you?"
Eric faltered.
"Of course."
"If you do, then stop making things harder for her. Let her be happy." Calvin gave Eric's shoulder a firm pat before heading toward his office.
Eric stood frozen, pondering Calvin's words.
He, too, just wanted Cecilia to be happy.
What he didn't know was that, for Calvin, destroying a famous singer like him would be like a piece of cake.
Calvin only let Eric off the hook because of Cecilia's friendship with him.
Meanwhile, Cecilia had no idea about the tensions outside her office. She was deep in thought, trying to figure out who was behind all this.
In truth, she didn't have many enemies, only Cassandra and Miranda.
Miranda had been keeping a low profile lately. Could it be Cassandra?
Recalling what Stella mentioned yesterday, it seemed plausible.
At that moment, Stella, now recovered, was accompanying Cassandra for a beauty care routine.
"You're really something. Back when Cassina begged Queenie to deal with Cecilia, she refused. But as soon as you stepped in, Queenie took action," Stella remarked with a hint of amusement.
Cassandra basked in the compliment. "I think Mdm. Queenie just has a soft spot for you."
"When will the plan go into action?" she asked eagerly. "I can't wait to see Cecilia fall."
"Take it slow, this is just the beginning. It's fun for a tiger to tease its prey before devouring it," Stella said with a smirk.
Upon hearing this, Cassandra
admired her even more. "As long as you handle this well and stay out of the competition for the Jamieson family's heir position, I'll ensure you're treated generously."
Stella quickly replied, "Ms. Evans, rest assured, my only goal is to take revenge on Cecilia. I have no desire at all for the Jamieson family's heir position." "Good, I hope so."
Cassandra only said that to reassure
her, but in her mind, once Stella took care of Cecilia, she would make sure to get rid of her. She would never someone who posed a threat by her side.
Both women had their own ulterior motives.
At that moment, Miranda knocked and entered. "Well, you two seem to be having quite the time."
The three women quickly filled the room with lively chatter.
Yet, none of them expected that Queenie would secretly have someone conduct a DNA test behind their backs.
After taking revenge on Yvette, Stella also went after those who mocked her during her downfall.
She thought her actions were flawless, but little did she know, everything was under Queenie's watch.
"I never expected her to be so ruthless despite her gentle appearance," Queenie murmured to herself.
Her secretary, equally shocked, added, "Indeed. Ms. Yvette was once her best friend, but to think she would... sigh..." Queenie took a sip of warm water.
"Ensure the investigation stays under wraps. Not a word to anyone."
After a pause, she asked, "How are things on Cecilia's side?"