Chapter 17 Don’t Play Dumb
He hadn’t expected to get dragged into it too. One moment they were acting like a loving couple, the next, Joy appeared–and made everything worse.
pull Joy
Wendy had seen enough. She gave Sam a look, and Sam immediately rushed over to pull
away.
“As you all saw, this child isn’t mine or Henry’s. While I was married, I never did anything that violated the law. Henry being here today is to help clear our names. We met at the hospital, that’s all–just two friends helping each other. My husband was present, too. Any other questions?”
In truth, Wendy hadn’t known Henry would show up.
For a split second, her mind had gone completely blank. She’d instinctively grabbed Chase’s hand, afraid that if she let go, he might vanish.
Under all those cameras, Henry had no choice but to speak.
“Yes,” he said awkwardly. “I didn’t expect the rumors online to spread like this. Wendy and I… our relationship ended years ago. We’ve both built separate lives. We’d never do anything to betray our families.”
The chaos outside the company finally died down. Sam led the way. Joy nestled back in Henry’s arms as the group walked into the elevator.
“Who brought Henry here?” Wendy asked.
Sam didn’t dare lie. “Ms. Stella.”
Stella didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. She rolled her eyes at Chase. “Why are you still here? If you’re going to leave, do it clean. Why hang around and make things worse? If it weren’t for you, my sister and Henry would be official by now! The Harrison family wouldn’t look down on him. This is all your fault!”
No one said a word until they entered the executive office. Sam took Joy elsewhere for the time being. Only the adults remained.
This wasn’t something a child should see.
Stella kept needling Chase, asking why he didn’t just leave for good. Was he playing hard to get? Did he want Wendy to chase after him?
Chase ignored the idiot.
He found a seat and sat down. Stella followed, but before she could speak again, Wendy yanked her back and slapped her hard across the face.
The slap stunned both Stella and Henry.
Chase, on the other hand, didn’t bat an eye.
Finished
Chapter 17 Don’t Play Dumb
Wendy might love Stella. She might even still love Henry. But none of that came before the company or her own interests.
Family or lover once they crossed the line, they’d pay for it.
“You hit me?” Stella was frozen. One hand covered her face, tears streaming down. “Sis, it’s because of Chase! Why did you bring him here? Don’t you love Henry? I was just trying to help you two! What did I do wrong?”
Wendy sat back in her wide chair, silently watching her little sister. cry.
“What did you do wrong?
“Wendy, it wasn’t Stella’s fault. She didn’t mean for things to get out of hand. Joy… it’s my fault. I didn’t teach her properly. Don’t blame Stella, Henry said.
Chase glanced at his phone. A few messages had come in from his professors, asking if he’d made his flight safely.
He typed back with a sigh: Not going to Lemuria–for now. You’ll see why in tomorrow’s news.
“Henry, stop talking.” Wendy said coldly.
“My mom and I have been protecting this company with everything we have. And you? You haven’t done anything, and now you create a mess like this? Stella, you’ve had it too easy for too long. Do you know how much stock value the company is going to lose because of today?”
Stella blinked, not really following.
“I just wanted everyone to accept Henry. I didn’t do anything to hurt the company’s image.”
“I’m the CEO. If people believe I cheated during my marriage, my personal reputation alone is enough to make deals fall through. Stella, my relationship with Chase is none of your business. If Chase hadn’t been here today, I’d be branded a cheater. Tomorrow, the shareholders would demand I step down. Do you want the Quinn family to collapse because of you?”
Wendy’s questions came like a hammer. Stella looked dazed, no longer holding her face–just staring at Chase.
“But… but you two are divorced. All you had to do was admit it. Then you and Henry could be together.”
That’s my business.”
Wendy had never been the soft type. And she wasn’t stupid. If she really thought about it, it was clear who had set this up.
“Henry, I know the Harrison family’s been pressuring you. Ever since you came back with Joy, they’ve refused to acknowledge you. I’ll figure something out. But Stella coming up with this plan? That wasn’t the way. You’re not the kind of man who should be stuck at home.”
Finished
Chapter 17 Don’t Play Dumb
So Henry wasn’t the kind of man to be caged. But he was?
He was the one expected to stay home, cooking and waiting. If he hadn’t said anything to the press about working at the hospital, he’d probably be locked away again by tomorrow.
“Wendy, I never meant for you or Stella to be caught in the middle. I’ll deal with the Harrison family myself. I’ll ask Joy to apologize,” Henry said, already getting up to fetch her.
Wendy waved him off. “Forget it. Just go. There’s still a lot to clean up.”
Stella didn’t want to leave, but Henry whispered something in her car and eventually got her to go, tear–streaked and unwilling.
“You-“Wendy sat there, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Keep your job at the hospital for now. But you’d better balance it with being home. If I come home and don’t see you there, I’ll have someone fire you immediately.”
Chase sat up straight.
At last, some quiet. He could finally speak clearly.
“First of all, we’re divorced. I’m a fully autonomous adult. You have no say that’s your house, not mine. I won’t be going back. If you need me for appearances, fine. Call me.
in my job..Second, Otherwise, there’s no reason for us to talk.”
Wendy looked up and stared at him.
“I never thought you were this kind of person.”
“Really? Maybe I loved you too much before. That’s why you never saw this side of me.”
At the word love, Wendy’s shoulders softened slightly. She let out a long breath.
“I know you love me. Why can’t we just go back to how we were?”
“And what about today? That just gets swept under the rug?”
Wendy thought for a second. “I’ve already found a school abroad for Stella. It’s time she learned something. Mom and I spoiled her too much.”
“Don’t play dumb, Wendy. Don’t tell me you haven’t figured out the role Henry played in all of this. Or is it that, in your eyes, Henry is just that perfect?”
Of course she wasn’t that naive.
Send Gifts
