Chapter 233 Awakening Too Late
Patrick’s face was already ugly, but hearing Jonathan’s words now made his anger surge even higher.
“You ever treated her like a real sister? And you think she still gives a damn about that now?”
“Lilian, Lilian, Lilian- what exactly has Lilian been filling your heads with?”
Only now did Patrick start piecing things together.
Every time something happened at home–whether it was Susan or Jonathan it always came back to: “Lilian said…”
Especially when it had anything to do with Stella.
Patrick’s sudden outburst made Jonathan instinctively stiffen.
For the first time, he beard the unmistakable displeasure in Patrick’s voice.
“What, Lilian wasn’t lying? Dad, you–Jonathan’s breathing quickened, full of disbelief.
Was he seriously defending that backstabbing brat?
The same brat who colluded with outsiders to crush her own family?
Patrick’s face darkened further. ‘Hmph. Stella grew up in the Luke family. She’s officially Mr. Abraham’s younger sister- like Lillan is to you.
“And you people all you do is slander her with your filth, Was this what Lilian taught you?”
The final sentence exploded out of Patrick like a thunderclap.
The entire office was thick with rage, suffocating-
Jonathan’s mind buzzed, as if something heavy had just smashed into it.
Same as Lilian and him…..
Jonathan stared at Patrick in disbelief. “You–you’re saying.
Patrick snapped, “She grew up with the Luke family. Understand now?”
“And if I hear one more filthy word about her out of your mouth, I’ll rip your tongue out.”
Patrick’s hands clenched tightly.
The company had been a chaotic mess recently, and now he realized–Susan and Jonathan had been poisoning Stella’s name all along.
Every filthy guess, every cruel judgment all influenced by Lilian.
Thinking back to Lilian’s pitiful doe–eyed act, Patrick suddenly felt his mind clear sharply.
His gaze turned icy, his breathing cold.
Jonathan stared at him, still unable to process it. “But… wasn’t she raised by some poor family in the countryside?”
She had never mentioned her adoptive family- almost like she was ashamed.
So how had she turned out to be the youngest daughter of Fleule’s mighty Luke family?
Jonathan’s brain ground to a halt.
just
Jonathan hesitated.
Nowo, she hadn‘?.
Thinking back carefully, Stella had never once talked about her upbringing or her adoptive family.
“So it was Lilian who said it, wasn’t it?” Patrick pressed
Jonathan froze.
Lilian… it was Lilian!
He suddenly remembered.
The first time they learned Stella was supposedly raised in the countryside was at her first birthday back at the Reed family.
Susan had prepared her a strapless dress for the party.
But when Lilian saw it, she said: “Stella grew up in the countryside. She’ll be shy wearing something like that.”
And what happened afterward?
The fancy dress ended up on Lilian, and Stella wore a much plainer, conservative gown picked out from Lilian’s closet.
Now that he thought about it. Stella never said a word.
Seeing Jonathan’s expression, Patrick no longer needed confirmation.
His face turned even darker.
–
“Tm telling you Mr. Abraham is furious about how Stella was treated during the two years she lived in Rivermount
*All the trouble the Reed Group is facing right now – it’s because of his anger”
In other words, unless Stella spoke up for them, there was no way this disaster would just blow over.
Jonathan snapped back to reality, his face flushing with rage. “So what do you want us to do? Get on our knees and beg her?”
“When she first came home, didn’t we treat her well? She’s the one who kept picking fights with Lilian!”
Thinking about that explosive confrontation between Stella and Lilian two years ago, Jonathan’s fury reignited.
They had barely managed to stop Stella from sending Lilian to jail.
She had nearly beaten Lilian half to death.
At the time, Stella’s ferocity had been shocking like a wild little beast.
Patrick’s eyes blazed. “And you still dare to talk?!”
“You–you’re really going to be the death of me. Fine. You deal with this mess.”
Thinking about how he had nearly frozen to death this morning at Pluchville Hill, and then seeing Jonathan’s shameless. atitude now, Patrick’s fury erupted again.
