Chapter 70 Severance
“If you finally came to your senses, let’s sever ties now, yeah?”
Stella’s voice was calm, almost conversational, but to Susan, it carried a weighty threat that sent a chill straight to her bones.
She’s threatening me? She, Stella? How dare she have audacity?
up now.
Stella’s tone remained light, even playful. “You think about it. I’m hanging up
“Wait… Susan’s voice cracked with urgency.
She finally had her on the line after days of being stonewalled. There were still questions that needed answers. That man, who is he to you?”
Stella paused, her voice lowering. “Seems like you still haven’t figured out what place you actually hold in my life.”
That single sentence made Susan’s heart seize. Before she could speak, the call ended.
The sound of disconnection echoed in her ears like a slap.
What place? Is she trying to say I didn’t know my position? That I didn’t deserve one? I’m her mother!
Susan’s hand trembled, phone raised, rage building to the brink.
“Mom.. don’t!” Lilian, frail and ghostly pale, quickly reached out to stop her. “Don’t throw it.”
The phone, they had borrowed it. Stella had blocked nearly every number they used, even calls from hospital staff. Now, any contact with her was like threading a needle in the dark.
Susan clenched her jaw and sucked in a breath, barely holding it together. “Outrageous. Absolutely outrageous.”
Her own daughter, daring to talk down to her. Daring to suggest she needed to understand her place? So she was serious about cutting ties this time?
It never occurred to Susan that canceling her card would provoke such an explosive response.
“Don’t be angry, Mom, Lilian whispered softly, her weakness painting her words with fragility.
Her gentle, obedient tone was like balm to Susan’s battered ego. This was her real daughter. kind, quiet, raised by her side.
“She wants to sever ties? Fine. Let her. A daughter like that, I don’t need her. Susan’s voice dripped with resentment. “She thinks just because she earned 980,000 dollars last year, she can act like she’s above everyone?”
“That’s what I’m worried about…” Lilian murmured, sadness Incing her voice. “Do you really want to watch her throw herself away like this. Mom?”
“What choice do I have?” Susan growled. “What am I supposed to do?”
Lilian’s eyes flickered. Tll speak to Ethan. We should filter her partnerships. Make sure she doesn’t get involved with shady collaborators.
What she meant was simple. Choke the lifeline. Cut off Stella’s studio.
She could not let outsiders think Stella’s independence was admirable.
As expected, Susan’s fury surged again. “You’re absolutely right. We can’t let her keep associating with those people.”
Fine, let her break ties. But if she failed, it would still reflect on the Reed family. Everyone knew Stella was brought back to the Reed family for two years.
Susan’s gaze softened as she grasped Lilian’s hand. Talk to Ethan, okay?”
Chapter 70 Severance
+8 Pearls
Susan said. “She dares defy me because she has that business. Without it. let’s see what she has left.”
Lilian masked her triumph with a worried frown. “But won’t she retaliate1”
“She always retaliates. What else is new? Susan huffed. “She only makes noise because shes got that platform. Take it away.
What can she do then?”
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. That studio had to go.
Susan confirmed her thought. “Better to shut it down now than let her drag the entire Reed family through the mud.”
“You’re right, Lilian said, lowering her eyes with well–practiced grace. Tll talk to Ethan
Seeing how agreeable Lilian remained. Susan’s mood finally began to ease.
She thought back to the phone call to that chilling phrase Stella hurled at her daughter, when she said burned into ashes, her heart ached at the memory.
She reached for Lilian’s hand, her voice trembling with pain. If only she were half as well–behaved as you. Then maybe 1 wouldn’t be so worried…
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