Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
At the mention of freezing Stella’s credit cards, a glint of satisfaction flashed through Lillian’s eyes.
Stella, nothing in the Reed family belongs to you. There can only be one daughter here, and that’s me.
Despite her delight, she put on a concerned act. “But if you freeze Stella’s cards, how will she survive? She’s been living off the Reed family for the past two years–she doesn’t even have a job.”
Jonathan said firmly, “Lillian, stop speaking up for her. This time, she needs to be taught a lesson.”
Lillian hesitated as if she wanted to argue but then turned to Susan.
Susan nodded in agreement. “Your brother’s right. It’s time she learned how to behave like a proper lady.”
Just thinking about Stella’s temperament gave Susan a headache. She refused to believe Stella had truly let go of her feelings for Ethan. In her eyes, all the trouble Stella caused two years ago was because of Ethan. That nonsense about Lillian orchestrating the car accident? Just an excuse–Stella was obsessed with Ethan, and that was the real issue.
Lillian shifted her gaze to Ethan.
Ethan frowned but said nothing, clearly agreeing with Susan and Jonathan’s decision.
Susan turned her attention back to Lillian’s ankle. “How’s the injury? Is it serious?”
Lillian shook her head. “Not too bad. Ethan insisted on taking me to the hospital.”
Susan nodded approvingly. “It’s better to be careful. Your father arranged the best specialist for you. We’ll have them check you again.”
“Thank you, Mom.
“Silly girl, there’s no need to thank me.”
Hearing Lillian call her ‘Mom‘ so sweetly made Susan’s heart ache with affection.
And so, while fussing over Lillian’s injury, they also finalized Stella’s punishment.
The consensus? Cut off her $2,700 monthly allowance to force her into submission. They believed that without financial support, Stella would eventually have no choice but to drop the whole thing about Lillian’s involvement in the car accident.
At the root of it all, they were certain of one thing: Stella loved Ethan too much to actually walk away.
This time, they weren’t even giving her the chance to throw a tantrum,
Stella spent the entire afternoon in meetings at the studio.
A massive project–a record–breaking deal in the design industry. Of course, she had to give it her all.
A golden–ticket client like this? No way she was letting go.
By the time she left the studio, it was already six o’clock.
“Stella?”
Hearing her name, she turned to see Tessa standing a few steps away, looking utterly shocked.
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Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
Finished
Before Stella could answer, Tessa jumped to her own conclusions. “I told you to take my money, but you refused. Now you’re out here scrambling for a job?”
Stella sighed. “Let’s grab dinner first. I’ll explain while we eat.”
Her studio was something Tessa had no idea about, and it wasn’t something that could be explained in just a few words.
This time, they picked a restaurant known for its soups.
Half an hour later, after hearing the full story. Tessa was stunned. “You’ve been hiding this from me? I had no ideal”
If even she didn’t know, then the Reed family and Ethan definitely had no clue.
Stella shrugged. “It’s not like it ever came up.”
Tessa thought about it. That was true.
She and Stella had met abroad, and their conversations were always about casual things.
Even when they did talk about work, it was usually just in passing
“You’ve been running it for a year?” Tessa asked.
Stella nodded. “Yeah, a year
now.”
“Are you making good money?”
That was the key question.
As long as Stella had financial independence, she could say no to the Reed family and Ethan whenever she wanted.
Stella casually replied. “A couple hundred thousand, give or take”
Tessa’s mouth dropped open.
Her definition of a little money and mine are we even talking about the same numbers?
-Wait–you’re telling me a tourism design studio makes this much? In just its first year?”
Most small studios struggled just to break even in their first year, and yet here Stella was, making serious profit.
Stella smirked. “If you’re good at what you do, of course, you’ll make money. Just keep it to yourself.”
“Got it.” Tessa nodded, fully understanding what Stella meant,
That wretched Lillian would want to steal anything Stella had.
And Tessa distinctly remembered–Lillian had majored in this field too.
Then there was Ethan. That guy had already proven he had no bottom line. Now that things were turning ugly between them. he’d probably resort to underhanded tricks.
Tessa scoffed. “Then you don’t need to pay any attention to them. Right now, they’re just trying to use money to force you into submission.”
Freezing her card? The message was obvious to anyone.
They wanted Stella to personally say she was letting go of the car accident issue.
All that effort just to protect an adopted daughter. That family really bent over hackward for Lillian
6:20 PM
Chapter 9 Is She Desperately Looking for a Job?
Rianne King–Stella and Tessa’s mutual best friend and a renowned genius in gynecology.
Naturally, she was also the busiest among the three of them.
Tessa nodded. “Makes sense. I haven’t seen her in a month either.”
