Chapter 35 Irene had never felt so upset right now. The beeping sound from the phone was stabbing straight into her chest, making her heart throb painfully. At least, in this moment, she could finally understand a little of what Stella had felt every time she had hung up on her countless times before. "Mom..." sobbed Irene. She returned to the window, staring after the fading figure, her tear-blurred eyes misty. On the other side, Stella had planned to go home and rest, but her best friend's relentless calls-crying and whining-had left her no choice. There was supposedly some "super serious" matter she had to see in person. "All right. Just quit screaming. My ears are about to fall off." Stella parked the car by the roadside and held the phone, looking exasperated. "Tell me the address. I'll drive over, okay?" Afraid something might happen, Stella swiveled the car around. "Listen, Erica, this better be important." "Don't worry! It'll knock your socks off," replied her best friend Erica Russell, her soft, playful voice carried a teasing edge. "Just get over here. I have to keep an eye on things for you too." Stella blinked. Whatever Erica was watching, it couldn't be anything but something involving Ernest. Couple that with him and Sylvia ignoring Irene and sneaking around alone... Stella didn't need to guess what Erica had seen. Stella hesitated. She didn't want to see-or deal with-the two of them. But then she thought, she hadn't done anything wrong. If anyone should hide, it wasn't her. Besides, she still had a life in Seabrook to live and Lumière Group waiting for her to return to her long-neglected passion. Eventually, she had to face them. After all, Sylvia was also a jewelry designer. Stella had no reason to run. Definitely not. Decision made, Stella slammed her foot on the accelerator and shot forward. ***** On the second floor of the hotel, Stella stepped off the elevator and spotted Erica crouching outside the banquet hall, skulking like a little spy, waving at her. "Over here, Stella," she cheered. As she stepped in, Erica spoke up again, "Let's agree first, no matter what you see later, don't..." "It's just Ernest and Sylvia," Stella said flatly. "Huh?" Erica's eyes widened. "How did you know?" "If you act any more obvious, I could probably guess what they're doing," Stella raised an eyebrow. "Now, are you here to eat, play, or do you want me to give you a ride home?" Stella and Erica had been childhood friends. The Russells weren't exactly at the level of Seabrook's top-tier elites, but they 1/3 Chapter 85 were old money, once neighbors of the Jansens. They'd been inseparable since they were little. Stella had a passion for jewelry, while Erica was happy being a carefree little social butterfly, living for food, drinks, and fun. The Russell family could afford to spoil her. Back in the day, Stella had often abandoned half-finished designs to pick up a drunken Erica or be dragged into one of her crazy adventures. "I brought you here to catch a cheater," Erica said, practically bouncing. "Honestly, I've never seen one in real life. Later, you better let me slap Sylvia a couple times." Turns out, she hadn't seen it before, so to save Stella the awkwardness, Erica had tried to look the other way. But now it was right in front of her. If she didn't teach that scumbag Ernest and his sidekick a lesson, Erica thought she could never repay Stella for all the times she had been there for her. "Let's go! And you should give them a few slaps too, for venting," said Erica as she grabbed Stella and started pulling her in. Stella stumbled to keep her balance, and by the time she tried to protest, it was too late. Inside the banquet hall, every head turned as the two of them barged in. Stella felt awkward, but Erica didn't bat an eyelash. "What are you staring at? I'm here to look for a cheater, not you guys," Erica yelled. "That's enough!" a cold, sharp voice cut her off. At the center of the crowd stood Ernest, dressed in a black suit, face sharp and expression cold. A gem-studded, gold- trimmed accessory adorned his chest, giving off a regal, untouchable aura. As he advanced toward Stella and Erica, his presence was so imposing that the guests in front stepped aside without hesitation. "Cut the tricks, Stella." Ernest stopped in front of Stella, tone hard as steel. "You better leave this place while I still have enough patience." Naturally, he assumed the "look for a cheater" idea was from Stella. To him, only Stella would play such a ridiculous game. Had it been years ago, being treated like this in front of a roomful of people would have cut Stella like a knife. But now, even under all the curious gazes, she met his eyes evenly. "Believe it or not, this was just an accident. I didn't mean to disturb your banquet, nor did I..." Ernest wasn't interested. "I'll say this one last time. Get out." "And if we don't?" Erica stuck out her lip. Big talk for a cheating scumbag, she thought. How dare he act so cocky in front of his legal wife Stella? Erica believed one should own their duties once married. If it weren't for the crowd and the fear of gossip back home, she might have already snapped bad words. "And you are..." Ernest finally looked at her properly. Erica laughed, angry and amused at the same time. "I'm telling you, scumbag, how careless can you be with Stella that you don't even remember her friends?" Even if lazy, wouldn't he leave a tiny mark in his memory? Erica rolled her eyes. Really? No heart put in at all? 2/3 "Why would I waste my time?" Ernest asked, intrigued. "Fine. You say that all you want," Erica chuckled. "Hope you're just as tough when I slap you in the face later." The Lloyds were Seabrook's top enterprise, undisputed and untouchable. But that didn't mean Ernest could do whatever he wanted, at least not against the Russells. After all, plenty of people were gunning for his spot. That was Erica's confidence in coming to catch a cheater. She was clever as a whip. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Chapter 86