abcnovels
Chapter 387
Chapter 387
Chapter 387
Chapter 387
Albert brimmed, not hiding his doting eyes. It was not a common sight Stella could see from Albert. The smiles those three had in the photograph were made hideous from the photo being worn and crumpled. She could somehow imagine the feeling Rainee had whenever she saw the photograph.
Shiver went down Stella's spine as she saw the photograph, having a bad premonition in her heart as she recalled how Albert treated Sophia for so many years.
As though it was to ascertain her guess, the last piece was a paternity test of Sophia and Albert. And, Sophia had a 99.996 percent chance of being Albert's biological daughter. Stella's blood turned cold from the realization of this truth, and of Albert's cruelty.
‘How can he be so heartless to take in his illegitimate daughter and used adoption as a guise to let her wife take care of her? I can't even begin to imagine how brokenhearted my mother was when she found out. She never even brought this up with me. Not even once" Stella thought.
She did not realize what her mother was going through since Rainee's mood swings caused by her depression made Stella mentally and physically exhausted. It pierced her heart every time she thought of it.
It was not because Rainee did not want to say it, but Stella might not understand it back then. She was often asked if she would follow Albert or Rainee if they were to divorce during the year she had to prepare for the college entrance exam.
She did not take the question seriously as Rainee would ask the same question whenever Albert and Rainee quarreled.
Rainee, in fact, did not want to divorce Albert. She asked Stella so she could have a suitable reason not to proceed with the divorce. Every time Rainee asked the same question, Stella would choose Albert. She would be given a happy hug and her mother would not bear to divorce.
Those were from another time. That one time she was asked that question, it was not after Rainee and Albert had an argument.
In fact, Rainee and Albert argued much lesser that particular year.
Moreover, Rainee would not be as happy as she usually would when she heard the same answer. That time, she only knitted her brows and looked like something was on her mind.
‘Why didn't I notice that Mom was acting weird back then?’
Stella had flipped through the invoices umpteen times before realizing that those were in fact, records showing the financial loopholes in the company. There were signatures of Albert trying to evade tax, unfair tenders, bribery, and even the embezzlement record of the Jewell family during those years. That was probably the reason why Albert had agreed to sign such an unfair divorce agreement.
‘‘Knowing father's character, he wouldn't willingly give up the assets he worked so hard for, even if he had committed adultery and was taking care of his illegitimate children. The divorce agreement had been signed, yet Mom was met with misfortune before the very last of the divorce formalities could be completed. Is this just a coincidence? Did the car accident have something to do with my father? Was mother trying to tell me something even when she was in a dire condition?’Stella felt chills piercing her heart. Right at that moment, her phone rang.It was a call from Marshall. She took a deep breath, suppressing her raging emotions, and answered with a hoarse voice, Hello."
Marshall was surprised when he heard her current voice. "Stella, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," replied Stella as she cleared her throat. ‘How can I help you, Mr. Moore?"
"Are you free to pick up Keegan? Both of US had a little too much to drink, so neither of US could drive"
Stella looked at the time and realized that three hours had passed since.
"Alright. I'll be there in a moment. Please take care of him while I'm on my way there."
Hanging up the phone call, Stella settled her emotions, returned everything back into the strongbox, and locked it before driving over to pick Keegan up.