“Have you forgotten what happened last time?” Suzi Shine threatened.
Suzi and Steven Milton kidnapped her to threaten Jasper into marrying Katty Davis. They even cut her finger off.
Her heart still ached whenever she thought about it.
Stella smirked. “I recorded the kidnapping three years ago, including State Mayor Cher’s involvement. I have documented every single person involved by name.
It is kept in a black box in the United States with my friend. With my current reputation, experts around the world would be inclined to believe me. Even if they don’t, I am sure it will go viral on the news. What’s more important is that they are all true facts with evidence to back them up.”
Suzi panicked. “Are you crazy? Do you know how many people will suffer if this gets exposed?”
“Well, it depends solely on you. If you don’t bother me, we will be at peace. But if you come after me, then I’m sorry. I don’t have the time or energy to think about others. The only people I have time for are the ones who threaten me,” Stella coldly explained.
Suzi’s face turned pale. “Does Jasper know that you are so cunning?”
“People tend to neglect self-reflection when they criticize others. Speaking of being cunning, have you ever reflected on what you have done, Madam Shine?” Stella said calmly.
“What a glib-tongued woman! I won’t allow you to marry into the Miltons,” Suzi said angrily.
Stella smiled. “Your approval is irrelevant. If you treat me well as your daughter-in-law, I would fulfill my duties and take you as my mother.”
“Don’t ever think about it,” Suzi refused.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up.”
“Stella, watch your attitude if you want to marry Jasper. I’ll be your mother-in-law if he really marries you. You would make his life hard if you keep behaving like this,” Suzi reprimanded.
“You started it. You threatened me with what happened three years ago. I’m already being very polite to you.
Since you refused to acknowledge my place in your family, why should I do the same for you?
You’re the one making Jasper’s life difficult, not me.
You hate, dismiss, and look down on me. That will not change no matter how much I try. It will only get worse and I will not be able to live my life properly.
I’m sorry, I don’t feel right bowing to you when I’m not at fault,” Stella said coldly.
She knew the importance of power, the incident three years ago had taught her well.
There was no point crying and begging for mercy,
they would not stop out of pity.
She had to grow stronger and to protect herself.
Three years ago, Stella was weak. She could do nothing even if Suzi and Steven were going to kill her back then.
She would not live the same way as she did three years ago.
“Do you have to marry my son?” Suzi was still mad.
“What do you think?” Stella asked.
“Three years ago, I still thought you were a good girl. It appears that I have misjudged you. If I had known what you are really like, I would not have shown mercy,” Suzi sneered.
“It doesn’t matter if you misjudged me or not, I don’t care. Bye.” Stella hung up before Suzi could say anything else.
She actually did care what Suzi thought of her.
After all, she was Jasper’s mother, the mother of the man she loved.
Stella looked at Jasper.
Jasper was looking ahead, unreadable as ever. “I’m sorry. I don’t get along well with your mother.”
Jasper’s eyes were dim.
He could already guess what his parents had done from the way Stella’s information was covered up and how they had opposed his investigations.
“Three years ago, my parents kidnapped you and forced me to marry Katty, am I right?” Jasper asked coldly.
“Your parents think that you should marry a better woman. Perhaps, it’s their love for you.” Stella looked out of the window.
She didn’t want to come between Jasper and his parents.
“They cut off your little finger, and that’s why I cut mine off too. I used self-harm to make them compromise. And in the end, I was still engaged to Katty,” Jasper guessed.
Stella looked at Jasper.
Back then, his father had forced him to marry Katty because he was threatened by Zoah Davis.
No one wanted their parents to suffer.
She kept this to herself and did not tell Jasper about it.
It was not because she was noble, she just didn’t want him to be sad.
“Just let bygones be bygones. We have brighter days ahead of us, don’t we?” Stella smiled, trying to change the topic.
Jasper held Stella’s hand and looked at her without saying a word.
He didn’t usually say much, but his eyes spoke a thousand words.
They finally arrived at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Jasper held her hand. “Before we get married, do you have any requests?”
Stella carefully thought about it. “I only have one request.”
Jasper looked at her. “What?”
“If one day, I ask for a divorce, I hope you can agree to it. The military marriage doesn’t allow for divorce, but that only means that the non-soldier can’t propose a divorce. That means you can. Can you accept my request?” Stella looked at him.
Jasper frowned. His heart tightened and his eyes dimmed. He felt like he had fallen into an ice-cold lake. “Are you already thinking about divorce before we even get married?”
Stella tried to convince Jasper. “No one goes into a marriage thinking that they would get divorced, but when they do want to get divorced, they don’t think about getting into the same marriage again.
When they get married, they think everything is good, and when they get divorced, all they can think of are the bad things.
I think we should be more rational before we get married. It will help to maintain our marriage, wouldn’t it?”
“I think you’re too cold sometimes,” Jasper said.
She didn’t like hearing that from him.
Perhaps she was born that way, or maybe it was because she received no love or family affection growing up.
Stella smirked. “Why don’t…”
Jasper interrupted her. “I got it.”