From the way Rolland Cher spoke, Stella Grace could tell he was a knowledgeable man.
“I will only do my part,” Stella said meaningfully.
“That’s good. I suddenly regret introducing him to you.” There was an implicit message to Rolland’s words.
Stella did not ask why. She was vaguely confident in her earlier assessment.
Ryan Lameer arrived after 11 o’clock. He smiled at Stella politely. “I’m sorry, I met a friend, and there was heavy traffic when I came, so I’m late.”
“Get to the point,” Stella said curtly.
“I agree to your proposal. May I know when you are available to go to Yale City?” Ryan asked politely.
“You live in Yale City?” Stella was very surprised. Yale City was not the capital city.
“Yale City is my hometown. My wife and son live there. I usually go back on weekends. I would stay a little longer if there’s an investigation,” Ryan said.
“I see. I can set out tomorrow. I’ll draw up the contract at the institute later, please wait a while for me. I hope that the first payment can be transferred to my account before I leave,” Stella said succinctly.
“Sure. Let’s go to the institute now,” Ryan said with a smile.
Stella looked at Ryan suspiciously. Something wasn’t right.
His attitude today was very different from before. There was no logical reason for him to act in this way. Did he not want to discuss the details?
Or was there another reason?
Stella and Ryan went to the institute.
She brought him there mainly to prove that she was part of a legitimate institution, so that he would trust her.
Ryan waited for Stella in the car.
Stella entered the office and printed out a contract, which she then brought back to Ryan to sign.
His signature was neat.
“Why don’t we have lunch together at noon?” Ryan invited.
“I’m afraid not, I’m going to Yale City tomorrow. Maybe next time. I have to go back and sort some things out,” Stella said distractedly.
“You’re right. We’ll meet again, I’ll arrange for someone to transfer the money to you.” Ryan lowered the black window and drove away.
Stella watched him leave. She was getting ready to drive Jasper’s car back to the military region when
she received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello, who is it?”
“Hello, Stella. This is Bettany. Can you come to the hospital at noon? I want to see you,” Bettany said softly.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Okay, let’s meet.”
Stella wanted to know what Bettany had in store for her.
Could it be that Bettany had finally started her plan, with Stella as her first target.
She drove to the hospital. Suzi Shine was gone, but there were two guards inside.
Bettany Hadley turned to the guards. “Can you help me get some food?”
The guards nodded and left the room.
“Sit down,” Bettany said softly.
Stella sat down quietly.
Bettany looked Stella up and down. “When I was imprisoned by the enemy, I kept wondering if Jasper would forget about me and fall in love with someone else. It appears that my intuition was spot on. You are younger and more beautiful than I am. You have a better figure and are more cultured than I am. I admit defeat.”
“Don’t think too much. The most important thing for you now is to recuperate. Everything will be fine.”
Bettany looked down. “There’s one more thing. I don’t know who else I can turn to apart from you.”
Stella stared at her.
Aside from therapy, she knew no other way she could possibly help Bettany.
She kept her guard up.
Bettany sensed her skepticism and looked at Stella worriedly. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone?”
Stella nodded. “Go ahead.”
“I was constantly raped while I was imprisoned. I eventually got pregnant.” Bettany paused for a moment. “They had me give birth to the child before determining who the father was.”
Stella frowned. “Where is the child?”
“When I was rescued, we were saved together. I didn’t know where I was, I didn’t dare let anyone know that the child was mine. On one hand, I didn’t have the ability to raise a child. On the other, it was too humiliating. I also didn’t dare let Jasper know that I had a child, or how I got it.”
Stella fixed her eyes onto Bettany suspiciously. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Help me find the child and adopt him. After getting to know you, I think you are a very reasonable person. You will raise the child well, and he would be successful in the future. Don’t tell him that I am his mother.” Bettany lowered her head.
Stella looked at Bettany, but she realized she couldn’t see through her at all.
Why was Bettany telling her all this?
“I understand, I’ll look into it,” Stella replied.
“Thank you. Can you promise not to tell anyone about it?” Bettany begged.
Stella nodded. “Don’t worry.”
Bettany got up from the bed and kowtowed three times to Stella. “Thank you for putting the past behind us to help me. I’m relieved to have you take care of the child. I will not come in between you and Jasper, I swear.”
“Get up and take good care of yourself.” Stella helped Bettany up and laid her on the bed. “I’m going to Yale City for a business trip tomorrow. I’ll be gone for about three months. When I come back, I’ll see you again.”
Bettany nodded. “Thank you.”
Stella turned around and walked toward the door. Suddenly, she stopped and looked back at Bettany.
Bettany was stunned. “What’s wrong?”
Stella shook her head and left the ward.
If she was not mistaken, Bettany had been staring at her back rather sharply.
When she turned around, Bettany could not hide her expression fast enough and panicked.
Since she was treating the matter of the child like a game, she will deal with it stoically and watch what happens.
Bettany frowned when she saw that Stella had left. After getting out of bed and making sure that there was no one outside, Bettany made a phone call. “Stella is an expert psychologist. She has a brilliant mind and an impeccable ability to analyze people. She can’t be fooled at all. Also, Jasper listens to her. She will not be easy to deal with,” she said angrily.
“Do you want to give up? I can arrange to have you extracted. I don’t need incompetent people here.”
“Of course not. I’ve just been away for too long. Please give me more time,” Bettany pleaded.
“Stella will be in Yale City for three months starting tomorrow. Think about what you should do. Also, don’t contact me unless you have other instructions. Goodbye.”
Bettany deleted all records, annoyed.
…
Stella got in the car and called Jasper Milton.
He answered.
She didn’t mention Bettany. If her opponent didn’t make a move, she wouldn’t either.
“Jasper, I found an important piece of information when I was chatting with Rolland today.”
“Who’s Rolland? A man?” Jasper’s tone was full of jealousy.