Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Then Let Her Die

Stella Sterling took a deep breath, forcing herself to swallow the bitterness in her heart, and turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the sun was blazing, cars flowed like rivers, and the vast expanse of Kenton lay out before her.

She suddenly remembered that the renowned Clearstone Law Firm in Kenton had, at the very beginning, been nothing but this one small office.

Back then, she’d sold the only house in her name to help Jasper Hawthorne rent it.

Now, this entire floor belonged to Jasper Hawthorne.

She remembered the day they rented this office—the weather had been just as bright and clear.

"Let’s call the law firm Clearstone, okay?"

"Call it whatever you want." Jasper’s expression was blank. "You decide."

Stella threw herself into his arms with excitement, only to be ruthlessly yanked away by her face. "I don’t like being hugged by others."

But Stella just kept laughing, carefree as ever, and flung herself into his arms again. "I’m going to hug you anyway."

She once boasted, grinning, that she would help Jasper become the best lawyer in all of Kenton.

Jasper said it didn’t matter; to him, Stella’s happiness was most important.

She kept her promise.

But he lied.

...

Stella had a lot of things at the company.

So many that she couldn’t finish packing even after a long time.

After all, from the day the firm was founded, she’d been behind Jasper, strategizing and cleaning up his messes.

The company might be Jasper’s, but it was also her hard work and devotion.

The employees watched Stella packing her things, exchanging uncertain looks, but none dared to step forward.

What happened at the wedding—they’d clearly heard about it too.

But Jasper was the boss. No one dared gossip about him unless they had a death wish at this job.

Just as Stella finished packing everything and was about to call a moving company, her phone suddenly rang.

It was Jasper’s mother calling.

Stella pressed her lips together and hit the answer button.

"Hello, is this Miss Sterling?" A panicked voice came from the other end—it was the maid.

"Mr. Hawthorne’s phone can’t be reached. His mother suddenly had an attack and was sent to the hospital. Can you come over?"

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

When Stella arrived at the hospital, she saw Mrs. Hawthorne sitting up in bed, eating an apple the maid had just peeled for her.

Seeing Stella walk in, May Wright’s pale face suddenly showed both anxiety and anger. She scowled and scolded her, "Stella, what’s going on with you and Jasper? How could you mess around with something as important as a wedding? Canceling the wedding on the day itself—how humiliating would that be if people found out?"

Fine beads of sweat formed on Stella’s forehead. Seeing that May Wright had enough energy to lecture her, she knew it wasn’t serious. She figured Mrs. Hawthorne’s attack was just brought on by rage after hearing about the canceled wedding.

"Auntie, please don’t be angry."

"How could I not be angry?" May’s brows knitted tighter. Maybe she’d gotten too worked up just now—as she spoke, her chest rose and fell. "Jasper is so stubborn, always acting on impulse. Stella, why didn’t you talk him out of it, letting him make such a mess?"

Stella took a deep breath and forced herself to explain, "During our wedding, Grace Quinn jumped from a building."

"What?" May’s face went pale with shock. "Is Grace okay?"

"She’s fine. Jasper’s already taken her to the hospital."

May patted her chest. "You scared me to death. Good thing she’s all right."

Once she understood what had happened, May’s anxiety eased. She repeatedly urged Stella to handle the aftermath of the canceled wedding and not cause Jasper any trouble.

After all the commotion, her weak body couldn’t take it anymore, and she soon fell asleep.

"Miss Sterling, sorry to trouble you with this. I’ll take care of everything here—you can go back to your work." The maid spoke apologetically.

Stella glanced at May Wright, who was already fast asleep on the bed. "From now on, anything about Auntie, don’t call me anymore. I..."

But before she could finish, the maid hurried to apologize, "Miss Sterling, please don’t be upset. Don’t take what madam said just now to heart—she’s always like that. Miss Grace grew up in front of her, so she’s more partial, but she really does like you too..."

A bitter smile curled Stella’s lips. Even the maid could tell May Wright liked Grace Quinn a bit more.

"I’m not angry with Auntie. Jasper and I have already broken up. From now on, anything about him has nothing to do with me. If there’s anything with Auntie, just call Jasper."

Stella turned and left, ignoring the maid’s stunned expression.

But as soon as she looked up, she saw Jasper Hawthorne and Grace Quinn standing not far away...

Stella met Jasper’s gaze; that striking face, no matter how many times she saw it, she found nothing to fault.

Of course.

If it weren’t for that face, how could she have fallen so hard...

"Why aren’t you dealing with the negative press about the canceled wedding? I got all the calls." Jasper frowned.

Stella only felt a sting in her chest—Jasper truly didn’t care about her.

He just wanted someone to clean up his mess, a glorified maid.

And she’d kept running to him, foolishly taking all this as signs he cared about her.

But there were beautiful memories between them, too.

Every moment, every thing—these were Stella’s most precious memories, the reason she’d stuck with him this whole time.

But now—it was over.

"Stella, I’m really sorry about today. I ruined your wedding with Jasper. I apologize."

Grace recited the words without a hint of sincerity, then hooked her arm through Jasper’s, her voice soft and lilting, "Jasper, look, I’ve already apologized. Don’t be mad at me anymore..."

"Mhm." Jasper nodded with a blank face.

Grace’s face instantly broke into a triumphant smile as she shot Stella a sidelong, gloating look.

Stella stared coldly at Grace.

This kind of petty trick—Grace used it all the time.

In the past, Stella would have fought back, tit-for-tat.

But now, she didn’t have the energy anymore.

Stella looked away. "I still need to go back to the office and finish packing. I’ll head out first."

But just as she passed by Jasper, her wrist was grabbed.

Stella turned back, meeting Jasper’s pitch-black eyes.

"I have something to—"

But before he could finish, Grace suddenly went limp and collapsed against Jasper.

Quick as lightning, Jasper caught her, his face tense. "What’s wrong?"

"I...I feel so dizzy. I guess it’s been too long since I had a blood transfusion..."

The moment ’blood transfusion’ was mentioned, Stella reflexively shrank back.

Grace had a congenital blood disorder and needed transfusions regularly, and her blood type was the rarest—panda blood...

And Stella just happened to be panda blood.

Back when she was younger and naive, the first time she agreed to give Grace blood, she thought Grace was Jasper’s cousin and volunteered without hesitation.

But after that, it was just to make Jasper happy.

She’d been foolish and clueless, loving Jasper so blindly that she saw anyone he cared about as her own concern. She didn’t even know how many times she’d given Grace her blood...

Jasper instinctively turned to her. "Stella, get ready to give Grace a transfusion later."

At that moment, Stella just wanted to laugh.

She even started to suspect Jasper hadn’t wanted just a maid—he’d wanted someone to be a living, portable blood bag for Grace.

"No way!" she refused sharply.

Jasper frowned. "Grace’s situation is special—if she doesn’t get a transfusion right away, she could die."

"Then let her die."