His lips moved slightly, those dirty words almost reached his mouth, but he swallowed them back hard.
Cannot say.
Absolutely cannot say.
That would ruin her.
After a long silence, Aidan Sterling’s voice finally sounded, "Stella, trust brother just this once... just this once..."
Stella Sterling took a deep breath—here it was again.
Keeping everything from her, yet claiming it’s for her own good.
"Brother, I’m not a child anymore."
"Stella..."
Stella interrupted him, her heart cold, "I’ll find out the things you won’t say on my own."
Finished speaking, she no longer looked at him, turned, and quickly left the greenhouse.
The glass door closed behind her, making a slight thud.
Aidan Sterling closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple rolled violently as he swallowed a full feeling of powerlessness.
...
Stella Sterling flew back to Riveria and went straight to Innovatech Bio’s headquarters.
The building was much quieter than usual, but still gathered some reporters who caught wind of the news.
She wore sunglasses, kept her head down, and quickly entered through the side door.
Elias Peyton had evidently received the news in advance and was waiting for her at the elevator.
His face looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, but he remained composed.
"Senior Peyton, how’s the situation now?" Stella Sterling removed her sunglasses and directly asked.
Elias Peyton rubbed his temples, "It’s very bad. The report materials are very detailed, accusing several key groups of data from the core clinical trials of being tampered with. The drug administration has already sealed all original data and experiment records and is verifying them one by one. If it’s determined as falsification, the ’Healin’ project will be immediately terminated, all prior investments and market promotions completely wasted, not to mention the subsequent legal responsibilities and enormous compensations."
He paused, glanced at Stella Sterling, his tone heavy, "And, Second Uncle Donovan is very active right now, seemingly wanting to take control of Innovatech Bio and seize power..."
Philip Donovan...
That guy really is restless!
"What can I do?" she asked.
Elias Peyton was taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to ask that.
He carefully chose his words, "Miss Sterling, I appreciate your goodwill. But right now... it’s best if you stay out of it. President Donovan had previously instructed, no matter what happens, not to involve you."
That phrase again...
She always felt that something was off.
"Counselor Peyton," Stella Sterling looked sharply at him, "Be honest with me, did Shane Donovan know in advance someone would act?"
Elias Peyton’s eyes flickered and avoided her gaze, "Miss Sterling, President Donovan’s thoughts are not something we can speculate."
His evasiveness only made Stella Sterling more certain of her suspicion.
Did Shane Donovan know in advance?
"I need all publicly available materials of the ’Healin’ project that don’t involve confidentiality, and..."
But before she could finish, the office door was abruptly pushed open from outside.
Philip Donovan sauntered in, followed by two guards with cold expressions.
Today, he wore a meticulously tailored dark gray suit, his hair groomed neatly, a satisfied smile on his lips.
"Counselor Peyton..." he turned to face Elias Peyton, "Now that Innovatech is going through turbulent times, it’s best not to bring outsiders into the core office area casually."
His gaze slowIy moved to Stella Sterling, "Miss Sterling, this is Innovatech Bio, internal affairs will be handled by us, no need for outsiders to worry. Please leave."
Seeing his smug face, Stella Sterling couldn’t help but retort, "Second Uncle Donovan even knows this is Innovatech Bio, huh?"
Philip Donovan reacted like he heard a joke, chuckling lightly, he leisurely adjusted his cuff, his demeanor relaxed.
"Miss Sterling shouldn’t be so angry, of course I know this is Innovatech Bio, it’s just that my nephew is young and impulsive, made mistakes, bringing such a huge crisis to the company, someone has to come out and stabilize the situation, clean up the mess. The board unanimously nominated me to temporarily take over the position of president, everything is reasonable and legal..."
He stepped forward, pressing closer to Stella Sterling, "As for you, Miss Sterling, you haven’t even gotten engaged to Shane yet! Out of consideration for The Sterling Family, I give you some face. If you know what’s good, leave on your own. Otherwise, being ’escorted’ out by me won’t look good on anyone."
Elias Peyton’s face turned ugly, he stepped forward intending to speak, "Philip..."
"Elias Peyton!" Philip Donovan interrupted harshly, sweeping his cold gaze across, "Do your job! Don’t forget who is the real master at Innovatech now!"
Elias Peyton clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead faintly visible, but ultimately closed his eyes in surrender, did not speak further.
Watching the scene unfold, Stella Sterling’s heart sank completely.
Philip Donovan clearly came prepared and had quickly taken control of the situation.
Even Elias Peyton was subdued, and as an outsider, she truly had no footing here at this moment.
She turned away from Philip Donovan’s disgusting grin and walked toward the office exit.
...
Returning to The Sterling Family empty-handed, as soon as she entered the living room, she saw her brother Aidan Sterling sitting there, evidently waiting for her.
"You’re back?" His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
Stella Sterling pressed her lips, didn’t speak.
Aidan Sterling walked to the bar, poured himself a glass of water, and drank a sip, "You went to Innovatech?"
"Yes." Stella Sterling softly affirmed.
"Looks like you hit a wall?" Aidan Sterling’s tone was indifferent, "Philip Donovan, that old fox, since he’s made a move, he wouldn’t leave you any opportunity."
He put down the glass, walked to her, looking down at her, "Now have you given up?"
Stella Sterling looked up, "Brother, why do you hate Shane Donovan so much?"
Aidan Sterling’s face darkened, "I told you, he’s not a good match! His intentions in approaching you are impure! Are you going to yell at me for him now?"
"Impure intentions? What intentions?!" Stella Sterling took a step forward, staring at him, "You’ve always said he’s not a good person, that his intentions are impure, then tell me, what did he do?! Provide evidence!"
"Evidence?" Aidan Sterling sneered, his chest faintly rising and falling from anger, "Some things don’t need evidence! You only need to know that I would never harm you! Shane Donovan is unworthy of you!"
There it was again!
Always the same!
Under the guise of being for her own good, but unwilling to reveal anything!
Stella Sterling subconsciously moved her lips, but before she could speak, she heard a deep voice from behind, with a hint of casual coolness, "I’d like to hear why I’m unworthy of Stella..."
That voice...
Stella Sterling suddenly froze, turning her head sharply!
Seeing Shane Donovan standing at the greenhouse entrance, wearing a sharp black coat, his shoulders brushed with the cold from outside, his posture tall and upright.
His expression indifferent, the warm yellow light falling on his deep brow and eyes, highlighting a cinnabar mole at the end of the eye that was wickedly captivating.
Behind him was Uncle Sean, looking anxious and helpless, "Young Master, Miss... Young Master Donovan, I really couldn’t stop him..."
And Stella Sterling’s mind went blank, completely unable to comprehend the situation, her eyes wide with astonishment and confusion.
He...
He was supposed to be...
What’s going on here?