The commotion at the Donovan Family’s old residence finally concluded with Philip Donovan being sent overseas for project inspections.
And to offer an explanation to the Hughes Family, all financial connections for Grace Quinn and her daughter were severed, and their properties were reclaimed.
Old Mrs. Donovan was so overwhelmed and unable to control the situation that she ended up bedridden out of anger.
Shane Donovan acted swiftly and decisively, leaving no room for anyone to backtrack.
He completely expelled Grace Quinn and her daughter from the Donovan Family!
But some people, like sticky glue, just can’t be shaken off.
For instance, Jasper Hawthorne.
Stella Sterling felt that Jasper Hawthorne might have recently enrolled in some kind of course on relentless persistence and graduated with top marks.
The Riveria branch of Clearstone across from her law firm had evidently become Attorney Hawthorne’s permanent workspace.
Every day he would punctually deliver flowers to her office.
Stella couldn’t even be bothered to look at them and directly instructed Finn Lockwood to dispose of them.
From initially being cautious and uneasy, Finn Lockwood eventually became indifferent and even developed a side business—distributing the flowers to the cleaning lady on the floor and the pretty receptionist, thereby earning many favors.
Yet even though Stella treated him as invisible, avoiding him whenever possible, she was still cornered by Jasper Hawthorne in front of the law firm because of working overtime.
"Step aside!" Stella looked coldly at Jasper Hawthorne blocking her path, her voice as chilly as water.
"It’s too late, not safe. I’ll drive you."
"No need!" Stella attempted to sidestep him, but Jasper blocked her again.
She immediately pulled out her phone coldly and, in front of him, pressed a string of numbers, "Shane Donovan, I’m off work. Would you come pick me up?"
The call wasn’t actually made, she just wanted Jasper Hawthorne to back off.
Yet through the corner of her eye, she saw Jasper clenching his fists, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, but he still showed no intention of leaving.
"Stella..."
Stella’s face darkened, "Attorney Hawthorne, please address me as Counselor Sterling from here on, or... Mrs. Donovan."
Mrs. Donovan?
Jasper Hawthorne silently mouthed these three words, a swirl of pain in his eyes, "You two aren’t even engaged yet."
"It’s just a matter of time." Stella didn’t want to exchange more words with him and turned to leave.
Jasper, however, took a step forward, once again blocking her path, "I know you’re still mad at me, I’ve been a jerk in the past! Look, I established the firm’s branch here, I’ll be with you every day now... Can we try again? Just once, one last time..."
As he spoke, he reached for Stella’s wrist.
Stella swiftly retreated, avoiding his touch, her gaze turning completely cold: "Jasper Hawthorne, enough! Stop acting crazy here!"
"I’m not crazy! I’m very sober!" Jasper’s voice rose a bit, "Shane Donovan isn’t suitable for you at all! That kind of family, that kind of background, it’s too complicated! You won’t be happy with him!"
"Who I’ll be happy with is not for you to decide!"
Stella was thoroughly enraged, why did he seem incapable of understanding?
Jasper took a deep breath, "Does he know your likes and dislikes? Does he know your favorite foods? Does he know..."
"I do."
Just then, a low voice unexpectedly interjected, interrupting Jasper’s words.
Shane Donovan had arrived at some point, standing quietly a few steps away.
The night cast a layer of clear light on his shoulders, accentuating his tall figure. He didn’t look at Jasper, his gaze fell directly on Stella, and within a few steps, he was at her side, naturally taking off his suit jacket to drape over her shoulders.
The jacket, warm with his body heat and carrying a refreshing woody aroma, instantly dispelled the cold around Stella.
Only then did he lift his eyes to look at a red-faced Jasper.
"She wakes up at night wanting warm water, forty degrees is just right, with a small spoon of acacia honey. She picks scallions, ginger, and garlic cleanly, but likes to sauté with them. Appears tough but is actually afraid of the dark, thunderstorms, and..." He paused, his voice tinged with a hint of faint amusement, "Any soft-bodied creature."
With each detail Shane Donovan spoke, Jasper’s face grew paler.
These were details even Jasper himself might have muddled, or never cared about.
Yet Shane Donovan spoke about them clearly and confidently.
"As for happiness..."
Shane Donovan slightly tilted his head, tucking in the hair that the night wind had blown across Stella’s temples, his movements gentle and natural, "My fiancée doesn’t need to prove it to anyone."
He then turned to Jasper, his tone calm yet with an undeniable force: "As for you... Attorney Hawthorne, incessant harassment may not constitute a crime by law, but it’s causing distress to my fiancée. If you continue to hound her, I won’t hesitate to involve my legal team."
"You!" Jasper’s chest rose and fell violently, glaring daggers at Shane Donovan.
Stella, protected by Shane’s side, felt the security he delivered through every action. She leaned closer to him, whispering, "Let’s go."
The sound, soft and gentle, was a world apart from the icy demeanor she showed to Jasper earlier.
Shane Donovan lowered his gaze to her, a trace of warmth glimmering in his eyes as he took her hand: "Alright."
Their retreating figures, hand in hand, were like a poisoned dagger, stabbing deeply into Jasper’s heart.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, barely maintaining his composure.
Inside the car, Stella couldn’t help her curiosity any longer and turned to Shane Donovan in the driver’s seat, "But how did you know I’m afraid of soft-bodied creatures? And the honey water at forty degrees?"
She recalled never specifically telling him these things.
Shane Donovan held the steering wheel with one hand, his gaze focused ahead on the road, a slight curve tugging at his lips: "You want to know?"
Stella nodded.
When they stopped at a red light, the car slowly came to a halt.
Shane turned to her, his gaze falling on her face, a glimmer of laughter twinkling in his eyes: "Then try to recall that night, when a certain little drunkard wouldn’t let go of me and how many little secrets she shared?"
"Boom—!"
Stella’s face instantly flushed crimson!
The night she got drunk!
Again with the drunken night!
What else embarrassing did she do that night?!
"Shane Donovan! You’re not allowed to bring up that night again!" she exclaimed in embarrassment, reaching out to cover his mouth.
Shane easily caught her hand, letting out a soft chuckle, "Alright, I won’t mention it."
Seeing Stella’s flushed cheeks and the brightness in her eyes from her fluster, his heart stirred, and he tightened the arm around her waist, drawing them closer.
"Stella." He called her name, his voice low and earnest.
"Hmm?" Stella instinctively replied, her heart inexplicably beating faster.
"Stay away from him from now on..." he gestured towards the direction Jasper departed, "Reasoning with a rogue doesn’t work."
"Then what should I use?" Stella asked instinctively.
Shane’s eyes deepened, his fingers gently tilted her chin, his gaze falling on her slightly parted lips, "Use me."
Before the words fully left his mouth, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his...