Viet Writer
Và Mai Có Nắng
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Chương 17
Chapter 17: Shall We Give It to the Wife?
Stella’s movements seemed to stop for a second, but her expression was well-maintained.
“Previously I had some negotiations, and I was just bringing her along to some events.”
“Oh.”
Clarence grabbed her wrist impatiently, “I have made things clear to you, but you are still going to show me this attitude?”
Stella stared at his eyes and said seriously, “I am really grateful that you go out of your way to explain things to me, but… You don’t actually need to explain anything to me since we are going to proceed with divorce proceedings.”
“Isn’t the reason you wanted to divorce me because you thought that she was pregnant and I had cheated on you?”
In the past, he always assumed that Stella had her own motives for going after a divorce, but Nathan had suggested that she might be throwing a tantrum in this regard, and he had advised him to make her feel better.
At that time, he couldn’t think of any reason she could use to throw a tantrum.
That stayed true until the appearance of her little brother.
Seeing that Stella didn’t say a word, Clarence added, “Stella, is it so hard to trust me? I won’t let any woman to bear my child, including you. Do you understand?”
His last sentence was like a sharp needle that silently tore through Stella’s heart.
Of course, she understood that.
In the past three years of their marriage, no matter the situation, he would never forget to do every measure to evade pregnancy.
Stella understood very well that his action not only meant that he wouldn’t want a child. It was a mockery to the measure she had used back when she wanted to marry him.
After a few seconds of silence, Stella suddenly announced, “I’m pregnant now.”
Clarence’s pupils immediately contracted, and he instinctively increased the strength in his hand. His voice suddenly became chilly, which seemed to cool down the temperature in the suite, “Stella!”
“Don’t you always want to know what I am thinking? Clarence, I am pregnant, and I need to plan for the future of my baby. I want half of your inheritance, and also the stock of the Conrad Group…”
Clarence flung her away violently, “That’s enough!”
Stella knew that he wouldn’t believe her just yet, so she took out a pregnancy test result to show him.
As expected, Clarence tore the piece of paper into pieces without even so much as glancing at it, “How many times do you plan to use this reason? Stella, do you really think that I am so stupid that I would believe the same lie by you?”
Stella looked at the pieces of paper scattered on the ground and she forced a smile, “You are able to expose me in such a short time. It seems that I need to think of another way next time.”
“There is no next time anymore.”
Clarence stood up, and his voice was devoid of any feelings, “Tomorrow at nine in the morning, meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau. I hope you don’t have any excuses this time.”
Stella didn’t say anything and only until Clarence had disappeared from the suite, she slowly picked up the pieces of paper on the floor.
In her three years of marriage, it was not like she didn’t learn anything. At the very least, she understood Clarence pretty well.
She knew very well that… the pregnancy topic was always a taboo for him.
Anybody who broached the topic would be like setting off a TNT bomb.
At the door of the suite, Sherry’s heart was racing like she was an ant scurrying around on a hot frying pan. It had been ten minutes, and the manager who was standing beside her was so cautious of her as if she was a thief. The door had been guarded well, and she saw no opening to intrude into the suite.
Sherry wanted to take the opportunity to call the police at this critical timing, but suddenly the door swung open and out came Clarence. He had a chilly and emotionless face, and he was exuding a cold aura. He was leaving this place while taking huge strides.
She wasn’t the only one who couldn’t produce any words. Even the manager seemed like he had a difficult time to begin a conversation.
Not long after Clarence had gone, Stella finally emerged from the suite.
Sherry finally let out a huge sigh of relief, “Stella, what is going on? That dog… Why is Clarence inside there?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when we get home.” Stella looked at the manager and asked, “Where is my brother?”
The manager replied, “Miss Radomil, follow me.”
After creating that fiasco, Channing had been confined in a store room in the Twilight Club. However, he didn’t make a fuss out of it.
He only stood up when he heard the sound of the door opening. He didn’t expect to see Stella standing at the door.
He frowned, “Why are you here?”
Sherry who was following behind Stella came forward and sucked in a gasp, “My Channing baby, why are you injured like this? Did that bastard do this to you?”
Channing turned his face away without saying anything.
Stella simply looked at him. Instead of saying that Clarence had hit Channing, the truth was Channing had failed to beat Clarence up, and in return he was beaten to a pulp by his bodyguard.
The wounds on Channing’s face were more severe than those on Clarence’s face.
Stella said lightly, “Channing, let’s go.”
Before leaving, Channing packed up his stuff in the store room and went to see the manager.
Although the manager was surprised that he was going to resign, it was still something reasonable.
After this fiasco tonight, he finally understood how they were connected in a web of messy relationships. Previously, he was in the dark about Channing’s identity as the brother of the wife of Mr. Conrad, and now that he finally knew about this, he wouldn’t want him to continue working in the Twilight Club. Doing that would be same as tarnishing the name of the Conrad family.
Channing began, “I was too hasty and aggressive today. I’m sorry. I will bear all the damages.”
The manager patted his shoulders and replied, “Channing, you don’t have to say all of that. The only wrong you have done was landing a punch on Mr. Conrad’s face, and this matter could head in any direction. Since Mr. Conrad doesn’t seem like he wants to pursue this matter, we can consider this case closed. I will still make sure you get your salary for the time you have worked here.”
Channing pursed his lips, but he didn’t reject the manager’s offer. He simply bowed and thanked the manager again before turning around to leave.
After coming out of the Twilight Club, he saw Stella and Sherry waiting at the entrance.
Channing headed towards them and apologized with his eyes on the ground, “I’m sorry.”
Stella smiled, “Why are you apologizing to me? It’s not like you are completely in the wrong here.”
“Isn’t the reason you are planning to divorce him because he has cheated on you?”
“How should I start… That’s not really the reason, but he explained to me just now that he didn’t have that kind of relationship with Vivian.”
Channing frowned and replied in an incredulous tone, “Do you really believe in his words?”
Stella answered, “It’s not important whether I believe in his words or not. We are going to divorce each other soon anyway.”
At that moment, Sherry tried to improve the atmosphere, “That’s enough. Let’s stop talking about that despicable person. Channing, I heard that you have gotten the number one spot in the recent district exams, and I haven’t had the time to celebrate for you yet. Why not make it today? You can choose a place, I’ll treat you!”
Channing answered without passion, “It’s okay, I need to start finding job after returning home.”
There was only a month left until school reopening, and since he had lost his job here in the Twilight Club, he had to find another job soon.
Sherry wanted to argue that he could have just stopped finding jobs and gotten money from her. She would have given him any amount he had wanted. However, Stella nudged her arm imperceptibly, which changed what Sherry said in the end, “That’s fine too. Then, we just leave it for next time.”
She almost forgot that Channing was always the headstrong one since he was a child. Let alone giving him some money, he didn’t even accept anything from Stella.
Stella reminded him, “Remember to tend to your wounds when you get back. Don’t let them get infected.”
Sherry chipped in, “Let’s go, get in the car. I’ll send you home.”
“I am not staying at home now. Jeffrey is gone.”
Stella said after a moment of hesitation, “Aren’t those debt collectors pursuing him anymore?”
“No. It seems that he has repaid all his debt.”
“Where did he get the money?”
“I don’t know, but I can see that he looks happy nowadays. He must have some money on him.” Channing put on his bag, “I’m going now. You guys should go home.”
After saying that, he headed in an opposite direction to where they were leaving to.
Sherry sighed while looking at his back, “This little one is becoming more and more stubborn, just like you.”
Stella simply smiled, “Let’s go.”
In the Rolls-Royce, Nathan glanced at a figure on the opposite street before shirting his gaze to a delicately-decorated gift box sitting on the passenger’s seat. He asked in a soft voice, “Mr. Conrad, shall I give that to the wife now?”