When they returned to the banquet hall, there were only a few minutes left before the ceremony started. Justin parted with them.
Winnie took a deep breath and said to Stella, âThanks a million.â
Stella took her hand. âDonât mention it. Iâm glad you are fine.â
Fortunately, when following Chassell, Stella saw a waiter passing by, so she asked him for the key to the dressing room.
She felt so lucky that she didn't arrived late.
Winnie took a secret glance at her back and whispered, âWho is the guy walking with Mr. Conrad? They look alike.â
Stella said, âItâs a complicated matter. Iâll explain it to you later.â
Winnie nodded. âAll right.â
Suddenly, Elaine showed up from nowhere and squeezed between them. She whispered, âWhat are you talking about?â
Stella smiled. âNothing. Weâre praising you.â
âReally?â
âIf you hadnât informed Clarence fast enough, the scumbag would escape tonight.â
Elaine felt shy when hearing the compliment. She blushed and said, âFor... real?â
Winnie answered, âYeah. If you need any help in the future, feel free to let me know.â
Right then, the ceremony started officially. As the host began speaking, Winnie needed to get ready for her part.
After she left, Stella turned t o Clarence. âWhat did you ask Nathan to do just now?â she asked.
Clarence raised his eyebrows slightly and said, âDo you know why Chassell Barret keeps going to Winnie even Channing has hit him so many times?â
Stella was confused. âWhy?â
âHe planned the collapse on the resortâs construction site four years ago. Now, someone has got hold of the evidence. Although heâs trying to suppress it, the truth will be revealed sooner or later. When he divorced, his ex-wife took a remarkable amount of money from him. What do you think he needs the most right now?â
Stella was taken aback. âThe money?â
âYep. Hence, he keeps reaching out to Conrad Group recently and wants to gain a new project from Conrad Group. Winnie is also a popular icon right now. He wants to use her in terms of business value, reputation, and influence.â
Stella frowned. âHeâs so disgusting.â
âHe tried to approach Winnie several times but failed. But he didnât cause any harm to her. Thus, even if Winnie called the police, he could escape without being charged.â
Although it was a cruel truth, Clarence had made a point there.
Chassell was quite scheming. He couldnât be punished by the standard methods.
Elaine listened to their conversation but was confused. She butted in, âWhat should we do then? Just sit and watch that scumbag bully Winnie?â
Clarence glanced at her. âAren't you staying with your Uncle Caesar?â
âAh... I looked for him around the hall but couldnât find him. Donât change the subject. Tell me what to do next.â
Clarence raised his hand and pushed her head away. âMind your own business, kiddo.â
Elaine was speechless.
She pouted and turned to look at the man next to Clarence for support. However, Darnell only cast her a glance indifferently.
Elaine realized that she had found the wrong supporter.
Soon, Justin appeared on the stage, giving a speech.
They heard discussions in low voices behind. âI truly feel sorry for Mr. Justin. Heâs comparable to Clarence Conrad in terms of appearance and competence. But he just started being in charge of the Conrad family.â
âI agree. I thought Clarence was the only son from the Conrad family. So I was puzzled why Chairman Dempsey gave him Conrad Group but suppressed him meanwhile. It turned out that he was making a second way for himself.â
âIf it werenât for the car accident back then, Justin Conrad wouldnât be paralyzed. Otherwise, why would the Conrad family take Clarence Conrad back?â
âOh, speaking of the car accident, I heard some rumors recently. Itâs said the car accident was done by someone from the family of Clarence Conradâs mother. They did it to make the Conrad family recognize Clarence Conrad.â
Upon hearing the rumor, others were shocked. âImpossible! Where did you hear this rumor from?â
âIâm not sure about the source, but it seemed to make sense.â
âIf it were true, Justin Conrad should hate Clarence Conrad to the core. But when they showed up here just now, they looked quite harmonious.â
âI donât believe that rumor. Thereâs nothing about Clarence Conradâs mother in the past decades. I guess she has run away with the money already.â
âExactly. How powerful she would be to do something on Justinâs car. If Clarenceâs birth mother had such an ability, why would she become the mistress of his father?â
âThe rumor is fake. How could such a ridiculous rumor be spread? I guess someone deliberately made this up to cause troubles after Justin had become the CEO of Conrad Group.â
Others agreed with this opinion. The rumor was unreliable, so they stopped discussing it and changed the subject.
Stella looked up at Clarence, who met her eyes. He still looked calm and asked, âWhatâs wrong?â
She held his hand. âNothing.â
Clarence checked the time. âLetâs go.â
The charity banquet was starting soon.
Meanwhile, the ceremony went on.
Stella took a few steps and looked back, only to find that Elaine was following Darnell carefully. Elaine wanted to come to Stella, but she didnât have the guts.
Stella withdrew her gaze and whispered, âDonât you guys want to tell her the truth? She still trusts Caesar James so much now. Iâm afraid...â
Clarence said, âCompared with us, Caesar James is her family. She might not believe what we say. Besides, sheâs a simple girl, and others can always see through her from her expression. Itâs no good to tell her the truth.â
Mr. Conrad Proposes to His Ex-wife Again ï¤Chapter 699: Do You Have Anything Else to Say An Eight-year-old Princess ï¤Chapter 1410 Go And Return Quickly Critic ï¤Chapter 105: Missing Drake Stella understood. âThatâs why Darnell wants to keep her by his side, right?â
âWell, that has nothing to do with Caesar James. Darnell is here, and he shouldnât have any guts to make any moves.â
âThen...â
Clarence explained, âHeâs afraid she would make any trouble.â
Stella curled up her lips into a smile. Although Clarence said so, she could tell that they both were worried something would happen to Elaine.
The charity banquet was in another hall. When they arrived, Justin was waiting for them at the entrance.
Justin said, âClarence, Stella, the ring will be the seventh auction item tonight. Iâve informed the staff to call the price once. You can buy it directly.â
Clarence nodded.
Right then, Caesar showed up from nowhere. âSince weâre all here, letâs go into the hall, shall we?â
There were a lot of attendees to the celebration, but the guests to the charity banquet were relatively fewer.
Hence, the auction hall was quiet.
Guests who had arrived were reading the auction lists in their hands.
Justin said, âPlease have a seat. Iâll go check backstage.â
Critic