Chapter 104: Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Althea’s face instantly turned pale , and her body began to tremble uncontrollably .

She never would have imagined that the earlier conversation would be broadcast to the public .

It meant that her actions and words had been exposed to the world , and her carefully cultivated reputation , status , and image would be utterly destroyed .

Since marrying into the Drayton family , this was the first time Althea had felt such despair .

She couldn’t believe she had acted without fully understanding the situation and made a rookie mistake .

Althea never realized that her twenty years of luxurious and worry – free living had turned her into such a foolish and clueless person .

Even faced with this disaster , her instinct was to look to Rupert for help , hoping for some kind of support from him .

However , the man who had once pledged his love and made countless promises to her simply stood there quietly .

Realizing the gravity of the situation , Althea had no choice but to give in .

“ I’m sorry , Rupert … It was my fault .

I lost my head and didn’t think clearly .

I was wrong .

Torin .

Fenwick , 1 shouldn’t have said those things earlier .

After apologizing , Althea clung to Rupert’s arm again and explained herself with a sobbing tone , “ I was only thinking of helping our son get more opportunities .

A mother’s love can make her tough , and I didn’t think about how my words might hurt Torin and Fenwick .

You understand me .

don’t you , Rupert ! “,

n what she said .

Besides , she

Rupert’s tightly furrowed brow eased slightly , and just then , Caellan spoke up .

“ Dad , don’t be angry .

Mom didn’t mean only lost her temper because she was worried about the Drayton Group .

She acted in haste , Don’t be mad at her .

”

The viewers immediately reacted in uproar .

.

[ Don’t fall for it , Rupert ! Stay strong ! ]

[ I can’t handle this fake act anymore .

Save me ! She’s such a manipulative drama queen .

I guess anyone would fall for her teary – eyed performance ] ]

A mother’s love makes her tought Is this how that phrase works ! It’s s supposed to mean thata mother becomes strong to face challenges , not that she steals from others for her children .

What nonsense ! ]

[ Caellan’s defense only makes sense because he benefits from it too .

He claims he doesn’t want the inheritance , but who knows what’s really going on in his mind ? Just like his mom – uterly fake .

)

Rupert lowered his gaze .

On one hand , memories of his relationship with Valerie flooded his mind .

On the other hand , Althea Drayton had spent twenty years with him .

There was no doubt Althea had spent more time by his side , but Valerie was his high school sweetheart , the woman who had supported him through college and helped him build his success step by step .

His first love .

The more Rupert thought about it , the more his head ached .

Finally , unable to bear it , he pushed Althea’s hand away and shouted irritably , “ Enough , enough ! I don’t want to dwell on this anymore .

Just go back ! I’ll handle things here .

And one more thing .

Keep your son in check !

“ It’s only Tuesday , and he’s a senior in school ! Why isn’t he focusing on his studies instead of causing trouble here ? Look at his face .

He must have gotten into a fight .

If he can’t even get into college , don’t even think about inheritance .

I won’t leave him a single cent ! ”

When Althea heard that , she was so enraged that she nearly ground her back teeth into dist .

Internally , she cursed , Useless brai

But no matter how angry she was , Caellan was still her own son .

She defended him and said , “ He was just worried about Elysia , that’s all .

As for the injury , maybe … maybe he fell ! I’ll go pick him up right now and make sure to teach him a good lesson .

”

Torin remained silent , his cold gaze fixed on the scene before him .

Since Althea uttered those damning words earlier , she had ceased to be anything more than his father’s second wife to him ,

Fenwick , on the other hand , looked visibly conflicted

He had a good relationship with Caellan and had always been the most accepting of their stepmother .

Now hearing all that , his expression grew complicated , showing the inner turmoil he felt .

3:39 AM

Chapter 105

Chapter 105

in peace .

After this unexpected interlude , everyone was finally able to watch the live stream in

However , for some reason , the content of the live stream became duller than before , almost as if waiting for this drama to conclude .

Just as Althea walked off – screen , the footage immediately changed .

What no one could have anticipated , though , was that instead of the imagined scene , a close – up of a face appeared on screen-

other than Stelian .

I

the face of none

But what caught everyone’s attention more was his action .

He was blocking Elysia against the door with one hand .

A faintly mocking smile played on his lips as he asked , “ Why aren’t you avoiding me this time ! Hmin ? ”

Elysia turned her head , her gaze landing on her small room of less than 100 square feet .

She wanted to hide , but there was simply no place to go !

This scene , however , triggered something in Stellan .

Memories he thought long forgotten suddenly resurfaced , and he instinctively raised his hand to cover his face , unable to bear the awkwardness of it all .

Meanwhile , viewers in the live stream were mercilessly mocking him .

Stellan , do you think you’re some domineering protagonist in romance novels , huh ? That pose , that tone – LOL ! Come on , Stellan , say something .

Go on ! Hmm ? ]

[ Dude , you’ve barged into her room ! Where else can she hide ? ]

[ What’s wrong with you , Stellan ! Stop pestering Elysul What are you trying to do ! Did you bully her ! Hit her ? Insulted her ? Or slandered her like that bitchy Rowena ! ]

Stellan thought , “ Well , no , I didn’t do any of that , Do I look like one of those brainless fools from the Drayton family ? ”

Stellan’s lips twitched as he mustered the courage to look back at the screen .

Anyway , the viewers would soon know what he was going to do .

But suddenly .

Elysia said , “ I don’t know you .

Her voice was barely audible and her words muffled and hesitant .

She hadn’t expected the young man to barge into her room when she opened the door , leading to their current situation .

Stellan was momentarily at a loss for words .

After all , he was the one who caused her to be surrounded and photographed last time , and in the end , even scared her away .

Therefore , he figured it would be better to offer her an explanation to avoid making it harder to approach her in the future .

“ Your dad asked me to pick her daughter up from the school back then , so I assumed it was you .

It wasn’t until later that I found out it was Rowena , clarified Stellan .

Right then , the otherwise silent room was suddenly interrupted by a beeping sound .

Stellan looked down and noticed two drops of blood on the light – colored marble floor .

Blood had come from Elysia’s fingertip , where she had pressed so hard it broke the skin .

Elysia looked embarrassed as if someone had discovered her secret .

Sise quickly hid her hand behind her back and feigned calmness as she asked , “ So , do you have anything else to say ? Please say it quickly and then leave my room .

”

Stellan’s gaze flickered away as if he hadn’t noticed anything .

He said teasingly , “ I heard you didn’t get the fist – track admission spot? ”

Elysia’s heart jolted .

She thought , Is he here to mock me ? Or did he receive Rowenn’s orders to humiliate me again and again ! ‘

Either way , Stellan’s presence made her feel strange and uncomfortable .

Even diugh she knew he wasn’t that man , he still gave her a sense of fear .

Elysia kept her lips pressed tightly together , tacitly acknowledging his words .

Stellan smiled confidently .

Under the confused gager of the audience , he said , “ I have a way to get you into high school .

”

moment .

She stopped pinching her fingers behind her back as she looked up blankly at the tall man before her .

Elysia Image for a moment .

However , it only lasted for three seconds .

After those three seconds , she lowered her head like a deflated balloon and said , “ No , thank you ”

Her response carried a hint of resignation and self – mockery .

Because deep down , Elysia knew she had nothing of value to exchange with the young

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Chapter 105

Stellan , however , couldn’t understand .

Based on what he had heard from Rowena and what he had seen himself , Elysia should have been desperate to leave her family .

Stellan couldn’t help but wonder , ‘ Could it be that she doesn’t care about the humiliation her family inflicted on her ? No , she’s only sixteen .

How could she possibly endure all this ?”

for good .

Or do

Stellan continued , “ I can get you into high school , and you’ll only need to stay there for two years before you can leave this place for g you want to stay in this broken – down cage , letting Rowena steal what’s yours ? Right now , I’m the only one who can help you .

”

Stellan proposed another highly tempting offer .

If Elysia accepted it , she could escape this tormenting cage of a home much earlier than expected .

By all rights , she would be free in two years when she turned eighteen , but with the current situation , high school would last three years .

That meant she would have to endure three more years of living with them or maybe less

After all , Torin had mentioned that once she came of age , he would let her fend for herself .

The young man’s words drew her in like a magnet , igniting a strong desire in her heart .

Compared to Elysia’s current state , Torin was watching everything unfold from off – screen in anger .

Just moments ago , he had been wondering why there was a specialized class with a two – year program and he also hadn’t seen Elysia at all during the last year .

“ So it’s all your doing ! You’re stirring up trouble ! What good does it do for you to take Elysia away from our family ? Torin growled after figuring out everything .

Stellan merely rolled his eyes at him while netizens jumped to his defense .

Does your relationship even need string ? There’s no bond or care , just a pile of loose sand that scatters with the wind .

]

[ Oh , here we go again ! Torin being Torin , always blames everyone else : Dr.

Rookwood is saving Elysia ! Bow down and thank him already ! ]

“ What do you want ? ” Elysia’s voice cur through the silence , making her desperation clear .

She was so eager to leave that she did not even question the method or why the timeline was so shor

Torin felt a pang of shume .

The netizens ‘ comments and Elysia’s words siung like a slap across his face .

He thought .

But I also want to know why is Stellan helping her .

What is his motive ? Or … has he been manipulating her feelings from the start ? But back then , she was only in junior high ! This bastard ! ”

As Torin clenched his fists , ready to pin Stellan down and beat him , the latter calmly said , “ I don’t need anything .

I just want to help you .

His tone was unusually sincere .

Elysia was stunned , not because of how close his face was but because of the earnestness in his gaze .

Once she regained her composure , she couldn’t deny that she felt moved , but there was still a lot of doubt in her mind .

He was just a boy around her age , not a family member or someone she was particularly close to

Elysia recalled what Stellan Rookwood had told her as school before ,

“ I’m not pregnant , ” Elysia said in a muffled voice .

The sentence she had repeated countless times to her family surfaced again , carrying an indescribable weight .

Even she didn’t know why she blurted it out to someone who was practically a stranger .

Therefore , the moment the words left her mouth , she regretted them .

Frustrated , she snapped , “ Did Rowena send you ? What exactly does she

Stellan extended his slender fingers without warning , Before Elysia could react , he quickly brushed aside her thick bangs and pressed them to the top of her head .

Her beautiful eyes were fully exposed and reflected shock and disbelief .

In the face of her startled expression , Stellan said calmly , “ Of course , I know those rumors are false .

And your grades aren’t bad either , right ? ”

Hirvoice , like a gentle stream , soothed Elysia’s tightly wound nerves .

But before she could fully relax , Stellan continued , “ No one in your family believes you , and your teachers at school won’t step in .

What do you plan to do ! Rowena is afraid of you stealing her spotlight .

Even if you switch schools , she won’t stop smearing your reputation until … your father kicks you out ”

Elysia’s face turned pale , and her struggles grew more frantic .

Chapter 105

But Stellan wasn’t finished .

He leaned down to meet her gaze again and added , “ No , I stand corrected .

Someone who values his name like your father wouldn’t let you cause trouble and embarrass him .

That leaves only a special school … or juvenile detention ”

Each word felt like a heavy stone dropped onto Elysia’s heart , the weight building and she felt as if she would collapse at any moment .

She had thought that changing her environment might free her from this nightmare , but after hearing Stellan’s words , she couldn’t deny that Howena likely wanted to drive her out .

However , she refused to believe Rupert would send her to such a place .

Fear gripped Elysia at first , but it quickly turned into despair .

No matter the outcome , she felt crushed under the suffocating weight of it all .

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