Chapter 266

Chapter 266:

After taking care of Adrian for so long, Stella realized it was time to return to work. She hadn’t formally asked for leave from the company due to the emergency with Adrian, and later, when everything settled down, she simply forgot.

However, Emily, being the reliable friend she was, must have found a way to help her handle it.

Stella sighed, knowing that her monthly bonus was probably gone. But losing the bonus and having her salary deducted didn’t bother her too much. As long as she was healthy and Adrian was safe, those things didn’t matter.

The next day, Stella and Emily arrived at the company together.

“Emily, did you ask for leave for me? Please tell me you didn’t forget, or I’m done for,” Stella said anxiously.

“I didn’t need to ask for leave. The president made an excuse for you,” Emily replied nonchalantly. “He found a reason to cover for you since you were taking care of his son. It’s only reasonable.”

“That wasn’t necessary,” Stella said coldly. “Adrian is my son. I won’t let him get away with anything.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s not talk about him anymore,” Emily conceded quickly. “But hey, you don’t need to worry about your bonus being cut. Maybe he’ll even give you a little extra.”

“Why would he do that?” Stella asked, puzzled.

“Well, it’s the president’s privilege, of course. Didn’t he send you abroad for a meeting? You just came back from Australia yesterday, right?”

Stella was speechless.

RK’s maneuver was clever and underhanded. If she had known, she wouldn’t have bothered coming back. After all, she would’ve still gotten paid without actually going to work.

Every story starts at g Ɐ ln σ ν풆 ℓs, com “When the time comes, just pretend you were working in Australia. Don’t let anyone at the company know the truth,” Emily teased, laughing behind her hand.

Stella gave her a helpless eye roll.

To be honest, despite everything, she was grateful for what RK had done. He had covered all the bases for her, something she hadn’t expected. However, no matter what he did—whether he acted like a saint or an angel—if he tried to take Adrian from her, he would always be an unforgivable devil in her eyes.

When Stella returned to the office, everyone greeted her warmly, asking about her “trip” to Australia. They were eager to know what she had learned, what was fun, and what kind of food she ate there. She replied with modest phrases like “It was okay,” “It was fun,” and “Not bad,” to avoid giving them any real information.

Despite the friendly façade, Stella knew the company was full of gossip. She had to tread carefully, lest she end up the subject of some new scandal.

At lunchtime, just as she and Emily were heading to the cafeteria, RK called Stella to his office. She told Emily to go ahead without her.

Emily reached the cafeteria alone, but as she sat down, she overheard a group of colleagues at a nearby table talking about Stella.

“Did the president personally send Stella to that meeting in Australia? Why didn’t we hear about it beforehand?” one of them said.

“It seems like the president really favors her,” another added.

“Favor? I bet that woman is having an affair with the president!” a female colleague whispered conspiratorially.

“Oh, let me tell you something shocking!” another woman jumped in, her voice dripping with gossip.

“Spill! We’re all ears,” her colleagues urged.

“Actually, Stella didn’t go to Australia at all. And guess what? She has a son! Do you know who the father is?” the woman said, lowering her voice dramatically.

“Who? It can’t be the president’s!” someone joked.

The gossiping woman just smirked, not confirming but letting her expression speak volumes.

“Wait—are you serious? Stella has a child with the president?” one of the women gasped, her eyes wide.

“Oh my God...” the others murmured in shock, barely managing to hold onto their lunches.

“My friend works at the hospital where her son’s been staying. Apparently, Stella’s been off work because her son has been hospitalized,” the woman with the inside scoop continued.

Lost in the juicy gossip, none of them noticed that the room had quieted. People from nearby tables were listening in, hanging on every word.

“No wonder the president didn’t come to work those few days,” one woman sighed dramatically. “Poor me! I’ve been pining for him. But Stella beat me to it. I guess I was too late.”

“But I heard that Stella and the president don’t get along. They’re always arguing. Have you seen how she never gives him any respect in the office?”

“Yeah, it sounds like a broken relationship, but still... How did they end up with a child?”

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