Chapter 18
“But they insisted on pushing me. Then…
“Why not, right?”
She said in such a calm tone. As Jeremiah listened, his expression turned unreadable.
In the past, the Shelton family had been a prominent family in Haraville. He and Stephanie were of the same age, and they had known each other since childhood.
They had had a few interactions and could be called friends.
Besides, given her family background, talent, and appearance, she had once been the most popular girl in town.
However, the Shelton family had collapsed overnight, and she was soon forgotten.
This was human nature. If back then…
At this, he looked away, not wanting her to notice anything off.
“Perhaps divorce is for the best,” he said after falling silent for a few seconds.
She looked at him with gratitude.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
“Hey, I’m not doing this for free,” he smiled.
He wasn’t lying.
11:48
Chapter 19
He was competing with his two brothers, and the winner would take control of the Conway Group.
Of course, the best shall win.
They chatted for a while, and he promised her he wouldn’t tell anyone about her divorce before going back to his own business.
They agreed to meet later for the show.
Stephanie stood alone in place.
With the coffee in hand, she looked outside at the tree again.
She didn’t know how long it had passed.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps rang out.
A sense of familiarity washed over her.
Her gut told her it was Maxwell.
She put on her mask and turned around, facing him with her back.
“Why did you do this?” Before/she could leave, Maxwell’s voice rang out behind her.
His voice was steady, calm, and carried a hint of dignity–a presence honed by time and power.
A gust of wind blew over, and she smelled that familiar scent again, a mixture of woody cologne and tobacco.
It was Tom Ford Oud Wood, his favorite.
“I can tell you’re talented and well–mannered from your lyrics and composition. Why would you give a hard time to a dying woman?”
11:43
Chapter 18
Stephanie couldn’t help but feel sad,
She turned around slowly and looked up to meet Maxwell’s eyes as he frowned at her.
“Am I…” locking eyes with him, she said softly, “talented?”
A flicker of confusion flashed in Maxwell’s eyes.
“Yes,” he said.
It was the truth.
She let out a derisive laugh.
He said she was talented?
What he had said to her on their wedding night echoed in her mind.
That night in their villa, he had lit a cigarette, saying, “Stephanie, Grandpa isn’t doing well.
“I’m so worried about him.
“Could you put aside your little hobby for a while and focus on looking after my grandparents for me?”
Gray smoke had curled up from his cigarette, as light and careless as his attitude.
She had assured him she could balance caring for them and her career.
But he frowned.
“Stephanie, you being in the spotlight like th family wants to see.
sn’t something my
She had finally relented, telling herself Leonard’s condition indeed
11:43 D
Chapter 18
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needed her to be there for him.
But deep down, she had always known.
Was it really about her being in the spotlight, or did he just never give a damn about her career, her “talent“?
He had never explained anything to her, even though they were a couple and had done all the intimate things already.
Maxwell looked at her.
Something about her always made him feel familiar, and he just
couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had seen her somewhere before.