Shane Donovan’s question was asked with a casual tone, but in Stella Sterling’s ears, it was like a thunderbolt!
"Pfft—cough, cough, cough..." She was directly choked by the porridge in her mouth, coughing violently, her face instantly turning red, and tears even ca out.
Hugging him and not letting go...
And biting him...
These few words echoed madly in her mind, stitching together so vague but enough-to-make-her-die-of-sha scenes.
Seeing this, Shane Donovan got up, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to her, his actions so natural as if the earth-shattering statent he made earlier was just a casual remark.
Stella Sterling took the cup and gulped down a few sips, barely suppressing her cough, but didn’t dare to look up at him, "Last night... I was not clear-headed... I didn’t an to..."
She wished she could find a hole to crawl into!
Help...
This was too outrageous...
Shane Donovan looked at her, even her earlobes were red. The amusent in his eyes deepened but disappeared in an instant.
He picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, his gaze falling on her head almost buried in the bowl as he said calmly, "So, how does Counselor Sterling plan to compensate for my... ntal anguish and... physical injury?"
"..."
Stella Sterling suddenly looked up, eting his seemingly amused gaze, montarily unable to tell if he was joking or serious.
Compensate?
How to compensate?
Does it an she has to... take responsibility?
As soon as this thought erged, it startled Stella herself, her heartbeat suddenly losing its rhythm.
"Then... then I’ll treat you to dinner?" She asked boldly.
The man turned his head, his black as ink eyes squinting slightly, "Treat to dinner?"
"..."
Looks like that’s not enough...
"Then... what does President Donovan an..."
"Haven’t thought about it yet."
Stella Sterling: ...
Is he extorting her?
Shane Donovan glanced at her aningfully, then picked up the tablet next to him, slid it a few tis, and turned the screen toward Stella Sterling.
"Let’s talk about compensation later. Take a look at this first; you might be more concerned about it now..."
Stella Sterling looked at the tablet screen in confusion.
There was a surveillance video—
It was precisely the scene from yesterday’s academic exchange conference, in the break area close to the liquor bar!
The clear footage showed the waiter who accidentally bumped into her. After leaving, he indeed secretly went to the corner and had a brief exchange with a woman in a refined outfit, making a subtle gesture.
And that woman, even though the angle of the footage was tricky, capturing only her profile and part of her back, Stella Sterling recognized her at a glance—
It’s Grace Quinn!
Stella Sterling’s fingers gripping the spoon turned white with force, her chest heaving violently.
Sure enough, it was her!
She was so vicious as to use such a despicable ans!
If Shane Donovan hadn’t happened to appear yesterday, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
"This surveillance..." Stella Sterling’s voice trembled slightly with anger, she looked at Shane Donovan, "How did you get it? It’s not that easy to retrieve conference surveillance, right?"
Shane Donovan retrieved the tablet, his expression indifferent, "I happened to have a friend in charge of security there. Thought you might need it, so I had soone copy it."
He said it lightly, but Stella Sterling knew that the surveillance of the venue involved privacy and was definitely not sothing an ordinary person could easily obtain.
He must have used so connections and ans.
Why did he help her to this extent?
Isn’t he her big brother’s dead rival?
Suppressing the doubts and a trace of anomaly in her heart, Stella Sterling took a deep breath, trying to calm her voice: "Thank you, this surveillance is very important to !"
With this, Grace Quinn’s cri was evidenced!
"What do you plan to do?"
"Call the police." Stella Sterling hesitated for nothing, "Intentionally drugging soone already involves criminal offenses!"
She’s a lawyer, she knows how to make her pay the price!
She wants to see Grace Quinn in prison!
He nodded slightly, "Do you need my help? With the police or the court, I can..."
"No need." Stella Sterling interrupted him, "You’ve already helped a lot. The rest, I can handle myself."
"Alright." He nodded, took a sip of his coffee, "Just let know if you need anything."
"... Thank you."
Stella Sterling thanked him in a low voice, feeling a bit complicated in her heart.
This man...
She couldn’t quite see through him.
She originally wanted to stay away from him, but ironically she ended up biting him last night...
Seriously...
It’s driving her crazy.
The tasteless breakfast finally ended.
At this point, the driver was already waiting at the villa’s entrance.
"I’ll drive you back." Shane Donovan picked up his coat and said to Stella Sterling.
"No need to trouble yourself, President Donovan, I’ll just take a taxi back." Stella Sterling quickly declined.
Shane Donovan continued walking towards the car door, his tone flat yet undeniable, "Let’s go, it’s on the way."
Stella Sterling: "..."
Innovatech Bio and her law firm are clearly in opposite directions.
Which way is on the way?
But seeing he had already opened the car door and was waiting, Stella Sterling knew that further refusal would seem pretentious, so she had no choice but to get in with a brave face.
...
anwhile, in Kenton.
Jasper Hawthorne had almost rushed back overnight, but in between, Grace Quinn had gone to the restroom at the conference, making him wait for almost half an hour.
All along the way, Grace Quinn was crying and complaining in his ear about how critical her mother Audrey Quinn’s condition was, how unstable her blood pressure was, and the doctor’s critical condition notice and so on.
Jasper Hawthorne’s mood was heavy and complicated.
Aunt Audrey Quinn beca a vegetative state to save him, lying in the ICU for so many years.
This kindness and responsibility weighed on his heart like a mountain.
Reason told him, emotionally and rationally, he must return at the first mont.
But Stella Sterling...
Jasper Hawthorne’s mind was in turmoil.
He had just sent her a ssage to explain, only to find he had been blocked, and calling her resulted in a voicemail.
Forget it!
Anyway, he already knew she was now in Riveria, he could find her after he finished his business.
Stella Sterling was soft-hearted and would eventually forgive him.
The car finally arrived at the hospital.
Jasper Hawthorne almost rushed into the inpatient building, heading straight to the floor where the ICU ward was located.
Grace Quinn followed behind him, having to jog to keep up with his pace.
However, when they finally got to Audrey Quinn’s ICU ward entrance, panting, they were shocked to find—the ward was empty!
The bed was neat and clean, all monitoring equipnt had stopped working, as if no one had ever lived there.
Jasper Hawthorne’s heart sank drastically!
Could it be... too late?
Grace Quinn was also taken aback, her voice carrying a sob tone, "Mom! Where’s my mom? Jasper! Is my mom... is she..."
She covered her mouth, looking as if she was about to faint.
Jasper Hawthorne’s face turned livid, grabbing a passing nurse, his voice hoarse with urgency: "Where is the patient who stayed in this ward? Audrey Quinn! Where did she go?"
The nurse was startled by him, but after seeing who he was, she sighed in relief and said, "Mr. Hawthorne, don’t worry, Ms. Quinn... she woke up!"
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