Stella Sterling furrowed her brow—it was all because of her...
If it hadn’t been for the dication that night and Shane Donovan saving her, how would they have taken such photographs?
Leading to a dia storm and Innovatech Bio’s stock price dropping?!
She clenched her fists tightly, nails digging deep into her palm, yet she felt no pain.
At that mont, her phone started vibrating madly.
A local number she didn’t recognize was flashing on the screen.
Stella had no intention to answer until the caller tried three or four tis, as if they wouldn’t stop until she picked up. Finally, she pressed the answer button.
"Hello?"
"Miss Sterling? It’s Evan Hughes..."
Evan Hughes?
Shane Donovan’s friend? The boss of Misty Riveria...
"Young Master Hughes? What’s up?"
"Miss Sterling, have you seen the news?" Evan Hughes’s voice was deep.
"...I’ve seen it."
"No idea which damn person took those photos and sold them to the dia! Now everyone is laughing at Innovatech and The Donovan Family!" Evan Hughes spoke rapidly, "The stock price drop is minor; the main issue is with Old Mr. Donovan!"
"Old Mr. Donovan is truly angry and said he would implent family punishnt! The Donovan Family’s punishnt is nothing to joke about! A steel whip weighing tens of pounds soaked in saline, and last ti, a side branch family mber almost died after three lashes!"
"What?!" Stella suddenly stood up, her voice changing tone, "Family punishnt?! How could..."
"Why not? The Donovan Family values their reputation heavily! Old Mr. Donovan can’t tolerate any mistakes!" Evan Hughes voice was heavy, "I only just got the news; Young Master Donovan has been taken back to the old mansion! I’m currently out of town and can’t return. Miss Sterling, you might be the only one who can save him now!"
"? What can I do?" Stella was completely flustered, her mind a chaotic ss.
"Go to Crestfall! To the old Donovan mansion! Explain everything clearly in front of Old Mr. Donovan!" Evan Hughes urged, "Just say... say you and Old Donovan are genuinely in a romantic relationship aid at marriage! That night was an accident, but you both have mutual feelings! As long as Old Mr. Donovan believes it, the punishnt might be waived!"
"But..."
"No ’but’! It will be too late if you wait!" Evan Hughes interrupted, "I’ve booked your ticket already, the soonest flight, departing in an hour! The car is right downstairs from your law office; get down there imdiately, and the driver will take you straight to the airport!"
Stella was shocked by the successive news, losing her usual calm and judgnt.
"Alright..."
She put down the phone, feeling cold all over, and didn’t worry about packing anything, grabbing her bag and phone, hastily explaining a few things to Finn Lockwood before rushing out of the law office...
...
anwhile, in Crestfall, the Donovan Family’s old mansion.
In the antique study, Old Mr. Donovan sat on a grand chair, leaning on a rosewood cane, face dark, his white eyebrows tightly knitted, genuinely angry.
"You wretched thing! Look at what you’ve done! Innovatech is at a crucial mont, and you create this scandal! The stock price evaporated by billions in one day! You’ve completely embarrassed The Donovan Family!"
Opposite him, Shane Donovan sat leisurely in a grand chair, his deanor almost lazy.
He appeared as if he had just showered, his hair still wet, with stray locks drooping over his forehead, covering part of his eyes, making him seem less aggressive.
To Old Mr. Donovan’s furious anger, Shane seed indifferent, his slender fingers casually swiping his phone screen without even lifting an eyelid.
This impervious attitude was like adding fuel to the fire, angering Old Mr. Donovan to the point of puffing his beard and glaring, his cane echoing loudly, "I’m talking to you! Are you listening?!"
At that mont, Shane’s phone screen lit up with a ssage from Evan Hughes, accompanied by a photo.
Shane’s gaze fixed on the photo for a full three seconds.
Then he abruptly stood up from his chair!
"What... what are you doing?!" Old Mr. Donovan was startled by the sudden movent, forgetting to lower his raised cane.
Shane ignored him, turned his head to the side and looked at Butler Alfie, who was similarly stunned, his voice was calm, with no trace of emotion: "Butler Alfie, fetch the family punishnt."
"Ah?" Butler Alfie was directly bewildered, thinking he had misheard.
Old Mr. Donovan was also stunned, then furious, "You brat! What are you trying to do?! I’m scolding you, and you want to use family punishnt on ?! Are you rebelling?!"
Butler Alfie also ca to his senses, hurriedly stepping forward to advise earnestly, "Young Master! There’s no need for this! Old Mr. Donovan was speaking in anger; he didn’t an it deliberately, please don’t..."
"Fetch it!" Shane coldly interrupted, his gaze sharp as a knife.
Butler Alfie was intimidated by his sharp gaze, instinctively replied "Yes," and quickly walked out of the study.
Old Mr. Donovan trembled with anger, pointing at Shane, "You... you..."
Soon after, Butler Alfie returned, carrying a dark and glossy cane, about the thickness of a thumb, its surface smooth but emitting a chilling aura.
This was the family punishnt passed down by The Donovan Family; not the tens of pounds of steel whip exaggerated by Evan Hughes, but it was definitely uncomfortable when whipped on the body.
Shane picked up the cane, weighed it in his hand, then, under the stunned gaze of Old Mr. Donovan and Butler Alfie, handed the cane directly to Old Mr. Donovan.
"What... what’s going on?"
Shane deftly unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off and casually threw it on the nearby chair, then knelt straight down.
He lifted his head and looked at the utterly shocked Old Mr. Donovan, his thin lips parted slightly, clearly uttering one word:
"Hit."
Old Mr. Donovan: "!!!"
Butler Alfie: "!!!"
The study fell into a dead silence.
Old Mr. Donovan looked at the heavy cane in his hand, then at Shane kneeling before him, his mind completely unable to process.
What kind of scene was this?!
He was angry earlier, but only intended to scold him a little, intimidate him, and never thought of actually using force!
Not to ntion family punishnt!
Why did this boy voluntarily offer himself up?!
Old Mr. Donovan holding the cane couldn’t decide whether to hit or not.
"What...what on earth are you playing at, boy?!" Seeing his grandson kneeling so upright, Old Mr. Donovan was both angry and anxious, but mostly utterly confused.
Shane’s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze lifted to Old Mr. Donovan, his tone still calm and steady, "Just hit, go ahead!"
Old Mr. Donovan: "..."
At this age, he has seen many ups and downs.
But never has he witnessed a scene like this!
Voluntarily asking to be hit?
And requesting it so... confidently?
This brat, could he be scheming sothing again?
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