Old Mr. Donovan finally lowered the cane in his hand, giving a heavy "humph" with his expression softening.
"Since you’re serious, let’s consider this settled for now!"
Old Mr. Donovan tossed the cane aside, his gaze sweeping over Shane Donovan, who was still kneeling, and Stella Sterling, who was guarding him, "I’ll give you one month’s ti to organize the engagent ceremony to prevent those gossiping won outside from spreading nonsense!"
One month? Engagent?
Stella was stunned. In her panic earlier, she spoke thoughtlessly, only aiming to protect Shane Donovan without thinking of how things would escalate to this!
"Grandpa Donovan, this... this is too rushed..." Stella tried to struggle a bit, "We..."
"Rushed what?!" Old Mr. Donovan interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argunt, "A month’s ti to prepare an engagent party is more than sufficient. It’s settled!"
Saying so, he turned to Butler Alfie who was waiting at the door and instructed, "Alfie, go call the family doctor over to treat this brat’s wounds. Also, prepare for to personally call The Sterling Family to discuss the engagent matters!"
"Yes, Mr. Donovan!" Butler Alfie quickly responded.
Old Mr. Donovan glanced at Shane Donovan, who was kneeling on the ground, "Still kneeling there? Waiting for to help you up? Go apply the dicine!"
As he finished, without waiting for a reaction from the two, Old Mr. Donovan, feeling quite pleased, walked out of the study first with his cane.
For a mont, only Stella and Shane Donovan were left in the study.
The air seed to have stagnated.
Stella was still dazed as the courage she felt in her urgent mont had faded away like the tide, leaving her face filled with perplexity.
What... what did she even say just now?
Dating?
Towards marriage?
Also... also lunging to hug him?
Stella only felt a rush of hot blood ’whoosh’ up to her head, her cheeks burning astonishingly. She instinctively wanted to step back but was gently grasped by the man’s hand on her wrist.
His palm was warm, even sowhat hot, comforting her slightly cool skin.
"Now realizing you need to be responsible?" Shane Donovan’s deep voice carried a faint hint of teasing, "Counselor Sterling finally not being a player?"
He remained in a kneeling position but his back was straight, the angled features of his side profile appearing distinct and crisp in the bright light of the study, the ssy strands of hair adding a touch of untad charm to his handso appearance.
Stella felt a jolt as she tried to pull her hand back but failed, having to feign composure, yet the slight redness of her ears betrayed the turmoil within her heart, "Shut up!"
She glared at him, both embarrassed and annoyed, "Who’s being a player! This is a makeshift asure, understand?"
The more she talked, the more reasonable she felt, forcing herself to calm down, taking a deep breath and trying to adopt a professional, business-like calm deanor, "The imdiate thing is to deal with the current trouble. Shane Donovan, you surely don’t want to be tied down by this absurd engagent either, right? We need to find a way..."
"It’s not absurd..." Shane Donovan interrupted her, the smile on his lips gradually fading, his gaze directed towards the direction of the desk, his tone becoming sowhat enigmatic, "I’ve never thought about it that way."
Never thought about it that way?
Never thought about what?
Stella was stunned, instinctively tilting her head to look at him, her gaze landing on his sharply outlined side profile.
At this mont, Shane Donovan’s face bore no expression, beneath the few stray strands of hair was a pair of deep bright eyes, the cinnabar mole at the corner adding a touch of allure to his face.
Stella’s gaze involuntarily followed his and landed on the mahogany desk on one side of the study.
There lay today’s local Riveria financial newspaper, and the headline was the blurry yet striking photo along with the report about Innovatech Bio’s stock price fluctuations.
She pursed her lips slightly—
So... he was looking at this.
For just one second, she even thought he said the engagent wasn’t absurd, so he didn’t think of it that way...
Now seeing the newspaper, Stella imdiately cleared her mind.
Indeed.
He is Shane Donovan.
The powerhouse who single-handedly created Innovatech Bio, standing at the peak of The Kaelon Circle’s comrcial empire, what he truly cares about is always Innovatech Bio’s reputation and stock price.
The so-called engagent, in his eyes, is probably no different from a corporate rger or a crisis public relations maneuver.
Her fingers slightly clutched, just as she was about to suppress the chaos in her heart, her phone in her pocket suddenly rang without warning, breaking the subtle silence in the study.
Stella was startled by the ringtone, hurriedly scrambling to take out her phone.
Upon seeing the word "Brother" flashing on the screen, her heartbeat skipped a beat and her scalp tingled.
This was bad!
Brother must have seen the news too!
Shane Donovan instinctively turned his head to glance at the caller ID, then slightly curved his lips, turned to look out the window, seemingly unconcerned with this call.
Stella took a deep breath before she slid the screen to answer.
"Hello, brother..."
As soon as the call connected, Aidan Sterling’s voice ca crashing in, the ridiculous pressure hit even through the receiver: "Stella! What’s up with today’s financial report?! Is the woman rumored with Shane Donovan on there, you?!"
Because the study was too quiet and Aidan’s voice was quite loud, even without using the speakerphone, his voice was clearly audible, echoing in the air.
Stella bitterly cursed inwardly, instinctively wanting to cover the phone and move to a corner to answer.
"Brother! What nonsense are you saying! How could it be ! Did you look wrong! The photo is so blurry, you can’t even see the face, how can you just assu it’s ..."
"Not you, that’s for the best!"
Aidan’s tone softened a bit, "I’m telling you, Stella, stay as far away as you can from that guy Shane Donovan! He’s a sly guy that devours others without a trace! Appears all serious, but who knows how many shady thoughts he has deep down!"
Stella felt a chill spread through her scalp, "Alright, brother! I get it..."
However, at that mont, she suddenly heard the rustle of fabric behind her.
Stella instinctively turned to look—
Only to see Shane Donovan, who had been facing the window, at so point had already turned around.
Right now, he stood by the desk, his slender fingers resting on the buttons of his shirt, the first button already undone revealing his distinct collarbones and a small patch of firm, pale chest...
And his fingertips didn’t stop, slowly continuing to unbutton the second one...
"Ah—!"
Stella exclaid in a low voice, evidently unprepared to see this scene, hurriedly covering her eyes, her cheeks instantly turning crimson, even her neck flushing a shade of pink.
"Stella? What’s the matter? What happened?!"
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