CHAPTER 475: CHAPTER 475: NOBODY CARES

Stella Jennings called Byron Jennings while on the road. She could tell her father was a bit emotional and even asked if he should send someone to pick her up or something. She felt a bit guilty and immediately answered that a friend was dropping her off and that she was almost there.

After the show ended, she turned off her phone and hid at Ruby Sullivan’s place. She didn’t know how to face her dad and assumed naturally that his agitation was due to being scared by her disappearance.

After hanging up, she took a deep breath, "Was it really selfish of me to hide without saying a word?"

Aidan Sinclair thought for a moment, "Your family doesn’t know you’re staying at Ruby Sullivan’s place?"

"No... I was really confused at the time, so I didn’t say anything and turned off my phone."

Aidan Sinclair chuckled, "Your parents are pretty composed, not going to the show’s team to ask for you or even calling the police."

Stella Jennings pursed her lips, figuring that the image-conscious Jennings Family certainly wouldn’t call the police or demand someone from the show,

probably afraid of making a scene and looking bad. She understood her father’s predicament.

No one in the Jennings Family watched the kind of talent show Stella participated in, but Byron Jennings would occasionally ask his secretary about the show’s situation, so although it had ended over a week ago, no one in the family knew Stella’s status and still thought she was with the show’s team.

Byron Jennings was emotional because his daughter called him when returning home, thinking the show had just ended.

Aidan Sinclair’s car stopped in front of the Jennings home. Feeling awkward about entering due to his status, he hadn’t mentioned to Stella about his past with Hannah Jennings yet, so a sudden visit could lead to misunderstandings and wasn’t worth it.

As soon as Stella and Aidan got out of the car, they saw the Jennings family gate open, and Hannah Jennings’s red Lamborghini drove out from inside.

The car stopped immediately, the window rolled down, and Hannah exaggeratedly pulled down her sunglasses, glancing at the two and mockingly said, "I was wondering why you were so confident you’d debut—turns out you’ve latched onto a big shot already."

If Stella were standing with another man today, she wouldn’t be as furious, but remembering how their relationship caused her embarrassment at the charity gala and ridicule, she was seething with hatred. Besides, in her eyes, Stella was an idiot who only deserved to be toyed with by those potbellied middle-aged men—why should she get to be with someone like Aidan Sinclair?

Aidan glanced at Stella, saw her cheeks puffed up roundly with anger, looking like ’I’m mad but helpless’—his heart softened. He turned to Hannah, smiled faintly, and said, "Thanks for the compliment."

Hannah frowned, "Who was complimenting you?"

"Weren’t you referring to me as the big shot?"

Hannah was speechless, and Stella burst out laughing, imitating, "Thanks for the compliment; I know not everyone can latch onto a big shot."

"Shameless!" Hannah huffed, put away her glasses with a cold snort, hit the gas, and disappeared, failing to see Aidan’s eyes flash coldly at her last words.

"Your relationship with her is really bad?" Aidan was surprised. Mistaking a sixteen-year-old sister for clinging to a stranger was unusually malicious, and calling her shameless in front of an outsider meant their relationship was terrible.

Stella lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed for the moment.

How could sisters in a normal family speak so harshly to each other? But siblings wouldn’t become like this without a reason. She never dared to say outside that she was an illegitimate child, not for fear of losing face but because she had been warned not to.

However, at this moment, she did feel embarrassed. If Aidan hadn’t started joking to ease the atmosphere, she would have felt even more at a loss.

Seeing her like this, Aidan raised his eyebrows, "Is there something else?"

Stella nodded.

Seeing she didn’t want to explain, Aidan didn’t press further, "Once the company is set up, you should be able to move out soon. Just tell your agent if you have any needs."

"Okay."

Aidan helped her take out her luggage, "Then you go in on your own."

"Yeah."

Seeing her disheartened appearance, Aidan felt a pang of sympathy, frowned, and watched her struggle to push her suitcase inside. He couldn’t help but call out, "Little girl, if there’s anything, you can call me."

Stella turned around, "Got it." Then she waved at him, her forced smile looking awkward, yet she tried hard to reassure him.

When she entered, both Byron and Mrs. Jennings were waiting on the first floor, as they still didn’t know the competition results.

"Take Miss’s luggage upstairs." Byron instructed, "Come over and sit; your mother and I want to talk to you."

Stella walked over and sat down properly on the couch, waiting to be lectured.

Disappearing without a reason for over ten days was no small matter. She anticipated this moment long ago and was stunned by her father’s words.

Byron Jennings said, "Did you make it to the top seven in the competition?"

A sense of melancholy filled Stella’s heart, "Didn’t you watch the program?"

Mrs. Jennings sneered, "Who in the Jennings Family, aside from you, has the time to watch that kind of meaningless program?"

Stella frowned, pretending not to hear her comment, and looked at her dad, "So you didn’t know the show ended long ago?"

Byron was a bit surprised but quickly justified, "I’m busy every day without a break, where’s the time to pay attention to such things? I stayed home today for your return, even canceled a lunch appointment."

Mrs. Jennings impatiently said, "I have a tea appointment with my friends later, get to the point!"

Byron could only emphasize again, "What position did you get?"

Recalling her morning assumption that her dad was worried about her, Stella felt a chill in her heart. After Hannah’s mocking earlier, she had no attachment to this family.

"I got eighth place, didn’t debut on the show." She saw a sneer of disdain flash across Mrs. Jennings’s face, and her father exhaled deeply. She quickly raised her voice to add, "But I’ve signed with a talent agency, and the boss there is very optimistic about my future. Once they arrange my residence, I’ll move out."

As she was speaking, Hannah made an unexpected return, coming back home and happened to hear her last words.

Hannah’s car reached the neighborhood entrance, feeling unhappy about her and Aidan’s potential relationship. She knew her parents were home to talk about her studying abroad, so she canceled her outing with friends to come back and back them up, ensuring they’d send Stella abroad. If Stella truly became a big star with Aidan’s help, it’d drive not just her but their mom insane.

So, she immediately stepped forward, sarcastically smiling, "Isn’t that optimistic boss Aidan Sinclair?" Her tone was sarcastic and not meant kindly.

Most of the female stars from Morningstar had scandals with Aidan Sinclair; her words were hinting at an unusual relationship between her sister and Aidan.

No one in the family knew Byron always brought Stella along to Aidan’s parties. He had seen his younger daughter chatting with Aidan and thought it was discovered at those times, feeling a bit proud.