CHAPTER 526: CHAPTER 526: ENDURING IS USELESS

Ruby Sullivan opened the door to the passenger seat and sat down, "Let’s go."

Ethan Sterling, the driver,

glanced at the rear-view mirror, seeing Aidan Sinclair walking briskly in this direction, "Okay." After saying that, he started the car, shifted gears, and stepped on the gas.

Aidan Sinclair watched the car suddenly leave, raised his hand dryly with a blank expression, feeling shut out.

He pulled out his phone and called Gavin Garrison, "Come pick me up."

On the way back, Ruby Sullivan was indignant and got angrier with each word she said, "How about letting the crew replace Crystal Pierce? Can we make it happen by investing more money?"

Ethan Sterling looked at his wife, whose passionate righteousness was evident, and thought for a moment, "Depends on the situation, it might be possible."

"That would be a lot of money, right?"

"Of course."

Ruby Sullivan pressed her lips together, hesitated for a moment, then said resolutely, "I’ll ask Howard to find out." Let that woman know what it’s like to have her work disrupted.

Ethan Sterling noticed that his usually money-driven wife wasn’t flinching at the thought of spending a lot, somewhat jealous but amused, "I think you may want to trust Aidan Sinclair for a start."

Ruby Sullivan rolled her eyes, "He talks about having seen many women, yet can’t tell a pure-white flower from a schemer. What face does he have to ask for trust?"

"That’s true."

"I still think it’s better to let Howard find out." She’s rich now, she can afford to be capricious once in a while.

When they got home, Ethan Sterling saw that Ruby had calmed down a bit, and suggested she talk to Stella Jennings first tomorrow before deciding how to help.

Ruby Sullivan thought Ethan’s suggestion made sense, but she couldn’t wait until the next morning, so she immediately called Stella Jennings via video call.

On the other side, Gavin Garrison tried to start a conversation with Aidan Sinclair all the way, but after realizing the other seemed uninterested in talking, he shut his mouth. After a moment of silence, he assumed Aidan Sinclair was in a bad mood because he was worried about Crystal Pierce, so he started trying to comfort him.

Aidan Sinclair still didn’t say a word, but his face looked worse and worse, though the car was too dim for Gavin to see anything.

When the car stopped at Aidan Sinclair’s home, he spoke to Gavin for the first time, "Prepare a resignation letter for tonight, send it to me tomorrow. The company will forcibly repurchase all your shares of Morningstar." After saying this, he got out of the car.

Gavin Garrison sat stunned in the car, doubting what his ears heard, wanting to chase after him to ask what’s going on, but Aidan Sinclair had already entered.

"Damn!" he cursed, froze on the seat for a long while, then called Crystal Pierce, "Well, nothing special, just concerned about your condition."

"Didn’t you already come to the hospital?" Crystal Pierce was also in a bad mood, not in the mood to deal with him, and she hung up after speaking.

Gavin Garrison paused, cursed again, then drove off with a sour mood.

During her video call with Ruby Sullivan, Stella Jennings saw a message from Aidan Sinclair, deducing he was probably coming over because of tonight’s situation. She excused herself as being tired and needed sleep but still emphasized before hanging up, to not ask the director to switch people.

After hanging up, Stella Jennings hurried to the door; Aidan Sinclair’s message said he was just outside.

She opened the door to find Aidan looking grim, making her suddenly tense, "I didn’t intentionally trip her."

Aidan Sinclair felt like crying, "Are you explaining yourself to me now?"

Stella Jennings nodded, "You... believe me, right?" Although she trusted Aidan Sinclair, so much had happened that she began doubting his relationship with Crystal Pierce. Regardless, she needed to explain where it’s necessary.

Aidan Sinclair sighed, "If you want, I can make Crystal Pierce disappear from the entertainment industry."

His words were serious, the topic heavy, but Stella Jennings couldn’t help but laugh, "You sound just like Wenny. How would you make her disappear from the industry? Marry her home?"

Her Aidan Sinclair furrowed his brows, sticking out his tongue, "There’s really no need. Maybe you’re overthinking it? Why would Crystal Pierce always target me?"

Seeing her indifferent expression made Aidan Sinclair genuinely angry, "Holly, could you at least cherish yourself a bit? For me or Wenny, our greatest wish is not to see you become hugely successful, but simply to see you happy. Every time I see reports of artists with depression, I get worried, afraid I won’t protect you well, that you’ll bottle up grievances until you hurt yourself. I’d rather you be that troublemaker as long as you’re happy, I’ll willingly clean up any mess."

The more he spoke, the more emotional he became, stepping forward and inadvertently cornering Stella against the wall.

With one hand resting on the wall, he looked down at her, catching his breath with difficulty and helplessness, "Remember what I’ve just said."

Stella Jennings felt dizzy from his words, barely recalling anything, seeming to forget everything he just said, unable to remember a single sentence.

She felt as though she’d been possessed by a goldfish in that instant.

The closeness between them made her head buzz, her whole body uncomfortable. She tried to shrink her body but couldn’t widen the gap between them.

He had a pleasant scent, a grassy aroma tinged with the freshness of morning dew. Up close, his eyes glittered, his lashes were long, making him seem even more handsome than usual.

Stella Jennings knew now wasn’t the time to be noticing such things, but her thoughts were racing uncontrollably like wild horses.

Aidan Sinclair really wanted to close the distance a bit more; her lips looked moist and alluring like shimmering jelly, tempting him to take a taste.

A minute pass, their gazes locked onto one another, neither moving, neither daring to move, as though even breathing carefully might lead to something significant happening.

Finally, Aidan Sinclair retreated a few steps, and Stella Jennings’ tense body relaxed, breathing out.

"You... were startled." Stella Jennings saw his compassionate gaze on her, trying to smile to ease the atmosphere between them.

"Let me repeat this, I have no personal ties with Crystal Pierce. Even if you got upset and pushed her today, my only concern would be whether the public reaction affects your mood." Aidan Sinclair said earnestly.

Stella Jennings nodded, "I understand."

"Okay... then... reach out when you need, always tell me." Aidan Sinclair finished, turned around, opened the door, and left.

That night, Stella Jennings hardly slept, pondering a lot.

Before, she always thought if she endured a little, things would pass, not causing trouble would prevent dragging friends down, but now she realized that enduring only invites more bullying, emboldening bad people.

After a night of swirling emotions, her discord with Crystal Pierce indeed became major news. She called Ellie and decided to visit the hospital.