CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: SHE ACTUALLY HIT HIM

Is this overstimulation? Or the reaction expected of a divorced woman?

Stella Grant carefully swirled a slice of beef in the hotpot, dipped it in her homemade sauce, and chewed slowly.

Her beautiful eyes were calm and unruffled, showing no emotion.

Aiden Fordham.

This name used to be a thorn in her heart, aching with just one touch.

But now, hearing that he announced in such a high-profile manner for another woman, even at the cost of betraying his always revered grandfather.

Her heart felt not even the slightest ripple.

It seems that he is truly serious about Corinne Kensington.

He’s irrevocably invested.

Thinking back on that three-year-long marriage, it was nothing but... a total joke!

"Stella..." Vivi Sterling looked at her calm demeanor and became even more worried, her tone softening.

"Are you... are you okay?"

Stella Grant raised her gaze to meet her worried eyes, smiled openly, "What could be wrong with me? Do you expect me not to eat as if he’s my everything?"

"But that bastard Aiden Fordham..." Vivi Sterling had cursed him a thousand times in her heart.

They hadn’t even gotten their divorce papers, and he’s already so eager to legitimize Corinne Kensington, completely disregarding Stella’s feelings.

"Whatever he does has nothing to do with me anymore."

Stella interrupted her, stuffing the cooked beef into her mouth, "Right now, I just want to eat meat and then go back and have a good sleep."

Vivi Sterling looked at her feigned relaxed appearance, holding back a fire within.

"This is so damn disappointing!" She slammed the table hard, "We finally crushed Corinne Kensington, and she seemed forever unable to rise! Aiden Fordham’s move has just wiped her slate clean!"

Now she’s the publicly acknowledged girlfriend of Magnate Fordham; who would dare mention her scandal with Young Master Grant anymore!

In the end, the dinner felt oppressive, and they dispersed before it was even nine.

Just then, Stella received a call from her grandfather, so she took a cab to the old mansion.

The atmosphere in the Fordham Family’s old mansion was heavy.

The living room was brightly lit, yet it cast a cold chill in people’s hearts.

Elder Fordham sat upright in the main chair, his face livid, tapping his dragon-head cane on the ground, making a dull thud.

"Outrageous!" Elder Fordham’s roar made the teacup lids jump.

He turned to his quiet daughter-in-law Stella Grant, his tone considerably softened.

"Stella, don’t worry, you have grandpa here."

Stella Grant lowered her eyes, showing no emotion.

Laura Monroe, her mother-in-law, sat on the other side, leisurely smoothing the folds of her dress, her voice calm but each word piercing.

"Dad, don’t exert yourself. This can’t all be blamed on Aiden. Stella’s been in the family for three years, but there’s been no movement in her belly."

"We can’t let the Fordham Family end without descendants, can we?"

She glanced at Stella, with a subtle hint of sarcasm at the corner of her mouth.

"Besides, Aiden’s had someone in his heart for a while. Now that it’s public, maybe... she’s already pregnant? It’s a classic case of a mother’s rise by her son, as it’s always been."

The words stabbed Stella like needles, scattering densely.

Elder Fordham paused, but showed no sign of excitement about the prospect of a great-grandchild. He suggested to his granddaughter-in-law, "Stella, why don’t you... consider IVF."

"Grandpa, I don’t want to go!" She spoke calmly.

Before, she had always hoped for a child of their own, and she tried for three years.

But now, she doesn’t want that. That child would just represent their... closure.

She and Aiden Fordham have already signed an agreement; they are no longer... married.

She doesn’t want this family anymore!

"This..." Steven Fordham was momentarily tongue-tied, yes, now that brat is so brazen.

How could he still have the nerve to ask her to bear a child for the Fordham Family? Alas, how did such a promising marriage end up like this?

Thinking of this, his brows furrowed deeper.

Stella didn’t even wrinkle her brows; she just picked up her teacup, gently blowing its foam.

The sound of a car arose, and soon heavy footsteps approached from outside.

Aiden Fordham had returned.

He wore a well-tailored suit, his figure tall, his expression stern, as if he had just come from a business negotiation.

"Grandpa!" He called, his voice steady.

Elder Fordham suddenly stood up, raising his cane and striking it against his leg.

[Smack!]

[Smack!]

Twice, hard and heavy. Aiden Fordham bore it, his figure hardly wavering.

"You reckless thing!" Elder Fordham’s chest heaved violently with anger, "Do I exist in your eyes as your grandpa? Do the rules of the Fordham Family mean anything to you?"

His skeletal fingers trembled as they pointed at Aiden, his muddy eyes burning with almost explosive rage.

"We have a daughter-in-law as exceptional as Stella in the family, yet you dare have ambiguous entanglements with other women, and make it public for the world to see!"

"You are blatantly humiliating the Fordham Family! Humiliating me!"

The roar reverberated in the empty living room, carrying undeniable authority.

"You, immediately, right away, issue a statement to clarify! Tell everyone who the rightful Mrs. Fordham Group is!"

If you dare continue your unclear relations with that woman, I won’t let you off!"

Aiden stood in the shadows, his handsome face expressionless, yet the air pressure around him was terrifyingly low.

He didn’t even look at his furious grandfather; his gaze fell somewhere in the void, his tone as calm as if he was stating something unrelated.

"Grandpa, from now on, I want to be the master of my own life."

Elder Fordham’s vision went dark, nearly stumbling, the butler quickly supporting him.

"You... repeat that!"

"Grandpa, let me talk to him." Stella put down the teacup, stood up.

She walked toward Aiden, a few steps apart, the tension heavy in the air.

"Slap!" A hard slap landed on his handsome face, the crisp sound leaving everyone present in shock.

Aiden Fordham hadn’t expected that this little thing would dare to lay a hand on him?

He tongued the fiery right cheek, calmly said, "Let’s talk in the study."

Stella turned expressionlessly, leading the way upstairs.

Elder Fordham watched their retreating figures, still not recovered from the slap incident earlier.

The next moment he felt a secret delight, it should have been done long ago to teach that brat a lesson, preventing his arrogance!

In the study,

The door closed, isolating the exterior noise.

Aiden Fordham, surprisingly not enraged, his handsome face wearing a red mark still.

He loosened his tie slightly, leaning against the mahogany desk’s edge, his posture relaxed, carrying an aloof scrutiny.

"Stella Grant, you’ve slapped me, I’ve given you face. Now tell me, besides complaining, what else can you do?"

Stella suddenly laughed out of anger.

So, he thought every time grandpa lost his temper, it was initiated by her actions.

Initially, she thought she was just loving humbly, unable to win over his heart; little did she expect her character here... to be so lowly valued.

How laughable!