CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: THE CRUEL TRUTH

Stella’s hand was still raised in mid-air, her fingertips slightly numb.

Aiden Fordham’s face was slapped to one side, and a few seconds later, he slowly turned back, a red mark quickly emerging on his cheek.

He stared at her as if he didn’t recognize this person.

"Stella Grant, what’s gotten into you?"

Her chest heaved violently, her eyes red with anger.

"Did you have The Fordham Group’s legal team bail out that Melody Jewel?"

Her voice trembled, shaken by anger.

Aiden frowned; the name sounded somewhat familiar.

Earlier, Corinne called, sobbing that a distant aunt of hers had been arrested for offending Stella Grant and pleaded for his help.

He didn’t think much of it then and had Keegan handle it.

"Yes." He replied, with a hint of impatience, "Why?"

"Why?" Stella repeated, suddenly sneering, and the tears in her eyes quickly rolled down.

"Corinne Kensington makes you so obsessed that you’ll do anything to help her?"

Aiden: "..."

She forcefully wiped away her tears, her voice rising sharply with hatred, "Aiden Fordham!"

"Get out!" She lunged towards him, pushing him forcefully.

Aiden staggered back, completely bewildered, "Just because of this minor issue... do we really have to make things so uncomfortable for both sides?"

He wanted to seriously reason with her.

"Minor issue?" Stella’s eyes were filled with hatred, her teeth grinding.

Seeing her so upset, Aiden softened his tone a bit, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Stella looked up at him, her eyes brimming with a large tear, ready to fall with a slight frown.

Her beautiful face was mixed with anger and pain as she took a deep breath before speaking, "You want to know what she did? Fine, I’ll tell you..."

"Ring ring ring!" Aiden’s phone interrupted the silence.

Aiden frowned slightly and saw it was Corinne Kensington calling. He hesitated for a moment before hanging up.

"Go ahead!" He wanted to hear her finish. But the phone rang again continuously, and he answered it casually.

"Okay, I’ll be right over!" He hung up and turned back to her, "I have something to attend to, or else..."

Stella sneered slightly, the large tear in her eyes could no longer hold, directly breaking down.

"Get out..."

She used all her strength to push him out the door and slammed it shut, locking it.

Aiden stood outside the door, his temples throbbing.

Just a servant from The Sovereign Estate.

Made a minor mistake, a reprimand would suffice, is there really a need to keep them locked in a police station?

These trivial matters were something he always found too tedious to deal with.

Her reaction today was simply... inexplicable.

"Stella Grant, what is wrong with you? Open the door and let’s talk this through."

Inside, Stella leaned against the cold door, slowly sliding down to the floor.

The suppressed sobs finally couldn’t be contained, turning into loud cries.

The sound of crying penetrated the door, carrying despair and pain.

Aiden’s heart clenched, raising his hand to knock.

"Stella Grant! Open the door!"

"Explain clearly what exactly is going on?"

Crying was the only response from inside, no answer.

Aiden’s patience was exhausted, burning with anger.

He abruptly turned around, took out his phone, and dialed Keegan’s number.

"Find out for me!" The moment the call connected, he growled, "That woman named Melody Jewel! Investigate thoroughly what she did!"

After hanging up, he punched the wall hard.

The night deepened.

[Nocturne] Club, top-tier private room.

Aiden Fordham drank alone, his face somber enough to drip water.

The handsome face that had been slapped still showed some redness.

Abraham Grant and Damian Hawthorne sat opposite him, also saying little, the atmosphere repressive.

The divorce matters were announced, and the group’s stock price had stabilized; why was this brother becoming more sorrowful?

"Did Mrs. Kensington go on a business trip? If not, should I arrange for a couple of beauties to come over for some fun?"

Abraham Grant stepped forward, clinking his glass with his, trying to find something to talk about!

Three grown men, drinking sullenly, what’s the point?

Damian Hawthorne glanced and mocked coldly, "Young Master Grant, you can’t sit still without beauties for a day... if you’re not careful, the iron pillar might grind into a needle."

"Damian Hawthorne, you’re so calm, why don’t you just become a monk?" Abraham Grant retorted.

The private room door was suddenly kicked open violently with a "bang" sound.

Everyone looked up simultaneously.

Vivi Sterling stormed in like a whirlwind, clutching a baseball bat in her hand.

Without a word, she swung it wildly at the expensive wines on the table.

[Crash, bang—]

The sound of shattering glass and splashing liquid echoed through the room.

"Vivi!" Abraham Grant was the quickest to react, rushing over to hold her, "Vivi Sterling, you’ve lost your mind!"

He attempted to snatch the bat from her.

"What are you trying to do! Can’t we talk about this calmly? If you want to make a scene, do it at home!"

Vivi Sterling struggled, her eyes bloodshot.

"Let go of me! Get lost, Abraham Grant!"

With a backhand swing, the bat struck Abraham Grant’s arm with a thud.

Abraham winced in pain, hesitating, but didn’t let go.

Was it really necessary? Their relationship... didn’t seem that deep.

They had always lived separate lives since the first incident.

She had long grown cold and indifferent toward him!

Aiden Fordham and Damian Hawthorne frowned as they watched but didn’t intervene.

They both understood Vivi Sterling’s temper and saw it as Abraham Grant’s domestic issue.

Surely Young Master Grant went out with some model and got caught by the Eldest Miss Sterling.

Still, she seemed unusually furious today.

What a pity about those fine wines on the table.

The waiters rushed in at the noise, but Aiden Fordham waved them away, and they wisely retreated.

Unexpectedly, not able to break free, Vivi Sterling suddenly turned her wrath toward Aiden Fordham.

Gripping the bat tightly, her arm trembled with force, the bat’s tip pointing directly at Aiden Fordham’s face.

"Aiden Fordham! You bastard!"

Her voice was hoarse with a sob as she continued to curse:

"What have you done! You actually let that bitch Melody Jewel go!"

Aiden Fordham’s brows furrowed tighter.

Melody Jewel again!

"Are you even human, do you feel you owe Stella nothing? Huh?"

Vivi Sterling’s accusation was like a knife.

The room instantly fell silent.

Both Abraham Grant and Damian Hawthorne were stunned.

Melody Jewel?

Who exactly was she?

To be worth the Eldest Miss Sterling bringing a bat to smash things?

How did it involve Stella Grant and Aiden Fordham?

Aiden Fordham put down his glass, leaning slightly forward, "What exactly happened?"

He asked Vivi Sterling, his voice cold as ice.

"What exactly did Melody Jewel do? Worth you all acting like lunatics over her?"

He was still upset about this issue.

Stella Grant had slapped him tonight, and... kicked him out.

Vivi Sterling suddenly raised her head.

Everyone was startled.

Tears covered her face, ruining her makeup.

This fearless little pepper was actually crying?

"What did she do?" Vivi Sterling repeated, choking with rage, "It was that woman! That venomous woman in human skin!"

"She made Stella take birth control pills for three whole years!"

Boom—

It was as if something exploded in Aiden Fordham’s mind.

His pupils contracted sharply.

Both Abraham Grant and Damian Hawthorne wore expressions of shock.

Vivi Sterling’s accusation continued, her voice growing louder and more despairing.

"Earlier this month, she drugged Stella again, causing the death of your child! Stella’s child!"

"You! Aiden Fordham!" she was nearly shouting, "You actually let the murderer of your own flesh and blood go free!"

"You bastard! Are you worthy of Stella? Of that child who never even had a chance to see this world?"

She was sobbing, her whole body trembling.

"Do you have any idea how devastated Stella was for that child? Do you know that she fainted from the pain on the operating table? How could you let her go!"

The room was deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Aiden Fordham suddenly stood up, knocking over the wine on the table, spilling it everywhere...