CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15: MAKING A BIG SPLASH

Clarissa Stanton and Stella Monroe made no moves, and Stella didn’t mention anything to Henry Stanton about letting Clarissa out, even taking extra care of Summer Monroe, which lifted Henry’s spirits somewhat.

The snake incident was strictly prohibited from being discussed, and the manor seemed as if nothing had ever happened.

After sleeping in the study for five days, Henry went back to the bedroom to sleep with Stella.

On the sixth day when he went out, Henry was glowing, and the way he looked at Stella was as gentle as water, anyone could guess what happened last night.

That evening at dinner, Stella picked up a chicken leg for Summer.

Summer smiled sweetly and said thanks, "Thank you, Auntie."

"You should start calling me Mom now." Stella said, "I will take care of you like your mom did, my child. Just like Clarissa, she’s not my biological daughter either, yet I care for her as if she were. In the future, if you need anything, you can always come to me."

Summer laughed coldly to herself, not her biological daughter? Even if she were six, she wouldn’t believe it now.

Clarissa was only a few months younger than her. This meant Henry cheated with Stella while her mother was pregnant with her.

Such a scandal, Henry would naturally never let it out.

But for Stella to suddenly say this, she must have some motive.

Want her to call Stella "Mom"?

She only recognized two mothers, her biological mother and her adoptive mother; no one else was worthy.

Summer looked at Henry with a pleading gaze: "Dad, I...I find it a bit hard to change what I call her just yet."

Her eyes were bright and gentle like water, carrying a hint of a pitiful coquettishness.

If there were grades for being a "green tea," Summer believed her gaze at that moment was at the top level.

Sure enough, once Henry looked at her, his heart melted immediately.

Even though he was Summer’s father, no man could resist such a gaze.

He cleared his throat and said, "It’s alright, there’s plenty of time in the future, you can take your time to change it, no rush."

"Thank you, Dad. I’m sorry, Auntie, I still need time to adapt." Summer apologized to Stella.

Stella was seething inside, this little brat wouldn’t even call her mom!

But Stella could hold her composure much better than Clarissa, she smiled and said, "I understand it’s hard for you, it’s my fault for rushing. There’s no need to apologize, I should be the one apologizing. Whenever you feel comfortable, you can change it; after all, we are to be family for a lifetime."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Not at all."

The two of them maintained serene smiles, and on the surface, the atmosphere seemed harmonious.

Henry looked at the harmony at the dining table, and the fatigue from work was swept away.

The same old saying, "a harmonious family leads to prosperity," as long as nothing else happened, he would have no worries.

Yet just as Henry thought this, Stella opened her mouth and said, "Honey, there’s something I haven’t told you, it’s about Clarissa."

Upon hearing Clarissa’s name, Henry’s good mood vanished, and he slammed his chopsticks down, angrily saying, "Are you going to speak up for that brat? She made such a grave mistake, keeping her locked up for a month is already lenient! Don’t even think of defending her!"

Summer glanced at Stella suspiciously, Stella didn’t seem like someone who’d speak up at such a time. She reads faces well and surely knew better than to praise Clarissa now.

What was Stella up to?

Stella looked troubled and said, "Honey, I’m not pleading for her, but there’s something...I’m not sure if I should tell you."

Hearing Stella wasn’t pleading for Clarissa, Henry’s expression softened a bit, but he still asked coldly, "What is it?"

Stella sighed and took out a sheet of paper from her pocket, saying, "Actually, it’s like this, I just received a notification letter today, saying that Clarissa won the Royal Coffee Academy’s debutante coffee competition."

"What?!"

Henry of course knew about this, once you win, it means you secure the sponsorship of the Midnight Coffee House. Midnight Coffee House was a globally renowned coffee chain!

His face lit up, as he carefully read the notification letter in Stella’s hand, and when he saw Damian Knight as the award presenter, it was as if two beams of bright light shone from his hands.

That was a look of greed.

His hands holding the notification letter were trembling, "How could you not tell me earlier about such a joyful event? The ceremony is tomorrow afternoon!"

Stella wore a regretful expression, saying, "It was because Clarissa acted recklessly and made a mistake? When I told her about it today, she even said she didn’t want to attend the ceremony and wanted to reflect at home."

"How could that be?!" Henry blurted out.

A rare chance to appear in front of top elites, how could she not go?

That would be ridiculous, right?

But when he met Summer’s innocent gaze, his worldly thoughts seemed to be seen through.

He coughed awkwardly and said, "Clarissa saying that shows she’s realized her mistake. Since she knows, it doesn’t matter how long she stays. Sadie, what do you think?"

Summer laughed coldly in her heart, this was her biological dad!

Such a good father!

However, Summer never showed her true feelings, she smiled warmly and said considerately, "Dad, actually I’ve been wanting to say, keeping my sister confined isn’t resolving anything, it’s best to let her out sooner. She’s not that young anymore; after making a mistake once, she surely knows right from wrong. If she repeats it, you can punish her harshly then."

Stella, sitting opposite, was so furious at these words that her gums were almost crushed.

Summer’s words implied that if Clarissa made another mistake, Henry wouldn’t forgive her so easily!

Sure enough, Henry frowned and said, "Right, no next time, Stella, tell her this, and if there’s a next time, she’s out!"

Stella was seething inside but had to say, "I’ll talk to her, she knows her wrongs. Thank you, Sadie, for being willing to forgive her."

Summer smiled brightly, "Since we’re family, a family must tolerate each other, even if she once wanted to kill me."

Stella’s smile froze, unable to maintain the act, she stood up, saying, "I’ll go pack for tomorrow’s trip to Meridian."

She finished speaking, stood up to walk upstairs, but halfway, remembering her plan, she paused and said, "Honey, tomorrow is the weekend, you don’t have to go to the company, why don’t you come along? Bring Sadie too?"

Henry remembered Summer’s connection with Damian Knight, and without hesitation nodded, "Absolutely! Pack Sadie’s things too and buy her a few outfits for Meridian."

"Alright, honey." Stella finally managed a smile.

At that time, let Summer wait and see her daughter shine!