Chapter 5 The Only Way to Handle Trashy Cheaters? A Savage Queen

Back at Kingston Heights. The moment Stella stepped into the elevator lobby, she spotted Tessa sitting on the couch. When Tessa saw her, she immediately stood up and walked over, pulling Stella into a hug. “My dear, men aren’t worth a damn. Give me a day, and I’ll introduce you to someone way hotter—tall, handsome, the whole package.” Stella simply replied, “Okay.” Tessa had been all set to comfort her, but now she was at a loss. Wait a minute—wasn’t her reaction a little too calm? Stepping back, Tessa gave Stella a once-over. When she noticed bloodstains on Stella’s coat, her expression changed. “Whoa, wait—are you hurt? Where?” Stella glanced down at her beige coat. Sure enough, there were a few drops of blood. “It’s not mine.” Tessa’s voice wavered slightly. “Then whose is it?” “Probably Lillian’s or Ethan’s.” “…Huh?” “I beat them up.” Tessa’s eyebrows twitched violently. She had just run into Ethan and Lillian at the hospital earlier this morning, and now, before noon, Stella had already given them a thorough beating. She couldn’t help but give Stella a thumbs-up. “Being hotheaded might stir up trouble, but when it comes to dealing with scumbags, your attitude is exactly what’s needed.” Forget just Stella—even Tessa was fired up. She had worried Stella would come home crying after seeing Lillian. But not only had Stella not cried, she had handed them both a beating. Tessa wasn’t sure she fully understood this approach, but she found it deeply satisfying. Stella wasn’t usually the type to lose her temper, but when it came to anything involving Lillian, she always seemed to snap. “Don’t go upstairs. Let’s just grab lunch—it’s already late.” Stella nodded. “Did you take time off just for this?” “Of course. I left work early for you, but I still have to head back after we eat.” With the wedding only a week away, Tessa had been genuinely worried Stella might do something drastic. The two of them found a steakhouse nearby. Stella struggled to cut into her steak. “Let’s not get this next time. It’s not even good.” She still preferred a steaming bowl of soup, and Tessa knew it. “It’s just ‘cause we’re short on time for lunch. Next time, I’ll take you out for some real soup at night, okay? Be good.” Most people just grabbed a quick bite on workdays anyway. Tessa asked, “So what’s your plan with Ethan?” The mention of Ethan made the steak taste even worse. “Help me put out an announcement—one that straight-up cancels the wedding. Oh, and throw in a blessing while you’re at it: Wishing the bitch and the bastard a lifetime together!” Tessa’s hand paused mid-cut. That… was quite the blessing. But, “Did the Reed family and the Kneene family agree to this?” Was Stella really this efficient? In just a few hours, she had already beaten them up and gotten the elders’ approval? Stella scoffed. “Why would I need their approval?” Tessa was speechless. Fair enough. After all, this engagement had never been Stella’s choice to begin with. The Kneene family elders had initially opposed the match once they found out Lillian wasn’t actually the Reed family’s biological daughter but just a maid’s child. The Reed family had panicked. With several business projects relying on the Kneene family, Susan and her husband Patrick had quickly arranged the engagement behind Stella’s back. Two years ago, when Stella and Lillian had a massive falling out, Ethan had suddenly taken Stella’s side for the first time. After Lillian was sent away, Ethan had showered Stella with affection, acting as if she was the only one who mattered. She had thought he had finally seen Lillian’s true colors. But looking at things now, back then, he had probably just been trying to keep Stella in check. Because two years ago, Stella had been determined to send Lillian to prison. Now that Tessa had put the pieces together, she cursed, “Ethan is absolute trash. But wait—didn’t you already know what kind of person he was two years ago? So why did you agree to the engagement? You even went to try on wedding dresses today. Were you actually planning to go through with it?” Tessa was confused. Hearing the word “why,” Stella’s gaze darkened for a moment. Why? Because they each had their own motives. They were both playing a game. “Don’t ask so many questions. Just make sure to include a photo of them together at the hospital. And make sure the department name—OBGYN—stands out.” Tessa saw she wasn’t going to get an answer and didn’t press further. As long as Stella wasn’t actually hopelessly in love with Ethan like people had been saying, that was all that mattered. “Got it. I’ll announce it now.” With that, Tessa pulled out her phone. She owned several social media accounts with millions of followers. The moment she posted, the news spread like wildfire. After all, Ethan was the heir to the Kneene family—the number one powerhouse in Rivermount. Everyone was watching his wedding. If this wasn’t handled right, Stella would be the one taking the fall in public opinion. Half an hour later, a trending post popped up: The Reed family’s adoptive daughter suspected to have returned and spotted with the Kneene family’s heir at the OBGYN department. Just like Stella said, OBGYN was highlighted. Right after that, another bombshell followed: The Reed family’s daughter announces her breakup with the Kneene family’s heir. Both posts shot straight to the top of the trending charts. The contrast between the adopted daughter and the real heiress… everyone still remembered the drama from two years ago, and now it was back in the spotlight. And then, Stella’s phone started blowing up…