Chapter 23 The Elders Choose a Side
Chapter 23 The Elders Choose a Side
A loud, authoritative male voice echoed from the doorway.
Hannah and her assistant both turned to look.
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Four older individuals entered–two men and two women–all with heavy, unreadable expressions as they stared Hannah
down.
They were the senior elders of Starlight Group.
After the morning meeting, these four had wanted answers about Stella–was she really the same girl from over a decade ago, the one they’d thought had died?
Ethan hadn’t said much, just confirmed: yes, she hadn’t died–his sister had come back.
The elders were overwhelmed with emotion and followed Ethan, desperate to see her.
They hadn’t seen Stella in more than ten years. They’d missed her deeply.
But what they walked into was this mess: Stella had slapped Ethan’s girlfriend, who was now tearfully tattling on her.
The elders were worried Ethan would let his hormones get the better of him and take it out on Stella.
The eldest among them stepped forward and snapped, “That’s enough!”
Hannah shrank back into Ethan’s arms, clearly shaken by their intensity.
“I’m not lying!” she insisted.
But the elders rushed forward, blocking the front of the desk like a shield.
Elder A, a meticulous middle–aged woman with her hair pulled into a flawless bun, narrowed her eyes. “Not lying? That wound on your knee is just makeup. You can’t fool me–it’s barely even a scratch”
Hannah
Ethan’s eyes flicked to Hannah’s knee, surprise flickering across his face.
Elder & added, “Stella has never hit anyone without a reason. Don’t think you can pin this on her.”
Elder C spoke firmly, “Ethan, don’t you dare blame Stella. If you try to touch her, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies
first”
Elder D was about to nod in agreement–then frowned and rolled their eyes at Elder C.
A flash of malice sparked in Hannah’s gaze. How did this woman get so many people on her side?
Still, it didn’t matter. As long as Ethan stood with her, she’d win.
She clung tighter to his arm, eyes brimming with tears. “Ethan.. if everyone says this is my fault, then fine… it’s my fault.. sob
“It was your faultTM
Ethan pulled his arm away, voice cold and sharp.
Hannah’s eyes widened.
When he first walked in, he’d only felt guilty. He had promised to meet her and hadn’t even sent a message. That part was on him.
That’s why he hadn’t stopped her when she grabbed his arm.
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Chapter 23 The Elders Choose a Side
But after hearing everything she said–seeing that fake injury–he couldn’t help
question her real intentions.
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And the elders standing guard like sentries?
That just made it clearer.
Ethan sighed, fidgeting with the black bracelet on his wrist. “What is this? Do you all think I’ve lost my sense of judgment
The four elders nodded in unison.
His reputation clearly needed some serious PR work.
“Stella! Stella, are you okay?”
The office door burst open again. Tina rushed inside.
She slipped past the elders and hurried to Stella’s side, looking her up and down. “Did Hannah do anything to you? Did Mr. Ethan do anything
What, was she a wild animal or something?
Also, she was the one who got slapped!
Ethan’s face turned even darker–like a pan that hadn’t been scrubbed in ten years.
Is this really the image he gave people? That he’d hurt his own sister over an outsider?
Stella blinked, a little thrown by all the fuss. She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I’m the one who slapped Hannah.”
Tina breathed a sigh of relief. “Good”
Hannah’s blood pressure spiked. She totally lost it. Tina, what do you mean ‘good? You think it’s good I got slapped?”
She’d never liked Tina anyway. She should’ve had Ethan fire her a long time ago!
Tina gave her a cool glance. “If Stella hit you, you should be asking yourself why
Hannah gritted her teeth. She really felt wronged now. “So you’re all blaming the victim, is that it?”
Stella stepped forward and turned to the four elders with a sunny smile. “Madam Violet, Madam Zoey, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Sunon
She’d seen them during the meeting earlier, but hadn’t greeted them formally at the time.
The elders eyes lit up. A moment later, their noses were red and their eyes misty.
“Stella, you still remember us! Where have you been all these years? W
We missed you so much!” Elder C broke down crying.
Stella grinned. “Of course I remember! You’re even more handsome than before!”
