Chapter 82 The Price of Being Found
“Ahhh! I’m so excited! Can you sign my shirt?”
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For a moment, Lucas was transported back to that car accident scene… and to that time at school when he’d been swarmed by rabid fans.
This was a hospital–didn’t a single fan care whether he lived or died?
All they wanted were selfies and autographs!
But then, finally, he heard one concerned voice.
“Why did Lucas come to the hospital alone? Is it… some embarrassing condition?”
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Lucas: “…”
He had wanted to keep following Stella, but he couldn’t even move in the crowd. After brushing off a few fans with strained politeness, he darted back to his car and sped off.
Stella always played by her own rules.
He’d have to come up with another way to win her over.
Luckily, this private hospital just so happened to be owned by his family–plenty of opportunities there.
Stella spent the entire day at the hospital.
Jenn would need to stay for a few days.
Jimmy’s injuries were treated as well.
While they were tending to his wounds, Stella finally saw the long scar across his forehead- usually hidden by his bangs.
Teenage boys cared about appearances. No wonder he kept his hair so long.
Stella asked the doctor, “Can this scar be removed?”
The doctor shook his head. “It’s been there too long. Probably not. You can try some scar
ointment.”
Ashford’s slums were only a half–hour from the hospital.
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Chapter 82 The Price of Being Found
Jimmy had finished sharing his story, but the pain of it lingered–real and raw.
Jenn had fallen asleep after taking her meds. Nancy stayed with her.
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Meanwhile, Stella took Jimmy out to buy a few things–new phones for both him and Jenn.
His old flip phone had been smashed the night before.
After adding him on WhatsApp, Stella transferred him 100,000 dollars.
Back when he was little, that kind of money wouldn’t have shocked Jimmy.
Every year, his sister gave him 500,000 dollars–though she always claimed she’d “save it for him.”
Even without their parents around, the family business continued to run smoothly. The inheritance and annual dividends were more than enough for a lavish life.
But now, that 100,000 felt like a fortune.
Jimmy clutched the phone. “Thank you.”
He didn’t dare refuse. If he even tried, he had no doubt his sister would slap him.
Stella smiled. “Don’t thank me it’s not my money. Ethan earned it.”
That name sounded familiar. Jimmy had come across it while scrolling Instagram before.
A faint smile touched his lips. He pressed them together. “Don’t tell Ethan everything about what I went through. He’d just blame himself more.”
Stella nodded. “I know.”
That night, Jimmy stayed at the hospital to watch over Jenn.
Stella said, “I’ll hire a caregiver tomorrow to stay with Jenn during the day. You go to school.”
Jenn nodded beside them. “School. Gotta go to school!”
Stella could tell Jenn had a strong attachment to school.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to the school herself and made a scene when the principal tried to expel Jimmy.
She’d only learned Jenn was thirty–five when she saw her ID today–but her face looked
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Chapter 82 The Price of Being Found
more like someone in their forties or fifties.
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She’d asked about it, and it turned out both Jenn and Jimmy had their IDs reissued after moving to the slums. The age came from something Jenn had once said.
Kidnapped right after graduating high school at eighteen, sold into the mountains–Stella couldn’t even imagine the hopelessness Jenn must’ve felt. Or the despair of her family.
No wonder she’d stared at Stella’s face and said it was beautiful.
Maybe, just for a second, she remembered she’d once looked like that too.
Jimmy nodded, the long fringe of his hair shifting with the motion. “Okay.”
Trinity High’s environment was awful. Stella wanted to transfer Jimmy to a better school.
But not tonight. He needed rest.
After giving him a few more instructions, Stella left the hospital.
Nancy dropped her off at the villa around ten.
In the car, Stella pulled out her phone. “Let me add you on WhatsApp.”
Nancy brightened. “Sure!”
Once they connected, Stella transferred her 5,000 dollars. “Thanks for all your help these past couple days. Here’s a little bonus for you!”
Nancy’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She hurried to refuse. “Oh, no, I can’t! This is my job–I’m Mr. Marshall’s assistant.”
That’s what her mouth said–but her finger didn’t hit “refund.”
Her hand outright ignored her brain.
But honestly? It wasn’t her hand’s fault.
It was five thousand! That was half a month’s salary!
Stella typed a message to Nathan on WhatsApp:
“I’m home. Can you open the door?”
Then she looked up and said, “If it weren’t for you leading the way, I wouldn’t have found
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Chapter 82 The Price of Being Found
Louis so quickly. You deserve this.”
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