Dempsey was the one who disliked that Clarence had moved back. He looked extremely annoyed, but
he couldn’t say anything.
Obviously, the atmosphere in the Conrads’ Mansion had become more stressful and tense.
When Annie was about to go back to her room, she was stopped by Clarence in front of the stairs.
She was so frightened. Looking back at him, she tried her best to be calm, “Yes... Yes, Clarence?”
Clarence cast her an expressionless glance. He said flatly, “I remember I’ve warned you.”
Annie knew that he was getting even with her. In a hurry, she explained, “That woman... Stella’s
pregnancy wasn’t exposed to me. I swear.”
Upon hearing it, Clarence looked at Annie coldly. She didn’t know if he bought it or not, but she just felt
her hair stand on end, wrapped over by the fear.
Annie gritted her teeth. She knew if she didn’t tell him the truth now, he would sooner or later find it out.
She whispered, “It’s Rebecca. She mentioned that Stella is pregnant, and Uncle Dempsey overheard
her...”
Clarence asked, “How did she know?”
“I... I don’t know either. However, Rebecca said that she knew Stella has been pregnant long ago. She
should get to know it on Aunt Joanna’s birthday. However, she always thought that Stella was pregnant
with Horace’s baby...”
Annie was quite smart when speaking. She pulled Rebecca into the mere and also reminded Clarence
that the matter Stella was pushed into the pond wasn’t an accident. She completely got away from
being suspected.
Clarence suddenly chuckled. When he looked up, his black eyes were full of coldness. He said, “Annie
Conrad, don’t play any tricks in my presence. I’ll look into the matters you mentioned one by one.”
Annie tried hard not to let out a trembling voice, “Clarence, I’ve told you the truth. I didn’t lie.”
After Clarence walked away, Annie trotted into her bedroom quickly. All her back was covered in a cold
sweat.
...
Nathan walked behind Clarence, “Mr. Conrad, shall we look into the Jason family?”
Clarence said, “Not necessary.”
After a pause, he asked, “Has Rebecca Jason given birth?”
“Yes. She gave birth five days ago.”
“Send her a gift for me.”
Nathan nodded, “What should I write on the card?”
Clarence said indifferently, “It’s getting cold. Stay away from the cold water.”
“Okay, Mr. Conrad,” Nathan answered.
Then he walked away quickly.
When passing Stella’s door, Clarence paused a bit and cast a glance at it.
While Stella was sitting in front of the desk, drawing drafts to kill time, she heard the knocks on her
door.
She checked the time. It was nine o’clock.
Usually, the midnight snack would be delivered at ten.
She glanced at the door and roughly figured out who was outside.
She put down her brush, stood up, and walked to open the door. She said crossly, “Why are you...”
Before finishing her words, she saw the person outside the door, her expression slightly changing.
Joanna said indifferently, “Do you think it was Clarence Conrad?”
Stella pressed her lips, “Sorry, I...”
“Let’s talk inside.”
After finishing her words, Joanna bypassed her and walked into her room.
Stella closed the door, turned around, and followed her.
Joanna sat on the sofa and looked around, “Are you used to staying here?”
Stella nodded slightly. She knew that Joanna wasn’t here for caring about her.
She asked, “Mrs. Conrad, you came to me. Is there any...”
Before she finished her words, Joanna interrupted her, “You should know clearly about the current
situation in the Conrad family.”
Stella pressed her lips and didn’t answer.
Joanna said, “It’s alright if you don’t know. Let me tell you. Clarence can’t get along with his father.
Conrad Group has been divided into two power groups. Clarence’s father is worried that he couldn’t
control his son. After the baby in your belly is born and confirmed to be Clarence’s child, he or she
must be the future successor of Conrad Group. Clarence’s father will use this child and take away the
power from Clarence step by step.”
Joanna paused a bit. Then she added steadily, “I guess, even if Clarence hasn’t told you such
information, you should know that he wouldn’t allow you to give birth to your baby.”
Stella was silent for a moment. Then she said, “Mrs. Conrad, I don’t understand why you came to talk
to me about those matters.”
Joanna said, “Do you think I would be benefited no matter Conrad Group falls in Clarence’s or the
baby’s hands?”
Stella looked up at her. Her lips parted, but she didn’t answer Joanna.
The latter knew what she was thinking about, “I don’t need to hide the matter that Clarence isn’t my
biological son. Moreover, if the matter that he was an illegitimate child is exposed, I won’t be the one
who will feel humiliated.”
“Mrs. Conrad, what’s your point then?”
“Next week, we’ll hold a birthday banquet for Dempsey. There will be a lot of guests. I don’t think he
has the energy to keep an eye on you at that time. I can send you out. However, you can’t let anyone
else know the plan, especially Clarence.”
Stella had been waiting for a chance to escape. However, much to her surprise, this chance would be
offered to her by Joanna.
However, standing in Joanna’s shoes, Stella thought that her words did make sense.
Joanna didn’t like Clarence, the illegitimate child. Even if Dempsey wanted to control Clarence with the
baby in Stella’s belly, it was still Clarence’s child. For Joanna, nothing would be changed. After the
baby was born, she would feel more annoyed.
Stella knew that Joanna was willing to help her all because of Joanna herself.
Stella was convinced.
She thought for a moment and asked, “Mrs. Conrad, what do you need me to do then?”
Seeing that she agreed, Joanna smiled. She stood up and said, “Just be yourself as usual in the
following days. On the day of Dempsey’s birthday banquet, you need to eliminate Clarence’s suspicion
and walk to the back door all by yourself. My men would be waiting for you there.”
“By the way,” she reminded Stella, “After I send you away this time, you can never return to City N. To
avoid that Clarence would find your trace, you can’t keep in touch with your family and friends. Whether
to keep the baby and bring it up alone or you are not reluctant to give up what you currently have, it all
depends on you.”
Without any hesitation, Stella answered, “I can give up on contacting them. Mrs. Conrad, thanks for
helping me.”
Joanna curled up her lips. She added, “This is only between the two of us. If you told others and
exposed the news, you can’t leave and I can do nothing about it.”
“I won’t tell anyone else.”
Upon hearing her guarantee, Joanna nodded and walked away.
The room was silent again. Stella, however, could feel that her heart was hammering violently.
No matter what purpose Joanna had to help her or what other plans she got, Stella didn’t think she
would get another choice.
Lying on the bed, Stella tossed about and couldn’t fall into sleep at all. She couldn’t trust Joanna
completely, and nor did she know where Joanna would send her to. Hence, she must have her
escaping plan.
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