Chapter 14

Once again, that annoying exclamation mark popped up—it was clear she still had him blocked. Charles frowned, more annoyed than surprised. He switched to another private account and shot Stella a message. "I agree to your terms." He stared at the screen like it owed him money. And sure enough, the same exclamation mark showed up again. "This woman's insane," he muttered under his breath, gripping the phone tighter before flinging it onto the chair nearby in frustration. Not giving in, he picked up the phone again and called his assistant. "Use your phone and send Stella a message—just say, 'I agree to your terms.' Word for word. Don't change a thing." At that moment, Stella got the text from an unfamiliar number. She skimmed the message once and instantly knew it was from Charles, probably relayed through his assistant. Got it. No need to reply. She tossed her phone aside like it meant nothing and didn't spare it another glance. Charles, on the other hand, waited for her to respond—kept scoping his phone all night. But nothing. Not a single word. He was so annoyed, he didn't sleep at all. After that, in front of Old Mrs. Hart, he and Stella put on quite the show—always hand in hand, all lovey-dovey. Old Mrs. Hart, seeing the two so seemingly in sync, was happy with the sight and eventually stopped meddling in their business. ... Later, in the Hart Corporation's conference room, the air was thick with tension. Charles sat there with a stone-cold face, quietly listening to department heads give their updates. His pen moved quickly over the reports, marking notes and circling key points. When it was the marketing department's turn to present their latest expansion plan, Charles cut in midway. "The risk analysis here is shallow. And your strategy for dealing with competitors? Too conservative. We need to rethink this approach entirely," he said calmly but firmly. From the far end of the table, Edward Hart let out a soft scoff. "Come on, Charles. I think the plan's solid. No need to nitpick every detail. The market shifts all the time—if we go too aggressive, it might backfire on us." Charles' gaze turned icy. His fingers rhythmically tapped the table. "Companies grow through forward-thinking decisions, not by clinging to old ways. That's how we get left behind." But Edward clearly wasn't backing down. He leaned in, tone sharp. "Charles, I'm just being practical here. If this plan tanks, it's the whole company that pays. Not all of us can afford to blindly follow orders like certain people do." Charles wasn't exactly known for his patience. His voice carried a cold edge. "Edward, if you've got a better plan, speak up. But if all you're here to do is throw shade, then shut your damn mouth." Edward shot up from his seat, palms flat on the table. "Don't act like this company only belongs to you, Charles. It's the Hart family's legacy. If you can't lead it properly, then maybe it's time someone else took your place." "That's enough!" Charles slammed the table and stood up. "Edward, you've crossed the line and disrupted the meeting. Take a few days off. We're done here." After the tense meeting, Charles returned to his office, face grim as ever. He knew Edward had already won over a chunk of the company's people. That internal shift wasn't just a small nuisance—it was dangerous. If he didn't take action soon, everything they'd built could start to fall apart.Just then, his phone started buzzing—it was a call from Old Mrs. Hart. Charles let out a slow breath, adjusted his tone, and answered, "Grandma, what's up?" "Charles, I heard you and Edward had a fallout at the office. You're both part of the Hart family, can't you sit down and resolve things properly? Don't give outsiders a reason to gossip." Wow, someone tattled real fast, huh. "Grandma, there's a misunderstanding. He's trying to seize control. I can't let him mess up the company just like that," he said flatly. Old Mrs. Hart paused for a second. "I know you've been doing everything you can for the business, Charles. But still, try and find time to talk things through with him. We can't let the Hart family crumble from within." Charles rubbed his temples, his voice low. "Alright, Grandma. I'll try to talk to him." Ever since Isabelle was injured by Old Mrs. Hart, she'd been staying at the Rosehill Villa recovering. After Olivia's fever broke, Charles sent her back to Isabelle. And since that incident, Charles rarely went over to the villa. Given that Jason lived just next door, yet she'd rather run all the way to the Hart residence to stir up trouble, there was no way Charles didn't see what she was doing. But dragging Olivia into her schemes? That crossed the line. He was pissed, obviously. Isabelle, on the other hand, didn't have the faintest clue. Right now, she was lazily sprawled on the plush couch, her pale fingers absentmindedly caressing her phone screen. Her health had mostly bounced back after some rest, but her hatred for Stella had only deepened. Narrowing her eyes, Isabelle bit her lip and dialed Edward's number. He picked up almost instantly, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Well, well, Miss Smith. What made you remember my number today?" Swallowing her disgust, Isabelle forced a sugary voice. "Edward, I need a favor... Stella's gone too far." She gave him a full rundown of what had happened. Edward chuckled coldly. "All those tricks of yours are useless now—even Old Mrs. Hart isn't buying them anymore." Isabelle gritted her teeth. "Cut the crap. I want you to kidnap Olivia. Make her look half-dead if you have to. Then frame Stella for the whole thing." "Charles cares about Olivia more than anything. Once he suspects Stella, he'll be done with her. That's your chance to gain more company shares, and for me... well, it gets Stella out of my way." Edward went quiet for a beat, then laughed under his breath. "Damn, Isabelle. You really don't hold back, huh? But hey, the idea's kind of fun. Still, I'm not doing this out of goodwill. You know the deal—I need something in return." No hesitation. Isabelle's eyes gleamed, voice firm. "Fine, I'm in. As long as it gets Stella out of the picture and brings Charles back to me, I'll do whatever it takes." They went on to fine-tune the plan, then ended the call. Isabelle tossed her phone aside, lips curling into a smug little smile. Just then, Olivia came bouncing into the room, clutching a giant cotton candy, her voice sweet and cheerful. "Mama! I brought you my favorite cotton candy. I love you so, so much!" Isabelle reached out and gently stroked Olivia's hair. "Aw, sweetie, Mommy loves you most too." Yes, Mommy loves you... because you're the key to getting rid of Stella.