Chapter 19 The Woman from That Night
In the living room, Yolanda Steele was sitting on the sofa in a silky nightgown, her figure alluring. Seeing Freya Stone, she raised an elegant eyebrow, “Well, well, if it isn’t Freya.”
Freya Stone clenched her fists suddenly. During the days her mother was sick, had Yolanda Steele already made herself at home?
Her gaze fell on the expensive jade bracelet on that woman’s wrist. It seemed that the money from the Silverton family had turned Leo Stone’s fortune around.
Feeling bitter, she said, “I’m here to see Leo Stone.”
Yolanda Steele tousled her wavy chestnut hair, “Your dad’s not here.”
Freya Stone turned to leave.
“Wait.” Yolanda Steele stopped her, “Are you here for money? You’re already the lady of the Silverton family, and you still need money? Let me tell you, we don’t have money to give you. Your mother is like a bottomless pit.”
Freya pursed her lips. A mistress like her was now considering herself the mistress of the house?
“Leo Stone hasn’t divorced my mom yet. If he refuses to pay for the medical expenses, I’ll sue him!”
“You…” Yolanda Steele wanted to say something, but when she saw someone entering the door, she quickly put on a more amiable face. “What’s with this Leo Stone? He’s your father, you should call him dad?”
Freya Stone noticed the change in her expression and turned to see Leo Stone.
“Give me money.” Freya said straightforwardly.
Leo Stone walked in with a stern face. “You’re already confident after marrying Elijah Silverton. Just now, you said you would sue me?”
Freya Stone looked at him, “My mom needs surgery, and you promised a million.”
“I don’t have the money right now…”
“The Silverton family gave you a dowry of two billion. Are you saying you
don’t have money? Dad, at least I’m your daughter. Mom is your lawful wife. I hope you keep your promise. Otherwise, we can break all ties, and I’m not afraid to make a big scene!” She stared coldly at Leo Stone.
“Are you threatening me?” Leo Stone’s face darkened.
“Just because I’m a girl, as my father, you’ve never cared about me. You’ve only controlled and used me. I’m also a human being. If you push me too hard, I’ll do anything.” Her expression was resolute, leaving Leo Stone stunned. He thought about how she had entered the Silverton family, and he could still make use of her in the future, so he relaxed a bit.
“Come with me.” He walked towards the study.
Yolanda Steele wanted to stop, “Leo…”
“Shut up. I know what I’m doing.” Leo Stone went to the drawer in the study, took out a check, wrote a “1”, paused, and wrote a “5”.
After finishing, he handed the check to Freya, “Here’s one million five hundred thousand. Take it and buy some clothes. As the lady of the Silverton family, you’re embarrassing Elijah. By the way, doesn’t Elijah give you money?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Freya Stone stared at the check, her eyes red. She understood that her father’s current show of goodwill and concern was an attempt to gain her favor. He wanted to use her to his advantage within the Silverton family. Her heart ached. Her biological father only used her.
She took the check, “How I married him, don’t you know? Does Elijah give me money? He wishes I were dead!”
Leo Stone’s face changed, “You’re a woman, you need to learn how to please men. You’re not ugly…”
“Is Elijah infatuated? Has he never seen a woman? Or do you think a man like him can be captivated by a woman’s beauty?” Freya Stone stuffed the check into her pocket, “If you have time, hurry up and divorce my mom.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? I still have feelings for your mother.” If Leo Stone wanted a divorce, he would have done it long ago. He wouldn’t have waited until now, but he had his plans, using Freya Stone to enter the Silverton family. Once the two families were connected, he could benefit from it. If he divorced, he would lose his hold over Freya Stone.
“I’m with Aunt Yolanda just because she gave birth to my son. You also know that it’s your mother who can’t give birth. You can’t blame me for finding another woman. I can’t live without a son…”
“I have something to do. I’m leaving.” Freya didn’t want to listen to his sweet talk.
Still claiming to have feelings?
This was just to deceive her mom.
She walked away, and Leo Stone stopped her, “Come back more often.”
Freya didn’t respond. She walked out of the house with long strides.
First, she went to the bank. She would only feel at ease when the money was in her own account. She had to wait for her mother’s health to improve before they could leave. For now, her mother’s condition was too delicate. She had to stay for a while.
…
After returning from Blue Bridge, Elijah went directly to the company.
Xander was about to leave. When he met Elijah in the office area, he hurriedly approached, “Mr Silverton.”
Elijah glanced at him, his tone not friendly, “Did you find out what I asked you to investigate?”
Xander sighed. Elijah gave him quite a heavy workload today.
“Not yet… I was about to go.”
He wondered what had happened to make Elijah so angry.
At this moment, the secretary walked over, “Mr Silverton, there’s a Miss Valentine at the front desk. She says she wants to see you.”
“Miss Valentine? Is it Liora…”
Before Xander could finish his sentence, he saw Elijah’s cold and slightly angry expression.
He wisely shut his mouth.
The air froze for a moment. Elijah’s expression was icy, carrying a hint of anger. Xander didn’t expect him to be so furious.
What had happened?
The secretary continued, “Mr Silverton, she is waiting. Shall I bring her up?”
Elijah’s gaze was chilling, “Xander, bring her here.”
“Yes.”
Later, Xander escorted Liora Valentine into the CEO’s office. Elijah stood by the desk, his suit jacket off, casually draped over the chair back, slowly turning to look at her.
Liora Valentine maintained her poised and graceful demeanor. “I came to visit suddenly. I hope I’m not disturbing you?” she asked softly.
At the time, he didn’t press for answers, and afterward, he simply said, “No.”
After all, he wasn’t planning to marry her. Whether she was pure and clean didn’t seem that important.
Liora Valentine hesitated but eventually spoke up, “Um, I…”
She found it hard to articulate.
“Need money?” Elijah cut to the chase.
Liora Valentine was startled. How did he know she needed money?
Without wasting words, Elijah went on, “How much?”
Liora Valentine, flustered, explained, “My father is ill…”
“One million? One hundred million?” Elijah didn’t want to hear her reasons. What she needed money for was clear to her, and he couldn’t be bothered.
Liora Valentine felt Elijah wasn’t as mild as before, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with him. She believed she had presented herself flawlessly in front of him. Seeking his help was a last resort.
Rylan Hawke agreed to receive her money and break up with her, but there was a catch–she had to repay it within 24 hours. He probably thought she couldn’t come up with the money in such a short time.
Now, desperate to escape Rylan, she turned to Elijah.
“I will try my best to pay you back in the future…”
“No need. Just tell me how much.” Elijah, growing impatient, interrupted her.
He didn’t feel this way before, but now he found her incredibly affected.
He was displeased.
How did he end up with such a woman?!
“Twenty-five million,” Liora Valentine said. She planned to resolve matters with Rylan Hawke first and then figure out how to regain her image in Elijah’s eyes.
Elijah dialed an internal line, “Take Miss Valentine to the finance department, transfer thirty million to her account.”
“Elijah…”
Elijah’s gaze, cold and contemptuous, made Liora Valentine shudder. She halted whatever she was about to say. The secretary walked in and gestured for Liora Valentine to follow. “Come with me.”
Liora Valentine bit her lip, lowered her head, and followed the secretary out.
Only then did Xander cautiously approach. Elijah’s sudden change in attitude towards Liora Valentine prompted him to reopen the investigation into that night.
“Do you suspect Liora Valentine wasn’t the woman from that night?”