Chapter 81



After Jerome finished speaking, even Kallie was taken aback, her eyes wide with shock.

Her mind raced with questions. How did Jerome know all this? How had he discovered that Stella was behind the arson and slander? Had he been investigating on his own? Or had it been Jerome, not Brent, who had dealt with the rumors online?

Kallie stared at Jerome in disbelief, overwhelmed by the possibilities.

Meanwhile, Stella was terrified. Her face paled, and she gasped, her eyes wide with fear and guilt. She fumbled for words. “Grandpa, who told you this? None of it’s true! I didn’t do any of…”

“Who told me?” Jerome’s anger intensified. “I have evidence! Do you think I’m just an old fool who can’t tell right from wrong? I had it investigated!”

With each word, Stella became more flustered.

“Corey!” Jerome called out to the butler. “Go to my study and bring the file bag from my desk.”

Corey Munoz, the butler, immediately hurried upstairs.

Stella’s complexion turned ghostly pale. She knew even an apology would be useless now. Knowing Jerome’s temper, she could already see her future crumbling before her. Her only hope was to somehow prove the evidence false.

“Grandpa, if you don’t believe me, ask Kallie!” Stella cried out, trying to shift the focus. “Does she really think I’m capable of such things? She’s slandering me because I’m friends with Sarah!”

Mentioning Sarah caused the other members of the Hayes family to perk up with curiosity.

“Kallie, can you prove it was me?” Stella asked, her voice filled with fake confidence, though inside she was trembling.

She guessed that Kallie might have gathered evidence but hoped there was still a chance her actions had gone unnoticed.

Stella pointed a trembling finger at Kallie, her eyes pleading with Jerome, tears streaming down her cheeks. To the uninformed, she might have looked like a victim.

But Jerome was not one to be swayed by such an act. His sharp gaze turned to Kallie, softening slightly as he asked, “Do you believe she’s guilty?”

The room’s attention shifted to Kallie.

Stella’s glare held a mix of threats and warnings, silently daring Kallie to betray her. Stella was already planning to run to Sarah, confident that Sarah would twist the story to Jake. Then, Jake would punish Kallie.

But Kallie no longer cared about Jake’s reaction. Her resolve was unshakable. She gestured to Jerome that she hadn’t gathered specific evidence herself, but Stella’s hostility since their first meeting spoke volumes.

Jerome translated Kallie’s gestures for the room and then declared firmly, “Kallie is my distinguished guest. I will personally investigate anything concerning her. Stella, you will answer for your actions.”

Stella trembled. She realized too late that Kallie had ignored her silent threats, leaving her fate sealed.

Corey soon returned with a satchel of documents.

“Dustin, come here!” Jerome called out to Stella’s father.

Dustin’s face drained of color. His body shook as he stepped forward, unable to refuse Jerome.

“Read them aloud, for everyone to hear!” Jerome ordered.

Despite the late hour, no one dared mention dinner. Everyone remained focused.

Dustin’s voice quivered as he began reading. “The… the fire at the bookstore… The police report states…”

“Louder!” Jerome barked. “Or have you lost your voice from hunger?”

Dustin, terrified, raised his voice.

The documents painted a clear picture. Even those unaware of the details quickly understood.

The arsonists, hired thugs, had been caught. Their testimonies matched: they were hired by Stella’s assistant.

The assistant had been questioned and quickly confessed, providing records of messages and bank transactions from Stella. Texts and audio recordings even revealed Stella instructing her assistant to commit the crime.

The investigation also exposed Stella’s role in hiring cyberbullies to defame Kallie and Brent.

With all the evidence laid bare, Dustin was furious. “How could I have raised a daughter like you? Did you inherit this wickedness from your mother?”

Dustin had remarried after a divorce, and Stella was his daughter from that previous marriage.

“Dad, please, help me. I know I’ve made terrible mistakes…” Stella pleaded.

But Dustin remained unmoved. “You’re an adult, not a child. It’s time to face the consequences.”

With a new family to consider, including his young son, Dustin could not afford to cross Jerome. Protecting Stella would jeopardize their future.

“Kallie! Please, I’m begging you!” Stella turned to Kallie in desperation.

Stella leaned in, her voice trembling with sincerity. “I admit my faults, and I know you’re a good person. Could you forgive me? I’ll tell you all of Sarah’s secrets! I’ll help you separate her from Jake!”

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