Chapter 1834

Stella turned around to face him.

Noticing her puzzled look, Fernando said, “I need to speak with Mr.

Clark.

”

At that moment, Matthew arrived.

Matthew stepped out of his car and approached Stella.

Casually, he wrapped his arm around her waist and asked, “Is the dinner over? How did your conversation with Alissa go?”

Stella answered truthfully, “It went well.

”

She glanced at Fernando and said, “Fernando has something to discuss with you.

I’ll leave you two to talk.

I’m heading upstairs to take a shower.

”

She gently moved Matthew’s hand and gave the men some space.

Matthew and Fernando headed to the study.

Upon entering, Matthew removed his suit jacket, placed it on a hanger, rolled up his sleeves, and asked Fernando, “How’s the investigation going?”

Fernando bowed his head slightly and said, “The person sending the money to those rumor-mongers is quite elusive.

They’ve been exchanging funds in different currencies, making it hard to trace the final transaction.

”

Matthew paused, his brow furrowed, and then he asked, “And how is the investigation concerning Elizabeth going?”

He had always been wary of Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth’s phone records are completely clean.

She’s only been in touch with her father in Dorburn.

Nothing special.

”

After a moment of thought, Matthew asked further, “What is her father’s name?”

Fernando said, “Kristian.

He’s a modest businessman with a good reputation in Dorburn.

He and Bella are a perfect match.

”

After Fernando left, Matthew took a look at the information he had gathered.

Kristian was indeed a low-key individual; there were very few news articles about him.

The only scant pieces that mentioned him involved his charitable activities with Bella.

Matthew scrutinized the documents carefully but found nothing unusual.

Setting them aside, he returned to his room.

It was late at night.

Lying in bed, Stella closed her eyes, her mind preoccupied with the results of the paternity test.

During the day, she could brush aside the bitterness, but at night, the disappointment felt more profound.

Matthew tiptoed to the bedside.

Seeing her curled up and awake, he flicked on the light.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked gently.

The sudden brightness made Stella squint.

After adjusting, she sat up, lea

ned against Matthew’s chest, and said softly, “Maybe I’d been keeping my hopes up before.

Since the results came out, I’ve felt lost.

”

She had once considered Bella, whom she always admired, as her mother.