Chapter 1966

“Enough of that,” Matthew intervened, his voice low and resolute.

“Let’s not dwell on the personal affairs of others.

You mentioned earlier that you had other commitments, didn’t you? It’s time you were on your way.

”

“Did I?” Confused, Nikolai met Matthew’s steady gaze and nodded in acknowledgment.

“You’re right.

I’ll take my leave now.

”

Stella expressed her gratitude to Nikolai for his earlier intervention.

“Thank you for standing up for me today.

”

Nikolai waved it off casually.

“It was nothing.

Besides, I couldn’t just stand by while Bennett’s fiancée twisted the truth.

”

With their farewells said, Nikolai departed, leaving the room a little quieter.

Stella’s mind lingered on Nikolai’s revelations.

After a moment of deep reflection, she regained her composure and turned to Matthew with a curious tilt of her head.

“By the way, why were you drugged?”

Matthew sat in silence, reflecting on the events at the party.

He had received his glass of wine from Lindsay, who took it from a waiter’s tray.

Everything had unfolded under his supervision, suggesting that nothing untoward should have occurred.

Yet, he suddenly felt unwell after drinking the wine.

Before he encountered Stella, Lindsay had insisted on taking him upstairs, sparking suspicion in his mind about the coincidence of it all.

As he pondered, Lindsay entered, carrying a basket of fruits.

“Matthew, are you okay?” she asked.

“Why are you here?” Matthew responded, his tone icy.

Lindsay set the basket down and began to explain, “I’m concerned about you.

I don’t know how things have ended up like this.

I saw you were unwell at the party and intended to take you to the lounge before I looked for Stella, but then-“

Her voice trailed off as she sighed.

Then, she continued, “I didn’t expect that Joann and Stella would end up misunderstanding each other so severely after I left.

”

Stella, who had previously been swayed by Lindsay’s seemingly genuine demeanor, now doubted her sincerity following the engagement party.

Despite her reservations, she chose not to complicate matters for the sake of Lucia and Waldo.

“We’re aware of the situation.

There’s no need for you to visit the hospital specifically.

It’s late, and there’s nothing for you to do here.

You should return home and rest,” Stella advised indifferently.

However, Lindsay remained, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at Stella.

“Are you upset with me? I swear, I didn’t foresee any of this.

I was only trying to help Matthew because he seemed ill.

Can you find it in your heart to forgive us just this once?” she pleaded.

Stella, slightly annoyed yet masking her irritation, questioned, “What exactly are you asking us to forgive? Are you suggesting we should forgive Joann?”

Caught off guard by Stella’s blunt manner, Lindsay was momentarily speechless.

Stella continued sharply, “If you’re asking for forgiveness for Joann, on what grounds? We haven’t even concluded our investigation.

Are you certai

n this was all just a coincidence?”

Lindsay struggled to formulate a response, her voice faltering.

“I-“

Stella’s demeanor had shifted.

She no longer spoke with the gentleness Lindsay was accustomed to.

“We don’t meddle in your friendships, but the Clark family has nurtured you for years.

Considering today’s events nearly harmed Matthew, how can you expect us to simply overlook Joann’s role?”

Stella’s stern gaze silenced Lindsay, leaving her emotional and speechless.

Tears welled up in Lindsay’s eyes, hurt by Stella’s stern words, rendering her pitifully tearful.

Previously, Stella might have hesitated, but now her mind was consumed with images of Lindsay siding with Joann, deliberately pushing her to advocate for Joann with Nikolai.

Stella wondered if Lindsay’s delicate demeanor was merely a tactic to elicit sympathy and champion her own agenda.

With no mercy left to give, Stella was unwilling to engage any further.

“You can go back now.

Matthew needs to rest,” Stella said dismissively.

Lindsay, with a subdued nod, exited the room and quietly shut the door behind her.

As soon as she was alone, her demeanor transformed dramatically.

The tears vanished, replaced by a look of resolute anger and bitterness as she gritted her teeth.

Blaming Felix for the day’s chaos, she thought about the near success of her plan to sleep with Matthew.

“If things had gone as planned, how could Stella dare to be so insolent toward me?” she muttered under her breath.

Her fists tightened, her eyes flashing with resolve.

Lindsay was determined to dismantle the marriage that she believed should never have been.

Her plan was clear-she would oust Stella from the Clark family and reclaim all that she deemed rightfully hers.