Chapter 2224

The moment they stepped into the venue, the other guests had begun to whisper among themselves.

The couple had always been the center of attention whenever they attended an event together, and practically everyone in Seamarsh knew that they were madly in love.

Yet tonight, not only had they come with different people, but the atmosphere between them was palpably tense.

So when they heard Stella ask Matthew to pay up, everyone became all the more invested and eager to watch the drama unfold.

Lindsay was mortified at the strange looks that were being thrown her way.

She couldn’t help but glance over at Stella, her heart filled with resentment.

Lindsay understood Stella’s meaning all too well.

Stella was reminding her that no matter what sort of trick she played, at the end of the day, Stella was still Matthew’s rightful wife.

When the brief moment of shock wore off, the staff member warily approached Matthew with the bill.

“Mr.

Clark, please sign here.

”

Stella gave Matthew a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Thank you, honey.

”

The endearment snapped Matthew back to the present, his eyes darting toward Stella’s lips as his heart began to race.

Without saying anything, he plucked the pen from his jacket pocket and looked at the bill.

Lindsay’s hands balled into fists when she saw this, but she wasn’t about to give up just yet.

She reached over and tugged slightly at Matthew’s sleeve in a bid to stop him.

“Matthew,” she called out softly, “this…”

“It’s just a necklace,” Matthew interrupted her before she could finish her protest.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he signed his name without missing a beat.

It didn’t take long to complete the paperwork, and the staff member was soon handing over the necklace to Stella.

She ran her fingers down the stones and beamed at Matthew.

“Thank you for the gift, honey.

And thank you for such a generous donation to the less fortunate.

”

Stella calmly deposited the jewelry into her bag.

As she did so, she managed to catch Lindsay’s glare from the corner of her eye.

Unfazed, Stella smiled warmly at Lindsay.

This only fanned the flames of Lindsay’s fury.

She couldn’t bear to stay for much longer, so she turned to Matthew with a look of grievance.

“I’m tired, Matthew.

Can you take me home?”

Matthew’s eyes lingered on Stella for a few seconds longer, and then he silently ushered Lindsay away.

Stella’s smile gradually faded as she watched them leave.

This development puzzled the busybodies even more.

Just what in the world was going on?

Despite their raging speculations, no one was foolish enough to voice them out.

No one even dared to make a single snide comment.

Instead, everyone dispersed and carried on with their respective conversations.

A cocktail party was scheduled to follow after the auction, but Stella no longer felt like staying.

She turned to Sanford with an apologetic smile.

“I’m so sorry, but I have other business to attend to.

I’m afraid I need to leave now.

”