Chapter 1447

Stella raised her glass and clinked it against Darcie’s. She said, “Thank you, Mrs. Saun.” Her smile was friendly, yet it left one wondering if her gratitude was genuine.

Darcie returned the smile, her tone kind, “We’re family; there’s no need for formalities. You’re Wenham’s daughter and also a kin to Jaylene and me. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”

Stella nodded and lowered her gaze.

After bringing Danny to his seat, Wenham guided Stella to greet the other relatives and friends at their tables.

Trevor excused himself for a moment, and Stella was hesitant about following Wenham around.

Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she worried about handling conversations. To her surprise, she found little need to speak. As Wenham indulged in a few drinks, he became quite chatty. Stella only needed to greet the people and let Wenham do all the talking.

Whenever someone paid her a compliment, Wenham would linger for a chat.

After finishing their rounds, they went back to the center stage.

Trevor had also returned by this point. He leaned in to share a few hushed words with Wenham, who nodded in agreement. He cleared his throat and addressed the guests, “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for a moment. I have an announcement to make.”

Darcie observed Wenham’s expression and felt uneasy because they did not discuss this segment.

Wenham continued as the room’s attention shifted, “I want to thank all of you for being here with us.

Today’s banquet went smoothly. Stella has returned to her birth family, and as her father, I couldn’t be happier. As many of you know, Enchanted, now branded as Caline, was founded by my late ex-wife.

After her passing, I’ve been overseeing it. Now that my daughter has returned, it’s only fitting that I entrust it to her care.”

Wenham paused and accepted a folder from Trevor before passing it to Stella. “Inside, you’ll find the shares for Caline and the important documents since its establishment. I’m handing this to you. From here on, you’re one of Caline’s shareholders.”

The statement left everyone astonished.

Caline stood as one of the most lucrative ventures within the Saun family’s portfolio. This fragrance company was cofounded by Freesia and had risen to prominence in the domestic industry under the Saun family’s management. Their perfume line had become a global sensation, making waves even in international markets.

In addition, their tailored fragrance services in top-tier cities formed a comprehensive network between the people brand. At least half of the men and women attending the banquet had used Caline’s products before.

The company was poised to generate substantial profits, which were far from a trifling sum.

Wenham showcased the depth of his affection for his biological daughter when he entrusted this sizeable enterprise to Stella instead of Trevor or Jaylene.

Darcie’s complexion paled when she heard what he had said.

Darcie and Wenham talked about presenting Stella with a welcome-home gift during the event.

Wenham had mentioned this idea, but she had persuaded him otherwise. She argued that Stella was currently focusing on her acting career, and handing over such a sizable company might not be the best option. Instead, she proposed gifting Stella a prime commercial street in the East. The bustling area commanded steep rents, yielding millions of dollars annually. Moreover, it would be hassle-free.

Wenham agreed to the suggestion and arranged for a transfer of ownership to be drafted well in advance so they could present it to Stella on the banquet day.

Everything had been meticulously deliberated and settled. Hence, it was surprising that Wenham deviated from the original plan by suddenly entrusting Caline to Stella for management without consulting Darcie.

Caline had two significant shareholders-Wenham and Darcie. The company had been established by both Darcie and Freesia. After Freesia’s passing, Wenham had initially intended to allocate Freesia’s share to the Hall family.

However, Daryl returned it to the Sauns after operating the business for two years.