Chapter 24

As Stella turned around, she indeed saw Ethan standing a few steps away, smiling and raising his eyebrows casually. She hadn't expected him to overhear her earlier words. Thinking about when she encountered Grace, the "husband" she had addressed Ethan just now to establish her closeness to him, Stella felt a bit uneasy for a moment. But she quickly suppressed it and looked up to ask, "Why did you come so early today?" Although it was almost time to get off work, Ethan had arrived almost half an hour earlier than usual. He strolled over to her side, his tone casual, "Had business nearby, so I came over directly." After speaking, he glanced at Grace beside them and raised his eyebrows again. "Shall we go?" Stella understood that if they didn't leave now, Grace might still be blocking her after work. So she quickly said goodbye to Aurora and nodded at him. "Sure." Ethan lowered his eyes and smoothly took her hand. Grace seemed to have just realized and hurriedly stepped forward. "Mr. Powers, wait, my father wants to see you, and..." She stopped halfway through her sentence. Her father had instructed her to use Dean's matter as leverage against Stella, but facing Ethan, she didn't know how to phrase it. In the end, Grace could only bite her lip and say, "Can you give my father a chance to make amends?" Ethan lifted an eyebrow and sneered, "Ted wasted too much time in finding people to help. He might as well consider how to cut losses and save what he has right now. Being greedy will only lead to losing more." His implication was clear: Ted clearly had other options but refused to take that path. Choosing between imprisonment and bankruptcy wasn't an easy decision. With that said, the two of them ignored Grace and got into the Bentley parked nearby. The car drove out of the parking lot. Ethan finally let go of her hand, paused for a moment, and said, "Don't worry, the Connelly family won't bother you anymore." He had just met with Officer Barton, who was now pressuring Ted to hand over the evidence. After today, Ted should have realized that. "Thanks," Stella replied. "You went to see Thomas yesterday?" Ethan gave a slight nod but didn't speak. His father had been imprisoned years ago because of his reckless actions, trying to monopolize the project in Novastar and angering too many people, ultimately falling into a trap set by others. Although it was the White and Connelly families who had framed him, there were many others who had contributed, including even the Carlson family. Of course, Ethan knew Dean had a hand in it, but Thomas still personally asked him to come. They were afraid he would blame Stella. Of course, there were other things said as well. But those didn't need to be shared with her. So he changed the subject. "Stella." "What?" "I like your conversation with Grace just now." His voice was light and carried a hint of appreciation. Stella recalled the words he had just overheard and choked up again. Her cheeks were unusually flushed, not because of his compliment but because of a momentary embarrassment. After a pause, she explained, "That's because I didn't want Grace to continue bothering me." Ethan leaned back in his seat, glanced at her sideways, and lazily remarked, "I planned to remind you to change how you address me. You may call me honey." Stella had no response. Ethan rested his chin on his hand, enjoying her speechless expression, and smiled, "Please remember that in front of others, Mrs. Powers." With that said, he put on his headphones and closed his eyes to relax. But Stella, because of his calling her Mrs. Powers, remembered what Simon had said before. Their interactions during this time had been much better than she had imagined before moving into the villa. If she could continue to get along with him well, being called Mrs. Powers at any time didn't seem too difficult to accept. ... On the weekend, Stella and Ethan attended Jenna Reeves's sixtieth birthday banquet together. Since it was a formal occasion, it took women quite some time to get dressed up. When Stella came out of the room, Ethan was already waiting for her in the living room. Hearing the subtle sound of footsteps, he turned around, and his eyes met hers. The man was dressed in a neat dark suit, paired with a simple white shirt and a well-pressed tie, exuding an aura of elegance and nonchalance. His well-groomed appearance in the suit added a touch of charm, even to the strands of his hair. Stella couldn't help but take another glance, then curled her lips slightly. She thought to herself that her marriage wasn't a loss. As long as Ethan didn't speak, he was indeed pleasing to the eye. At that moment, the man's gaze also lingered on her, his eyes flashing with an imperceptible sense of admiration. She was gorgeous and he knew it. Although Jefferson High School was the best high school in Seattle, it didn't have as many rules and restrictions, and it didn't limit students' attire. Many girls would wear a bit of light makeup. But Stella, on the other hand, always just tied her hair back in a simple ponytail, forever embracing her natural look. Yet even so, many boys still found their gaze lingering on her. Later, hearing occasional gossip among the girls, she started wearing a pair of black-framed glasses. At that time, Ethan would always steal her glasses when she wasn't paying attention, which annoyed her. But he really didn't like her wearing glasses. Her beauty shouldn't be hidden behind glasses Stella was naturally beautiful when dressed up, and this deep blue form-fitting dress accentuated her snow-white skin. Her silky hair was tied up behind her head, revealing her slender neck and delicate, charming collarbones. Ethan couldn't help but stare for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "You look great." It took Stella a while to react. Ethan was complimenting her outfit today. She hadn't expected him to start complimenting people. However, she was happy to accept the praise. "Thank you," she smiled at him and said. "Let's go." ... The Reeves family was considered a prestigious and wealthy family in Seattle, with the Malone family also holding considerable influence. The head of the Reeves family now was Frank Reeves, the eldest son of Jenna Reeves. Though tonight's event was labeled as a birthday banquet, those who attended were still aiming for socializing in the business arena. When they got out of the car, Stella linked her arm with Ethan's, and the intimate couple's figure appeared at the moment of the banquet, causing the bustling chatter in the hall to subside slightly. Many guests' gazes lingered on the couple, secretly assessing them. This kind of situation didn't surprise Stella. Her failed engagement with Aaron and subsequent marriage to Ethan naturally sparked curiosity among outsiders about their marital relationship. Cameron set down his wine glass and greeted them, "Welcome, Mr. Powers and Mrs. Powers." The Reeves family was flourishing, but unfortunately, there were no outstanding talents among the younger generation. Although Cameron was Frank's son, he was extravagant in his behavior and lacked talent in business. He was constantly rumored to be involved with different female celebrities, none of whom lasted more than a month. However, Cameron was quite polite to Ethan. Actually, it should be said that in the business world, no one dared to be impolite to Ethan. After all, those who had offended him in the past few years often ended up in bigger trouble. When Stella first returned to Seattle, she heard many people mention Ethan's methods over the years. His vision was sharp and far-reaching, and his actions were decisive and ruthless. The rapid development of Horizon Group was because he left himself almost no room for retreat. When the Novastar project fell through, contractors came to Ethan demanding payment based on the contracts they held. The predicament he faced at that time can be easily imagined. He had no way out, stepping into today. The Reeves family and Horizon Group had many collaborations. Although Cameron was Frank's only son, he had two ambitious cousins who were eyeing Ethan, so they had been trying to build a relationship with him. To please Jenna Reeves, many guests were invited to the Reeves family's banquet, and gradually, many people approached Ethan for business discussions, engaging in small talk with him. Stella couldn't linger by his side all the time, so she glanced at the effortlessly composed man and said, "I'm going to find Natalie." She still couldn't naturally call him "honey." They had a discussion at the dinner table, with Ethan insisting that "honey" showed more affection, but in the end, he reluctantly agreed to her preference. Upon hearing her words, Ethan glanced at her, nodded, and then instructed clearly, "Don't wander off. Wait until it's over, then come find me." Only then did he release his hand from her waist. Those around couldn't help but speculate as they witnessed this scene. In the past, Ethan would bring his assistant, Isaac, to such occasions. Now, not only did he bring his newlywed wife, but his words and actions were also quite gentle and considerate. Although their wedding was somewhat absurd, Stella had become Ethan's wife, an undeniable fact. Originally, it was thought that their relationship would be cold and distant, but now it seemed to have gained a hint of intimacy. Whether that intimacy was genuine or not, it indicated that Ethan intended to support his wife's dignity and avoid offending her. Cameron silently took in the scene and, after Stella left, cast a teasing glance at the man. "Didn't expect you to start cherishing a woman too." Ethan's brow slightly furrowed as he lowered his gaze. "Of course, we're married." Cameron sensed the warning in his eyes and quickly ceased his teasing. ... Jenna Reeves was getting on in years and, having been in attendance for a while, was feeling a bit tired. After Frank finished saying a few flattering words, she retired to her room to rest. During these past few months, Stella had always accompanied Claire to the banquets. Today, Claire didn't come. It's unclear whether the Reeves family didn't invite her or if she declined the invitation herself. Stella thought it was probably the latter reason, since she had seen the Malone family's gift on the gift list earlier. Claire was very conscious of appearances, especially considering the recent scandal. In this kind of situation, she probably wouldn't choose to attend. In the past, Stella always followed Claire to deal with these socialites' flattery and praise. Now, she was happy to relax and didn't want to bother with the masked interactions. Instead, she chatted with Natalie in the secluded rooftop garden. "Ethan is really considerate," Natalie remarked, referring to the scene just now. Because of Ethan's attitude, many people came over to chat with Stella, and they retreated to this quiet spot to escape the crowd's attention. Stella chuckled and nodded casually, "Probably, yeah. Anyway, we both get what we need, even if his temper is a bit sour sometimes." Natalie knew Stella got along quite well with Ethan and said, "You two are like archenemies. But I feel like you've loosened up a lot lately." She rarely saw Stella so relaxed. Stella paused and then said, "Really?" Thinking about it carefully, during the time spent with Ethan, she indeed shed a lot of burdens invisibly. He always nitpicked over trivial matters, debated with her in a haughty manner, and eventually made her unable to maintain her composure, leaving her feeling helpless and amused. "You've been away for so long, you probably don't know how Ethan is perceived by outsiders. When I first met him 4 years ago, he was so aloof that he didn't seem like a real person. The cockfighting manner you and Layla mentioned, I've never seen it," Natalie explained. Stella furrowed her brow slightly, struggling to imagine Ethan as excessively aloof as described by Natalie, then fell silent for a few seconds. Before they could chat further, Juan suddenly walked into the secluded rooftop terrace. Meeting Stella's gaze, he greeted her. Stella also greeted. Noticing Juan's gaze falter slightly, she smiled at Natalie and said, "I'll go to the restroom." With that, she got up and left, returning to the banquet hall. As Juan watched her retreating figure, thinking about the message he had just sent, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt, but the balance still tilted toward the other side. ... Stella didn't know what Juan was feeling at the moment. She just thought of him as Aaron's friend and didn't want to linger too long to avoid any conflict between Natalie and Juan. Little did she expect that when she came out of the restroom, she would encounter the last person she wanted to see. After some time apart, the man appeared even thinner. His once well-tailored suit now hung loosely, and his eyes, staring intently, seemed weighed down by emotions. In that moment of contemplation, she had already figured it out. It was Juan who deliberately passed on the message to Aaron, causing him to rush over to the Reeves family banquet, which he hadn't originally planned to attend. Meeting Stella's cold gaze, the hastily arriving Aaron seemed somewhat remorseful. The next moment, he slightly pursed his lips. Just two days ago, he had just been discharged from the hospital and hadn't intended to come to the Reeves family's banquet. But his longing for Stella had grown stronger during this time. Upon receiving Juan's message, he couldn't resist the urge to come over alone. Stella didn't want to meet Aaron, but Aaron urgently needed an opportunity to explain things to her. With that in mind, Aaron reached out and stopped her in her tracks, saying firmly, "Stella, we need to talk." Stella frowned displeasedly, looking up at him. Her voice turned cold, "Did Juan tell you I was here?" Aaron hesitated. "Don't blame him. I just couldn't find a chance to explain things to you." His recent condition had been so poor that Juan naturally knew who he was coming for, hence his move. Aaron felt grateful, but he didn't want to drag his good friend into an argument with Natalie. "Well, what do you want to explain?" Stella couldn't help but laugh. She never believed that the end of her relationship with Aaron was due to some supposed misunderstanding. "I," Aaron hesitated. A moment later, he met Stella's gaze and finally spoke up, "I have no other relationship with Avery, not now, not in the past. We didn't date back then; it was just because of the conflict I had with my family." After finishing his words, he let out a bitter smile, his voice hoarse, "Stella, I've always loved you, but you're too level-headed." Over the years, he always felt there was something between him and Stella. Although they had been in a relationship for almost three years, they were both busy with their studies, especially during their entrepreneurial period when he barely had time to sleep, constantly rushing around. They were both determined individuals who wouldn't let their emotions halt their progress. For Aaron, Stella was not only a lover but also the best partner in business. Their daily communication mostly revolved around work, but after every success, he would create some gentle romance. Stella silently accompanied him, making him feel like there was still plenty of time left. They could sort out other things after they both had some free time. Aaron thought she would let go of all her burdens one day. He thought their problems were just petty disputes that could easily be resolved. However, now she had decisively left him. So, what was she concerned about? This question had been on Aaron's mind for a long time, and it seemed like he had an answer. Stella never mentioned his past with Avery, and he didn't want to admit his foolish mindset from his youth, but he didn't want it to become a barrier between them. At least, from Aaron's perspective. Finally expressing his thoughts, Aaron locked his gaze onto her beautiful face, observing her expression. But he didn't expect that when he said those words, Stella would just lift her expressionless gaze and respond in the same indifferent tone, "So what?"