Chapter 23
Yosi me test,
all jennitet spoke first
Turns out, having someone backing you makes all the difference
Back when Stella was alone, the Wright family treated her like something they could squee wanted Summer stepped on her openly and secretly, whenever she felt like it
Nowe Stella had grown thorns overnight, and every single one of them was aimed straight at the Wright
uld see the news today,” Jennifer went on. “It’s everywhere. Summer Bailey’s getting torn apart.
“This is just the beginning,” Stella said calmly.
“They’re definitely figuring out how to deal with you right now, ” Jennifer warned. “Block every number from the Wright family. ”
“Already done p>
“Good.” Jennifer paused, then added, “And don’t be stupid about the divorce. No walking away with nothing
“Even if your brother’s basically the richest man on earth, you still spent three years in that marriage. You deserve your share p>
If this were before, when Stella had no one behind her, Jennifer would never have dared suggest that. She would have worried about retaliation from both Dora and Ruby.
But now?
Stella had the entire Hogarth Group at her back.
“I know,” Stella said.
What was hers, she would take back slowly and completely. Everything Evan owed her. Everything Summer stole.
Summer woke up to a collapsed sky.
Her phone was flooded with headlines. Evan and Stella’s marriage certificate was plastered across every platform.
That single document ignited Harbor City like gasoline on fire.
Curses. Accusations. Endless abuse aimed straight at her.
Dora was livid.
Watching Summer’s face turn paler by the second, she rushed forward and snatched the phone away.
“Stop looking at that ”
“Mom, how can they say those things about me?” Summer choked out. “Why would Stella do this to me.
“There’s nothing between Evan and me. Nothing.” Her voice broke. “I just… I just miss Steven too much” She stopped mid–sentence, tears streaming down her face.
“I just miss him p>
Dora hugged her tightly, soothing her while dialing Stella’s number in fury.
Again
And
Each time, the same cold automated message.
That only made her angrier.
“If she were still in this hospital, I’d tear her apart myself,” Dora snapped.
She angrily dialed Stella’s phone, but the line was busy every time.
She immediately called the villa where Stella and Evan were staying.
The servants said Stella hadn’t returned.
Dora completely lost it.
“Damn it! She’s not at the hospital, not at home, and she still has the nerve to disappear p>
Unable to reach her, Dora finally borrowed a caregiver’s phone and tried again.
This time, Stella answered.
The moment the call connected, Dora exploded.
“Stella, have you completely lost your mind? Who gave you permission to go public about your marriage to Evan? Did I agree to this p>
They had agreed on a private marriage from the very beginning.
Now Stella was using something this vicious just to crush Summer?
“I’m telling you right now,” Dora screamed, “if anything happens to Summer because of you, I will make you pay. I’ll kill you p>
Her rage was unrestrained.
Making the marriage public now meant nailing Summer to the post as a mistress.
“That girl just gave birth,” Dora shouted. “How could you do something this heartless?” Then she snarled, “Divorce. You must divorce Evan.
“Don’t think going public means you can stay Wright’s second daughter–in–law forever.
2/3
“Dream on. Even II Evan protects you, a woman with no family, no backing, like you? Thave a hundred ways. to ruin you p>
Listening to Dora rage on, Stella let out a soft laugh.
“It sounds like you didn’t read the reports very carefully,” she said lightly.
When she respected Dora, she was a mother–in–law.
Now?
She was nothing.
Don’s breathing grew harsh.
are you talking about p>
Stella’s calm only pushed her closer to the edge.