Chapter 6: Getting Involved with Him?

Inside the apartment.

Stella stood barefoot on the soft wool carpet, still wearing Allen's suit jacket that carried the scent of cedar.

The huge penthouse apartment was decorated in minimalist cool tones, so empty it felt almost lifeless.

Yet it was exactly this kind of place that gave her something she hadn't had in three years: a moment to breathe.

Allen took out a pair of brand new women's slippers from the cabinet in the entryway, placed them by her feet, then pointed to a room not far away.

"The bathroom's over there. There are clean clothes in the walk-in closet, all new."

His voice was steady, yet deliberately distant.

After saying this, he turned and walked toward the open kitchen, took out a bottle of milk from the fridge, and poured it into a saucepan to heat.

Throughout the whole process, he didn't ask a single question about Miles, about the child, about everything she'd been through these past three years.

To Stella, this deliberate silence was the greatest sign of respect she could receive right now.

She had no strength left to expose her bleeding wounds to others.

As the hot water poured over her, the tension she had held all night finally softened slightly.

In the mirror stood a woman with a pale, almost lifeless face, colorless lips, and hollow, frightening eyes.

She looked wretched and haggard, like a flower battered by storms, about to fade completely.

With her eyes closed, images flashed through her mind without control: Jared's eyes filled with fear, her father's cold tombstone, Ella's triumphant face.

Hatred, like vines, once again wrapped tightly around her.

No, she couldn't fall.

She hadn't yet avenged her father, hadn't yet rescued Jared from that hell.

She had to stay alive, like a nail driven hard into Miles and Ella's lives, making them restless day and night!

After her shower, there was already a glass of warm milk and a plate of cut fruit on the living room table.

But Allen was nowhere to be seen.

She walked to the sofa, completely drained—her exhaustion had reached its limit.

She didn't even have the strength to take another step forward, so she just curled up on the sofa, wrapping herself tightly in Allen's jacket.

In the last second before her consciousness sank into darkness.

She thought, this might be the first peaceful sleep she'd had in three years.

At the Hudson Villa, in the study.

Miles irritably yanked off his tie and kicked over the chair beside him.

The expensive solid wood chair made a harsh scraping sound across the floor.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people! Can't even find one woman!"

Blake Jenkins stood nearby, too frightened to make a sound, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

“Mr. Hudson, we reviewed the surveillance footage. Ms. Carter entered a black Bentley, and it went directly into the underground garage of Skyrealm Residence. Our people couldn't follow."

Skyrealm Residences was Cloud City's most exclusive private apartment complex, with top-level security; without the owner's permission, not even a fly could get in.

A sinister look flashed in Miles's eyes. “I want answers. Find out whose car that is!"

Blake looked increasingly troubled. “We checked. The car owner is… is Allen Palmer, CEO of the Palmer Group."

Allen Palmer?

The name struck Miles’s mind like a thunderclap.

Of course, he knew who Allen was.

Since returning from overseas half a year ago, he had been consolidating the Palmer Group with ruthless efficiency, causing major upheaval in the business world.

Rumor had it he was ruthless and calculating—a top player no opponent dared to underestimate.

How could Stella be connected to him?

“How could those two know each other?"

Blake wiped his cold sweat and answered carefully, "Our findings show that seven years ago, Allen was diagnosed with leukemia, and his bone marrow donor… was Ms. Carter."

Miles slammed his fist hard on the desk.

So that's it!

No wonder! No wonder Connor found out so fast!

For someone of Allen’s current status, uncovering what happened three years ago would be child's play!

His woman—one he had grown tired of and discarded, a woman he had personally sent to a psychiatric hospital—had suddenly latched onto Allen!

Allen wasn't just richer than him, more powerful than him—now he was going to interfere in his family affairs!

He imagined Stella lying in Allen’s arms, weeping as she recounted everything she had endured, made Miles feel as if he were being publicly made a fool of.

He absolutely wouldn't allow it!

Stella was his!

Though he no longer wanted her, he couldn’t accept another man having her!

“The address,” Miles said in a cold tone, his eyes red and disturbing to look at.

"Mr. Hudson, Skyrealm Residences Building A, top floor... It might not be appropriate for you to go now..."

Before Blake could finish, Miles had already rushed out.

Ella heard the commotion and hurried over from the living room, grabbing his arm.

"Miles, it's so late, where are you going?"

"Get lost!"

Miles shook her off so hard that Ella stumbled and crashed into the wall.

He didn't even glance at her, heading straight for the garage.

Heavy, urgent knocking shattered the silence of the penthouse apartment.

The door opened.

Seeing that it was Allen who opened the door, the fury in his eyes burned even hotter.

"Where's Stella?" He got straight to the point, his tone full of commanding entitlement. "Tell her to get out of here!"

Allen blocked the doorway, his tall frame like an insurmountable wall.

He looked calmly at the man before him, who seemed half-crazed.

"Mr. Hudson, I think you've got the wrong place."

"Stop pretending!" Miles roared, reaching out to force his way in. "She's my woman, and I'm taking her with me today!"

Before his hand could touch the doorframe, it was caught in a vise-like grip.

Allen's strength was surprising.

Miles felt like his wrist bone was about to be crushed. He looked at Allen in shock, only to find a chillingly cold, mocking expression on his face.

"Your woman? The one you personally sent to hell, then threw away like garbage on the street?"

Miles's pupils contracted sharply.

Slowly, Allen moved closer, the suffocating pressure of his aura leaving Miles struggling for air.

"Miles, listen carefully."

"From the moment you chose to abandon her, she has nothing—absolutely nothing—to do with you anymore."

At the doorway, the two men confronted each other, and Stella on the sofa woke to the sound of their argument.

She opened her eyes suddenly. In the darkness, that voice she hated to her bones came through clearly.

Miles... he'd found her?