chapter1036

Everyone was stunned.

Coleman Williams and Aurora Williams exchanged uneasy glances.

In a hushed tone, Aurora said, "Stella Cameron's been in Solmaris all this time. She hasn't come back to Novaris. Sellers, could there be a misunderstanding?"

Sellers Burton shook his head. "She'd never be so reckless as to do it herself. She just needed her loyal lapdog to do the dirty work. The reason I went missing in Sandford this time? It was all Foreman Richards' doing her lapdog again!"

Aurora and Coleman fell silent, unsure what to say. In the past, Coleman would have stormed off immediately to confront Stella and demand answers. But now... things had changed. He had his own doubts about Stella.

After a long pause, Coleman finally spoke. "Sellers, do you have any proof?"

Sellers paused for a moment, suddenly aware that Aurora and Coleman's attitude toward Stella was different now-more cautious, less certain.

Aurora glanced over at Queenie Burton. "Queenie, would you mind giving us a moment alone with Sellers?"

This had to do with Stella, and by extension, the Williams family.

Queenie nodded, said a few words to the others, and left the hospital room with the rest of the Burtons.

Now only Aurora and Coleman remained with Sellers.

Aurora quietly recounted everything that had happened since Stella returned to the Williams family-the broadcasted scandal involving Leonard Lerman and all the fallout.

Sellers listened, his eyes growing dark. "That's ruthless."

From Aurora's account, he realized the kidnapping was out in the open now. But none of it was his doing-he hadn't laid a finger on Stella.

Coleman added, Sellers, Stella's not someone to mess with these days. If you accuse her without solid evidence, she'll turn it back on you in a heartbeat."

f.n

Sellers replied, "After I escaped, Foreman had people hunting me nonstop. was on the run for nearly a month. Even if we went to the basement hideout now, I'm sure it's already been wiped clean. Foreman wouldn't leave any loose ends for me to use against him."

Coleman pressed, "So, is there any proof against Stella herself? Anything at all?"

Sellers fell silent for a few seconds, then shook his head. "Not yet."

Aurora sighed softly. "In that case, Sellers, I'm afraid you'll have to lay low for a while longer at least until we find something concrete."

Sellers hadn' dn't expected so much to happen during his disappearance. Stella had actually dared to go up against Leonard in public. But

thinking about it, maybe it wasel

so

surprising-after all, Leonard was the one who'd ruined Stella's hand in the first place.

Thankfully, Sellers had planned ahead and had his men record the incident. He wasn't sure how Stella got her hands on that evidence, but in the end it hadn't affected him or the Burton Group.

Sellers was still recovering, and Aurora and Coleman didn't linger in the hospital. Aurora, wanting to catch up with Queenie after so long apart, stayed behind to talk, while Coleman took his leave early.

Aurora and Queenie found a quiet corner in a nearby caf , where the conversation turned to Simone Lerman.

Queenie's brows furrowed. "Aurora, aren't you going to tell your father and brothers that Joshua Gardner is the head of the Gardner family?"

Aurora shook her head. "Leonard and Simone both asked me to keep it to myself."

Queenie gave a knowing look. "Of course they did because it's in their interest. They're worried that if your father and brothers find out Joshua's true identity, they might try to win him over for their own benefit."

Aurora, however, saw things

differently. "Ive been watching him. Right now, he's doing everything he can to drive a wedge between Stella and the Williams family. His real goat must be the Williams' original shares-or the family itself. If he wants to stay by Stella's side, so be it. Maybe we can use that to our advantage."