chapter1040

Israel's icy glare slid from Stella to Joshua, then landed on Keen.

His voice shook with anger. "While every one of us is beside ourselves with worry over Aurora's kidnapping, you're off having a merry time, taking your son sightseeing. Stella, do you even have a conscience?"

He jabbed a finger at Keen, his voice rising to a shout. "Stella, the Williams estate isn't some place for you to do as you please! Take your son and get out-right now!"

Keen shrank back, startled by Israel's fury. He'd never met Uncle Israel or Uncle Coleman until today. Aunt Aurora had told him they were good people, that they'd been looking forward to meeting him, had even prepared gifts. But Keen never imagined his Uncle Israel could look so terrifying, like some kind of monster from a nightmare.

Joshua gently drew Keen behind him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "When Leonard kidnapped and tortured Star, the evidence was clear. Funny, I didn't hear you demanding he be thrown out of the Williams family. But now, Star comes home with her child, and you're the first to hurl insults. Second Young Master, I used to think you only bullied women like Star. At least she's an adult she can take it. But now you'd turn on a child? If someone didn't know better, they'd think it was this boy who kidnapped your precious darling. Pathetic. Absolutely disgraceful."

Joshua's words painted all over the Williams family's faces-indignation, then shame. Their cheeks flushed red and pale by turns.

Skyler snapped, "That's enough, Israel! Keen just arrived-none of this concerns him!"

Turning to Keen, Skyler's expression softened. He beckoned warmly. "Keen, come here to Grandpa."

But Keen clung to Joshua, too scared to move. The way Uncle Israel and Uncle Coleman looked at him made him feel like prey.

Coleman, at least, didn't lose his temper like Israel. He cast one glance at Keen, then turned his attention squarely on Stella.

"Stella, you deliberately misled the oil tycoon and the banker, made them think their son was hit by Aurora, didn't you?"

Stella met Coleman's gaze, her tone calm. "Coleman, let me correct you on a few points. First, I wasn't the one who hit their son-the car chasing us did. Instead of grilling me, maybe you should be tracking down whoever's really behind this and hand them over to the oil tycoon and the banker Second never misled anyone. I only saw them for a moment in Father's office, and I didn't even know they were there. You were the one who insisted I come to apologize, which is why I came to the Williams Group. Third, Father was present for my entire conversation with them. I tried to explain I wasn't Aurora, but they wouldn't listen. What else was I supposed to do?"

to s

Her detached attitude nearly made Israel and Coleman explode with rage.

Jonathan Williams, at least,

managed to keep his composure. He looked at Stella. "Star, Aurora and Queenie have been kidnapped by the oil tycoon and the banker. They think Aurora was involved in the accident, so they took both of them. You know Aurora's innocent-Queenie even more so on, you probably don't know who Queenie is. She's Mr. Burton's favorite granddaughter. Given your relationship with Mr. Burton, I doubt you'd want anything to happen to her." s

Stella immediately caught the implication in Jonathan's words.

"Big

you're not suggesting

want to trade me for them, are you?"

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