chapter1128

Doubt flickered across Stella's face, but she stood up and said, "Show me, would you?"

Ray finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Ms. Cameron, I appreciate it."

In his office, Foreman rubbed his tired brow, exhaustion etched across his handsome features. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep in ages.

His secretary, Abigail, entered quietly and laid a folder on his desk. "Mr. Richards, here's the file you wanted."

Foreman barely nodded, reaching for the documents, already poised to flip through them.

"Mr. Richards." Abigail hesitated, biting her lip. "Maybe you should take a break. You look-"

"That won't be necessary," he cut in, his tone cool. "You can go."

She lingered, worry and something softer shadowing her eyes. "Mr. Richards..."

Foreman's voice turned icy. "That's all, Abigail."

Swallowing her concern, Abigail lowered her gaze and left the room.

A few minutes later, another knock sounded at the door. ? ? ? ?s, ?s? s ?ovelFind.net

Foreman's frown deepened. Without looking up, he called out, "I'm not hungry,

and unless it's urgent, I don't want to be disturbed."

There was a brief, expectant silence. Whoever had come in didn't leave.

He glanced up, annoyance barely hidden-then stopped short, surprise flickering across his face. "Star? What are you doing here?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, something seemed to dawn on him. His expression darkened. "Did Ray say something to you?"

Stella met his gaze. "He told me you haven't rested in days. And you haven't been eating."

Foreman's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're busy enough as it is. Ray had no business bothering you about this."

"Foreman, what's going on? Why is Leonard suddenly targeting you?"

A shadow crossed Foreman's eyes. The truth was, he'd coerced Simone into stealing confidential information from The Lerman Group, hoping to strike@fatal blow at Leonard and, in doing so So get revenge for Stella Simone had succeeded, but Leonard had turned the tables, using the situation to set a trap. He'd been outmaneuvered-played by Leonard and his sister. s

But none of this was something he could ever tell Stella.

He forced a gentle tone. Maybe he just doesn't like me. But don't worry- Richards Holdings isn't as fragile as it looks. I'll handle it."

Stella hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Ray said you sold off your own stocks and used all your liquid assets to help me. That's why

Richards Holdings ended up in net

trouble, and why Leonard took the chance to strike." She let the words bang in the air for a moment, ther asked, "Foreman, this 'Mr. J'... is that you?"

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Foreman's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. J'?"

Stella decided to be direct. "The only reason I was able to buy the Pearce Group shares wasn't because I sold my original stock. Someone-this mysterious 'Mr. J'-invested five hundred million for me. I've tried to find out who he is, but there's no trace. Foreman, was it you?"

Foreman's heart lurched.

Someone had invested five hundred million for Stella? And she didn't know who, only that the man called himself 'Mr. J'?

Suddenly, everything made sense-why she'd come to see him herself, why she looked so concerned. Ray's words had led her to the wrong conclusion.

But it was an

an understandable

mistake. Foreman had already transferred. company funds into a private_account, planning to give Stella the money the moment she asked for help. In the end she hadn't needed it, so he'd left it untouched After she completed the acquisition, Richards Holdings ran into trouble. He'd thrown the money into the stock market to stabilize things, but it only worked for a few days before

everything spiraled out of control again.

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