Chapter 27
Chapter 27
“And that’s why you kept it from us?” Harvey asked.
Due to the Spencer family’s efforts to pivot their business, Harvey had been sent abroad early on.
Part of it was to study emerging industries; the other part was to ensure that if the family business truly collapsed, he wouldn’t be dragged down with it.
As a result, he didn’t know much about what had been going on with Stella. What little he did know came from his or from phone calls with Stella herself-always brief, always “everything’s fine.”
parents
But now, the illusion of “fine” had been shattered by Irene’s behavior. A child from a truly happy home wouldn’t act like this.
And now Stella was about to face the full force of her cousin’s protective anger.
“I… I wasn’t trying to hide it from you,” Stella said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Harvey had always been good to her, but that didn’t change the fact that she was a little afraid of him.
“I just didn’t want you to worry. You all already have enough on your plate.”
The Spencer family’s struggles were burden enough. She didn’t want to add to their stress.
Harvey was silent for a moment, his narrow eyes thoughtful.
Just when Stella thought he wouldn’t respond, he said quietly, “We held you back.”
If the Spencer had been stronger, no one from the Lloyd would’ve dared treat their cherished daughter this way.
Harvey had never felt a more urgent need for power than he did right now.
“Harvey…” Stella’s eyes reddened. “It’s not your fault. You’ve always been so good to me. It’s just that I…”
She swallowed hard, lowering her head further. “It’s because I didn’t listen to you-or anyone else. I insisted on marrying Ernest despite all the warnings. I made my choice. I should face the consequences.”
Most adults have to live with their decisions-no one else pays the price.
But Stella was different. She was a Spencer. She was their girl.
Seeing her so subdued, so unlike her former lively self, Harvey’s calm expression masked a simmering anger.
Ernest Lloyd-the so-called leading figure of Seabrook’s business world, a man of immense wealth and influence…
Harvey narrowed his eyes, then suddenly smiled. He wondered what kind of crisis it would take to break a man like that.
Would it be harder than taking on those overseas conglomerates?
Somehow, Harvey didn’t feel all that pressured.
“Alright,” he said, ruffling Stella’s hair. “Look at you—all hunched over. What, planning to join the circus as a contortionist?”
“Harvey!” Stella swatted at him playfully. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, my bad. Have mercy on your old cousin.”
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Chapter 27
Stella hmphed. “We’ll see. Depends on your performance.”
When they were kids, every time he teased her till she was near tears, he’d always find a way to make it up to her.
From expensive gifts to simple roadside flowers-it was always something she’d been wanting.
This time, she was curious what he’d give her.
Harvey pulled something from his inner pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”
It was a dull gray-brown box that looked plain under the sunlight. No logo, no fancy wrapping-like something picked off a street vendor’s cart.
But Stella wasn’t disappointed. Her eyes lit up. “What is it?”
“Open it and see,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Is it some kind of prank?
Yeah, usually she only got gifts after she cried. If she hadn’t cried yet… well, first he had to make her cry.
Clearly, this wasn’t her first rodeo.
Hesitantly, she cracked open the box-and a dazzling burst of light nearly blinded her.
Her brother’s laughter rang out loudly beside her.
“Harvey!” She rubbed her teary eyes, shooting him a look.
“Sorry, my bad,” he said, still chuckling. “Just don’t open it toward the sun. Block the light a little.”
Stella turned slightly, using her body to shade the box as she opened it fully.
Inside lay a crystal necklace shaped like flowing water. What caught her eye wasn’t just its beauty-but its craftsmanship. It had no seams or joins. The entire piece was carved from a single crystal, hollowed and shaped so delicately it looked like a stream of water frozen in mid-motion.
“So?” Harvey leaned in. “Not bad, right?”
“Not bad?” Stella could hardly contain her excitement. “This is incredible!”
It wasn’t that jewelry like this didn’t exist domestically-water-inspired designs weren’t exactly rare. Anyone who’d ever seen a flowing stream could imagine something along these lines.
Some designers had even tried it themselves.
But every piece Stella had ever seen fell short. They had the shape, but not the soul-like comparing still water to a living
river.
Or, to put it simply, it was like choosing between a lifelike cat and a lumpy clay statue. Anyone would pick the former.
“Harvey, where did you get this?” Stella asked eagerly.
If she could find other works by the same designer, it might spark some inspiration.
Harvey didn’t answer directly. “It’s by a designer who’s long since retired. This was his final piece-a tribute to his career.”
2/3
It had already been auctioned in overseas black markets for over five billion, but Harvey had taken a different approach. He’d tracked down the designer’s address and gone to see him in person.
After quite the ordeal, he’d secured it.
Suppressing a twinge of pain from the bullet wound still healing in his abdomen, Harvey watched Stella’s unreserved smile and felt it was all worth it.
“Thank you, Harvey,” Stella said sincerely. “I really, truly love it.”
“As long as you like it.” He smiled.
“Does it have a name?”
“Celestial Water-a sweet spring wrapped by stars from the heavens.”
As they talked, they reached the front door. Marvin was still standing there holding Irene, waiting for them.
“Mommy, hurry up!” Irene called out impatiently. If they kept moving this slowly, today would never end!
“Your mom’s talking to your uncle-she’s not going anywhere. What’s the rush?” Harvey said, amused.
“But I want today to be over quickly!” Irene blurted out without thinking.
“Oh?” Harvey feigned curiosity and was about to ask more when Stella cut in.
“Irene, didn’t you say you wanted to try Evelyn’s crispy duck breast? If you don’t go tell her now, she might finish cooking without making it.”
“Oh yes!” Irene pursed her lips and tugged at Marvin’s neck. “Marvin, take me to Evelyn now! It’s been forever since I had her crispy duck breast!”
“Alright, I’ll take you to her,” Marvin said with a laugh.
Once they were gone, Stella let out a relieved sigh. Harvey didn’t seem bothered that she’d changed the subject. He just narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. “You know you can’t hide things from me forever.”
“Harvey,” Stella said anxiously, “we just talked about this. Can’t we let it go?”
Not a chance.
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