Chapter 402
Chapter 402:
He glanced briefly at Wendy, his eyes reflecting a complex blend of pain and gratitude. These conflicting emotions made him an enigma—thankful for Wendy’s support, which had sustained him, yet burdened by the heavy cost of her protection.
In exchange for Wendy’s unwavering support, he had reluctantly given up his independence.
“Janice, may I have your contact details?” Stephen asked, his tone earnest. “It’s rare to meet someone who resonates with me so deeply, and I wouldn’t want to lose this connection.”
“Certainly. I’ll share my contact details with you,” Janice replied, her voice calm, though she didn’t add much more to the conversation. She handed him her details, her mind deep in thought. Her doubts were growing, and she needed to confirm them. Having his contact information would make her investigation easier.
A last name of White, a tragic childhood, a fall from grace, and sacrificing his independence for protection… Could he be a member of the prestigious White family from Cloverhill? Could he be related to her?
Janice longed to ask him directly, but such a question might seem forward, or worse, raise his suspicions. She knew she needed to uncover these mysteries on her own.
“Stephen, come over here.”
Just then, Wendy’s voice called out unexpectedly.
Stephen turned, his gaze settling on Wendy, and he gave her a nod of acknowledgment.
“Mrs. Delgado, I hope you have a wonderful time at the cocktail party. I’m heading there now.”
Lesly, witnessing this exchange, felt utterly bewildered. What just happened? He had been talking to Janice, so why was he saying goodbye to her now? Lesly’s eyes met Janice’s, filled with confusion, and Janice responded with an awkward smile. She knew Stephen had used Lesly as a pretext to initiate a conversation with her.
“Let’s continue our chat, Mrs. Delgado.”
Feeling a pang of sympathy for Lesly, who seemed almost invisible in these social settings, Janice decided to engage her further in conversation. After all, Lesly was Kenneth’s mother, and Janice, having once worked for their company, felt it was her duty to be courteous.
“Mrs. Chadwick, did you request my presence?” Stephen asked as he positioned himself in front of Wendy, giving a slight nod toward Leonie.
“Good evening, Mrs. Ramirez.” Wendy took a leisurely sip of her drink, her gaze sliding sideways to Stephen. “Were you speaking with Janice earlier?”
“Oh, I was simply following your advice on fostering good relations with our esteemed guests,” Stephen replied smoothly. “I noticed Mrs. Delgado seemed quite solitary, so I approached to offer my greetings. Quite by chance, Janice was there, and I seized the opportunity to engage her in conversation.” His explanation was carefully crafted, with just the right balance of politeness and charm.
Wendy paused, searching her mind for any discrepancies, but found none. She had overlooked Lesly’s presence earlier, which Stephen had cleverly used to his advantage.
“Stephen,” Wendy began, her tone icy as she pointed a finger at his chest, her eyes gleaming with cold authority, “remember, everything you have is courtesy of my goodwill. If I remain pleased, you shine like a star. If I frown, you’ll crumble to dust. Understand?”
“Perfectly clear,” Stephen replied, his smile strained, his indignation masked beneath a polite exterior.
“Just keep in line,” Wendy continued, her lips twisting into a smirk as she glanced toward Leonie. “Mrs. Ramirez seems rather downcast these days. I suggest you focus on lifting her spirits tonight.”
The statement struck both Stephen and Leonie.
“What exactly are you implying, Mrs. Chadwick?” Leonie’s brows furrowed tightly, her voice edged with restrained frustration. “What do you take me for?”
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