Chapter207
Asnight fell, the bustling streets lit up with rows of streetlights on either side.
Asilver–grey Porsche quietly parked by the sidewalk, and the driver opened the rear door, waiting. Dominick and Stephanie got into thecar,turning their heads to gaze out their respective windows.
The car was enveloped in silence.
“Mr. Wellington, Brad asked me to inform you that the Wellingtons had an early dinner tonight. If you and Mrs. Wellington have other ns, there’s no need to rush back,” the driver reported nervously,ncing cautiously at the rearview mirror. Dominick seemed to be in a bad mood tonight.
“Take us back home,” Dominick said calmly in the backseat, his expression unchanged.
Beside him, Stephanie stared at the swiftly retreating streetlights outside the window. She had no objections and thus remained silent.
The Wellingtons knew she and Dominick hadn’t been getting alongweltely. Brad probably wanted to give them more alone time together,but there was just silence between them.
Returning to Wellington Vi would take atleasthalf an hour. This eerie silence made everyone ufortable.
Stephanie leaned against the window, her right hand supporting her chin.
She noticed the driver’s nervous expression when her gaze swept past the driver’s seat. It seemed the Wellingtons‘ servants were particrly wary of Dominick.
“Is Grandpa still busy preparing for the baby’s one–month celebration since they had an early dinner?”she suddenly asked.
Dominick was stunned and contemtive, turning to look at her face for a moment.
The driver was slow toreact. When he realized she was talking to him, he quickly answered in a fluster, “Yes,yes.Mr. George Wellington and Brad have been busy preparing for the kids‘ one–month celebration.Iheard Mr. George Wellington even wants to postpone his 80th birthday celebration next month tobine the two events on the same day.”
“So, is Grandpa nning to hold the celebration at Wellington Vi or at a hotel?”she asked naturally, without any airs.
“It’s been decided. The celebration will be held at Wellington Vi. Mr. George Wellington said the family hasn’t hosted a celebration in many years.So, it must be grand. Everyone is looking forward to it.”
This exchange lightened the atmosphere in the car considerably.
Dominick remained silent, staring straight ahead but inadvertently noticing Stephanie’s subtle expressions.
In truth, his wife could be considerate and attentive,even caring for a driver’s feelings.
Thinking of this,atraceofgloom appeared on Dominick’s face.
“How many tables does Grandpa n tosetup? Doesn’t that mean we’re hosting a lot of guests?” Stephanie was chatting excitedly and leanedoverto ask the driver questions.
“I’m notsureabout the exact guest list,” the driver admitted. The car drove smoothly and soon arrived home.
“The Reeds are Stephanie’s family. They should be notified personally inadvance.”George’smanding and vigorous voicewasheard as soon as they stepped out of the car and approached the main house.
“And remember to invite Stephanie’s aunt, Diana, as well,” George continued.
“The Reeds are not…” Stephanie walked closer,nearly instinctive distaste for her family.
George, who was enthusiastically writing the invitations, nced up at her. Stephanie immediately mmed up.
“I’ll informDianamyself,”she said, knowing better than to argue. George had been eagerly looking forward to thebirthofhis great–grandchildren and wanted the world to know about the Wellingtons‘ adorable heirs through thisgrandcelebration.
But thinking of Diana, Stephanie felt a pang ofworry.
She couldn’t care less about the feelings of the rest of the Reed family, but Diana was different. Due toDiana’sillness, Stephaniehadn’tdared to tell Diana about her remarriage and pregnancy.
Brad approached and set a stack of invitations on therge coffee table,allowing Georgetocontinue writing. He then turnedtoStephanieand asked, “Mrs. Wellington, I heard Ms. rk has been cured?”
Thomashadtwo daughters. Theeldest, Madison, had married Gary from Caelorium. The second, Diana, now nearly forty and unmarried, was often called “Ms. rk“.
“Sheis. The surgery was asess,and there should be no aftereffects,” Stephanie replied, feeling relieved when mentioning her aunt’s recovery.
“Thisisindeed wonderfulnews. The Wellingtons had sent people everywhere to find a suitable heart for Ms. rk. The experts said a heart transnt wasnecessary, but who wouldhavethought that conservative treatment and a heart stentsurgerywould suffice.”Bradwascurious, so he looked into Diana’s surgery.
“Mrs. Wellington, who was Ms. rk’s doctor?”
Stephanie started to respond, but her expression changed, and the name got stuck in her throat.
The room’s lighting was dim and slightly ambiguous. Standing by the bar, Vincent downed a ss of whiskey and grumbled, ““Oscar. Oscar personally performed the surgery on Diana. I always thought it was strange. Oscarwassupposed to study business,sowhydid he end up getting a medical doctorate? Turns out itwasbecause of that witch, Stephanie.”
Itwas1 AM, and Dominick had been invited over for a drink but hadn’t said a word all night.
Tonight, he wasn’t interested in drinking. His long fingers idly spun a crystal ss on the bar, his expression thoughtful.
Some names, neither he nor she mentioned, but that didn’t mean they could be ignored.
“Dominick, what are you nning to do?” Vincent, half–drunk and suddenly anxious, leaned over and shouted at him, “With Stephanie and Oscar’s messy rtionship, are you nning to dump that witch after the baby is born?”
Scott, seeing his drunken antics, immediately called a fewdies over. “Go drink with Mr. Hayes over there.”
In high spirits, Vincent yelled at his two friends, “Hey, are you really going to pretend nothing happened? I can’t hold it in today.
anymore. I have to say it
“That witch Stephanieislike a femme fatale reincarnate. First,she got some mysterious text messages,then random food deliveries,and sheevenimed someone almost suffocated her in the hospital. She’s always causing trouble. Last time, she dared to snap at me,sayingOscarwould never harm her.I’m not biased, but Oscarhaschanged a lot since he woke up.”
Vincent choked on his drink, hupped, and squinted at Dominick’s and Scott’s dark expressions. He sighed, “Did you know what my girlfriend told me? Something weird is going on with the Pearsons. Shane, who has always been healthy,suddenly got seriously ill and almost died fromabrain hemorrhage.
“Whether or not the incidents Stephanie talked about are true, it’s strangethatshe alwaysesoutunscathed. We all know Hayleyisn’tcapableof that. Who could it be if it isn’t Oscar stirring things up?”N?velDrama.Org owns this.