Chapter 469: Taking Her Home

’If Apex Group is as powerful as the Linden Family, then offending Silas Hawthorne would spell disaster for the Shields Family.’ ’And if something really happened to the family, Justin Shields would cast her out. She’d have nowhere to go!’

The thought filled her with a complex mix of emotions.

Silas Hawthorne watched her return, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Get in."

Stella Shields looked at the man, then followed his lead and got into the Rolls-Royce parked by the entrance.

...

Charles Prescott was still in a meeting with Justin Shields. The two were discussing business when an assistant came in and said, "President Shields."

Justin Shields glanced up at him. "Speak."

"Miss Shields has gone to dinner with Mr. Hawthorne."

Hearing this, Justin Shields waved a hand, dismissing the assistant.

Charles Prescott looked at Justin Shields. "Do you really intend to marry your sister off to Silas Hawthorne?"

"..." Justin Shields replied, "What’s wrong with that? It’s an honor for her to marry Silas Hawthorne, even if he is a little old."

Charles Prescott said, "Silas Hawthorne doesn’t have the best reputation. I heard he had several fiancées before, and something happened to all of them. Aren’t you afraid..."

"I don’t believe in any of that," Justin Shields said. "All I know is that if we don’t find a powerful backer, the Shields Family will be finished sooner or later."

He remembered the time he was at Nathan Fawcett’s mercy, remembered having to beg him...

Justin Shields’s gaze turned cold.

He’d sworn to himself then and there that he would never let himself be put in that position again.

He looked at Charles Prescott. "Let the production team know."

Charles Prescott nodded. "Alright."

He’d recently started working as a talent manager for Justin Shields, helping him launch new artists.

Besides Stella Shields, the company needed other celebrities.

The winds of the entertainment industry shifted quickly. For now, Stella Shields’s popularity was decent.

But in entertainment, popularity always comes in waves.

Other stars had been stealing her spotlight lately.

Justin Shields needed to groom new talent.

He looked at Charles Prescott and said, "So, what do you think? I know it can’t compare to the auto industry, but it’s not so bad, right?"

Charles Prescott replied, "I’ve never done it before, but it’s certainly a challenge."

’To him, no job was ever too difficult.’

’He’d always felt that the only thing he lacked were the right connections.’

"To a successful partnership," Justin Shields said, looking at Charles Prescott.

Charles Prescott looked at the other man and rose to his feet. "I’ll head out now."

His grandmother had been in the hospital lately, and he needed to go there after work.

...

That evening, Stella Shields was on her way home, with Silas Hawthorne driving her.

She had wanted to go home by herself, but he insisted on taking her.

’She had wondered if he would try anything, but he hadn’t made a single inappropriate move the entire way.’

He simply asked her a lot of questions—all about Anna Linden.

Stella Shields looked at Silas Hawthorne and asked, "Are you on bad terms with the Linden Family?"

Hearing her question, Silas Hawthorne chuckled. "And what makes you say that?"

"The way you keep asking me about Anna Linden... you’re not planning to hurt her, are you?"

’Even though Anna Linden was ignoring her now and siding with Anne Sutton, she had been very good to her for years.’

Silas Hawthorne said, "And what if I did want to hurt her?"

Hearing this, Stella Shields frowned. "Dr. Linden is a very good person. I won’t let you hurt her."

Silas Hawthorne watched Stella Shields, a smirk playing on his lips.

He chuckled. "Your brother seems very keen on you marrying me."

"..." At the mention of this, Stella Shields’s expression darkened.

Silas Hawthorne asked, "But what about you? Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

"..." Hearing Silas Hawthorne’s words, Stella Shields fell silent.

’After spending some time with him, she had to admit that he was a very charming man.’

’He was rich, and not as sleazy as she had imagined.’

’But he was just so old.’

’Was she really going to marry a man like this just for wealth and status?’

"I’m taking a trip to Veridia. Come with me," Silas Hawthorne said. "You can give me your answer then."

Stella Shields looked at him and nodded. "Alright."

Silas Hawthorne dropped her off at the gate of the Shields Family estate. He let her out of the car and then drove off.

As Stella Shields got out of his car, she felt a sense of unreality.

’Actually...’

’Marrying him... might not be so bad after all.’

She walked through the door and found Justin Shields sitting on the sofa.

The sight of him immediately reminded her of how he had lost his temper in his office earlier that day.

Stella Shields said, "Brother."

Justin Shields glanced up at her. "You’re back."

"I had dinner with Mr. Hawthorne. He just dropped me off. I’ve already apologized to him, so he shouldn’t cause any trouble for you."

"What did you think of him?" Justin Shields gestured to the seat across from him, inviting her to sit.

Stella Shields sat down but said nothing.

Justin Shields looked at her and took her hand. "Stella, he’s no ordinary man. Aside from his age, you’re not losing out. If you marry him, no one will ever dare to bully you again—not even Nathan Fawcett. Think about how he treated you! Don’t you hate him for it?"

"I do hate him!" Stella Shields cried. "I was so good to him, but he only had eyes for Anne Sutton!"

The mere mention of it filled her with resentment.

’If only Nathan Fawcett had stayed with her, her life wouldn’t be this miserable.’

Justin Shields said, "So, think about it. If Mr. Hawthorne weren’t interested in you, a chance to marry him wouldn’t come so easily!"

"..." Stella Shields listened to Justin Shields’s words and said, "But he really is so old."

"What does that matter?" Justin Shields countered. "He’s not that much older, and he looks young for his age. Things with Ethan Linden are long over, and it’s impossible with Nathan Fawcett. You’re not going to find anyone better than him. If he weren’t such a good catch, do you think your brother would be letting you marry him?"

"..." Stella Shields fell silent for a moment. What Justin said did make sense.

She said, "Mr. Hawthorne asked me to go with him on a trip to Veridia. He said I can give him my answer about... us... after that."

"Then go," Justin Shields said. "I’ll arrange for your leave from the production team. If you don’t want to go back to filming, you never have to."

Stella Shields nodded. "Alright."

...

That evening, when Nathan Fawcett arrived home, Anne Sutton was already there, having dinner with Ian and Finn.

When Finn saw Nathan Fawcett walk in, he rushed over to greet him. "Daddy, you’re home!"

Finn was very fond of Nathan Fawcett.

Every time Nathan Fawcett came home, the boy would run up and greet him enthusiastically.

Perhaps because he had grown up without a father, he was overjoyed to finally have one.

After a long day at work, Nathan Fawcett couldn’t help but soften at the sight of the adorable little boy.

He swept Finn into his arms and sat down.

Ian sat to one side, focused on eating his food.

Noticing him, Nathan Fawcett said, "Ian."

Ian glanced up at him, then went back to eating without a word.

Sitting nearby, Anne Sutton could feel it too. Ever since Finn had arrived, the relationship between Ian and Nathan Fawcett was a shadow of its former self.

Ian got along fine with Finn.

But when it came to his father, he clearly had a problem.