Chapter 472: I’ll Go Find the Kids First

"Do you have any idea what kind of person he is?" Nathan Fawcett asked, looking at Stella Shields.

Stella Shields said stubbornly, "He’s very rich and quite the gentleman. What kind of person he is... that’s not important."

Nathan said, "He’s had several fiancées. All of them committed suicide by jumping from a building before their weddings. After hearing that, do you still think he’s such a great guy?"

Hearing this, Stella froze. She stared at Nathan, her voice trembling slightly. "Is what you’re saying true?"

Her brother had never told her about this.

"So you didn’t know?" Nathan stared at her and said, "My relationship with Silas Hawthorne isn’t good. He’s my business rival. You lived with the Linden family for so long, and my mother was very fond of you. I don’t think his intentions toward you are good. I only called you over to give you a warning."

Stella Shields looked at Nathan and said, "You’re so in love with Anne Sutton, so why are you meddling in my affairs? Who really cares what happens to me now? You don’t like me, and Ethan Linden doesn’t like me. I’ve always just been a clown."

"..." Nathan Fawcett looked at Stella Shields. "If that’s what you want to think, there’s nothing I can do. I’m just telling you what I know. That’s all."

With that, Nathan turned and walked away.

In the past, when his relationship with his mother had been strained, Stella Shields had helped him.

As long as she didn’t harm Anne Sutton, he considered her practically family.

This was just a well-intentioned warning.

He just felt that Silas Hawthorne’s motives were unclear, and he didn’t want to see her get used.

But whether she took his advice to heart was up to her.

Watching Nathan walk away, Stella stood rooted to the spot, gazing at his retreating back and replaying his words in her mind...

’No wonder Silas Hawthorne is so rich and seems like a decent guy, yet he’s still single and has never been married.’

’How could he have such a horrifying story attached to him?’

’But... does my brother know about this?’

’If he knew and still pushed me to be with Silas Hawthorne, what does he take me for?’

...

Back at the restaurant, Stella Shields sat down. Silas Hawthorne was already there, intently slicing his steak.

He saw her return but didn’t ask what she and Nathan Fawcett had discussed.

Stella stared at him, her palms growing cold and clammy.

’Several fiancées, all dead from jumping off buildings.’

’Just how terrifying was this man?’

’What kind of person was he, really?’

She didn’t dare to dwell on it.

"What’s wrong? You look pale," Silas Hawthorne said, placing the steak he had cut in front of Stella Shields. "Or did President Fawcett give you a hard time just now? Did he say something to upset you?"

"N-no," Stella stammered, staring at Silas Hawthorne. She remembered what Nathan Fawcett had said—that Silas had a very bad relationship with him.

’Thinking back, ever since I met him, he’s talked to me most about matters concerning the Linden family.’

’What is this man really thinking?’

Overcome with fear, Stella found the rest of the meal completely tasteless.

Anne Sutton was tending to the two children when Nathan Fawcett returned from his chat with Stella Shields.

She looked up at him and said, "Let’s go eat, too."

Nathan nodded. "Okay."

After they sat down, Anne Sutton noticed Nathan Fawcett’s troubled expression. "What’s wrong?" she asked. "Is Stella Shields weighing on your mind that much? If you’re that worried, you can go after her. I don’t mind. It’s not like we’re married, anyway."

Hearing her words, Nathan looked up, took her hand, and explained, "I was just thinking about Silas Hawthorne."

Speaking of him, Anne Sutton said, "I saw him chatting with you just now, and I noticed he really doesn’t like you."

He seemed polite enough, but you could read the dislike for Nathan Fawcett between the lines. It was impossible to hide.

Anne Sutton asked, "Did you do something to offend him?"

Nathan shook his head. "No."

’If anything,’ he thought, ’it’s always been Silas Hawthorne trying to cross me.’

Every time he tried to do something, Silas would show up and interfere.

Anne Sutton said, "That’s strange. Why would he target you? What’s his problem? Is he crazy?"

Nathan said, "Stella Shields used to be so close to us. Now that he’s approaching her, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s up to no good."

"You have a point." Logically, Stella Shields would never cross paths with a man like that.

’Could he be interested in her because she’s a celebrity?’ Anne wondered.

Nathan said, "I’ve already warned her. We’ll see what she decides to do. Let’s eat."

He picked up his chopsticks and placed some food on Anne Sutton’s plate.

...

After dinner, Stella Shields went back to the hotel with Silas Hawthorne.

Her accommodations had been arranged by Silas Hawthorne.

She was staying at his place, though not in the same room.

In truth, Stella Shields couldn’t figure out what this man was thinking at all.

He had brought her to Veridia, but whenever they were together, he never made any moves on her or tried to take advantage of her.

Once back in her room, however, Stella Shields called her brother, Justin Shields.

Justin answered. "Hello?"

Stella said, "You know all about Silas Hawthorne’s past, don’t you?"

"What about it?" Hearing his sister’s accusatory tone, Justin Shields sounded puzzled.

Stella said, "Nathan Fawcett told me that Silas Hawthorne’s previous fiancées all died by jumping from buildings. Is that true?"

Justin Shields was taken aback for a moment. "You saw Nathan Fawcett?"

Stella said, "That’s not important. I’m asking you, did you know about this or not?"

Holding his phone, Justin Shields listened to his sister’s interrogation and said, "I didn’t know. I’ve never heard anything about that."

"..." Seeing that he denied it, Stella Shields sighed in relief. ’Thank goodness he didn’t know.’

’If he had known about it and still sent me to Silas Hawthorne’s side, that would be too horrifying.’

Stella said, "Brother, I don’t want to be with him anymore!"

She was still young; she was afraid of dying.

Even though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, she didn’t dare gamble with her own life.

’Once might be a coincidence, but for it to happen every single time... that’s just too strange!’

’There might be something even more terrifying behind it all, something she couldn’t even begin to imagine.’

On the entire ride back, she’d barely dared to speak to Silas Hawthorne, terrified that if she offended him, her life would be in danger.

Only now, safely in her room, did she dare to call her brother.

Justin Shields said, "It won’t be like that, Stella... You’ve spent time with him. What’s your impression of him?"

"He seems... decent enough, I guess," Stella said. "But Brother, I’m really scared. I know the family’s situation isn’t good right now, and Nathan Fawcett won’t help us, but I really don’t want to be with him. Can’t I get out of this?"

"..." Justin Shields said, "Alright. Let’s talk about it when you get back."

"Buy me a ticket. I want to come back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Justin said. "If you just leave like that, won’t he get suspicious? What if you make him angry...?"

"But I’m really scared being with him right now."

She couldn’t even eat properly. She didn’t dare speak above a whisper in his presence. She was terrified.

Hearing this, Justin Shields said, "Just endure it a little longer. Wait a couple of days until he’s finished his business, and he can bring you back. We’ll figure it out then, okay? Stella, don’t work yourself up. Maybe Nathan Fawcett was just spouting nonsense. He never paid you any attention before, so why would he suddenly tell you all this? He probably just can’t stand to see you doing well!"