Chapter 17: He Personally Harmed Stella

Thirty million.

What thirty million?

Evelyn Hart's words fell like a pebble into a still pond.

Julian Whitmore frowned. "Sister, what does Evelyn mean by that?"

Margaret Hart was startled. This was clearly not the moment to explain.

Evelyn glanced around and shoved the divorce papers into Damien Blackwood's hand. "Sign it."

She no longer wanted to explain. Whether they knew or not, it wouldn't change anything.

Damien casually flipped through the agreement. He would be leaving the marriage with nothing, and Evelyn wanted nothing at all.

"Sister, say something! What exactly is this thirty million?"

Julian's tone was urgent.

Margaret glanced at Evelyn, opened her mouth, and was still thinking of how to explain it to him.

Julian had known nothing about the thirty million at the time. Though he was now dating Victoria Lane, if he learned that Margaret had used that money, and his own future, to force Evelyn into a choice, he would surely cause a scene!

The Whitmore family wasn't doing well right now. They were waiting for Julian to release a patent. They couldn't afford any mishaps at this moment.

"Brother Damien, what are you doing here..."

Stella Hart, in her hospital gown, was helped out by Victoria.

She was still very weak after her rescue.

Everyone's attention turned to her at once.

And the matter of thirty million was easily set aside.

"Sister, you're here!" Stella smiled at Evelyn in an ingratiating way. "I know you don't want to have a baby, so I won't force you!"

Evelyn frowned.

It made her sound like some kind of heartless person.

But in truth, umbilical cord blood wasn't the only way to save her.

"I didn't mean to kill you, it's just..."

"Evelyn, shut up." Damien stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

He knew what she wanted to say, but she couldn't say it.

He didn't believe she was telling the truth.

If Stella believed Evelyn's words and her hope was rekindled, only to be thrown back to square one, she would be completely hopeless.

Stella's gaze fell on the divorce agreement in Damien's hand, her eyes flickering. "What's that in Brother Damien's hand?"

"A divorce agreement. Didn't you urge me to divorce Damien quickly?" Evelyn scoffed. "To make room for yourself, right?"

"Evelyn! Don't spout nonsense!" Victoria said coldly. "Do you think everyone is as vicious as you? Stella only advised you to divorce because she didn't want you to suffer!"

Stella's eyes reddened too. "Sister, you really misunderstood me..."

Misunderstood.

Evelyn understood perfectly.

Since Stella didn't need cord blood to survive, she would not be soft-hearted anymore.

She handed Damien the pen. "Sign."

Damien stared at the pen without moving.

Stella gripped Victoria's hand tightly and pressed her lips together.

Even in divorce cases there was now a one-month cooling-off period.

To receive the twenty million, she had to wait until the divorce was finalized.

Looking at the seriousness in her eyes and the faint flash of relief.

It was as if Evelyn would truly leave the moment he signed.

The phone rang at an inconvenient moment.

It was Evelyn's phone.

A call from Grandfather Blackwood.

She paused. The old man had many informants, and it seemed he had already learned she'd brought up divorce.

She found a secluded spot and answered.

"Evelyn, I told you. No divorce unless it has been three years!"

"Grandfather, even if we sign now, it will take a month to receive the certificate. Why does it have to be three years?"

"After you sign the papers, will you still let my grandson touch you?" the old man sneered. "I mean three years of a real marriage! Not a marriage in name only. Otherwise, twenty million for three years? Do you think my money grows on trees?"

Evelyn took a deep breath and explained, "Damien and Stella are in love. Even if he divorces me, he'll soon be with Stella, and having a child is only a matter of time."

Stella's illness wasn't even in its late stage anyway. Even if she needed cord blood, she could have a child of her own to save herself.

"The Blackwood family isn't a place anyone can just walk out of. If you bring up divorce again this month, you won't get a single penny."

"Think about it yourself!"

After hanging up, Evelyn shoved her phone into her pocket with a sullen face.

She didn't want to wait even one more day for this marriage to end.

She sent photos of the medical records to her teacher, who pointed out the suspicious details in the file and explained why she hadn't been able to keep their appointment on time.

Her only way out now was to enter her teacher's research institute.

Back in Stella's hospital room.

"I've arranged for the best targeted therapy," Damien said, standing at Stella's bedside. "It will arrive soon."

Evelyn had only seen the medical records and couldn't diagnose Stella's illness, but she was certain that targeted drugs weren't needed in the early stages of cancer.

They were too harmful to the body.

She was treating Stella as a patient, and with a doctor's compassion, she didn't want to see her harmed by overtreatment.

"She doesn't need it," Evelyn said coldly. "The doctor can do another bone marrow biopsy to confirm the diagnosis."

"Evelyn, what exactly do you want?" Victoria stood up and pointed at her face. "Are you not happy until Stella suffers?"

Evelyn frowned.

"That's enough, Evelyn. I can judge for myself whether it's true."

Damien threw the signed agreement to the floor.

"Secretary Wells, see them out."

Evelyn wasn't angry. She bent down to pick up the divorce agreement, and only after confirming that he had signed did she breathe a sigh of relief.

The enormous weight on her heart had finally lifted.

---

The targeted drug arrived quickly. A single small dose cost five million dollars.

"Brother Damien, I'm so scared..."

Stella held Damien's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face.

Margaret felt sorry for her and wiped away her tears.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here. You'll be fine."

As the medicine was slowly administered, a fine layer of sweat gradually formed on Stella's forehead.

"Something's wrong. Stop!"

Julian suddenly stood up.

He had once been a clinician and was the most sensitive to changes in a patient's vital signs.

"Doctor! Call a doctor, quickly! Stop pushing it in!"

"Stella!" Victoria shook her. "Don't scare me! Open your eyes and look at me!"

Damien gripped Stella's hand, his brows furrowed. "What's happening? The side effects shouldn't hit this fast."

Her heart rate dropped rapidly, and even her oxygen saturation fell to eighty.

Nurses and doctors rushed in with the crash cart, and everyone was ushered out of the room.

"How could this happen?" Margaret sat on the bench, listening to the frantic voices from the ward, tears streaming down her face. "Why is my Stella so unlucky?"

Just then, Julian's phone rang. He took it out and froze.

"Jules, what's wrong..."

"The professor says Stella doesn't have late-stage osteoma. She has early-stage osteoma!" Julian leaped to his feet. "Why was she misdiagnosed?"

"She was given a targeted drug that can only be used in late stages, and that's why the reaction is so severe!"

Damien's breath caught.

Only then did he remember what Evelyn had said.

It really was a misdiagnosis...

He had personally harmed Stella.

Margaret's vision went black and she fainted. It happened so suddenly that Julian immediately picked her up and carried her to the next ward to find a doctor.

Damien looked at Stella, being resuscitated in the ward, and clenched his fists tightly.

He had personally harmed Stella!