Chapter 3

“If you want people to find out what your father was really like, then go ahead and call off our wedding, Stella,” Alex said threateningly.

“William Moore has always been respected and admired by everyone. What do you think will happen when people find out just how rotten your father really was? Your father was no different from me, Stella. We’re men. Sometimes, we like to look for a little something on the side,” Alex continued dismissively.

Mia gave a mocking smile. “Why are you so quiet? Don’t tell me you don’t believe I’m your sister.”

“My sister?” Stella echoed bitterly. “So all this time, you deliberately got close to me just for this? You wanted to steal my future husband from me. What else do you want?” she demanded loudly.

“Don’t be angry, Stella. I’m the one who has every right to be angry. You’ve lived comfortably since you were a child, while I…” Mia paused, her expression darkening. “I had to live a modest life because I was nothing more than Mr. William’s mistress’s daughter.”

“You’re right. I deliberately got close to you. I never genuinely cared about you. But… I don’t want to take your future husband away permanently. I only want what rightfully belongs to me. Alex and I are nothing more than a relationship between two people who sleep together. So… go ahead and get married. I’m only going to claim my share as William Moore’s daughter,” Mia said confidently.

She knew the marriage between the Moore and Vance families was too deeply established to be called off easily, even though she herself hated the thought of seeing Stella and Alex get married.

Stella clenched her fists tightly.

“What if I refuse? I refuse to marry a man who has already been with another woman. And I certainly refuse to share my inheritance with a bastard like you!”

Mia burst into laughter.

“If you dare, then do whatever you want. Stella… you’ll see the entire Vance family demand compensation from you for humiliating their family. Don’t forget, Vance Group is the most successful company in this city.”

Mia stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them.

“And that’s not all. You’ll also see people mock Mr. William for what he did in the past.” Mia laughed openly.

Stella could do nothing but clench her fists and tighten her jaw, desperately trying to contain the storm of emotions raging inside her chest.

“You’ll watch Moore Group slowly crumble. Once Mr. William’s reputation is tarnished, the company’s stock value will plummet. You won’t be able to handle that on your own, Stella. If you want to protect Mr. William’s good name and save the company our father built from the ground up, then you’d better not cause any trouble,” Mia threatened coldly.

Hearing Mia call William “our father” only made Stella angrier, but there was nothing she could do.

“As his daughter, can you really stand by and let our father’s reputation be destroyed? Do you really want to watch the company collapse because of you? You should also know that your mother knew everything about your father’s affair. And she was the one who asked my mother to leave their lives!” Mia continued mercilessly. “Both of your parents were just as terrible as each other, Stella!”

Mia felt completely in control, savoring every second of the desperation spreading across Stella’s face.

Seeing Stella remain silent without putting up a fight, Alex let out an irritated scoff. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and typed something.

“Fine. If you’re going to keep quiet, then let’s release just one photo to the media today. What do you think people will say, Stella?” Alex threatened, holding up his phone. “Do you want us to release the photo of Mr. William in bed with another woman, or the evidence of the money your mother paid? Which one should we release first?”

Stella’s last line of defense collapsed instantly.

She dropped to her knees before Alex.

“Please… don’t do that. I’m begging you,” Stella choked out, tears spilling down her cheeks and onto the floor. “Let my parents rest in peace. Let me bear all of this myself.”

Although the realization that her father had not been the good and honorable man she had always believed him to be tore at her heart, Stella still felt obligated to protect her late parents’ reputations from public humiliation.

Seeing Stella helplessly kneeling before them, Alex and Mia exchanged victorious smiles before laughing freely, savoring the moment.

“Good. The day after tomorrow, come to the Vance family mansion. Apologize in front of my entire family, including my older brother, Ethan, the current CEO of Vance Group. You’d better behave yourself in front of him. If you do that, our wedding can still go ahead, Stella,” Alex said without the slightest hint of remorse.

“And don’t forget to give me half of the shares you own in the company,” Mia added with a wide smile. “We’re sisters, after all. It’s only fair that we share everything equally.”

Stella was completely powerless.

All she could do was lower her head, trying to suppress the suffocating pain in her chest, before giving a weak nod.

Alex crouched down in front of the still-kneeling Stella and gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“Don’t try anything stupid or act out of line,” Alex hissed coldly. “You’re nothing but a woman left all alone after your parents left behind a disgraceful legacy. So don’t you ever mention my relationship with Mia in front of anyone, because your father did the exact same thing. And your mother covered it up with money!”

Stella slowly nodded again.

“I’ll do whatever you want. But you have to promise me… you’ll delete all those photos.”

“Come to the mansion looking beautiful and give a proper apology. I’ll delete every single one of these photos if you become a good, obedient girl,” Alex replied with satisfaction.