5

Clarence did not finish his sentence, but Stella  saw that he was putting her in danger. She  was furious because she had recently resigned her job due to him and now she was stuck with him everywhere.

They had first decided not to become involved in one another's life, but now they were compelled to stay together. It wasn't as though she desired it to occur. They made their way silently to the door.

Clarence’s wheelchair was loaded into the trunk of his own vehicle. Stella  leaned forward to get into the car out of habit, but Joseph  stopped her with a hand. "Ms. Jenna, this is Young Master Conrad private vehicle."

Stella was surprised. "What do you mean?"

Clarence turned to face her, a mocking gleam in his deep, serene eyes. "You're still not qualified to be my assistant."

Stella questioned as her expression changed upon hearing that, "Then why did you agree to your grandfather's request just now?"

Clarence shook his head, ignoring her.

Stella reached out to stop Joseph  before he could close the car door. “If you depart, what action should I do next? How should I tell your grandfather about this?”

Clarence’s squinting eyes glowed with rage as soon as he heard her name Old Master Conrad. He gave her an angry look. "Joseph, tell her the way and let her walk there!"

She couldn't say anything. How could there be someone that horrible?

Without showing emotion,  Joseph  informed her of the route before slamming the door. Through the rearview mirror, Clarence’s cold eyes briefly met the small figure positioned at the gate before turning away.

He yelled out to Joseph  after having an epiphany a moment later. "Any news regarding the woman l've asked you to look for?"

Joseph apologized profusely and said, "Young Master Conrad, it was raining that day and there were no CCTVs on that road; the night was too dark for the few pedestrians to see clearly. However, I think we can tind her if you give me a little more time."

Clarence’s demeanor softened upon hearing that, and he responded. "A month has passed. She ought to be pregnant right now, if my understanding is correct."

Joseph was surprised by it. An unidentified lady carrying a child by Young Master Conrad? It is not appropriate to treat that lightly.

That realization caused Joseph  to look serious. "Comprehensive! I'll dispatch someone to look into the hospital.”

Clarence shut his eyes. The woman from that night was the first woman he had ever been with. He had to locate her, then, whatever it took.

**.

Stella walked to the Conrad Group  building in thirty minutes. She spent a considerable amount of time explaining herself to the front desk security before, with Jude's assistance, making it to the elevator.

"Exit the elevator at your floor and make a right turn. Towards the end will be Clarence office. I'm not able to show you the way there because I still have errands to run. Are you able to navigate?"

Stella thanked him and nodded hastily. "I am able to. I'm grateful, Jude."

"No worries."

Stella  could only shake her head as she watched him go. Given that they both sprung from the same tree based solely on appearances, why is one of them so kind while the other is so obnoxious?

Taking a deep breath, Stella  moved to the end of the hall. She was about to knock on the office door when it opened seemingly by itself and an unidentified object flew out.

This was her first glimpse of the workplace. Unable to avoid in time, Stella  and the heavy object fell to the earth together.

"Sigh! Clarence ! How could you subject me to this?”

When Stella  looked closer, she saw that the woman had heavily makeup on and was dressed unkempt. The woman stood up swiftly and swore, pointing at the person inside.

Clarence’s body had a strong aura, and his menacing dark eyes belied his wheelchair.

He uttered through thin lips., "Fuck off!"

"Y-You!" The woman's finger began to shake because she was so angry. "Who do you think you are, Clarence? Do you really think I would have given you the slightest glance if you weren't the second young master of the Conrad family? You're worthless! Are you truly so confident in yourself? How can you still turn me down?"

Clarence’s eyes become fierce and cold, as if humiliated by his disability. The woman was itching to swear more.

Suddenly, Stella , who was standing to the side, stood up and spoke. "Miss, you are flinging yourself at Clarence even though he is physically challenged. You're only upset because you're unable to capture his interest."

The attractive woman turned to Stella  right away; she detested being made fun of. She made a scornful gesture and pointed at her. "Who are you? Would you like to speak with someone here?

Stella smirked, held up her hand, and slapped the woman firmly. Clap! The sound carried into the corridor.

"How dare you slap me?" The attractive woman buried her face in her hands in shock.

Clap!

Stella  gave the woman another slap. Despite her lack of makeup and her basic shoes, she  exuded an incredible vibe. She gave the shocked woman a confident lift of her chin. "I am Mrs. Conrad. You have no right to woo my spouse in front of me. Would you say I'm blind?”

Stella’s mouth was clamped as she spoke, looking at the woman who was still pointing at her. "Now go get lost! Or ought I to request that the security officer remove you and cast you out into the streets?"

She feigned pulling out her phone to make a call to the security officer.

"Y-Y-You..." The woman hid her bloated face in embarrassment. Unwillingly, she spoke up before she left. "Just wait, Sooner or later, you'll be begging me for mercy on your knees!"

The woman fled instantly when Stella  lifted her hand to strike her once more.

Clarence’s eyes were full with curiosity, judgment, and other odd emotions as he watched the shy woman in front of him transform into a powerful, self-assured woman.

He had gone back to his customary icy demeanor before Stella  turned to face him.

Then he made a repetitive comment. "It seems that I've underestimated you."

Stella  gave a disdainful shrug. "Even if it's only symbolic, we remain husband and wife. How can I, as your wife, let another woman entice and disparage my husband?”

Clarence  was taken aback for a brief moment when she spoke those words so effortlessly. He instantly gave a sneering, angry voice, realizing he was expressing his true sentiments.

"Humph, divorced women are so experienced; they can call just about anyone their husband, can't they?"

Stella scowled at the snarky remarks. She  approached Clarence  from behind and took hold of his wheelchair, recalling the assignment Old Master Conrad  had given her, before she spoke.

"All right, I came to the office by myself as you requested. You'll honor your promise, correct?”

Without waiting for his response, Stella simply shoved him into the office and moved on. "What do you need me to do?"

Clarence remained silent, but his aura thickened. Then he taunted and scoffed. "It seems that you're trying to mess with me."

Her lips were pursed. "It's not like I wanted to be your assistant either, but this is your grandfather's wish."

"Are you using him to threaten me?" He  had a menacing edge to his deep voice.

"Why would I do that? I too am a victim. Can't we come to an agreement on this?" She  observed that the office was disorganized, with some paperwork even lying around on the floor. It had to be the recently departing woman's work.

Stella bent to pick up the documents and put them on the desk, keeping that in mind.

Clarence’s  eyes darkened as he saw her sequence of movements.

He find it hilarious that her prior actions moved him.

'She's just a conceited woman who acted as the old man's spies, and she did all of that merely to be near him' he thought.

By coincidence, Joseph  arrived at this same moment. "Mr. Conrad, your meeting is starting in another five minutes."

For an instant, Joseph  was taken aback when seeing Stella; he had not anticipated her to genuinely stroll over to the company.

Clarence thought of something suddenly, so he said to her,"I take it you want to work as my assistant? All right, I'll give it a go."