Our Journey Back To Love
Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Bernard’s eyes widened as he stared at Stella incredulously.

The stunt he pulled was a double–edged sword. He had the upper hand at first, but the tables had turned

now that the divorce matter was settled.

In other words, Bernard’s scheme had worked. If he could use Stella’s manipulation of Brian as leverage

against her, she could do the same to him.

“Whatever I did was to save Brian from a scheming wench like you!” Bernard hissed, glowering at Stella.

Stella drawled, “I think you know better whether you pulled this scheme off for Brian’s interests or yours. You just wanted to help Jessica, but you did so in the guise of saving Brian.

“Did you even ask Brian what he wanted? Did he agree to your so–called selfless deed?”

Bernard was rendered speechless, so he drove home his last threat. “Aren’t you worried I’d tell Brian

about your secret deal with Mrs. Foley?!

“Go ahead and tell him, see if I care! Just know that if I’m going down, I’m taking you with me,” Stella

warned, scoffing.

When Bernard did not argue, she slowly pried his hand off her and drawled, “You set me up to be some.

shameless tramp: I slapped you for it. I’d say we’re even.”

After that, she stuck out her arm to hail a passing taxi to take her away from the courthouse

When Stella arrived at Nas Group, she got a call from Sharon. She pressed the phone to her ear and

greeted, “Hey, Sharon.”

“Have you taken care of everything?” Sharon asked curtly.

Stella nodded. “Yes. The paperwork has been registered at the courthouse this morning. Brian and I will be officially divorced in a month.”

“Good.” Sharon was pleased. “Once you have the court order, I’ll see to it that your father is released from

prison.

“After that, I’ll give you ten million dollars as compensation and you can have the reunion you want.”

“Thanks, Sharon,” Stella hung up and told herself this was the best ending she could ask for.

Taking a deep breath, she told herself not to be upset or let her decisions torture her. She was doing this to save Simon, and she should be happy about her sacrifice.

She gave herself a pep talk and turned around, only to replace Yoel standing behind her. She wondered how much of her conversation with Sharon had been overheard by him.

Stella flashed him an apologetic smile and confessed, I’m sorry for lying to you before, Mr. Perkins.”

Yoel lifted a brow. “What did you lie to me about?”

“I agreed to go on a blind date with you because I made a deal with my mother–in–law. She told me if I divorced Brian, she would have my father released from prison,” Stella elaborated.

Yoel froze, processing this information.

Stella bowed her head in apology. “I’m truly sorry, Mr. Perkins, I didn’t mean to lie to you.”

“You didn’t have to tell me all this,” Yoel pointed out, surveying her face

“No, I’ve wanted to tell you right from the start,” she said, clutching her purse. She had been bottling up too many secrets, and she wanted nothing more than to tell someone about them.

Yoel cracked a smile. “I thought we came here to talk about our collaboration.”

Stella blinked at him. “Aren’t you angry with me, Mr. Perkins?”

“Why would I be?”

“Because I lied to you.”

Yoel said patiently, “You did so for your father. Besides, you didn’t lie to me to trick me into falling for you or giving you money, so why would I be angry with you?”

Stella was stumped. After what felt like a long moment, she parted her lips and said. “Thank you.”

They went up to the president’s office to talk about their collaboration,

Yoel took a look at the sketches Stella brought with her and crossed his hands on the desk before him. He smiled as he said, “I’ve looked at your designs, and I must say, I’m impressed.”

Stella was absentminded and a little crestfallen.

She couldn’t bring herself to smile or feel enthusiastic about the collaboration, Perhaps the divorce had

left a deeper mark on her than she expected.

Yoel proposed that he throw a small celebration dinner with Stella and a few others.

Stella said distractedly, “Yeah, sounds good. I’ll go get ready for dinner, then. See you at Ventia Hotel

tonight, Mr. Perkins.”

She agreed with Yoel that the collaboration did call for a proper celebration.