Chapter 61

Stella stared out the window, quietly turning his words over in her mind. She'd been lost in thought for a while, and just as she was about to speak, the car rolled to a gentle stop.

She glanced over at him, only to hear him say calmly, "We've arrived at the research institute's dormitory, Ms. Russell. Please take care."

The way he said it-polite and distant-left her with no room to ask anything further. Stella had no choice but to hold back the question on the tip of her tongue.

It was clear he was politely drawing the line, and pressing him now would only come off as rude.

So she simply lowered her head, whispered a soft thank you, and stepped out of the car without another word.

When she returned to the dorm, Lainey was still

awake. The moment she heard the door, she sat up, her eyes full of worry. "Hey, how did it go?Everything alright?"

Stella could tell Lainey had been worried."It went well," she said. "And honestly, if you hadn't fixed my recorder, I couldn't have shown everyone that Haley framed me."

Haley and Marc were probably having a rough time at the police station right now.

Even if they managed to walk out later, their reputations were already in shambles. Once she filed for divorce, the truth behind it would be out in the open.

As for the patent, Marc could forget about it.That ship had sailed, and his troubles were only just getting started.

Lainey waved her hand like it was no big deal."Please, those two snakes deserve everything coming to them."

In fact, Lainey thought this was letting them off

easy. If she had her way, they'd be skinned alive.

Stella chuckled at how fired up Lainey was. As she changed clothes, she asked casually, "Hey,why didn't you tell me that Mr. Briggs was the one behind the company I signed with?"

Lainey blinked. "Wait, what are you talking about?"

Stella gave her a look. "The company that offered me the new contract-it's under the Briggs Group."

Lainey gawked at her, totally floored-just as stunned as Stella had been when she found out earlier.

Stella had assumed Lainey was already aware,but it was obvious now that she had no clue.

"Oh my god! William? You're working with him?|seriously had no idea!" Lainey gasped. "I only knew the rep seemed generous and professional over the phone. They felt legit, so l

told you to go for it. I didn't know he was behind the whole thing."

She truly hadn't realized it was linked to William.If she had, she might've thought twice and definitely would've given Stella a heads-up.

Stella didn't actually mind-it just felt a little awkward. But since Lainey clearly hadn't known, Stella waved it off and said it didn't matter. As long as the partnership worked out,that was all that mattered.

Lainey agreed quickly. "Honestly, they're offering a much better deal. This will be way more worthwhile than anything Marc ever gave you."

When it came to business, Lainey felt she could count on William to be fair and professional.

"By the way," Lainey began, "you're all over the internet right now. After what happened at the gala, everyone's talking about how Marc stole your patent. Looks like Briggs Group is getting

ready to take legal action, and the compensation alone might bankrupt him."

Marc's company had only grown because of Stella's invention.

So when the news broke that the patent was no longer his to use, his business partners didn't waste a second-they pulled out.

Earlier today, Marc had been trying to line up new investors. But after the scandal, no one in Choria wanted anything to do with him.

Covering the compensation fees now would be nearly impossible for him.

At this rate, he'd have no choice but to mortgage the company, maybe even lose it entirely. That would be the end of the Walsh Group.

Stella hadn't heard something this satisfying in a long time.

And Lainey wasn't done yet. "As for Haley-she

thought she could get away with anything just because she's not from around here. But the authorities aren't letting it slide. She's probably headed to jail."

With two nations involved, the whole thing had become a diplomatic issue, not something that could be brushed under the rug.

Letting Haley off the hook just like that would damage the government's credibility.

Even if it was only for show, they couldn't afford to go easy on her.

Meanwhile, Stella stepped out of the shower,feeling clean and much more at ease. The steady chirping of cicadas outside created the kind of calm that made sleep come easy.

She curled up in bed, tugged the blanket over her, and shut her eyes with a quiet sense of peace.

The chaos and hurt she'd been through finally ended today. She had taken her stand-and

Won.

While Stella and Lainey slept peacefully, Marc was having a far rougher night.