Everyone couldn’t help but sigh and wonder, ‘How could they treat their daughter like that? That’s their flesh and blood.
Stella ignored the awkward and gloomy expressions on Andrew and Fiona’s faces and continued, “Oh, I just remembered.
“One time, I came back from school. Anna was sick and didn’t go to school that day. Before I went in, you were making her pork bone broth.
“Before I even stepped through the door, I heard you say to Anna, ‘Anna, hurry up and drink it. Stella’s already out of school and on her way back. She can’t see it, or she’ll finish it all before you get any!
“I would’ve finished it all myself?” Stella said wryly. Stella found it all incredibly funny.
Stella said, “Ever since I was little, you told me I stole Anna’s nutrients in the womb. Whenever we had chicken or duck, there were always two legs, one for Max and one for Anna. I never even got a single one.
“Fish eyes might not have much nutritional value, but somehow you heard that eating them was good for your eyesight.
“Every time we had fish, there were only two eyes, and you always let Max and Anna have them. I never got any myself.”
Stella sneered, “Did I ever get anything extra all these years? And you said I’d be the one to finish all the pork bone broth? The one who actually fought Anna for food was Max.
“Growing up, all I ever got were vegetables, or whatever Anna and Max left behind. Did
behaught
you
hear me complain?”
People couldn’t stand to listen anymore. The more they heard, the more they thought the Hayes family was so heartless.
Someone even said, “Who knows what really happens in the womb? That’s not something any kid can control.
“She’s done nothing but be a good kid. Even if you couldn’t treat her the same, did you really have to go this far?”
Stella wasn’t finished. “Whenever there were school activities, you always signed up Anna and Max, but never me. If I wanted to join, I had to work hard and save up my own money.
“You never take away Max and Anna’s allowance, but somehow, you always take mine. I don’t even have clothes to wear anymore, and all you do is hand me Anna’s old stuff.”
She continued, “You always bought new clothes for Anna, and even when she hadn’t worn the ones she already had, you kept buying more. I’m your daughter, too. Why did you have to treat me like this? Why?”
Max couldn’t take it anymore. “Stella, what is your problem? We came here out of kindness to throw you a birthday party, and you just had to bring all this up in front of everyone. Are you deliberately trying to get back at us?”
“Yes, I am getting back at you. So what? Why shouldn’t I?” Stella shot back. Stella was practically blazing with fury.
She snapped, “I’ve swallowed my pride for so long, and I get it, okay? Sure, I’m healthy, so I always let Anna have her way. But right now, I just want one honest answer.
“Was Anna involved in this kidnapping or not? Is it really that hard to just tell me the truth? If she didn’t do it, then just say it out loud, and I’d believe her. But has she said a single word?”
She sneered, “Look at her. Her eyes are darting everywhere, and her face screams guilty. If she really didn’t do it, then why can’t
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Chapter 98
she just say so?”
Max turned to Anna. “Anna, just be honest with her. Did you do it or not?”
“I-* Anna stammered. She had never felt so much pressure in her life.
With so many people staring at her, Anna, who would normally have been able to answer confidently, suddenly found herself unable to say a word.
Fiona chimed in, “Anna, go ahead and tell her. I believe you. You’re such a good girl. You’d never do something like that.”
Andrew nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Anna. You’re so sensible, you’d never do something like that. I believe you, too. Even if we’ve let Stella down in so many ways, as long as you didn’t do this, we can deal with everything else.*
Their gazes met and clashed, Anna and Stella staring each other down. But Anna’s eyes darted away, unable to meet Stella’s stare. Stella’s eyes were like a bottomless, lifeless well, chilling to the bone.
Everyone was waiting for Anna to answer, but Anna just couldn’t force out a single word.
Lionel had come over, too, but he stayed silent the whole time, clearly unable to watch any longer.
“Stella, that’s enough,” Lionel finally spoke up. “Aren’t you just trying to force Anna to confess?
“We all know how much you’ve suffered out there all these years, but that doesn’t mean you can make Anna take the blame for something like this.”
“Who allowed you to talk to my wife like that?” Jordan finally snapped.
Jordan had planned to keep quiet. This was Stella’s moment, and with Anna’s whole family here, he trusted Stella to handle it herself.
But as soon as Lionel opened his mouth, Jordan just couldn’t take it.
Lionel glanced at Jordan, then back at Stella, waiting for her answer.
Stella’s face was cold as ice. “I never tried to lead Anna on, and I never forced her to do anything. She knows better than anyone what she’s done.”
Anna, as if she’d finally found a way out, put on her most pitiful, innocent look as she turned to Stella. “Stella, if you really want me to admit it, fine, I’ll admit it.
“All these years, you’ve had all kinds of complaints about me. If you’ve convinced yourself I did it, then sure, it was me. You can do whatever you want to me, but please, just don’t hurt Mom, Dad, Max, or even Lionel.”
Anna continued, “I know you’re sick, and we’ll cooperate with the doctors. Today’s our birthday, and honestly, we really haven’t ever celebrated your birthday properly before.
“We won’t upset you. Whatever makes you happy, just do it, okay?”
Stella strode forward so quickly that before anyone could react, she was already standing right in front of Anna, and with a loud smack, her hand landed hard across Anna’s face.
Smack. Another slap, just as sharp and merciless, came. It was Fiona who slapped Stella.
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Chapter 88
Jordan quickly pulled Stella back.
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