Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 174

Chapter 174: All Suspects

Swift Family’s Private Residence.

Stella sat on the plush couch in the grand sitting room, her fingers massaging her temples slowly but firmly.

The stress of the past few days had taken its toll, and she had barely recovered from her hospital ordeal. Just as she leaned back to relax, a servant hurried into the room, clutching a tablet, her face pale with urgency.

“Ma’am, I think you need to see this,” the servant said, her voice trembling slightly.

Stella raised an eyebrow, looking disinterested. “What now? Another piece of nonsense from those gossipmongers?”

“This one is from Tea Time Gossip Blog,” the servant clarified, her tone laced with caution.

The moment Tea Time was mentioned, Stella’s eyes snapped open. “Give it to me,” she demanded, snatching the tablet with a speed that belied her exhaustion.

Her sharp gaze skimmed through the article. At first, her expression was calm, but as she read the damning phrase “Go and sin no more,” directed at her, the calm cracked like glass under pressure. Stella shot up from her seat, her face twisting in outrage.

“These senseless bloggers! How dare they!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. “What do they know about me to always mention my name in their blogs? They can’t make any sales without my name?”

Stella was so pissed with the level of disrespect and disregard from Tea Time Gossip Blog especially.

A famous socialite always appearing on Gossip blogs wasn’t the best for one’s reputation and at this rate, Stella felt that she would become a complete laughing stock in Wing City.

A few seconds later, Stella’s breathing grew heavy, and she clasped her forehead, feeling a faint spell washing over her. The servant quickly went to get her a glass of water and rushed to her side, fanning her as she sipped.

“Someone is after my life!” Stella hissed, slamming the empty glass onto the side table. “Whoever is behind this blog will regret crossing me.”

Rising to her feet, she ordered, “Gather all the domestic staff in the living room immediately!”

Minutes later, the staff stood in neat rows, their heads slightly bowed, their expressions a mix of confusion and worry. Stella paced before them, her sharp gaze piercing into each one.

“Who among you has been feeding our family’s private affairs to outsiders?” she demanded, her voice cold and cutting.

The staff exchanged nervous glances but remained silent.

“Answer me!” Stella barked, her patience wearing thin. “Do you think I won’t fire every single one of you to root out the snake in our midst?”

Still, no one spoke.

Seeing their silence, Stella’s fury boiled over. “Fine! If none of you will confess, consider this your last day in my house. Pack your things and leave immediately!”

The room descended into chaos as the staff fell to their knees, pleading for mercy.

“Ma’am, we would never betray your trust!” one of them cried.

“Please reconsider!” another added, tears brimming in her eyes.

Before Stella could give the final order, Stephanie strode into the room, her eyes narrowing at the scene. “What is going on here?”

Stella turned sharply to face her sister-in-law, her lips curling into a frown. “What does it look like? These ungrateful staff members are leaking information to Tea Time Gossip Blog, and I’m firing them all. I can’t deal with their nuisance anymore.”

Stephanie crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “On what evidence? Have you found the culprit?”

“They’re all suspects, and I’m going to replace them all!” Stella snapped.

Stephanie shook her head, her tone firm. “Firing the entire staff over baseless suspicions is rash. How are you certain the replacements won’t be worse?”

Their argument intensified, with Stephanie maintaining her stance that Stella was being unreasonable. Stella’s face reddened with anger, but Stephanie delivered the final blow.

“Let me remind you, Stella, that you don’t have the sole authority to make such decisions in this family. Adam’s will made that very clear,” Stephanie said, her voice cool yet authoritative.

Stella stiffened, glaring daggers at her sister-in-law for embarrassing her in front of their domestic staff. Without another word, she stormed out of the room, leaving Stephanie to deal with the aftermath.

Stephanie turned to the trembling staff. “Go back to your duties. But remember, privacy is paramount in this household. Let this be a warning to all of you.”

The staff murmured their gratitude and quickly dispersed, leaving Stephanie to sigh in relief.

—

Meanwhile, in the Scott family residence, Olivia sat on her bed, her phone in hand, seething after reading the same article from Tea Time Gossip Blog. She threw the phone onto the bed, her chest heaving with rage.

“Why does that stupid blogger keep comparing me to that bitch?” she growled, her hands balling into fists. “I don’t think she has ever said anything bad about Aurora before.”

Her voice rose with each word. “Tea Time Gossip Blog, you just wait. I will find out who you are, and when I do, I’ll ruin you! And Aurora, better pray that you have nothing to do with this.”

Her face flushed with fury, Olivia stomped around the room, muttering threats and curses.

—

In a guest room down the hall, Owen sat on the edge of his bed, his phone face down on the nightstand. He had read the same article minutes earlier, and the bitterness of regret consumed him.

His hands gripping the edge of the bed tightly as he went down the memory lane to realize that his life has been nothing but ruins since he left Aurora for Olivia.

He shook his head, replaying the memories of how Olivia had sweet-talked him into betraying Aurora.

“That vixen,” he muttered, his jaw tightening. “She tricked me, seduced me, and made me destroy the one good thing in my life.”

His voice rose in frustration. “Aurora was perfect, and I threw her away for Olivia’s fake charms. Now look at me—married to a woman who’s brought me nothing but shame and misery. And the worst; I don’t even now how to get rid of her.”

Owen buried his face in his hands, his emotions teetering between anger and despair.