Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: No Peace for Stella

Aurora swallowed hard, debating on how much to reveal. In the end, she listened to her instinct.

“Aunt, the only thing you have to know is that clues are leading to an external person and until the identity is vetted, I can not make guesses.”

Another round of silence followed before Stephanie’s voice came on again. In the end, she accepted Aurora’s decision and drummed her support.

“I will inform the rest of the family,” Stephanie assured her. “You can go ahead with the filings.”

—

Xander sat in the backseat of the sleek black car, the faint glow of streetlights reflecting off the window. His gaze was sharp, his thoughts already several steps ahead. Beside him, Liam sat upright in the front passenger seat, awaiting his instructions.

“Liam,” Xander began, his tone low but commanding. “Make copies of the evidence we obtained tonight. Once Aurora files to reopen the case, send a copy to the authorities. Ensure they’re delivered securely. No loose ends.”

“Yes, sir,” Liam replied without hesitation.

The rest of the ride was silent, the air thick with the weight of what was to come.

—

The Swift Family’s Private Residence

At the crack of dawn, Olivia arrived at the Swift family’s mansion, her heels clicking on the polished marble floors as she made her way to Stella’s bedroom after being hinted by the housekeeper.

“Mother,” Olivia began as she entered the room without knocking, her tone laced with frustration.

Stella looked up from her vanity mirror, already sensing trouble as surprise contoured her face. “What is it this time?”

“It’s Owen,” Olivia huffed, throwing her bag onto the bed. “He’s adamant about this divorce. I need something to stop him—something that will make him reconsider.”

Stella’s eyes narrowed. “You’re still clinging to this disastrous marriage? I’ve told you, Olivia, let him go! He’s not worth ruining your future over. What happened to your ears? Why don’t you listen?”

“I don’t care about your lectures right now,” Olivia snapped. “I need a solution and I came to you for that. But if you can’t help me with it, I will do it myself as usual.”

Before Stella could respond, a servant knocked gently and announced, “Breakfast is served, ma’am.”

“We will continue this discussion later,” Stella said, rising from her seat with a dark look on her face.

—

The dining room was grand, but the atmosphere was far from pleasant. Stephanie sat at the head of the table, calmly sipping her tea, while Olivia and Stella took their seats.

“Good morning,” Stephanie greeted, her tone neutral.

Stella forced a polite nod, while Olivia merely muttered a response.

“I have an announcement,” Stephanie began, placing her teacup down. “Aurora is petitioning to reopen Adam’s murder case. I’ve already given her my support.”

The words hung heavy in the air. Olivia straightened, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. “That’s excellent news. Whoever killed my father must pay,” she said without ever thinking that she was drumming support for Aurora.

At least, they were on the same page on this one.

Meanwhile, Stella’s hand tightened around her fork, her knuckles turning white. “Reopening that case will only bring chaos. It could tarnish the company’s reputation. I thought we’ve talked about this before.”

Olivia’s gaze snapped to her mother, her tone cutting. “Are you saying we should let the murderer walk free for the sake of the company?”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Stella replied, her voice strained as she struggled to mask her growing panic as her heart raced in her chest. “I’m saying we need to think carefully before stirring the past.”

“You sound very unhappy Mother,” Olivia said, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t tell me you are going to protect Dad’s murderer because of the company’s reputation.”

Stephanie raised a brow at Stella’s unease but remained silent, observing the exchange.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Stella snapped, regaining her composure. “I’m simply being practical. That’s all.”

—

The Police Station.

Aurora arrived at the police station, escorted by Liam.

Once inside the investigator’s office, she introduced herself and explained her intentions. “I’m here to formally request the reopening of my father’s murder case. I have new evidence that warrants a fresh investigation.”

The investigator leaned back in his chair, intrigued. “What kind of evidence, Mrs. Scott?”

Aurora gestured to Liam, who handed over the brown envelope. “This contains a bank statement, a receipt, and a recorded confession. There is also a key witness ready to testify if needed.”

The investigator examined the contents, his brow furrowing as he flipped through the documents. “This is compelling,” he admitted. “We will need to verify these claims, but it’s enough to begin the process.”

“Thank you,” Aurora said, her voice steady.

—

Back at the Swift mansion, Stella paced her bedroom, her mind racing. Memories of the offshore account she used to pay the waiter’s wife resurfaced, sending a chill down her spine.

She grabbed her phone and dialled a secure number. “I need confirmation that the offshore account I used a few months ago can’t be traced back to me,” she demanded.

The voice on the other end assured her, “There’s no trail leading to you, Mrs. Swift.”

Stella exhaled, her shoulders sagging slightly. But her relief was short-lived as her thoughts drifted to Aurora. “What does she know? And where did she get this confidence to reopen the case.?”

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Stella whispered to herself, “I need to find out…”

—

At the same time, Tea Time Gossip released an article with the caption, “Vintage Cellar Cleans House, Discontinues Olivia’s Failed Product.”

Tea Time Gossip Blog didn’t hold back as it delved into the latest drama surrounding Vintage Cellar and Olivia.

“The decision to discontinue the infamous ‘Spraying Champagne’ was long overdue. Let’s face it, selling a product made from discarded grapes at an exorbitant price was not only ridiculous but also a slap in the face to loyal customers. Well done, Vintage Cellar, for finally taking the right step!”

The article didn’t stop there. It recapped Olivia’s embarrassing livestream and the resurfaced footage from the nightclub incident.

“Olivia’s attempts to play victim have backfired spectacularly. Denying what the internet has already seen only insults the intelligence of her audience. And I hope she learns from the embarrassing clips flying about the internet face.”

The blog ended on a celebratory note, heartily congratulating Aurora on her upcoming release of the Citrus Fruit Punch Champagne while throwing a jab at Olivia.

“Aurora Swift continues to shine as the true gem of the Swift family. We can’t wait to taste her latest creation. Cheers to more success!”

The article concluded with an open invitation to fans: “What are your thoughts on the Olivia debacle? Let us know in the comments!”