Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: A Cold Chill

Swift Family’s Residence

Stella woke with a splitting headache, the events of the previous evening weighing heavily on her mind.

Her hand fumbled for her phone on the nightstand, and her bleary eyes squinted at the screen as she checked for any missed calls or messages from Olivia. But she found nothing.

Her heart sank as unease crept in. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Stella dialled Olivia’s number again. Unlike the previous day, the call didn’t even ring—it went straight to an error tone.

“What now?” Stella hissed through gritted teeth, gripping the phone tighter. She threw off the duvet and rose to her feet, pacing the room before deciding to call Owen, thinking that Olivia was avoiding her calls again like that last time.

The phone rang several times before Owen answered, his tone casual and detached.

“Hello,” he greeted, lacking the respect Stella expected from her son-in-law which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Stella ignored his indifference. “Owen, where is Olivia?” she demanded sharply. “I’ve been trying to reach her since yesterday evening, but she isn’t taking my calls. Pass the phone to her if she’s with you.”

Owen frowned, his irritation evident in his voice. “She’s not here, Mrs. Swift. Olivia didn’t return home last night. We thought she might have gone back to your place after the scene she caused at Vintage Cellar.”

Stella froze, her heart skipping a beat. “What do you mean by that?” Her tone was clipped, a mix of worry and anger.

Owen sighed, exasperated. “I don’t know where Olivia is, and frankly, it’s not my problem. We’re no longer a couple. I’ve officially filed for divorce, and I suggest you come to collect her belongings from this house soon.”

Stella’s blood boiled at his dismissive attitude. “You don’t know where my daughter is, and you’re comfortable? What kind of man are you?” she snapped.

“A man who has no interest in dealing with Olivia’s messes anymore,” Owen replied coolly.

Before Stella could fire back, Owen ended the call. Staring at her phone in disbelief, she let out a string of curses, throwing the device onto the bed.

“This is karma!” she muttered bitterly, pressing her hand to her chest as she sank back onto the bed.

It was payback time, and she couldn’t deny it anymore.

—

Scott Family’s Main Residence

Meanwhile, Owen descended the grand staircase, his face twisted in a scowl after the call with Stella. At the bottom of the stairs, he ran into his parents, who had just finished breakfast.

“Morning,” Patricia greeted, her sharp eyes noting her son’s sour mood. “You look like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. What’s wrong this time?”

Owen stopped, shaking his head. “Stella just called, asking about Olivia,” he said with a humorless laugh.

“And?” Patricia prompted, her curiosity piqued.

“And apparently, Olivia didn’t go home last night,” Owen explained, his tone laced with indifference. “She’s probably hiding out somewhere, avoiding the fallout of her actions. It’s a good thing that she can still feel shame and remorse.”

Patricia’s brows knitted in concern. “If she didn’t return here or go to the Swift residence, where could she have gone?”

Owen shrugged, his expression nonchalant. “Does it matter? She’s an adult. Let her handle herself.”

Richard, overhearing the exchange, scoffed. “Handle herself? That woman couldn’t handle a simple marriage without dragging two entire families into the mud. Who knows what kind of trouble she’s causing now? I hope she leaves our Scott family out this time around!”

With that, Richard stormed off, his anger palpable. Owen followed suit towards the dining area, leaving Patricia alone to sigh heavily before retreating to the living room.

Contrary to Stella’s burning rage, Owen sat down at the breakfast take and devoured his meal heartily.

He piled up a big quantity of food in his plate and ended up finishing everything.

—

Swift Family’s Residence

Stella spent the next hour frantically calling Olivia’s friends, only to be met with the same answer—they hadn’t heard from her in days.

Her frustration reached a boiling point as she descended the stairs and spotted Stephanie at the entrance, preparing to leave for work.

“Stephanie!” Stella barked, marching toward her.

Stephanie turned, arching a brow. “What now, Stella?”

“You will be held responsible if anything happens to my daughter,” Stella declared, her voice trembling with fury.

Stephanie let out a humorless laugh. “Have you lost your mind? Why would I be responsible for Olivia’s antics?”

“Yes, I’ve lost my mind!” Stella shot back. “Olivia didn’t return to the Scott family or here after you fired her yesterday. I’ve called everyone, and no one knows where she is. This is on you!”

Stephanie sighed, clearly unimpressed. “First of all, I haven’t sacked Olivia yet—though she’s well on her way to earning it. She’s already hiding from the shame of her own actions. If I were to strip her of her position, she’d probably disappear entirely.”

Stella clenched her fists, her anger boiling over. Without thinking, she raised her hand to slap Stephanie, but Stephanie caught it mid-air with surprising speed.

The calm on Stephanie’s face vanished, replaced by icy fury. Without hesitation, she slapped Stella hard across the cheek, sending her staggering back.

“Did you just hit me?” Stella gasped, clutching her stinging cheek, her eyes wide with shock and humiliation after she regained her senses for a bit.

Stephanie pointed a finger at her, her tone dangerously low. “In your next life, don’t even think about raising your filthy hands to your elders. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Stella’s anger flared, and she hissed, “Stephanie, you dare to hit me? I will make you pay for this humiliation. You had no right to do that and you will answer for that!”

Stephanie smirked, her gaze sharp as a blade. “You should be more worried about yourself, Stella. I haven’t even decided how to punish you for bringing another man’s child into this family and passing it off as my brother’s.”

Stella froze, her breath hitching. A chill ran down her spine as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. “You… you know?” She staggered as a wave of pain hit her chest.

Stephanie’s smile widened, but it held no warmth. “Oh, I know everything. And if I were you, I’d tread very carefully from now on, considering that I’m being very kind and tolerable.”