Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Putting on an Act
"Forget it? How can we just forget..."
Wanda Larkin started to speak anxiously. She’d been struck by her own daughter’s subordinates, yet her daughter hadn’t lifted a finger. How could she possibly swallow this insult?
But she had only said a few words before Evan Sterling stopped her. He shook his head at her. "Mom, you were a bit too agitated just now. These people are Stella’s subordinates. It’s understandable that they’d protect her."
"Besides, it’s all just a misunderstanding. It’ll be fine once we talk it out."
’This sister of mine seems to have a problem with us,’ he thought. ’She won’t be easy to manipulate. A direct confrontation is clearly not going to work.’
It was better to take a step back for now.
Although Wanda Larkin was resentful, she always listened to her son. He had always been her pride and joy.
So, she said no more.
Only then did Evan Sterling turn to Stella Sterling. "You probably haven’t met me before. My name is Evan Sterling. I’m your older brother."
"Oh."
After hearing this, Stella Sterling nodded and gave him a glance.
Evan Sterling was very dissatisfied with Stella Sterling’s reaction.
’Isn’t her reaction to her family a little too cold?’
’Besides, our parents might have issues with her, but I’ve never done anything to offend her!’
However, now was not the time to bicker with her about such things. "I went through so much trouble to find our parents, but I had no idea where you were. I’ve been searching for you with Mom and Dad ever since."
"When we heard your name, we thought we’d take a chance and come check this place out. We never expected it to really be you, Stella."
"After all, we’re a family, and a family should be together. Now that we’ve found you, your big brother can take care of you."
Hearing this, Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow, completely unmoved.
He certainly said all the right things, but she didn’t believe for a second that this so-called "brother" had any genuine affection for her.
If he was as wonderful as he claimed, he wouldn’t have just stood by and done nothing when Wanda Larkin was about to strike her.
She replied bluntly, "Do I look like I need you to take care of me?"
She had power, she had food—none of them were doing as well as she was. ’If you’re going to lie, at least make it a little convincing!’
Seeing that Stella Sterling was completely unmoved and not reacting as he’d expected, Evan Sterling was momentarily at a loss for what to say next.
After a pause, he finally said, "You’ve become so powerful. As your brother, I’m very happy for you. But we’re a family, after all. If we support each other, our lives will only get better."
"Oh? And? What is it you want to say?"
Stella Sterling’s reaction remained indifferent. She was like an outsider, curious to see what these people would say but not the least bit emotional about it.
Evan Sterling didn’t continue. Instead, he looked at Stephen Lawrence and the other man.
"This is a family reunion. It’s not appropriate for outsiders to be here. Why don’t you have them leave first? It will be easier for us to talk as a family."
This time, Stella Sterling didn’t hesitate. She waved her hand, dismissing Stephen Lawrence and the others.
Shane Lawrence was a little worried. ’This family clearly has no affection for Sterling. If the three of them stay here, won’t they bully her?’
Stephen Lawrence just dragged him away.
’Even if those three really tried to do something to Sterling, they’d be the only ones suffering the consequences!’
"Let’s sit."
After the men left, the three of them didn’t stand on ceremony, making themselves at home and finding places to sit.
Marcus Sterling’s eyes lit up as he scanned his surroundings.
Without Stephen Lawrence and the other man present, the family relaxed considerably.
At this point, Evan Sterling dropped his arrogant demeanor and started playing the emotional card. "Stella, I never imagined you would do so well for yourself these past few years. Your brother has been working for Sanctyr Base all this time. But now that you’re in charge of such a huge base, as your older brother, it’s only natural that I come to help you. From now on, Mom, Dad, and I will stay here with you."
"Sorry, not necessary. You’re too useless to help me."
Stella Sterling simply shook her head.
Evan Sterling’s expression instantly soured, but he pretended not to hear and shot a look at Wanda Larkin.
Wanda Larkin wasn’t as agitated as before. She became much calmer and gentler. "Stella, Mommy was just overwrought a moment ago."
"But Mommy was just so heartbroken. You’ve done so well for yourself all these years, yet you never once thought about looking for your father and me, to bring us here to enjoy a good life."
Seeing Wanda Larkin starting to go off-topic and dredge up these old complaints again, Evan Sterling coughed a few times to stop her.
Wanda Larkin had no choice but to continue, "For the past few years, Mommy has missed you so much. After the apocalypse, your dad and I were constantly worried about you, wondering how you were managing all alone out there."
As she spoke, she even began to cry softly.
Marcus Sterling chimed in from the side, "That’s right. I was so worried back then I couldn’t sleep. I was worried about you and Yara."
Evan Sterling listened from the side, seemingly moved.
But his eyes were carefully watching Stella Sterling’s expression.
The next moment, his brow furrowed slightly.
Stella Sterling had one hand propped on the desk. Listening to their sentimental words, her face didn’t show the slightest trace of being moved or saddened.
Instead, there was a faint hint of a smile on her face. She propped her chin on her hand and just listened to them, as if she were watching a play.
And Stella Sterling was indeed watching a play. They sounded so convincing that if she weren’t the other protagonist in this story, she might have almost believed them.
When Wanda Larkin finished, staring at her with red-rimmed eyes, Stella Sterling smiled. "Very worried about me? You mean the kind of worried where you specifically send someone out in a blizzard to make me go find Yara Sterling?"
The expression on Wanda Larkin’s face froze.
Evan Sterling looked at his parents.
’Something like that happened?’
’How did I not know about this?’
But seeing the guilty looks on his parents’ faces, he knew it was true.
And now he finally understood why Stella Sterling’s attitude toward them was so cold.
Fearing his parents would say something else to make things worse, he quickly cut in, "I’ve heard Mom and Dad talk about this. But I remember them saying they sent the family’s nanny to find Yara. It was the nanny who was lazy and didn’t want to go, so she deliberately twisted their words."
Wanda Larkin nodded. "That’s right, that’s right."
Stella Sterling laughed, staring at the people in front of her. "If I remember correctly, when the blizzard had just started and before the power went out, you two called me and told me I absolutely had to go find Yara Sterling. Was that you ’misspeaking’ as well?"
Evan Sterling’s face darkened. He felt as if the words he had just spoken were a huge slap across his own face.
Seeing Stella Sterling pressing her advantage relentlessly, questioning her again and again, Wanda Larkin’s already thin patience ran out. "Wasn’t I just worried about Yara? You’re her older sister! If you don’t go find her, who will?!"
