Chapter 218
“I…”
Stella had barely begun to speak when Lauren interrupted her coldly.
“Apologize to Angela.”
Her tone was low, firm, and absolute—leaving no space for resistance.
“We’re family. If there’s a problem, resolve it properly. Don’t escalate it like this again.”
Stella froze.
For a moment, she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
She had been married into the Fox family for decades. She had endured countless situations with her head held high, sharp-tongued and unyielding.
But now—
Her throat tightened.
Her eyes stung.
Tears almost fell on the spot.
Around them, the servants stood frozen, heads bowed, not daring to breathe.
Angela, by contrast, lifted her chin slightly.
Quiet.
Composed.
Triumphant.
She looked at Stella as though the long years of suppressed resentment had finally found their release point.
Then, with a soft sigh, she spoke.
“Mom, Grandma is right.”
Her voice was gentle, almost considerate.
“I wasn’t asking for an apology. But you did hit me… and if Pete sees that, he’ll be frightened.”
She turned slightly toward the child, who was still clinging to her.
“For his sake, you should set an example. If you’re wrong, you should admit it.”
Every word was calm.
Every word was polite.
And every word landed like a silent slap.
Stella’s jaw tightened so hard it ached.
She looked ready to explode.
But Lauren’s light cough cut through the air again.
That single sound pressed everything back down.
Silence returned.
Finally—
Stella forced the words out through clenched teeth.
“…I’m sorry.”
The apology came out quickly, almost broken.
Then she let out a bitter laugh.
“Angela,” she said coldly, “you’ve won.”
Angela immediately softened her expression.
“Mom, please don’t say that,” she replied gently. “If the family isn’t harmonious, how could anyone be a winner?”
The smile never left her face.
But there was no warmth in it.
Without another word, she took Pete’s hand, nodded slightly toward Lauren, and walked away.
Not a single glance back.
Stella stood rooted in place.
Something in her chest twisted painfully.
The moment Angela disappeared from view, she turned sharply toward Lauren.
“Mom…” Her voice trembled. “You’re going to break me like this.”
Lauren exhaled slowly, visibly exhausted.
“I know it’s not easy,” she said flatly. “But endure it for now.”
Her eyes darkened slightly.
“When the company’s IPO stabilizes in a few months, we’ll make arrangements for Angela to move out.”
With that, she turned and left with the servants.
Back in her room, Lauren’s composure finally cracked.
A cup of tea was brought in—
She swept it off the table without hesitation.
It shattered on the floor.
Her expression was cold with displeasure.
Angela’s smug smile kept replaying in her mind.
She had thought things would remain manageable even without Khloe.
She had been wrong.
Completely wrong.
And that realization only deepened her irritation.
For a brief moment, Khloe’s face surfaced in her thoughts.
Back then, whenever Stella caused trouble, Khloe always managed to smooth things over without friction.
No matter how chaotic things became, Khloe had a way of keeping the household balanced.
Lauren’s fingers tightened slightly.
The silence felt heavier now.
That evening, before Trey even returned home, he received a call from Stella—her voice trembling, broken with emotion.
He rushed back immediately.
Straight to her bedroom.
The doctor had already come.
The diagnosis was exhaustion and emotional shock—her heart showing signs of inflammation from extreme agitation. She needed complete rest.
Trey stood by the bedside, his chest tight as he looked at his mother’s pale face.
“Mom… why did you get so angry?” he asked softly. “Your health matters more than anything.”
Stella turned her face away.
Her voice was weak—but bitter.
“You wouldn’t care if I lived or died anyway.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Raising a son like you… " Was my mistake.”
Trey’s expression changed instantly.
“Mom, don’t say that.”
He stepped closer.
“I care about you. Of course I do.”
His voice lowered, heavy with guilt.
“I know I’ve failed you. Just tell me what you want me to do. I’ll do it.”
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Stella turned back toward him.
Her eyes were red.
And her voice, though quiet, was absolute.
“Then I want you to divorce Angela.”