Chapter 536 - Confronting Stella (1/2)

~ Seattle, Hill family villa ~

As soon as Sarah and Aiden entered the villa, Stella's eyes fell on Sarah's engagement ring before they had a chance to say anything.

”Congratulations! My wish for you is that your love lasts forever!” Stella hugged them and both Sarah and Aiden got two juicy kisses on their cheeks from Stella.

Sarah was a bit disappointed. She practiced introducing Aiden as her fiancé, but Stella spoiled it.

The thing is that Stella knew that Aiden will propose to Sarah because he asked for Edward's blessings. That is why she looked for the engagement ring right away.

Edward found out that a newly engaged couple arrived even before they came into his sight. Stella's screams warned him, and he stepped out of his study and gave his congratulations.

Sarah was surprised that Edward seemed… happy. 'I really need to look at that recording.', Sarah reminded herself.

Again, she lost the opportunity to introduce Aiden as her fiancé.

Six of them enjoyed a bountiful dinner filled with laughter and casual chatting.

Everyone was excited, even the maids and Mr. Joe offered congratulations to the happy couple.

During dinner, Stella was telling stories about Sarah as a child with tears in her eyes.

Aiden enjoyed listening to stories about Sarah. Two of them held hands under the table.

”Mom, I only got engaged. Why are you making this like I'm going somewhere forever?”, Sarah didn't like that some stories were slightly embarrassing.

Stella scolded Sarah. ”Don't spoil this for me! You got engaged. Your childhood is over. I want to remember it well before you get married and give me grandkids!”

Sarah rubbed her temples. There was nothing that can stop Stella from chatting.

After dinner, Sarah and Sophia asked their mom for a talk in private about the wedding. Aiden and Felix joined. Sisters warned Aiden and Felix not to meddle no matter how heated conversation with Stella gets. Their mom will easily forgive her daughters, but Aiden and Felix might not be so lucky.

Edward heard that the talk is related to the wedding and that was enough for him to say that he is going to his study.

They all went to one room in the back which Stella uses as her home office.

”Based on your expressions, I assume this is not related to the wedding.”, Stella guessed correctly after seeing four faces looking at her with serious expressions.

Sarah took the lead in talking. ”You are correct. We are here because we found out something, and we feel that we are in danger, and we need answers.”

Stella responded with one small nod.

Sarah pulled a folder from her backpack which was filled with printouts of photos and data they found about the man known as 'King' and 'Ray'.

She started arranging side-by-side different photos of a person known as 'King' on the desk in front of Stella.

Stella could not hide her surprise. ”Where did you get these?!” Her eyes darted over photos.

”Most of these are from our properties.”, Sarah responded while trying to see what is hiding behind her mom's expression.

”Some of these are older and some are only few weeks old… There is also this.” Sarah pulled the photo of 5 year old JoAnna and that man in the background. ”This is Hill family estate on East Coast, summer 2002.”

Sarah saw that her mom's eyes widened. She can tell that Stella is surprised, but she could not tell if she is surprised because that man was there, or because they found out.

”And there is this…”, she showed photo of her neighbor, King. ”This one is captured about one month ago in front of apartment in Fairfield. The one you gave me for Christmas. And this man introduced himself as King. He is our neighbor across the hall.”

There was a long silence before Sophia spoke. ”Mom, is there something you want to tell us?”

Stella didn't respond.

Sophia was not happy that even in this situation, their mom is not talking. ”Mom, we are aware that your background is not simple. We never snooped there because we respected your desire to keep it hidden from us, and we believe that you must have a good reason for doing so. But this is different. We know that you are familiar with him. Did you hire him to follow us? Or is he working for someone else? Him being around us can't be a coincidence. We need to know, is he a friend or a foe? What does he want? How many more are there watching us?”

Stella held her forehead in her palm and closed her eyes while listening to Sophia's questions. It was obvious that she was thinking about something unpleasant.

”Mom, we need to know.”, Sarah reminded her.

Stella shook her head lightly. ”You don't understand. It's dangerous.”

”Do you think that by not telling us you are keeping us safe?”, Sophia asked.

Stella was silent.

”Look at these!” Sarah stood up abruptly from the chair and slammed a printout listing properties and dates in front of Stella. ”Look how many times he showed up right in front of our noses! How can you stay quiet knowing that he is right here, breathing down our necks?!!”

Sophia placed her hand on Sarah's shoulder urging her to get back down on the chair.