Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 56: Stella Sterling Gets Drunk

Meanwhile, in an unassuming private villa in Riveria.

Heavy curtains blocked all light and peering eyes from the outside world, leaving only a dim bedside lamp to outline the intertwined figures on the bed.

The air was filled with the intense scent of musk and sweat.

On the big bed, Audrey Quinn rested on Philip Donovan’s sweat-soaked chest, "You wicked man... nearly wore me out just now..."

Philip Donovan panted heavily, his big hand haphazardly caressing her smooth back, nuzzling against her neck, "It’s only because you’re so wild..."

"Nasty!" Audrey Quinn lightly punched his chest, raising her eyes to gaze at him seductively. "So tell me, am I better, or is the one at your house?"

Philip Donovan froze for a moment, then rubbed her forcefully, "Why bring her up? She’s just a block of wood, never making a sound no matter what, so stiff, unlike you... so sexy and wild..."

These words pleased Audrey Quinn, and she hummed contentedly, entwining her body around his like a vine.

The two were soon entangled again.

After a while, the storm passed.

Exhausted and gasping for breath, Philip Donovan lay motionless on the bed.

Audrey Quinn finally allowed him a reprieve, tracing circles with her fingers on his chest, "Philip, that lawyer named Stella Sterling... she’s been relentless against Grace, I just can’t be at ease."

Philip Donovan kept his eyes closed, "Don’t worry, I’ve arranged it all, that young girl can’t stir up any trouble."

"Really?" Audrey Quinn felt a bit relieved, but still couldn’t help but remind him, "You must handle it well, nothing can happen to Grace..."

"Got it, you’re nagging."

Philip Donovan interrupted her, opened his eyes, and gave her a warning glance, "I need to remind you, be obedient recently, don’t come looking for me without word. I had you pretend to be a vegetative patient in the hospital for safety and convenience. But you took it upon yourself to ’wake’ up!"

Audrey Quinn pouted, saying with grievance, "I did it for Grace... I couldn’t sit still when she was suffering."

Philip Donovan snorted coldly, "Regardless, be extra cautious, not a single mistake!"

"Okay, I’ll listen to you." Audrey Quinn replied obediently, laying back on his chest, though an imperceptible gleam of coldness flashed beneath her eyes.

Stella Sterling...

It’s all because of this meddling little brat!

If it weren’t for her, Grace wouldn’t be in such big trouble.

And Jasper wouldn’t have...

It seems she needs to find a way to completely eliminate this hidden threat!

...

Stella Sterling and Finn Lockwood stayed up three nights, their eyes swollen like rabbits, and managed to meticulously unravel the financial transactions and communication records for William Miller, Alden the Fourth, and the recanting waiter.

The evidence chain was so perfect it could be used as a law textbook case.

The police acted swiftly on the leads they provided, successfully controlling William Miller and Alden the Fourth.

But just as Stella Sterling began to feel pleased, the officer in charge of the case called.

"Counselor Sterling, there’s been a slight change."

Stella Sterling’s heart sank, "What happened?"

"William Miller and Alden the Fourth, along with the previous waiter, they... they’re all consistently pointing out they were instigated by someone named Mary Matthews. They claim Mary Matthews harbored a personal vendetta against you, bribing them to frame Grace Quinn, intending to mislead and distract."

"Mary Matthews?" Stella Sterling was bewildered; she had never even heard of this name!

"We checked, there is indeed such a person, a delinquent from nightclub circles with a prior record of fighting. William Miller and Alden the Fourth insist it was her. Some of the transfer records match, and the waiter changed his story to say it was Mary Matthews who threatened and lured him to recant... the evidence chain... is closed."

Stella Sterling held the phone, feeling a chill shooting straight to the crown of her head.

She instantly understood—

Escape like the golden cicada!

Abandon the vehicle to protect the commander!

The mastermind behind Audrey Quinn was too cunning!

With an insignificant woman, effortlessly severed all traces!

Grace Quinn was completely cleared, even became an innocent victim of a setup.

And all her days of running around, verifying, pouring her heart and soul...

Had become a joke!

A wave of great powerlessness and anger swept through her, causing her vision to black out intermittently.

"Boss..." Finn Lockwood, watching her pale face, stepped forward worriedly.

Stella Sterling waved her hand, indicating she was fine.

She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and when she opened them again, only a calmness remained in her gaze.

"Let’s go."

Finn Lockwood was taken aback, "Huh? Where to?"

"Keep me company while I drink."

"..."

...

The river breeze carried moisture, gently brushing against faces, already showing the chill of early winter.

The small shop, located on the street side, brimmed with the bustling smell of dining, the aroma of steaming dishes enticingly wafting around, stimulating appetites.

Stella Sterling was evidently a regular there, deftly ordering a heap of skewers and several bottles of beer.

Finn Lockwood watched her unusual behavior with a growing concern: "Bo... Boss, your... your drinking capacity..."

Before he could finish, Stella Sterling had already downed most of a beer glass.

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, Stella Sterling slammed the empty glass on the bar, startling the nearby plates of peanuts.

"Bo... Boss, slow down, this beer is strong..."

Finn Lockwood initially tried to persuade her, but when Stella Sterling’s gaze started to drift, and her speech grew slurred, he realized his boss’s drinking capacity was unexpectedly shallow.

Knowing she was genuinely drunk, he began to worry.

Just as he was considering how to get her back, Stella Sterling’s phone unexpectedly buzzed and vibrated in her pocket.

At first, Finn Lockwood didn’t think about answering it, but seeing the phone vibrating non-stop, fearing it might be an important call, he hesitated for a long while before eventually pulling it out.

Upon seeing the name flashing on the screen, he was instantly shocked—Jasper Hawthorne?

His idol?!

Finn Lockwood instinctively glanced at Stella Sterling, who had already collapsed over the table, doodling on the table with her fingers dipped in alcohol, hesitating on whether or not to answer.

The call persisted, as if it wouldn’t stop until answered.

Finn Lockwood gritted his teeth and eventually pressed the answer button.

"Hello... Attorney Hawthorne?"

The person on the other end paused, seemingly surprised to hear a man’s voice from Stella Sterling’s phone, "Who is this?"

"Oh, I’m Finn Lockwood, I..."

Before he could finish, Jasper Hawthorne’s voice, low and serious, asked, "Where’s Stella Sterling?"

"The boss... she’s a bit drunk..." Finn Lockwood replied with hesitation.

"Where are you?"

Finn Lockwood immediately provided the address.

"Stay with her, I’m coming right away."

With those words, the call was decisively ended.

Finn Lockwood, listening to the busy signal, had barely had a chance to relax before the phone in his hand began ringing urgently again.

This time, the screen displayed—Shane Donovan.

Finn Lockwood’s hand shook, nearly dropping the phone.

He looked at Stella Sterling, already passed out, and then at the vibrating phone, hesitating repeatedly before picking it up with reluctance.

"Hello... President Donovan?"

"Finn Lockwood?" Shane Donovan’s voice came through the receiver, low and steady, yet somehow exerting pressure, "Where’s Counselor Sterling?"

"Uh... the boss is... we’re outside..."

The other side fell silent for a moment, then Shane Donovan seemed to hear Stella Sterling’s incoherent mumbling in the background, and his voice grew significantly graver, "Has she been drinking?"

"Uh... yeah, she had a bit..." Finn Lockwood felt his scalp tingle.

"Address."

Finn Lockwood, numb-faced, mechanically repeated the address.

"Wait there." Shane Donovan cast out these four words and ended the call.

Finn Lockwood looked at the phone screen as it darkened again, then at Stella Sterling, who was sleeping soundly on the table, and felt completely dumbfounded.

One... coming right away.

Another... wait there.

What... what to do now?!

What if they end up fighting?

Could he still run in time?