After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 314

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“You know all that?” Stanley was super curious. “I went through hell and back just to dig up even the tiniest bit of

info.”

Jeffrey cut straight to the chase. “What's the situation now?”

When it cto Karen, Stephen cared way too much to ever let her go. But just like always, he'd never defy his

parents. Compared to Jeffrey, he’d been the obedient one since they were kids, always following whatever their

parents said-the perfect child, really.

As far as anyone could tell, Stephen would never risk his career just for Karen.

“Not really sure,” Stanley admitted. It was already pretty hard for him to find out it had anything to do with

Karen. “All | know is, Stephen's been glued to the office lately and he’s turned down a ton of business trips.”

Jeffrey's eyes darkened, his thoughts growing heavier.

Stanley waited for a while, and when there was still no response, he couldn't help but ask, curiosity nagging at

him. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” Jeffrey replied curtly, clearly not in the mood to discuss it. “You go ahead, I've got things to take care

of here.”

All Stanley could say was, “Huh?”

Before Stanley could press for more, Jeffrey didn’t hesitate to end the call.

Jeffrey was the kind of guy who held grudges, especially if Rebecca was involved.

He still hadn't forgiven Stephen for making things difficult for Rebecca back in Jelasburg. “Gregory,” he called

out,

Gregory stepped up right away. “Mr. Hanson.”

“How are things going with what | told you to take care of?” Jeffrey asked.

“I've already sped things up,” Gregory replied, knowing exactly what Jeffrey was talking about. “Karen's shows

will start dropping in about a month, and we’ve got all the hot topics and trending posts lined up.”

“Push things harder. | want her shows dropping in the next few days,” Jeffrey said, his eyes cold. He wanted

Stephen to be completely buried in work.

He'd already warned Stephen to stay away from Rebecca.

But since Stephen ignored him, Jeffrey had no problem kicking him while he was down.

“Understood,” Gregory replied.

Jeffrey went on, “Trending lists, buzz, all the promo-give her the full superstar treatment. If Stephen tries

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Chapter 314

any smear tactics, shut them down before they see the light of day.”

Got it. Gregory replied without hesitation.

Later that night, over at Karen's side of the story.

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Stephen had kept Karen locked up in the villa for a solid week now. She'd spent all that twondering how she

could move forward, only to get hit with the news that he was about to get engaged to someone else.

She was worried sick about her sister, but there was no way she was going to let people call her the

homewrecker.

And just as she tried to cut things off with him, Stephen threw her into lockdown, not allowing her so much as a

step outside.

“Ms. Lindsay, please, try to eat something,” the villa’s housekeeper pleaded softly. “If you skip your meals, Mr.

Hanson will blus.”

Karen looked over, her eyes dull and uninterested.

She wasn't refusing food-she just genuinely had no appetite.

Ever since learning Stephen was about to get engaged to someone else but still refused to break up with her,

she'd completely lost her desire to eat.

And there was no way out. Every tshe tried to talk about leaving, Stephen would threaten her by using her

younger sister, who was still in college, as leverage.

He hadn't taken away her phone or restricted her from making calls. But the moment she tried to reach out for

help, Stephen would immediately target her sister-she’d be the first one he'd go after.

She was trapped, with no way out.

“Hunger strike?” The cold, indifferent voice sliced through the air without a hint of warmth.

Karen stiffened instantly.

The housekeeper turned to the doorway, her voice faltering when she realized who had arrived. “Mr. Hanson...

“If she’s not eating, none of you are getting paid this month,” Stephen declared icily. He made it clear he played

by his own rules. “The moment she takes a bite, then you get your wages. Until then? Don’t even think about it.”

“Ms. Lindsay, please, I'm begging you-just eat a little. | have kids in school, and | can’t afford to lose this job,”

the housekeeper pleaded, almost in tears.

“Ms. Lindsay, my whole family depends on this job,” another worker said, his voice pleading.

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“Ms. Lindsay...”

The housekeeper, the cook, all the staff-one after another, they started pleading with her.

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It wasn’t her fault, but everyone was piling all the pressure onto her, making her shoulder the blame.

This kind of emotional blackmail-it was all too familiar, just like what she'd gone through years before.

‘Karen gave herself a bitter, self-deprecating smile inside, but on the outside, she slipped right into her sweetest,

most obedient act, her fingers wrapping around Stephen’s hand like she hadn't a care in the world. “Hunger

strike? Of course not. | was just waiting for you to cback so we could have dinner together.”

Stephen studied her closely, searching her face for any cracks in her facade.

Karen's gaze stayed clear and calm, giving nothing away.

She played the part so well you'd almost believe her every word.

“Alright,” Stephen said, pulling her down to sit beside him.

“This is my favorite dish. Try some,” Karen said, her behavior as adorably obedient as ever. She picked up some

food and placed it in his bowl. “Is the flavor different from the ones you usually prefer?”

She knew better than to go against Stephen. Nothing good would cof it-he was impossible to reason with,

and it didn’t matter how much she tried, he wouldn't care.

All she could do was just keep playing along, putting on a show to keep him happy, playing the sweet doll he

liked her to be.

She'd wait for the moment his guard slipped, then grab her sister and disappear for good.

“Mm,” Stephen said after taking a bite. “It’s different, but it's good.”

She grinned, her eyes curving into moon-like slits. “Isn't it?”

Stephen stared her down, his gaze unflinching.

Ever since she found out about him and Yvonne a week ago, she hadn't messaged him once. The housekeeper

and Victor had complained she’d been in a lousy mood at the villa, and he’d figured coming hand

threatening the staff's paychecks would be a good way to scare her, forcing her to drop any rebellious thoughts.

But now, seems like he won't need to do that after all.

“What's up?” Karen asked, her eyes sly yet seductive as they sparkled at him.

“They said you've been sulking around the villa all week and barely touching your food,” Stephen remarked, his

gaze fixed squarely on her. “Are you still hung up on what happened before?”

Karen kept her tone even. “You mean that thing with you and Yvonne Jones?”

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Stephen nodded. “Yeah.”

“Nope,” Karen replied, cool and direct.

“Is that so?” Stephen shot back, clearly not buying it.

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“If I was really hung up on it, would | be giving you more food?” Karen said as she picked up another dish and

dropped it into his bowl. Sas always, just like the past three years. “I only lost my appetite because you

hadn't talked toin a week. | was worried you'd be upset with me.”

Stephen reached out and pinched her cheek. “You? Actually scared of me?”

Karen laughed and wrapped her arm around his. “Of course. You really have no idea how scary you get when

you're mad.”

Stephen pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

He knew Karen was just putting on an act.

She's always lying through her teeth.

She didn’t care about him at all and just wanted out, but every the was about to explode, she could flip the

switch and play the perfect obedient doll. If she hadn't slipped up after that talk with Rebecca, he might've

actually fallen for her sweet little act.

“If you know how scary | can get, you'd better behave,” Stephen warned, letting his large, dry hand drift from

her cheek down to her neck, his tone cold but loaded with promise. “You should know | never make empty

threats.”

Karen nodded, keeping her voice soft. “I get it.”

Stephen lingered for a moment, his thumb tracing slow circles over her earlobe. “Stay in line, and you won't lose

anything that’s yours.”

“Alright,” Karen said, playing the perfect obedient girlfriend, but honestly? She couldn't be thinking anything

further from it.

All that stuff Stephen showered her with-she didn’t give a damn about any of it.

She just wanted out. That's all there was to it.

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