Chapter 247
Derek’s cautious response sparked a glimmer of hope in Stellan’s chest. Could he know something?
“Ms. Storm, are you looking for information about the Storm family?” Derek asked directly, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.
“Yes,” Stellan replied, her nerves beginning to fray. “Mr. Ronald, do you know anything?”
Derek’s brow furrowed, and for a moment, the weight of her question seemed to sink in.
Stellan leaned in slightly, her voice soft but urgent. “Mr. Ronald, if you know anything—please, I promise I’ll keep it a secret. No one will know you told me. I won’t involve you.”
Derek sighed, his expression filled with regret. “Mrs. Stellan has always treated me well, and I’m sorry for what happened to the Storm family. But I’m not afraid of getting involved—it’s just… I really don’t know anything.”
Stellan’s hope deflated as his words settled in. But she held her composure, pressing on.
Seeing her disappointment, Derek sighed once more, this time offering her a glass of water. “Ms. Storm, where did you come from?”
“From Arizona,” Stellan replied, her voice quiet and tinged with sadness.
“Are you still living in Arizona?” Derek asked, his curiosity piqued. He thought she might have left by now, just as he had after the Storm family’s downfall.
“My home is still there. How could I leave?” Stellan’s tone was wistful. “It’s my fault for realizing too late that I needed to investigate. Seven years have passed, and I’ve only just begun.”
Derek shook his head, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Mr. Storm was such a good man. It’s really unfair what happened.”
Stellan’s heart tightened at his words. “You believe the Storm family was wronged too?”
“Of course,” Derek replied earnestly. “I worked with Mr. Storm for five years. I know what kind of man he was. He wouldn’t have done anything illegal.”
Stellan’s eyes softened with gratitude. “Thank you, Derek.”
He shrugged, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “I’m just telling the truth, Ms. Storm. You don’t need to thank me. Honestly, I’m just an ordinary person. Even knowing the Storm family was framed, there wasn’t much I could do.”
Stellan pressed on, determined. “But, Mr. Ronald, don’t you know anything? Even the smallest detail before the incident?”
Derek paused, his expression thoughtful. After a long beat, he began, “Before the incident, everything was normal. The company was running smoothly. Then, one day, out of nowhere, there was a report about serious quality issues with our products. An investigation team showed up and ordered the company to shut down for a full investigation.”
“They tested the products, and over sixty percent were substandard. That’s when everything went south, and the company was shut down for good. After that, things spiraled out of control so fast, no one had a chance to react.”
“After the full investigation, they listed all the company’s failures, and Mr. Storm was arrested. Once he was taken into custody, the company collapsed. That’s when I was forced to leave.”
Stellan had already heard most of this before, especially during her time abroad. By the time she’d returned to Arizona, the damage had already been done, and everything was already over.
But she pressed on, hoping for something new, something that could help.
“Mr. Ronald,” Stellan said, her voice steady but pleading, “I know I’m being presumptuous, but after all these years, you’re the only important person from the Storm Group I could find. Could you think again, even the smallest detail? Anything could help.”
Derek hesitated, his face clouded with concentration. “Alright, let me think…”
For what seemed like an eternity, Derek remained silent, his brow furrowed as he tried to recall something significant. Then, as if a lightbulb went off in his mind, his eyes suddenly brightened.
“I just remembered someone who definitely knows.”
“Who?” Stellan asked eagerly, her pulse quickening.
“Ambrose,” Derek replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Stellan’s stomach sank. The last person she wanted to turn to was Ambrose. She had hoped Derek could provide a breakthrough, but it seemed like she was back at square one.
Derek continued, recalling the events with more clarity now. “Speaking of anomalies, now that I think about it… it was Ambrose. A few days before everything went down, Ambrose suddenly submitted his resignation. Mr. Storm was ill and hadn’t been at the office for days. The resignation wasn’t processed, and hardly anyone knew about it.”
Stellan’s breath hitched. “Ambrose… resigned?”
“Yes,” Derek said, his voice becoming reflective. “I was shocked. Ambrose was supposed to take over the Storm Group one day. Why would he leave? Did he break up with you, Ms. Storm? But Ambrose denied it. He said he didn’t want to be seen as relying on a woman, that the pressure was too much.”
Derek paused, his expression troubled. “He also said you were studying business management and that the Storm Group would still be yours. He wanted to go off and start his own business, to be your partner. I admired him for that, actually. After that, he never came back to the company. Then everything happened.”
“When I was forced to leave, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mr. Storm. I heard he got out on bail, and I wanted to visit him, but I never had the chance. One night, before I left, I went by the company to take a final look… and I saw Ambrose there.”
Stellan’s heart raced as Derek continued. “I didn’t talk much to him. He was there alone for a while before he left. But looking back, I’m sure Ambrose was hiding something. He knows something. I’m sure of it.”
Stellan’s thoughts raced as she processed Derek’s words. Ambrose had always claimed to have evidence, and if he was willing to present it, it couldn’t be something that would harm him. But what role did he play in all of this? Was she really supposed to follow his demands, become his woman, just to hear what he knew?
Stellan couldn’t help but curse under her breath.
“I understand now. Thank you so much for telling me all of this, Derek,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Derek sighed, clearly regretful. “Ms. Storm, please don’t say that. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”
“No, this is enough for me. Thank you,” Stellan replied sincerely. “I wish you the best in your future endeavors, Mr. Ronald. I’ll take my leave now.”
After leaving Derek’s office, Stellan’s expression was grim, her mind whirling with the fragments of information she’d gathered. She hadn’t come away empty-handed, but it was still far from what she needed.
As she exited the building, Alaric was waiting for her, his expression full of concern. “How did it go?” he asked, the instant he saw her face.
Stellan’s shoulders slumped, the weight of the investigation heavy on her. Seeing her dejected expression, Alaric quickly moved to comfort her. “It’s no big deal. After all, it’s been seven years. Investigating something like this isn’t easy. It’s normal to hit roadblocks. It’s okay, we’ll try another direction. We’ll figure it out eventually…”
Before Alaric could finish, Stellan kissed him deeply, silencing his words.
Stellan had been feeling frustrated, dejected, and ready to give up. But hearing Alaric’s comforting words stirred something inside her. Her gratitude and love for him surged unexpectedly, and in that moment, she couldn’t help but kiss him.