Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 10: Slap in the Face!

Stella made small talk with President Wright for a few more minutes, then tactfully mentioned that she needed to catch a flight and was preparing to leave.

"This project collaboration was delightful. I hope we’ll have more opportunities to work together in the future." Stella smiled as she extended her hand.

President Wright quickly grasped her hand, nodding repeatedly, "Of course, Miss Sterling’s professionalism is admirable. Looking forward to our next collaboration."

"Alright, I won’t hold you up any longer. Have a pleasant journey, and keep in touch!" President Wright said enthusiastically.

"Sure, keep in touch." Stella nodded with a smile, pulling her suitcase as she turned toward the hotel entrance. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Sunlight streamed through the hotel’s glass curtain walls, casting dappled patterns on the marble floor.

At this moment, Grace Quinn, who had just successfully sent a message, was anxiously watching Stella’s departing figure.

If Jasper Hawthorne came and didn’t see anyone, wouldn’t he blame her for lying?

No, that wouldn’t do!

She had to stop Stella!

Seeing Stella about to walk through the revolving door, Grace could no longer hold back. She quickly stepped forward in her high heels and stopped in front of Stella.

She lifted her chin, her face filled with undisguised disdain and provocation, "Oh, who do we have here? Isn’t it Stella? What, just got dumped by Jasper and you couldn’t wait to hit the hotel with another man? You sure move fast! How much did that old guy pay you just now?"

Stella was halted, and looking at the suddenly appearing Grace, she was initially taken aback. Then her gaze turned icy.

In the past, out of consideration for Jasper, she might have maintained a facade of politeness. But now, she only found the woman before her noisy and ridiculous.

"Miss Quinn," Stella’s voice was calm and steady, "a good dog doesn’t block the way."

Grace hadn’t expected her to retort directly, stunned for a moment, then like a cat stepping on its tail, her voice grew sharper, "Who are you calling a dog?"

"Whoever answers, that’s who."

"You..." Grace was so furious her face turned pale, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.

But she also knew that Stella, the flower of the law school back in the day, wasn’t crowned solely because of her looks; she had a sharp tongue. Engaging in a war of words with her would not end well.

Thinking of this, Grace took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She let out a cold laugh, "What, feeling guilty because I exposed your dirty act? You have the guts to hook up with a man but not to admit it!"

She intentionally raised her voice, drawing the attention of a few guests and the front desk staff in the lobby.

Stella’s gaze turned completely cold.

She released her grip on the suitcase handle and stood straight, exuding a chill that instantly overpowered Grace’s bluffing.

"Dirty act?" Stella repeated softly, the corners of her lips curving into a faint sneer, "In the eyes of someone with a mind as dirty as yours, even normal banter can be twisted into something dirty. As they say, those with filthy minds see filth; that’s what people like you are."

"You!" Grace’s face flushed with anger being hit where it hurt, "Stop being so glib! I saw with my own eyes you and that old man leaving the hotel, grinning like a fool! Dare you say there’s nothing between you two?"

"Who I am with and whether I smile has nothing to do with you."

Stella took a step forward, her gaze sharp as a knife, "Who are you to question me here? Jasper’s fiancée? Apparently not. His sister? Even less so. You’re just a clown who clings on desperately, even needing to stir trouble for attention."

These words pierced right into Grace’s heart, leaving her so enraged that she nearly lost her mind.

She recalled how Stella had always been in Jasper’s life over the years, and no matter how she tried, she could never truly win Jasper’s affection. All the jealousy and resentment exploded at that moment, and she raised her hand to slap Stella, "How dare you spout nonsense!"

However, her hand was still in the air when Stella caught her wrist with precision.

Stella’s strength surprised Grace, her grip causing Grace’s wrist bone to ache.

"What, can’t win with reason, so you resort to violence?" Stella looked at her coldly, devoid of fear, only intense disgust, "Grace Quinn, have you forgotten I’m not Jasper, I won’t indulge your bad habits."

Before she finished speaking, Stella’s empty left hand had already swung up—

"Smack!"

A crisp and loud slap landed firmly on Grace’s stupefied face.

This slap wasn’t light, causing Grace’s head to turn to the side, with a clear red handprint immediately appearing on her cheek, stinging painfully.

She was completely dumbfounded, her ears ringing, not daring to believe Stella dared to hit her!

Her friend behind her also gasped in shock, covering their mouth.

"This slap is to teach you to speak like a decent person." Stella’s voice remained calm.

Grace finally reacted, screaming, as if she had gone mad, ready to pounce again, "Stella, you bitch! You dare hit me! I’ll fight you to the end!"

But as soon as she moved, the other cheek was hit with another heavy slap!

"Smack!"

The sound was louder and more severe than before.

"This slap is for your filthy mouth, spreading rumors and causing trouble." Stella shook her slightly numb hand, looking at her with icy eyes.

Grace was hit with stars in her vision, both cheeks red and swollen, looking utterly miserable.

The overwhelming humiliation and pain nearly broke her; instinctively, she wanted to charge forward and tear Stella’s face apart.

However, at that moment, a remnant of rationality suddenly reminded her—what was she here for?

She was supposed to hold Stella back until Jasper arrived to ’catch them’!

If she got into a fight with Stella now, when Jasper arrived and saw them brawling, how could she play the victim?

How would she highlight Stella’s ’crudeness and malice’ and her own ’innocence and pitifulness’?

Yes!

She mustn’t fight back!

She had to swallow her pride!

When Jasper arrived and saw her beaten so badly, he would surely feel sorry for her and hate Stella even more for this shrew!

Thinking of this, Grace forcibly suppressed her urge to retaliate.

She covered her swollen cheek, her eyes immediately reddened, tears pouring out effortlessly, demonstrating superb acting skills, instantly switching from the earlier shrew to a flower who suffered in silence.

She sobbed, her voice choked with sobs as she accused, "Stella... how could you hit me? I only asked in good nature... If you don’t want to answer, then so be it, why use violence? Boohoo..."

Her appearance indeed seemed as if Stella had bullied her for no reason.

Stella watched her quick-change performance with cold eyes, finding it utterly ridiculous.

She knew Grace’s antics too well, merely trying to gain sympathy, a pure drama queen, especially in front of Jasper.

In the past, she cared too much about Jasper and unknowingly suffered many losses because of Grace.

But now—if you act shamelessly, you deserve a slap.

"Get out of my way!" Stella couldn’t be bothered to waste another second on her. She pushed Grace aside, "Don’t block my path."

Grace stumbled, her high heels tilted, nearly falling, fortunately stabilized by her friend’s support.

Watching Stella walk away without hesitation, Grace trembled with rage, her façade nearly shattered instantly. She shrieked at Stella’s back, "Stella! Just you wait! Jasper will be here any moment! Let’s see how long you can be so arrogant!"