Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 51: Shane Donovan Molested You!

It was night.

The Sterling Family’s house was brightly lit.

As Stella Sterling had anticipated, today’s dinner was not just a simple family gathering.

During the meal, the atmosphere seemed harmonious and pleasant.

However, the conversation subtly aimed to match her with Owen Callahan.

And Owen Callahan was indeed as outstanding as Mrs. Sterling described.

He was articulate, well-educated, confident in front of the elders without being boastful, and he maintained a perfect level of attention and distance with Stella, making sure not to overwhelm her with friendliness, nor neglect her.

"Miss Sterling pioneering a law firm in Riveria truly demonstrates that women are equal to men," Owen Callahan smiled at Stella, his eyes clear and filled with sincere admiration, "It’s rare for young people to have this kind of drive and ambition nowadays."

Stella could only respond politely, "Dr. Callahan, you flatter me. It’s just the beginning of a small venture."

"The beginning is the hardest part. It’s clear how capable you are to have established yourself in Riveria, Miss Sterling," Owen Callahan spoke warmly, exuding a soothing charm, "I have a friend also in the medical device business in Riveria. Perhaps, if there are any legal needs in the future, I can introduce them to you, Miss Sterling."

"Thank you in advance, Dr. Callahan." Stella thanked him politely, but felt somewhat helpless inside.

To be fair, Owen Callahan was in excellent condition, good-natured, and interacting with him was stress-free.

If it were in the past, she might have been moved by such gentleness and consideration.

But now...

Her heart felt both full and empty, and for such clearly matchmaking-motivated interaction, all she felt was fatigue and resistance.

The dinner finally ended in an atmosphere where everyone seemed pleased.

After sending off the Callahan Family, Stella just breathed a sigh of relief and was about to go back to her room when Mrs. Sterling caught her hand and led her to the small balcony on the second floor.

The night breeze was slightly cool, carrying the fragrance of flowers and plants from the garden.

"Stella," Isla Sutton seated her daughter on a wicker chair, "tell your mother, what do you think of Owen Callahan?"

Stella blinked, trying to play dumb, "What do you mean? Dr. Callahan is nice, courteous, and knowledgeable."

Isla Sutton playfully tapped her hand, "Are you pretending to be oblivious with your mother?"

Stella lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, avoiding the topic, "Mom, I’m a bit tired..."

"Stella," Isla Sutton’s voice softened, she held Stella’s hand, whispering in her ear, "Mom is telling you this not to have you choose among men. You’ve just come home, and honestly, I’d prefer you stay at home forever, as our precious daughter."

She paused, seeing her daughter’s slightly dazed expression, then continued, "I’m saying this so you know you have the right to like or dislike anyone. In the future, you are in charge of your own feelings. Whether it’s Owen Callahan or anyone else, I just hope you find someone who truly cares for you, loves you, respects you, not someone like..."

Isla Sutton didn’t finish, but Stella knew what she left unsaid — not someone like Jasper Hawthorne, who made her endure so much.

A warm rush mingled with bitterness filled Stella’s heart, she leaned on her mother’s shoulder, softly said, "I know, Mom. Thank you."

"Silly child." Isla Sutton stroked her daughter’s hair, sighing, "If you think Owen Callahan is alright, perhaps get to know him, and if there’s truly no feeling, don’t force yourself, we just want you to be happy."

...

That night, Stella slept exceptionally well, right until morning.

After washing and going downstairs, she saw her brother Aidan Sterling on the phone in the living room, his face so dark it could drip water.

"What’s going on? Haven’t figured it out yet? ... Bunch of useless people!" Aidan hung up the phone with a stern face, irritably loosening his tie, veins popping at his temples.

Clearly, he was very upset.

"Bro, what’s wrong? What happened?" Stella asked in confusion.

Aidan turned around, his expression slightly easing, but still furrowed, "Owen Callahan was attacked last night."

"What?" Stella was stunned, "Dr. Callahan? Is he... badly hurt?"

"Quite badly, he’s hospitalized." Aidan’s tone was cold, "Nasal bone fracture, two broken ribs, mild concussion."

Stella breathed in sharply.

This was not lightly done!

"How could this happen? Did he get robbed?" she instinctively guessed.

Owen Callahan seemed like a gentle doctor, not someone who would have enemies.

Aidan sneered, "No, not robbery. They had a clear target. He left our house last night, drove to his apartment’s underground garage, got out of the car, and was immediately attacked. The assailants left right after, no valuable clues at the scene, and..."

He paused, "Even when asked who did it, Owen Callahan refuses to say."

Stella furrowed her brows, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

Owen Callahan just returned from abroad, with simple social connections, how could he suffer such misfortune?

Moreover, the attack was so heavy-handed...

She looked at Aidan’s distressing expression, a ludicrous thought flashed through her mind, "Bro, you... you’re not suspecting..."

"Shane Donovan." Aidan decisively spat out the name, his eyes fierce.

Stella was initially stunned, then instinctively refuted, "Impossible, right? Why would it be him? What reason could he have..."

"Reason?" Aidan sneered, interrupting her, "He also returned to Crestfall yesterday. The timing matches perfectly! Can such a coincidence exist?"

"Just because of that?" Stella found it unbelievable, "What does that prove? Bro, do you have too deep a prejudice against Shane Donovan?"

"Too deep a prejudice?" Aidan suddenly stood up, looking down at her, his chest rising slightly with anger, "Stella! What kind of poison has he given you?! I know better than you what kind of person Shane Donovan is! You can’t imagine how dirty his methods are, how deep his thoughts run!"

"He pretends to be a gentleman in front of you, and you really think he’s one? Let me tell you, at his core, he’s a madman! A paranoid! For a trivial grudge, he can destroy someone’s life! Now, when something he fancies gets touched, what’s surprising about what he might do?"

Stella was shaken by his intense response and resolute tone, though a part inside still didn’t want to believe, "But... there’s no evidence..."

"Evidence?" Aidan seemed completely ignited by this word, his voice trembling slightly with emotion, "You think I hate him just because I don’t like him?"

Aidan stared intently into Stella’s eyes, word by word, "Because Shane Donovan once..."

Assaulted you!