Chapter 157 Don't Moralize Me
"Adeline."
After parting ways with Sebastian, Adeline had barely stepped into the Foster Group's building when she was stopped in her tracks.
It wasn't just anyone blocking her path—it was Mrs. Foster, the woman who shared a face with Adeline's past.
The company lobby buzzed with activity.
Because of yesterday's news and today's video, nearly every employee was aware of the drama between Adeline and Stella.
Spectators gathered some stolen glances, and the bold ones even whipped out their cell phones to start recording.
Adeline disliked being on display like some exhibit.
She scrunched up her face and gave Stella, who stood in front of her, a chilly look, "Spit it out."
With a sudden "thump," Stella unexpectedly knelt before Adeline.
A collective gasp echoed through the lobby.
Remember, Stella was Jasper's wife!
The boss's wife was now kneeling before Adeline, one of the female employees!
Adeline stepped back, massaging her temples, which had started throbbing with pain.
She had been right in the car earlier.
Stella was indeed an oddity.
The woman had released a video of herself being pushed down to sway public opinion against her.
And now, she was confronting Adeline in the middle of the company lobby by dropping to her knees?
Adeline had wanted to step back even further.
But the encircling crowd was dense, and after two steps back, she had no room to retreat.
In the end, Adeline, with a resigned frown, glanced down at Stella still on her knees, "Mrs. Foster, what are you playing at now?"
"Please forgive me."
Stella lifted her head, her eyes welling up as she looked at Adeline, "What happened that day was indeed my fault.
"I shouldn't have been jealous of you just because you get to work with Jasper every day."
With just a single phrase, the entire hall erupted into murmurs.
So...
Stella was outright admitting that the video was real.
Adeline frowned.
She knew Stella hadn't come to apologize just for the sake of it.
"Jasper hasn't been coming home lately. He says he's working late, but whenever I can't sleep, and I go to the office in the middle of the night, he's nowhere to be found."
Stella sniffled, tears streaming down unchecked, "I know he must be off with you discussing the latest design drafts.
"I may not have a formal background in jewelry design like you, but I've been teaching myself for ages and still haven't achieved your level of success.
"I know I'm not smart enough, so Jasper won't even let me work with you in the design department."
She knelt on the ground, looking up at Adeline with tear-filled eyes, "Please forgive a wife's worries; I feel so insecure."
In just a few words, Stella had crafted the perfect excuse for pushing Adeline previously.
Yes, she had deliberately pushed Adeline, setting her up.
But she had her reasons.
Adeline was around Jasper all the time.
Jasper was always going out to find Adeline late at night.
Someone from the crowd watching the commotion sighed, "You can't blame Mrs. Foster..."
"After all, what woman wouldn't feel troubled if her husband was going out to see another woman in the middle of the night?"
"Seriously, single women should be mindful of their actions; even if it's for work, they shouldn't be taking up someone else's husband's time at night."
"And who knows if it's really for work or not?"
The buzz of conversation around them grew louder.
"Don't make excuses for me."
Hearing the whispers, pain flickered across Stella's face, "I'm wrong; that's it."
"All of this is my fault; Miss Wilson is innocent.
"My love for my husband made me paranoid; they only have a plain superior-subordinate relationship.
"I'm the one at fault here; even if Miss Wilson intentionally posted the video online, leading netizens to slander and cyber bully me, I brought it upon myself."
She looked up at Adeline with tear-filled eyes, "Miss Wilson, can you forgive me?
"From now on, I won't interfere in any aspect of your work with Jasper.
"Regardless of how late Jasper stays out to see you, I won't make a fuss anymore, nor will I hurt you again.
"Just please... forgive me."
On the surface, Stella's words seemed to be absolving Adeline and Jasper's relationship.
In fact, she had cast herself in the role of the injured party.
Society has a soft spot for the underdog.
Especially for a housewife like her, who was apparently left to wither in the solitude of her home by an inattentive husband.
She aimed to shackle Adeline with the chains of guilt, then corner her into forgiveness.
At that thought, Adeline's gaze turned icy.
She glanced down at the kneeling woman. "Mrs. Foster, it’s such a dramatic performance."
Stella looked up at Adeline, tears adorning her eyes. "So, you still won't forgive me?"
"Enough already. It's just a push, just a ruined painting, right?"
"Besides, that painting was compensated for by someone else's husband, not out of your pocket. What's there not to forgive?"
"And let's be real, which proper woman works every night with someone else's husband? Who are you kidding?"
"The wife is putting the mistress in her place, and when the mistress is brought to her knees, she doesn't even accept an apology. What kind of world is this?"
"Didn't Mrs. Foster and her husband publicly display their affection before she left the country? She was probably already wrapped up with him by then."
Stella, with tears brimming in her eyes, turned to the those slinging mud at Jasper. "Stop spreading lies.
"My husband is good to me. I know how much he loves me.
"He's just momentarily lost his way."
Standing her ground, Adeline watched the scene unfold before her with a laugh.
Was Stella really here to apologize this early in the morning?
She was here to cause trouble.
"If Mrs. Foster enjoys acting, she can continue her performance without me," Adeline said before attempting to weave through the crowd.
But the onlookers had tightly blocked her exit.
"The mistress is feeling guilty and wants to leave!"
"Don't let her go!"
"She can leave, but only after forgiving Mrs. Foster first!"
Those ignorant of the situation, the so-called just bystanders, uttered each remark more arrogantly and unreasonably than the last.
Adeline couldn't push through such a dense crowd.
Something was off.
Stella must have orchestrated these people.
Instinctively, Adeline turned to look at Stella.
She knelt on the ground, a strange smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "Adeline, just forgive me."
Adeline narrowed her eyes.
Clearly, she could only leave the crowd if she forgave Stella.
But if she forgave Stella, wouldn't that validate the accusation that she, indeed, was the other woman in Stella and Jasper's marriage?
Rooted to the spot, she remained silent for a long time before looking toward the entrance, a smile curving her lips.
"Do you think that without Jasper here, I'm left to suffer your torment?"
Stella blinked back tears, her voice quivering, "Miss Wilson, I just hoped you could forgive me."
Adeline let out a dry laugh and swiftly picked up her phone to dial a number. "I'm surrounded in the lobby."
As her words faded, a deep male voice resonated through the phone, "Yes!"
Two minutes later, Tim and Tom dashed in with the security team, moving quickly.
Seasoned and towering security guards, under Tim and Tom's leadership, swiftly parted the crowd, clearing a path.
"Miss Wilson," Tim greeted Adeline respectfully, "We're sorry for our delay."
"It's not late."
Adeline lowered her gaze to Stella, who knelt in shock on the floor. "Listen.
"First, I didn't release the video online, nor did I instigate cyberbullying against you. You know exactly what happened.
"Second, even with your apology, I won't forgive you. Don't try to guilt-trip me.
"And lastly," Adeline chuckled, "You say Jasper hasn't been coming home for many nights. How is that related to me?
"Don't concoct some charge, hoping I'll own up to it!"
With that, the woman strode away, escorted by Tim and Tom, into the elevator with an air of nonchalance.
The lobby fell silent.
Everyone carefully watched Stella on the ground, not daring to speak.
Two men helped her up, displeased, "Why didn't you stop her?"
The men assisting Stella looked ashamed. "We could handle a woman, but those bodyguards..."
Broad-shouldered and robust, they were clearly outmatched.
"Worthless!"
Stella hissed the insult just as Tim and Tom passed by with their team.
She reached out to stop them, "As part of the Foster Group's security, shouldn't you listen to me, the CEO's wife, rather than a mere designer?"
Tim and Tom exchanged a glance, smiling, "We only take orders from our boss."
"And who's your boss? Jasper?"
"Mr. Bennett."
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