Chapter 162 Leverage
Adeline paused. Her nails dug into her flesh without her noticing.
"So, you brought me here to convince me to do a press conference and confirm that Stella is a good person, and then you'll use that opportunity to reconnect and ask her for money?"
Helen exhaled heavily. "I know you probably look down on us. But as parents, if there's a way to ensure our child's freedom, who could stand by and watch their child go to prison? We're in this situation because we love our daughter too much."
After a moment, Helen looked up into Adeline's face. "Ms. Adeline, you know, I had some misunderstandings about Adeline, or Stella as she's known now. She despised me, didn't like me. So, with her returning, it wouldn't be right for us to approach her directly.
"We hope you're willing to help us, to organize a press conference tomorrow to clarify some things, to stop the vicious online hate against her That way, she'll surely remember the hardships we endured as parents, and then, we might be able to ask her for some financial help."
A chill went through Adeline.
Helen and George had gone to great lengths to rope her in, just to appease Stella and to extract some cash from Stella's allowance.
In their eyes, Molly was always the priority. They were liquidating their assets just to ensure Molly's freedom.
They reason they rekindled this relationship with Adeline was only because she was Mrs. Jasper Lynx.
"I'm sorry." She looked at the mist rising from her teacup, her smile cool and detached. "I can't help you with that.
"First of all, this situation with Star is already a complication for me. Secondly, I have no reason to help you.
"And lastly..." She glanced at George and Helen's faces. "Let me be honest with you. If you've only ever had room in your hearts for Molly, then maybe you should just accept that you only raised one daughter.
"You never gave Adeline even a sliver of parental love, and it's best now not to pester her. Keep whatever dignity you have left."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Watching her leave, Helen clenched her teeth and quickly followed.
"Ms. Adeline."
She trailed behind Adeline. "I know you despise how we doted on Molly and ignored Adeline. What you don't understand is, Molly was a difficult birth. She nearly suffocated inside me.
"She was never as bright or as capable as Adeline. Everyone said she was 'dimmed' in the womb, so I've always been extra protective. She's flesh of my own flesh..."
Helen had reached this point in her explanation when Adeline abruptly stopped.
She turned around, locking eyes with Helen. "Are you certain Molly is your own flesh and blood?"
Helen was momentarily stunned. "Of course... Where else would she have come from?"
Adeline took a deep breath. "Do you remember the time as a baby Molly was mixed up with another child from the orphanage?"
Helen paused, recalling. "Yes, I remember."
It was when Molly had just been brought home after her first month.
After putting them in the car, it was John who was supposed to secure the children. But almost immediately, he realized he had the wrong child and rushed back to the hospital to switch them.
"How do you know Molly was once mixed up?"
Adeline let out a soft chuckle. "I'm not just aware of the mix-up; I also suspect that Molly might not even be your biological child."
"That's impossible."
Helen laughed sharply, a mocking look in her eyes. "Molly and my husband are so alike, we wouldn't even need a DNA test to confirm their relation!"
"And what about you and her?" Adeline probed with a smirk.
The smug smile on Helen's face froze.
"Think about it."
With another deep breath, Adeline strode away.
Long after Adeline was gone, a dejected Helen returned home.
"Well?"
As soon as Helen entered, John approached her.
Helen shook her head.
"She said she won't agree to our terms, nor will she attend the press conference."
John's brow furrowed deeply.
"Did she say anything else?"
"She said..." Helen sighed. "She even suggested that I look into it because Molly might not actually be my child."
The words drained all color from John's face.
"No way, that can't be true."
Helen shrugged. "Adeline's unreliable. We can't count on her."
"Exactly."
"Ridiculous! How could Molly not be your daughter?" John frowned and gazed into the distance. "If she won't agree, then I have no choice but to seek out Stella."
...
"Ma'am, someone's here to see you."
Lounging in bed and staring at the ceiling in Blue Bay, Stella had been lost in thought since returning from the cafe.
Stella frowned in frustration upon hearing the staff. "Don't they know I'm resting? Let whoever it is wait!"
Right now, she didn't want to see anyone except Jasper.
"But ma'am..." he staff sounded helpless from the hallway. "The visitor says... he's your father, a Mr. John..."
John?
Star bolted upright in bed. "He's my dad? Treat him well, make sure he's comfortable, I'll be right there!"
"Understood."
As she climbed out of bed and smirked while digging through the dresser for clothes, she mulled over dealing with Adeline.
And just like that, her very own father had come knocking.
...
After leaving John and Helen's place, Adeline grabbed a quick bite and returned to the office to resume her afternoon work.
She hadn't even finished the blueprint draft when someone knocked on her office door.
"Ms. Collins, there's a visitor for you, a middle-aged lady named Helen Allen, saying it's urgent."
Adeline stopped sketching. She knew Helen's visit must be concerning Stella.
"I'm not available."
"She insists on waiting as long as it takes for you to finish work since you have to leave eventually."
Rubbing her temples, Adeline relented, "Let her in then."
Her soft-hearted nature was one thing she just couldn't shake.
"Ms. Collins." Upon entering, Helen dropped to her knees, tears streaming as she looked up at Adeline. "Please, you have to help us!"
Adeline didn't anticipate this dramatic entrance.
She frowned and rushed over to help her up. "What happened?"
"My husband had a stroke and is in the hospital!" Helen's tears flowed uncontrollably. "We can't even afford his treatment!"
"Please, help us!"
Adeline steadied Helen, helping her take a seat on the couch. "You're asking for my help; how exactly do you want me to help you?"
"Should I just hold a press conference and tell everyone I'm the mistress? That it's justifiable for Stella to have pushed me down? Is that what you're suggesting?"
Helen bit her lip, unable to hide her distress at the woman's words. "Ms. Adeline , I understand that this might be difficult for you, but we don't have any other options..."
Adeline took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over to her desk. Then, she opened a drawer, and pulled out a check.
She handed the check to Helen. "There's half a million dollars in there. Consider it a loan from me. Don't expect me to host a press conference and tell lies."
Helen's face flushed as she clutched the check—turning from red to pale again. Finally, she shoved the check back into Adeline's hands.
"I can't accept your money. My eldest daughter has money. Just help us..."
"Forget it," Adeline said, pocketing the check. "I'm not helping."
"Ms. Allen, please leave."
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