chapter919

Stella's pupils narrowed. "Leonard?"

Leonard smiled faintly. "It's really not easy to get a meeting with you, Ms.

Cameron. Took me quite a bit of effort."

Stella glanced around, taking in her surroundings.

It wasn't some dim warehouse or basement, but rather what looked like a private villa-clean, bright, not a speck of dust in sight.

Several bodyguards in black stood stationed around the room.

Stella's gaze landed on Abby, who was lying unconscious on the floor not far away.

Stella managed to stay calm and looked directly at Leonard.

"So, Mr. Lerman, what exactly do you want with me? What's so important that you had to bring me all the way here?"

Leonard's tone was cool. "You really are a good actress, Ms. Cameron. Playing innocent suits you."

Stella didn't bother playing along. "You can question me a hundred times, Mr. Lerman. My answer won't change.

I had nothing to do with what happened to Aurora."

Leonard lounged back against the sofa, crossing one leg over the other with casual elegance. "Of course. Someone as clever as you would never get her own hands dirty wouldn't want to leave any evidence behind, would you?"

His smile twisted strangely. "Naturally, you'd have someone else do your dirty work for you. Makes your own reputation look all the more spotless and pristine."

Stella knew she was in no position to challenge Leonard head-on. Right now, she was helpless-completely at his mercy.

"Mr. Lerman, I've explained this countless times. Leaking the news that Aurora was an illegitimate child did me absolutely no good."

Leonard's lips curled, amusement flickering in his eyes. "No benefit, sure if we're talking business. But what about emotionally?"

His cold gaze fixed on her, venomous and unblinking, like a snake ready to strike.

"You were jealous of Aurora's privileged life, weren't you? You wanted to destroy her. You were afraid Aurora would outplay you at the violin competition, so you leaked the news right before it started, hoping to keep her from performing.

Stella, is that what you wanted? To ruin Aurora?"

Blame always finds its own excuse.

Stella knew Leonard had brought her here for a reason, and whatever it was, he wasn't about to let her off easily.

But she wasn't about to confess to something she hadn't done.

All she needed was time-enough for Foreman to realize she was missing, enough for help to come.

She said, "Mr. Lerman, there's no bad blood between me and Aurora. And as for being afraid she'd beat me? That's just ridiculous.

I know you may not want to hear this, but the truth is, she's talented-just not as talented as I am."

She'd seen Aurora perform before.

Sure, Aurora was better than Rachel, but beating her? Stella had never even considered Aurora a rival.

Leonard's expression didn't flicker.

No matter what the truth was, Aurora would always be the best in his eyes.

He'd always find some excuse for her.

He suddenly let out a short, cold laugh, eyes glinting with some hidden meaning.

"Oh? Are you going to brag about your

fame and glory you earned with

Countless awards, about the et

that

legendary violin-Nocturn

As he spoke, he clapped his hands.

A bodyguard stepped forward, presenting a violin.

The moment Stella saw the instrument, her breath caught in her throat.

Nocturne Stella.

Her mother's violin. The one she'd left behind for Stella.

She whipped her head toward Leonard, her face paling.

Leonard's smile only deepened, clearly relishing her reaction.

Stella-Nora's violin, isn't

it? Nora Skyler's first wife. She the

who single-handedly!

the Williams Group afloat.

She did whatever it took to make Skyler cast aside his second wife And then, after forcing the woman

out, she orchestrated an 'accident'-drove her to her death.

In the end, she didn't even spare a newborn. She tried to kill Aurora, who was still

just an infant."