Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Mr. Winters, have you made it to the parking lot yet? Or should I come down and meet you myself?"

However, the voice that came through the phone was Mr. Winters, panicked and desperate.

"Ms. West! You've got to help me, please! It's all a big misunderstanding, I swear. Could you possibly talk to Mr. Dashiell for me, get me a chance to explain things to him face to face? I..."

Stella was puzzled and furrowed her brows as she interrupted Mr. Winters.noveldrama

"Mr. Winters, hold on a second. What are you talking about? Weren't you on your way here with the contract? What's all this about needing rescue and pleading for mercy? I can't make heads or tails of it."

Stella had a bad feeling about this. She lowered her voice and quickened her pace towards her office.

But Margaret had been speaking so loudly, and Stella's odd reaction upon picking up the phone didn't go unnoticed by the ever-watchful employees.

As Stella's office door shut behind her, whispers spread like wildfire.

"What's going on? Could the deal have fallen through?"

"No way! Have you guys seen the video that's been going around in the group chat? My god, it turns out Ms. West isn't just Mr. Dashiell's childhood sweetheart; she's also his lifesaver."

They murmured among themselves.

Inside the office, Stella's complexion had turned grim.

Mr. Winters was still on the line, pleading like a man out of options.

"Embezzling funds, pocketing bonuses, buying cars and designer bags for female staff, signing shady deals, snatching others'

achievements through bribery and connections for promotions. These accusations are completely baseless, pure slander! swnovel

Ms. West, please, I'm begging you to speak to Mr. Dashiell on my behalf. I swear, if you help me out this time I'll be eternally grateful. Once you're Mrs. Dashiell, you'll need your own allies and eyes within the Starlight Group, right?" swnovel

It took Stella a moment to process everything.

Just five minutes ago, an anonymous letter accusing Mr. Winters of various misdeeds had spread like wildfire through the Starlight Group's internal network.

Mr. Winters was in total panic.

Stella was overwhelmed. Even if she had the influence to speak on Mr. Winters' behalf in front of Remington, given Mr. Winters' frantic state, it was clear he was guilty of something. It wasn't simply a case of being falsely accused.

"Mr. Winters, where are you now? Do you have the contract with you? Look, if these are all false accusations, let's just sign the contract first, and then I'll see what I can do..."

Stella was only concerned about the contract. What happened to Mr. Winters was none of her business.

She tried to appease him, hoping to get the contract signed. But Mr. Winters wasn't fooled.

He snapped back, "Ms. West, just yesterday you said that once I bring this deal to Glory Media, I'd be considered one of our own. You promised to put in a good word for me with Mr. Dashiell. Now, before we've even signed the contract, you're backing out? If that's how it is, then forget the contract. I'll head back to the Starlight Group right now and sort out my own issues!" swnovel

Stella clenched her phone in frustration. Everything was set up on her end, the news had been spread, and even the all-night celebration had been arranged.

If the deal fell through, she'd be the butt of the joke.

Damn it, what rotten luck to be accused at such a critical moment.