Chapter 5: Angry Philip

Next to John stood a typical high-society lady.

Although she was about the same age as John, her skin was incredibly smooth with barely any wrinkles on her face. Every gesture she made was filled with elegance and refinement.

Each of her features looked beautiful on its own, but somehow when put together, they gave off an inexplicably sharp and mean vibe. She was Stella's stepmother: Emma.

Behind them followed a large group of people.

"Stella, you're finally willing to come back. I thought you were planning to abandon me and the Windsor family and die out there forever!"

Stella took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. "Father, Mother, I'm home."

Emma let out a cold laugh, but on the surface put on a nice-person act.

"John, Stella finally came to her senses and came back. Don't provoke her with your words anymore. Stella, hurry up and go say hello to your grandfather."

Stella nodded at Russell, and the two walked shoulder to shoulder into The Windsor Manor.

A few minutes later, Stella stood before an elderly man with gray hair. He was Stella's biological grandfather and the current head of the Windsor family: Arthur Windsor.

Though he was nearly seventy years old, he looked quite strong and healthy.

"Grandfather, I'm sorry. All these years, I never came back to see you."

In the entire Windsor family, according to Stella's memory, besides her deceased mother, only Arthur truly cared about her.

After all, Emma had never liked her, which led John to want to make her a sacrifice for the Windsor family's marriage alliance.

Only Arthur felt sorry for her.

Arthur reached out his trembling hand and gently touched Stella's cheek.

"Stella, you're finally back. I've missed you so much."

John seemed unable to wait any longer. He cleared his throat and quickly spoke up.

"Father! Since Stella is back, I think the marriage alliance with the Herman family can move forward."

Emma smiled wickedly.

"I've already notified Philip. He'll be here soon."

Philip Herman was Emma's nephew and the eldest grandson of the Herman family—Stella's arranged marriage partner.

But just then, Stella spoke coldly.

"Sorry, Father, but I'm already married. Next, I'd like to formally introduce you all to my husband, Russell."

As soon as she finished speaking, Stella took Russell's arm.

Instantly, everyone's eyes fixed on Russell, their faces full of shock.

Then came John's furious cursing.

"Stella! Have you lost your mind? You're Philip's future wife. How could you marry another man?"

"Exactly! Philip is so outstanding and the future heir of the Herman family. If you marry him, you'll just need to be a carefree high-society lady for the rest of your life."

"I don't understand why you'd do something so stupid!"

John clenched his teeth.

"I don't care who this man is or whether you're married. Make him get lost right now! And get divorced as soon as possible!"

But Stella's face remained cold.

"It's too late, Father. Russell and I have already gotten married and slept together. If we're lucky, I might already be carrying your future grandson in my belly."

John was completely driven mad by Stella. He suddenly raised his hand and swung a hard slap toward Stella's face.

"Shut up! How could I have such a shameless daughter? You've completely embarrassed me! I'll beat you to death!"

He used all his strength to slap Stella.

"Stop!"

However, Arthur's shout didn't stop John, even though Arthur was his father and the head of the Windsor family.

But currently, with the Herman family's support, John had become incredibly arrogant.

At this moment, he had only one thought—to punish Stella severely!

Just as his palm was about to hit Stella's face, a large hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

John snapped back to reality and saw Russell gripping him tightly.

"Damn it! Who the hell do you think you are? I'm disciplining my own daughter. What's it got to do with you? Let go of me!"

John tried to pull his hand back, but no matter how hard he tried, his arm felt stuck in a crack like stone—he couldn't pull it out at all.

Russell's voice was cold.

"Stella is your daughter, but she's also my legal wife, so I should protect her."

John tried again, but this time Russell suddenly let go. John's body stumbled back several steps and fell heavily to the ground from the momentum.

"Bastard!"

Arthur also stepped in front of Stella.

"John, let's talk this through. She's your biological daughter."

"Father! You should know how important this marriage alliance is for our Windsor family! If we can marry into the Herman family again, it would be an epic leap in status for us!"

"Besides, the Herman family has already accepted this arrangement. If we break the agreement unilaterally, do you know how much trouble it will cause us?"

But just then, a young man's voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Uncle John, what's got you so angry?"

Everyone instinctively turned around to see a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a custom suit, exuding aristocratic air all over, walking over with a smile.

"Aunt Emma, long time no see."

But just then, Philip noticed Stella.

Instantly! His eyes went straight.

"Oh! God! Ms. Windsor, you're even more charming than when you were little. You're simply a gift from God to me. I hope we can have the wedding right away. I can't wait to be with you..."

Philip barely held back the last words "make love."

After all, with so many elders present, it really wasn't appropriate.

John cleared his throat. "Philip, go rest in your room first. There's been a little complication here."

John really wanted to send him away and deal with Stella and Russell's matter alone, but unexpectedly, Stella seemed to be waiting for Philip.

"Mr. Herman, I'm afraid I can't marry you. Let me introduce you—my man, Russell. We're already legally married, and just last night, we made love in the same bed. He's really amazing."

Hearing this, Philip clenched his teeth, wishing he could tear Russell apart bone by bone at this moment!

This kind of thing was an enormous humiliation to him!

"What?"

He turned his head and glared fiercely at Russell.

"You damn bastard, how many lives do you think you have? How dare you make an enemy of the Herman family?"