Chapter 172

Victor Lefèvre grabbed Stella Valentine's wrist and dragged her into the legal department office. "Hold her down!"

Four burly legal officers immediately surrounded her, pinning her firmly into a chair.

"Stella, don't blame your uncle for being harsh." Victor pulled a document from his briefcase and slammed it onto the table. "I'm going to make your mother sign this corporate representative change agreement. If she refuses to take the fall for me, you won't leave this room."

His eyes gleamed with the ferocity of a wolf.

Stella smirked inwardly.

This ungrateful traitor.

She tried to struggle, but the four men tightened their grip. A sharp pain shot through her wrist, already bruising.

"Uncle..." Her eyes suddenly reddened, voice trembling. "Mom just had surgery. If she goes to prison, she'll die... She's your own sister!"

Victor faltered for a moment, avoiding her gaze. "Seven years at most... She's only in her fifties. She'll have plenty of time left when she gets out."

"No! I won't let Mom suffer like this!"

"Stella," Victor softened his tone, coaxing. "After your mother goes in, I'll take good care of you and the kids. They'll attend the best schools—better than you struggling alone with them. Your mother's old. The children's future matters more, right?"

Stella lowered her head, the corner of her lips curling imperceptibly.

She had been worried Victor would grow suspicious, but Mr. Grant's debt collection today had unexpectedly played into her hands.

The children's future was important—but so was her mother!

"Stella, wait here." Victor shot his subordinates a meaningful look. "I'm going to see your mother now."

The moment the office door locked behind him, Stella flexed her aching wrist and took a step forward.

"Stop!" one of the legal officers barked.

Stella turned slowly, her gaze landing on his name tag. "Legal Department... Liu Chen?"

The man glared at her fiercely.

"Liu Chen," she said softly, "you'd better treat me with respect. Soon, my mother will be the company's legal representative."

Liu Chen paled, exchanging panicked glances with the other three.

Stella elegantly settled into the executive chair, fingertips lightly tapping the desk. "The legal representative should have been my father. Half his shares were transferred to me, and the other half... by inheritance law, belong to my mother. Unauthorized changes to corporate representation—how many years does that carry? You know better than I do."

......

An hour later, Victor stormed back into the office, clutching the signed document.

"Process the corporate representative change immediately!" He threw the papers at Liu Chen. "The sooner, the better!"

Liu Chen didn't move. Instead, he looked at Stella.

"What are you waiting for? Mr. Grant said we'll receive the subpoena in two or three days!"

Liu Chen gritted his teeth and hurried out with the document.

"Stella," Victor wiped his sweat, "your uncle needs to go abroad for a bit. Take care of the company for a few days."

Trying to flee?

Perfect.

"But I have no experience..."

"Just a few days! If you really can't handle it, ask Victor Valence for help!" Victor snatched his jacket and bolted. "I'm leaving!"

Stella stood by the window, watching his car speed toward the airport. Finally, she allowed the cold smile to surface.

"Notify all department managers," she turned and commanded. "Meeting at four."

......

"What? The legal representative is Grace Laurent now?" Sophia Durand's nails dug into her palm as she took the call. "What about Victor Valence?"

"He did come."

"Is he really 'Mr. Alistair'?"

"Who else could repay an eight-figure debt so easily?"

Sophia's teeth ground audibly. "So the deal went through?"

"No. Stella refused."

"Is she insane?"

"Not sure about the details..."

Sophia cut in sharply. "What's this about the corporate representative change? What scheme is Stella pulling now?"

"Victor forced Grace to sign. The paperwork should be finalized by now."

"Victor's lost his mind?" Sophia's voice rose. "Where is he?"

"He flew overseas an hour ago."

Sophia suddenly calmed.

If Grace took the fall for Victor... given her health, she might not survive prison. With two children in tow, the Valence family might reject Stella. Then, just like with Adrian Roland...

"Keep watching the company." She hung up.

Lily Savigny rushed downstairs. "Mom, Victor Valence didn't help Stella?"

Sophia frowned. "But something feels off..."

"Isn't this good?" Lily chirped. "Stella can't enter the company now!"

"Fool!" Sophia snapped. "Grace is the legal representative now!"