Married to a Secret Billionaire (Stella Taylor) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113 Clean Hands

Noah's cold stare persisted, his eyes filled with vigilance and a dangerous intensity.

"Liam." Jericho sneered, giving him a sly gaze. "The rent and decor of this place must have cost you quite a bit. Where did you find all that money?"

"That's none of your business." Noah's expression remained icy.

"We're buddies. I've had your back in prison before, remember?" Jericho arrogantly continued, "If you're short on cash, just say the word. I'll lend it to you. I don't want you to struggle too much, you know."

"Thanks, but I'm good."

"So now you've got some principles, huh? Liam, are you depending on your wife, as the rumors suggest?"

Jericho's gaze shifted to Stella, who was standing behind Noah.

Noah clenched his fist, the veins in his strong forearm tensing visibly.

"Enough with your nonsense," a small yet resolute voice chimed in.

Stella positioned herself in front of Noah, her beautiful, large eyes displaying unwavering determination.

While she might appear delicate in some matters, she would not yield when it came to defending her husband.

"Mr. Hart, my husband gave me this store as a gift, and we are not short of money. He's working hard and is dedicated to our family. He shares all his earnings with me. In my eyes, he's the best husband in the world. So please, be mindful of your words in the future and refrain from making judgments based on such a limited perspective."

Jericho's eyes carefully studied the young woman standing before him.

After a moment, he let out a soft snort and emphatically replied, "Lady, it's not that my perspective is limited. It's just that your husband is a truly disappointing individual. Do you know why he was imprisoned in the past?"

"Jericho!" Mia suddenly stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him. "You are not welcome here. Please leave!"

Jericho's heart tightened.

He slowly turned around and removed his sunglasses. Eight years had passed, and the woman he had once known felt distant and unfamiliar.

Their dynamics and the way they looked at each other had transformed from what it used to be.

Jericho forced a smile and asked, "Miss Thompson, have you been well?"

Mia could not sense the effort he was making to keep his voice steady.

"Jericho." She took a deep breath. "Today is a joyous occasion for my friend's grand opening, and we don't want your presence to spoil the celebration. So please, be sensible and leave."

"Who said I came to cause trouble?" He scoffed and pointed to the rows of flower baskets outside. "I've even brought congratulatory gifts!"

"Besides, you consider that man your friend?" Jericho's gaze held a hint of disdain, and he sneered arrogantly.

Mia frowned, her body trembling slightly. "Stella is my best friend! Since she married Liam, Liam has been my friend as well. I won't allow anyone to disrupt things in my friend's place!"

His fingers on the sunglasses tightened again.

He looked at her quietly, and a hint of warmth flashed in his profound eyes.

She's still the same, standing up for her friends, loyal, and sentimental. But does she ever realize that the world is full of traps, and one could easily fall into an abyss without realizing it?

Jericho remained silent for a while, then chuckled and signaled for his men to enter the cafe.

Over a dozen black-clad men entered, instantly changing the atmosphere in the small cafe.

"You're joking, Miss Thompson." He grinned. "I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm just a guest."

He turned his gaze to the couple. "Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, could you kindly prepare some coffee for us? Lattes with no sugar!"