The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 28

28 The Aftermath of Redemption

Cries, laughter, and the patter of rain blended into one.

Stella closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek–mixing with the rain until it was impossible to tell which was which.

Mom… if only someone had come to save you too. Would you have been this excited to contact our family?

Elias stood silently beside her, holding an umbrella over her head. He didn’t know her story, but he could see her pain.

Stella took a deep breath and opened her eChapter 27 The Light of Redemption

Tracy chased after them, but the two actresses tackled her to the ground.

Jax ripped off his red costume and waved it wildly. “Over here! I’m over here!”

Elias‘ eyes turned icy, his entire body radiating rage.

“Help! Down here!”

Gideon stared through binoculars at the smoke–choked village, panic etched on his face.

“Mr. Cross, there he is!”

“Get him out,” Elias ordered.

When the helicopter’s rope ladder dropped down, Jax burst into tears.

“Gideon! You’re finally here! I thought I was gonna die! Waaaah…

“They were gonna force me to marry one of their women! If you’d shown up any later, I–I would’ve been trapped in a marriage I didn’t want!

“Thank god those two nuns stepped in to save me! Otherwise, I would’ve been dragged into a forced wedding and trapped here forever!”

Gideon was speechless.

Jax wiped his tears, then froze when he saw Elias standing on the helicopter.

He instantly stopped crying, shrinking back like a scared cat.

“Hurry up and climb,” Elias snapped.

“Uncle Elias! Those two nuns saved me. We can’t leave them behind!”

Gideon glanced down and did a double take.

“Mr. Cross, it’s Miss Shaw!”

Elias bolted off the helicopter and sprinted toward the fight.

Jax was shocked.

“Gideon, who’s Miss Shaw?”

“Your uncle’s girl,” Gideon replied.

Jax was totally confused.

Mid–fight, Stella’s hat fell off, her hair cascading down like a waterfall. She turned and locked eyes with

Elias‘ worried face.

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Elias grabbed her hand, pulled her behind him, and kicked the villager who’d swung at her.

“You-”

Before either could speak, a mob charged at them with sticks.

Elias caught two sticks mid–swing, kicked their owners away, and shielded Stella with one arm while gripping a wooden staff in the other. His sharp eyes blazed with cold fury.

“Take them alive!”

Stella and Elias back–to–back, ready to fight.

The brawl erupted again.

Elias watched Stella’s fluid, precise moves and felt a flash of admiration.

“She is awesome!” Jax gushed, propped up by two bodyguards.

“You liars! You said I’m a once–in–a–century martial arts prodigy in showbiz! But I almost got trapped in a forced marriage!”

The bodyguards stayed silent.

“Stop holding me! Go help them!” Jax whined, defeated.

In the end, only Stella, Tess, and Elias‘ men were left standing.

“Are you okay?” Elias asked, placing his bony hand on her shoulder.

Stella frowned and stepped back instinctively.

“Boss, the police are here!” Tess called.

Tess eyed Elias curiously. Wasn’t he supposed to stay away from women? Why did he look so worried about Stella? He’d even investigated her before–what was his game?

“It won’t be easy to get the victims out.” Tess frowned.

“If they want to go home, I’ll make sure they do,” Stella said firmly, her voice filled with righteous resolve.

Stella explained the situation to the police and joined them back into the village.

The fire at the old woman’s house had been put out–but the emaciated woman stood on a rooftop, torch in hand, her eyes empty with despair.

She lit the straw again, and flames roared to life.

Following Tracy’s earlier confession, Stella split the group into teams to rescue everyone trapped in the village.

“That’s my wife!”

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“What are you doing? Where are you taking them?!”

Stella climbed onto a rooftop, her gaze sharp. “Women bought or kidnapped aren’t your property. They have families of their own. You monsters are committing crimes.”

The freed victims–dirty, bruised, and broken–stared at her, hope sparking in their eyes.

“Save me!”

“Please help me!”

“I was kidnapped!”

Their cries mixed with hope as they fixed their eyes on Stella.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you home,” she said, her voice a promise of salvation.

Elias watched her, transfixed. She seemed to glow with light, and his heart skipped a beat.

She was a little naive, but he wanted to help her.

He waved a hand, and Gideon hurried over. After a few quiet orders, Gideon looked stunned.

He’d thought Stella was helping the victims because she was a nun–in–training. But Elias wanted to help

too?

“Understood, Mr. Cross.”

Tess ran over, breathless. “Ruby got away!”

“I know.” Stella nodded.

“I’ll handle the victims,” Tess said. She knew how hard it would be to send them home, but she also knew how badly Stella wanted to help.

Suddenly, a downpour erupted from the sky,

Stella stood in the rain, watching the freed viciims call their families for help.

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yes. She noticed the umbrella above her and turned to look at Elias.

“Are you my uncle’s girl? You were so cool earlier!” Jax cheered.

Stella frowned.

Elias narrowed his eyes, shooting Jax a dangerous look.

‘We just met, and you already saved your boyfriend’s nephew! Hahaha, what a coincidence!” Jax gushed, starstruck.

‘You’ve got the wrong person,” Stella said, walking toward Tess.

Elias hurried after her, tilting the umbrella so it covered her completely–his shoulder soaked in rain, but ne didn’t care.

‘My nephew isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Don’t mind him,” Elias apologized.

ax was speechless.

Stella just glanced at him, saying nothing.

You saved his life. If you ever need anything, I’m at your service,” Elias said sincerely,

Stella nodded slightly.

Just then, someone blocked her path.

‘Miss… what’s your name? We’ll never forget what you did for us today,” a freed victim said gratefully.

‘What happened to you here isn’t your fault. Live well from now on,” Stella replied, refusing to give her

name.

She watched as the rescued girls were led away, knowing the police would take them home to their families.

The villagers hated her for it–but she didn’t care.

“Miss Shaw, I’m heading back to Azure Peak City. Let me give you a ride,” Elias offered.

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“No need,” Stella said, walking toward the village entrance with Tess.

“Boss, we still need to go to the police station to give statements, Tess reminded her.

“I know,” Stella sighed.

She sank into the passenger seat, exhausted, staring blankly out the window.

As soon as Elias boarded the helicopter, Jax couldn’t hold back his question.

“Uncle Elias… did you and your girlfriend get into a fight?”

“Who told you she’s my girlfriend?” Elias snapped.

“Gideon did!” Jax said innocently.

Gideon paled. “Mr. Cross, I thought you liked Miss Shaw-”

“Stop spreading rumors. You’ll ruin her reputation,” Elias warned.

“Understood,” Gideon mumbled.

Jax looked like he’d just had an epiphany. “Oh! Uncle Elias… you haven’t won her over yet?”

“Jax, do you want to die?” Elias growled.

Jax clammed up immediately.

“You failed school, drove your teachers crazy, and corrupted your classmates. You tried to start a business and lost millions of dollars in a second. I made you get a job, but you couldn’t even take care of yourself- you got scammed and kidnapped. You never think before you speak. Can you get any more useless?” Elias ranted.

Jax pouted, too scared to talk back.

It wasn’t his fault his uncle was so perfect–it made him look bad by comparison!

After a long silence, Jax spoke up cautiously.

“Uncle Elias… don’t be mad. I’ll start acting cold and distant like you from now on. Then no one will kidnap me, right?”