Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 5

Stella's chest ached as she recalled the day her mother died. When Mom told me to run—did she mean escape the crime scene... or escape Derek Harlow?

Derek was 18 years older than her mom. They'd never married. Both mother and daughter were undocumented. Doubts gnawed at Stella like never before.

The horrific wounds on Mom's body—did they really come from kidnappers?

No.

Stella closed her eyes, forcing herself to relive the memory she'd buried for years. That day had traumatized her, leaving her autistic and withdrawn. Now she realized: some of her mom's injuries hadn't been fresh.

Kidnappers... or Derek?

Why did Mom only tell me she was a Shaw with her last breath? Did she finally remember her real identity?

Stella opened her eyes, cold fury in her gaze.

Amnesia?

Damn it.

She'd avoided confronting the past for years. Small inconsistencies had nagged at her—but she'd never imagined this.

Ring...

Her phone jolted her from her thoughts.

"Boss, someone's digging into your background," Tess said.

"Who?"

"Gideon Stark, Chief of Staff to the CEO of Cross Group."

Stella narrowed her eyes. "Cross Group?"

Everyone in Azure Peak City knew Cross Group—one of the most powerful corporations in the country. Why were they after her?

"Boss, should we stop them?"

Stella thought of the man she'd saved in the woods. Could it be him? She had no interest in dealing with strangers.

"Yes."

"Got it." Tess hesitated, then added, "Boss, the online hate's getting worse. People are saying you're pretending to be an Azure Peak professor to chase Silas—when really you applied for a janitor job."

Stella rolled her eyes.

Jasmine is delusional.

"Don't waste energy getting mad over this."

"Boss, when are we gonna expose their lies? I'm dying to shut them up! I can't focus on work with all these rumors."

Stella laughed. "I'll give you a raise."

"That helps... a little," Tess conceded. "Boss, Derek's gone to Haven's Rest Convent looking for you. He's losing his mind now that he can't find you."

"Panicking, is he?"

"He'll probably ambush you at Azure Peak University tomorrow."

"Hmm."

Tess knew Stella had everything under control.

Stella opened her laptop, jotting down her suspicions and piecing together the clues.

—

The next day, Azure Peak University.

Jasmine was surrounded by angry students.

"Jasmine, you said Stella Harlow only finished kindergarten!"

"You claimed she applied to be a janitor—so why did we all get disciplined by the dean's office yesterday?"

"You tricked us into cyberbullying Miss Shaw! What's your game?"

Jasmine stumbled over her words, overwhelmed.

Who does Stella think she is? Ethan must be blind!

"Jasmine, you owe us an explanation!"

The Harlows were just new money—Jasmine only got attention for dating Silas.

"Stella, what brings you here today?" Arthur asked, surprised. The girl raised in a convent is stunning—poised and elegant, despite her lack of formal education. She doesn't seem like a common nun at all.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "We will compensate you."

"Compensate me? Like the '100 tiles' you offered?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Jasmine's mother went to Haven's Rest Convent to pressure me into breaking the engagement. Her 'compensation'? Donating 100 clay tiles to the convent in my name. I didn't know Silas was so cheap."

Arthur's face turned crimson with rage.

"So you refuse to end the engagement?" He still thought marrying a Thorne was her lifelong dream.

"I'm here to end it," Stella said flatly.

Arthur stared at her in disbelief.

"My mother risked her life to save Silas. You promised her a marriage contract to ensure my safety and security. Instead, I lost my mother at 5, was abandoned at 6. The Thornes watched and did nothing—not a single word of concern over the years. And now you break your promise.

"Silas and Jasmine have called me a homewrecker, using cyberbullying to force me to back down. Mr. Thorne, you don't have to resort to such tactics.

"Silas is shameless, dishonest, and malicious. He's cheating while engaged—no one with morals would want him.

"I brought the marriage contract today. I'm ending this engagement. Silas is dirty and immoral. I don't want him."

Each word struck Arthur like a blow. His face turned ashen.

"What compensation do you want?"

"Pay me whatever you think Silas' life is worth."

"I'll give you one million dollars."

Stella laughed coldly, sliding him a bank account number. "Here's where to send it. Bring the breakup agreement."

Stella had invited police officers to witness the signing, ensuring everything was legal.

"Stella Shaw? Do you really think changing your last name will make you a noble?" Arthur sneered as she stood to leave.

"I take my mother's last name. Is that a problem?"

Stella walked out—just as the live stream of their meeting, which Tess had amplified in the final minutes, exploded across the internet.