Mr. White’s words sent a shiver down Stella White’s spine.
The White Group had the strictest management. She had heard that both her oldest and second-oldest brothers started from the bottom when they joined the company, taking years to reach the management level. She didn’t want to go to the White Group. She looked at her mother for help.
Melissa Summers thought, "Since the Sterlings harmed my daughter like this, they can’t be let off so easily. Leaving now would only make us look guilty."
"Arthur, you know perfectly well that Stella’s major isn’t suited for the White Group. I don’t see anything wrong with the Sterling Group Research Lab," Melissa reasoned.
"The incident on the internet is just a misunderstanding. What does it have to do with our Stella? It’s clearly the Sterlings’ own internal family conflict.
"Stella is simply kind-hearted. She merely showed a little extra concern for Josephine Sterling, but who knew those rabid dogs online would latch onto her and refuse to let go?
"If you ask me, this whole thing is Josephine’s scheme. She’s the one who incited the netizens to cyberbully Stella.
"It’s no secret that she’s always been jealous of Stella. Just because Stella is capable and appreciated by Professor Sterling, Josephine has framed her and tried to steal her things more than once.
"If Stella were to leave the Sterlings now, wouldn’t that be playing right into her hands?"
Wayne White, the eldest brother of the family, frowned. "If Stella truly did nothing wrong, leaving at a time like this would indeed arouse suspicion. Let’s shelve the idea of changing jobs for now. However, you are no longer allowed to associate with Yvonne Young."
"Your brother is right. Look at the kind of friends you’ve been making! Spreading rumors and slandering people behind their backs—it’s utterly disgraceful to our status." Arthur White slammed his hand on the table.
"Starting today, you will stay home and reflect on your actions until this mess with the Sterlings blows over. Otherwise, you’re not going anywhere.
"Cut ties with those unpresentable friends immediately. A lady of a noble house must carry herself like one. Do not disgrace the White Family."
Family prestige, status, refinement. The Whites kept these words on their lips all day long. From childhood to adulthood, Stella had been suffocated by their expectations. The slightest misstep in her behavior resulted in severe reprimands—either kneeling in the ancestral hall or copying out the family rules.
What era was this? How could the White Family still act like relics from the feudal age? Why couldn’t she go to bars, drink, club, sing karaoke, drag race, and date boys? She refused to live like some demure lady out of an old painting, acting strictly by the book as if carved from a template. She wanted to escape this family and completely break free from these shackles.
Just when she had been racking her brain for a way out, the Sterlings found her. They treated her genuinely well and spoiled her rotten. She could do whatever she wanted, and they would buy her anything she desired. Stella felt that *they* were her real family—the ones who truly cared for her.
Just wait. Once she drained the White Family dry, she would make them all regret what they had done to her today. Punishing her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall? Forbidding her from making friends? When the time came, she would make everyone with the surname White kneel before her and apologize.
Didn’t they care most about their status and reputation? If they knew their precious reputation had already been completely dragged through the mud by Josephine, what kind of expressions would they make?
Stella felt a rush of satisfaction just thinking about it. She wouldn’t let a single member of the White Family off the hook. This was what Josephine owed her.
"How can you still smile? You have absolutely no shame!" Arthur was infuriated by the expression on her face. He stood up and glared at Melissa. "Look at the fine daughter you’ve raised.
"I think both you and your daughter should stay in the ancestral hall and properly reflect on your behavior. Neither of you is allowed to leave until you figure out what you did wrong."
He slammed the table again and stormed off. The second son of the White Family also left, following closely behind his father.
Seeing them leave, Melissa relaxed her expression. She stepped forward and pulled her daughter up. "Stop kneeling. Get up.
"Look at you. Why are you so kind-hearted? How the Sterlings treat Josephine is their own business. Why did you have to intervene?
"Now look what happened. No good deed goes unpunished. You’ve dragged yourself into this mess, and the whole internet is cursing you. What are we going to do?"
"Can you just stop talking?" Stella was annoyed to death. Melissa wasn’t even her real mother. What right did she have to lecture her?
"The Sterlings will handle this. Keep your nose out of it. The Whites might not care about my reputation or my future, but someone else will," Stella retorted.
"If the Whites simply stepped in, Josephine wouldn’t stand a chance. But all they ever talk about is status, prestige, and reputation. They don’t care whether I live or die.
"Since that’s the case, what’s the point of saying so much? If he wants me to reflect, I will reflect. Let him lock me up until he’s satisfied."
Annoyed, she forcefully shoved Melissa out of the ancestral hall.
Melissa panicked. She wondered what had happened to the child. She used to be so poised and polite, so why had she become so extreme and easily angered? If the Whites truly didn’t care about her, why would they bother restricting her behavior? The Sterlings were despicable, shameless, and dirty in their methods. How could they possibly be good people? Suddenly, Melissa somewhat regretted allowing Stella to associate with the Sterlings.
No sooner had she left the ancestral hall than Mr. White began discussing countermeasures with his two sons.
"Take down all the trending topics online. We cannot let those people ruin your sister’s reputation. As for the Young Family, no one is to intervene. Let them make a scene on their own," Arthur ordered.
"I heard that Josephine has already left the Sterlings. She’s only causing all this trouble because she’s jealous of your sister.
"Your sister is a proper lady of a noble house, carefully cultivated by the White Family. Given the Sterlings’ background, how could they possibly raise anyone decent? It’s only natural for her to be jealous.
"However, that girl acts with no regard for the rules. Trying to use the internet to incite cyberbullying against your sister proves she is far too malicious. If we don’t teach her a lesson, people will think the White Family is to be trifled with."
They seemed absolutely certain that Josephine was behind the online drama.
Wayne nodded. "Leave this to me. I guarantee she won’t dare cross the Whites ever again."
In the past, the Sterlings had covered up the petty squabbles in their household, so the Whites could feign ignorance. But now that things were out in the open, the White Family would lose face if they didn’t take a stand. The Whites were not people anyone could just bully.
Meanwhile.
After the online discussions blew up, Josephine stopped paying attention to the internet. She had spent too much time entangled with the Sterlings recently; she needed to hurry up and find a job. Ethan Sinclair’s one million hadn’t left her with much after she bought a car. If she didn’t start making money soon, she would literally be sleeping on the streets.
However, after sending out her meticulously prepared thesis and resume over and over again, only for them to vanish without a trace, she grew suspicious.
She knew that large corporations and legitimate research institutes always considered educational backgrounds. But with her thesis backing her up, shouldn’t she at least get an interview? She started wondering where things had gone wrong. After thinking it over, she decided to call one of the companies she had applied to.
The call started with questions about her professional knowledge, followed by her education and work experience. None of that seemed to be a major issue.
Finally, the person on the other end asked, "I’m sorry, what did you say your name was again?"
"Josephine Sterling," Josephine repeated.
The person sighed. "I apologize, Miss Sterling. You don’t meet our hiring requirements. Perhaps you should try another company."
Josephine had a pretty good idea of what the problem was. "So, the White Family reached out to you?"
"Well... I really shouldn’t say more. I’m sorry." The person hurriedly hung up the phone.
Josephine let out an exasperated laugh. Before sending out her resumes, she had anticipated that the Sterlings might try to interfere. But the Sterling Family was only a newly wealthy family in Aethelgard; they weren’t powerful enough to control everything. The only ones capable of blacklisting her across the entire industry were the Whites.
After all, the White Family was currently the head of the Noble Houses of Aethelgard. All the other noble houses had to give them a certain amount of respect.
Stella was truly fortunate. Not only did the Sterlings dote on her, but even the Whites protected her so fiercely!