Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 80: There’s Something Even Worse... Want to Try It?

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: There’s Something Even Worse... Want to Try It?

"I actually don’t know either..." Shane Donovan said casually.

"..."

Yeah, right! I don’t believe you!

These two men!

Weren’t they supposed to be arch-enemies?

Now they both act all secretive!

What on earth are they hiding?

Shane Donovan looked at her lowered little head, her eyes rolling around under her thin eyelids, obviously not believing his words and figuring things out on her own.

A faint smile flashed in his eyes as he suddenly reached out, the warm pad of his finger gently pinching her delicate chin, forcing her to look up.

"What are you pondering about?" His voice was low, with a touch of softness that was hard to detect, and his thumb lightly caressed her chin.

Stella Sterling’s heart skipped a beat, and the warmth of his fingertips made her tremble slightly, instinctively wanting to turn her head away, but he held her in place with a little force.

"Nothing!" She insisted, but her cheeks started heating up uncontrollably, "Let go of me..."

"Nothing?" Shane Donovan chuckled, drawing out the last note with a hint of playfulness, "Then let me guess... Are you thinking about what unspeakable past your brother and I might have? Hm?"

The last "Hm" had a nasal emphasis, his breath brushing past her ear, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.

Her breath hitched as he hit the nail on the head, making her feel embarrassed and angry, unable to move from his grasp, she could only glare at him with watery eyes, "Shane Donovan! Don’t flatter yourself! Who cares about your ridiculous affairs!"

"Don’t care?" He raised an eyebrow, moving closer to her, so close she could count his long lashes, "Then why is it that when I mention it, our Little Counselor Sterling’s face turns as red as a ripe peach?"

His gaze settled on her blushing cheeks and slightly parted lips, his eyes growing darker, like ink that couldn’t spread, "Makes one... want to take a bite."

"...You bastard!" Stella Sterling was so stirred by his bold words that her blood seemed to rush to her face, even her neck was tinged with pink.

She raised her hand to push him away, but her wrist was effortlessly caught by him and pinned behind her.

This position forced her to be even closer to him, almost able to feel the steady heartbeat and burning warmth from his chest.

"Is this what makes me a bastard?" Shane Donovan looked at her, mixed with shame and anger yet unable to break free, the smile in his eyes deepened.

He leaned down, his thin lips almost touching her sensitive ear as he whispered softly, his breath searing hot, "There are even more dastardly things... want to try, Stella?"

That "Stella" was low and magnetic, like a little hook, scratching hard at Stella Sterling’s heart.

Her mind went blank, all thoughts scrambled by his burning breath and suggestive words.

Just when she thought he would take things further, Shane Donovan suddenly let her go.

He straightened leisurely, smoothing his slightly wrinkled cuff, returning to his usual aristocratic and aloof demeanor, as if the man murmuring provocatively in her ear just before wasn’t him.

"Get some rest." Shane Donovan raised his hand, gently brushing her still-hot cheeks, "I’ll come visit you another day..."

After speaking, he gave her a deep look, then turned and strode away.

Stella Sterling watched his figure disappear at the doorway, then raised her hand to cover her still thumping heart, the heat on her cheeks lingering...

The bastard...

Where did his lofty, untouchable demeanor go?

Flirting like that!

How is anyone supposed to live?!

...

Shane Donovan’s actions were astonishingly swift.

The storm of data falsification swiftly reversed after he "cooperated with the investigation."

The Drug Administration issued an official announcement confirming that the core data of Innovatech Bio’s "Healorin" project is genuine and valid, and the so-called accusations were fabricated and evidence maliciously altered by some individuals. The case has been referred to the judiciary. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Meanwhile, Innovatech Bio underwent a silent but thorough purge.

The moles Philip Donovan planted, those mid-to-high-level executives who made the most noise during the storm, trying to take advantage of the chaos, were uprooted without exception.

Shane Donovan didn’t even give them a chance to defend themselves, his thunderous methods were decisive and efficient.

He used this fake crisis to completely sever Philip Donovan’s influence in Innovatech.

As a result, Philip Donovan suffered a major blow, losing both resources and people.

Unable to accept it, he could only go to Old Mr. Donovan, indignantly crying out his grievances.

"Dad! Look at Shane! What is he doing?! I’m his uncle! How could I harm him? I was worried about him being young, just wanted to help keep an eye on the company! But what does he do, deliberately setting a trap to free himself and turning around to clear out all my people! This... this is just heartless, not respecting me as an uncle at all!"

Old Mr. Donovan held his teacup, not even lifting his eyelids, slowly blowing away the foam, unmoved.

It was Old Mrs. Donovan who couldn’t stand it anymore.

She had two sons, the elder one dying in an accident early on, leaving only Shane Donovan as the sole heir.

Her younger son, Philip Donovan, was born when she was old, spoiled since childhood, he was her precious one.

Philip Donovan and his wife were deeply in love, they agreed not to have kids, leaving no grandchildren for her, making her feel her son suffered a loss, thus pouring all her love into this younger son.

At this moment, seeing her younger son so wronged, Old Mrs. Donovan couldn’t help complaining, "Shane really went too far this time! We are all family, can’t he just talk things out? Does he have to make such a big show, deliberately going under investigation to purge dissenters? What will people outside think of The Donovan Family? Saying his uncle schemes against his nephew? How can that be!"

The more she spoke, the more distressed she felt, holding Philip Donovan’s hand, she begrudgingly glanced at Old Mr. Donovan, "Old man, say something! Philip may be wrong, but he is his real uncle! Shane doing this really breaks people’s hearts! Isn’t there anything that can’t be discussed behind closed doors?"

Annoyed by the noise, Old Mr. Donovan heavily placed his teacup down, making a crisp sound.

"Discuss? Discuss what?" Old Mr. Donovan snorted coldly, casting a sharp glance at the aggrieved Philip Donovan, "Discuss how to hollow out Innovatech? Or how to pull your nephew down so you can take over?"

Philip Donovan blanched, "Dad! I didn’t..."

"Whether you did or not, you know yourself!" Old Mr. Donovan interrupted, his tone undeniable, "Shane did nothing wrong this time! Innovatech is his painstaking creation, and he won’t allow anyone to meddle! Those ingrates, should they be kept for next year?!"

He paused, looking at his old wife who still wanted to say something, "You, you’re just too indulgent with him! Indulgent mothers often cause failure in sons!"

Old Mrs. Donovan was choked for a moment, pouting in dissatisfaction.

She knew her younger son’s capabilities couldn’t match her eldest grandson’s, but that doesn’t mean he should show no mercy!

Thinking of Shane Donovan’s cold and hardhearted nature, and then looking at her wronged younger son, any subtle dissatisfaction she had with Stella Sterling welled up again.

"I just feel that Shane is becoming more and more authoritarian, increasingly inhuman... Maybe he’s being influenced by that Sterling girl!"

Old Mrs. Donovan couldn’t help but mutter, "That girl, she doesn’t seem easy to deal with! Innovatech is the dominant player in Riveria, who would dare mess with Shane without any reason, taking those kinds of photos? I think, all those rumors flying around, probably that girl’s own doing, forcing Shane to take responsibility for her!"

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that was the case, her tone carrying a hint of disdain, "Hmph, using such disreputable means to climb into The Donovan Family, very scheming! Shane is so outstanding, can’t he find any distinguished young lady, yet he’s entangled with her..."