Chapter 998 - Christmas at the Cliffside villa (2)

Stella tapped Sarah's shoulder. "Can we talk in private?"

Two of them went to the study room.

Sarah sat on the sofa and Kitty laid next to her, placing her head in Sarah's lap (expecting head scratches). Kitty almost doubled in size since they brought her, and she does not look like a harmless cub. Her legs are getting longer, and she is morphing into a young leopard by the day.

Stella went straight to the point. "Do you know anything about a group of people who are calling themselves the army of Chaos?"

"Why would you ask me such a question?"

Stella narrowed her eyes at Sarah whose indifferent expression and lack of curiosity told Stella that it's not the first time she hears about them.

"Because they are attacking resources of Lebedev family in Los Angeles."

Sarah made a face indicating how that information does not mean anything to her.

"The rumors are that the leader is a woman, with a black leopard.", Stella added.

"A leopard?", Sarah glanced at Kitty. "I didn't know that there is more than one leopard in the area."

Internally, Sarah rolled her eyes. It was one time! Kitty was super clingy that evening, maybe due to growing pains… and she didn't want to leave Sarah's side. So, Sarah decided to bring Kitty along. Because of that one time it's 'a woman with a leopard' . Sarah is aware of the rumors, she even read (and edited) the reports that reached King.

"How is your left arm?", Stella asked.

"It's healing."

Stella took one decorative wooden sphere from the shelf and threw it at Sarah. Sarah reflexively caught it… with her left hand.

"It's healing nicely.", Stella observed.

"What do you want?" Sarah decided to stop playing this game.

"I want to know if the one provoking them is you."

Sarah shrugged. "So, what if I am, and what if I'm not…?"

"You are playing with fire."

"They are the ones who started the fire. And I'm not sure if I will get burned, but I will make sure that they burn." Sarah's gaze moved to the palm-sized wooden sphere in her hand.

Stella could not hide her surprise when she saw Sarah crushing the sphere like it's an eggshell which does not provide any resistance. Stella knows that JoAnna operated on Sarah's hand, but this… just what did they do?

Sarah patted her hands to dust them off. "If there is nothing else, we should go upstairs. There is a Christmas party."

"You are putting yourself and your sisters into danger by attacking the Lebedevs.", Stella gave another warning to Sarah.

"My sisters? I am confident that you have the information which confirms that JoAnna is busy with helping Jeff related to White family business, and Sophia is with Felix, making sure nothing goes wrong with her pregnancy while juggling matters of Orion Enterprise. And also… I am technically disabled, taking care of my fiancé who is in a coma. Do you think that any of us has the time or the energy or the opportunity to attack anyone? Or to lead an organization called… Chaos?" Sarah paused and observed Stella's expression for some time before continuing. "And if you can't connect Chaos to me or my sisters, what makes you think that anyone else can?"

The truth is that JoAnna and Sophia don't know about Chaos and everything that Sarah is doing. If they knew, they would want to help, and Sarah does not want to involve them. Her sisters are busy with their matters, and according to the plan which she follows, involvement of JoAnna and Sophia is not necessary. Sarah got it covered.

Stella saw that Sarah does not want to talk anymore. She is walking away…

"When do you plan to challenge me to a duel?"

Stella's question made Sarah pause her steps.

"That will not be necessary.", Sarah responded and walked out with Kitty by her side.

Sarah wanted to beat Stella and prove that she is stronger… to prove that she is ready and to get her mother's help. But she realized that Stella will not help her attack the maternal family, no matter how much she proves herself, because for Stella, Sarah will always be a child.

There is no point in winning a duel and forcing her mother to help, because Sarah will never be confident that Stella is not keeping things from her. Sarah gave her more than one chance to come clean, tell them about their background and help, and Stella always managed to disappoint her. Now Sarah does not trust Stella (aka Milena), and she does not want to play games with people she does not trust, unless it's necessary.

Sarah knows that Stella, Edward, Elanor and Oscar are working in the background to keep them safe, how much they can. And maybe that would be enough if Sarah stays low and hides. But Sarah has no intention of avoiding a head-on collision with whoever is after them, not anymore.

…

In the hangout room…

Charlie, Jeff and Jasper are chatting over a game of cards with Oscar and Edward while Steve and Felix are glued to the Galaga arcade game. Felix can never get enough of that game, and somehow Steve got hooked up to it as well.

Elanor was excitedly chatting with Sophia and Bridgette about Sophia's pregnancy while not-so-secretly throwing glances toward JoAnna's belly. JoAnna noticed and did her best to ignore it. If she shows any reaction, she will need to listen to the 'when is my grandchild coming?' mixed in with 'you are married for how long now?' . JoAnna would usually pull Sarah into that talk but considering what happened… she does not want to put Sarah through that.

Ellie sat next to Penny.

"You look… uncomfortable.", Ellie observed.

Penny looked at Ellie and reminded herself that this is the fiancée of Jasper Kiani, young CEO of K Industries. Penny remembers that information from the portfolio of top 100 heirs in the country that her parents made her memorize. And she knows that Ellie is a good friend with all three Hill sisters, she was the maid of honor on JoAnna's wedding.

"Yeah. This is my first time to have such a lively Christmas.", Penny vaguely explained.

In the house of Morgans, everything was a show for others. Mr. Morgan would get staff to do an elaborate light setup in the front yard, so that from the street it looks festive… but the house didn't have any decorations on the inside. Morgan family members attended parties which other's hosted, and they didn't receive guests during the holidays, so there was no need to make any effort inside.

"If not for Hills being my neighbors, I would not celebrate Christmas." Ellie smiled bitterly while remembering: "My mom passed when I was young, and I'm not close to my father. Unless I'm somewhere out for business, I would spend the holidays in their home."

Penny was not sure why Ellie shared this information with her. But it told her that Hills are welcoming people. That is… different from what she is used to.

"I challenge you two to a game of darts!", Emma proclaimed while standing in front of Ellie and Penny.

"Don't start without me!", JoAnna exclaimed and rushed to join them next to the dartboard.

Sarah was sitting next to Aiden while observing the people present. It was a good atmosphere, lots of laughter and giggles. She hoped that the next year people gather here as well… Sarah thought that maybe that is why her mother likes organizing parties at their family villa, to make people come together and be happy.

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