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Chapter 1018
Chapter 1018
"Jelena is always the belle of the ball, her grace and beauty outshining mine, with suitors lining up from NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.
the high-end clubs of Elysium to abroad. Did she really need to set her sights on a notorious playboy
like Fredric, who’s still married to Sheryl? Three years ago, Fredric was all set to ditch Sheryl and tie
the knot with Jelena, but Jelena refused and fled overseas. Even now, with Fredric instigating the
divorce, it's not a given she'll accept him.
In Leopold's eyes, Jelena played the game better than Aurelia, always keeping Fredric on the edge,
playing hard to get, giving him just enough to keep him hooked.
But Jelena was Aurelia’s cousin, after all. And she was his family too. So he remained neutral, not
favoring any side, preferring to stay out of the drama.
"It is their personal mess, and we should not meddle with it," he suggested.
Aurelia was speechless. "Have you forgotten who we are? As the head and matriarch of the Stirling
family, can we sit this one out? Sheryl will never agree to a divorce, and when she calls a family
council, what am I supposed to do? One's my sister-in-law Sheryl, and the other my dear cousin
Jelena. I'm in a dilemma. Damned if I do, and damned if I don't."
Leopold wrapped an arm around her. "Then let Mom handle it."
Aurelia pouted. "Jessica will side with Sheryl for sure, and then what? Jelena's left out in the cold? I
can't just watch the Stirling family gang up on her."
Jelena was more than just a cousin to Aurelia. They were as close as sisters, inseparable since
childhood. Even if Jelena were wrong, Aurelia would stand by her, refusing to let anyone bully her.
Yet, taking Jelena's side would inevitably strain Aurelia's relationship with Sheryl, turning it adversarial.
Sheryl would resent her by association, casting a shadow over their relationship.
Leopold ruffled her hair. "So you are sighing and fretting over it here."
Aurelia sighed deeply. "Sibling rivalry is tough enough, but I've always been on good terms with Sheryl.
She was always wary of Jelena. I swore to her that Jelena would never cross the line with Fredric. I
even promised to side with justice over blood, to stand with her if Jelena ever became 'the other
woman.' I was so sure Jelena and Fredric were done for good. Never did I expect them to have that
scandal at the gala."
Leopold pinched her cheek playfully. "Feeling a bit like a slap in the face. Does it hurt?"
Aurelia swatted his hand away. "If it's painful, why are you pinching me? Jelena's the wronged one. It
was her first time, and she returned home with swollen eyes from crying. She didn't want it. Fredric
claimed he was drugged and out of his mind, so he did such a disgraceful thing. He's been drooling
over Jelena for ages. Who's to say he didn't take advantage of the situation?"
Leopold's gaze darkened as if stained by the twilight of the exclusive club.
"Fredricr may be a ladies' man, but he's always kept a line. There must be more to the story."
Aurelia countered."Regardless of the circumstances, the fact is he's slept with Jelena. Jelena's
conservative. She believes that she has no choice but to marry him since Fredric has taken her
virginity."
Leopold's deep eyes flickered mischievously. "How come you don't share this one-and-only
sentiment?"
Aurelia choked up, thinking, "What nonsense! Who was it that wanted to call it quits?"
"It was you who threw the divorce papers at me." She retorted.
Leopold coughed lightly, realizing he had ventured into a minefield. The topic needed to change
quickly. Otherwise, old grievances would resurface. Aurelia had a long memory, and he couldn't afford
to have her dredging up the past.