I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away

Stella snatched Julian's phone right out of his hand, preventing him from answering the call. She then promptly hung up. On the other end, Bianca was frantic; if they delayed any further, Joy Chaucer's life was in jeopardy. Bianca tried calling again, only to be cut off once more by Stella, who was visibly annoyed by the frequent calls. She confronted Julian, "Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with her? Why is she calling you?"

"I don't know why she's calling; you won't even let me answer," Julian replied, struggling to explain. "Bianca and I grew up together, childhood friends-that's all there is to it..."

But the more Julian tried to clarify, the deeper he dug himself into trouble. The phrase "grew up together" only infuriated Stella further. "Oh, I knew it! You must regret not marrying Bianca instead of me, don't you? You regret it, don't you? Julian, you're heartless."

The more Stella spoke, the more aggrieved and agitated she became, jabbing her finger into Julian's chest. Julian hurriedly tried to appease her, "That's not it at all..."

But soothing an angry woman was no easy task. Julian decided to set aside the issue of Bianca's calls and focused on calming Stella.

Unable to get through, Bianca had no choice but to drive to the hospital to find Grandma Sterling. Meanwhile, Chloe, fearing for Joy Chaucer's safety, rushed to seek help.

Chloe drove to Merrydale Estate to plead with Meredith. Knowing that Meredith's word could sway Terrence Sterling, she hoped to secure Joy's safety.

At Merrydale Estate, Meredith was lost in guilt over Fiona's tragic death, wondering if less harshness on her part might have prevented Fiona's demise. As she pondered this, a knock came at the door. Mrs. Wooten stood outside, "Madam, Miss Chloe is downstairs asking for you."

Chloe? Meredith, usually reluctant to meet Chloe, decided to go downstairs, considering their biological connection.

In the living room, a visibly anxious Chloe paced back and forth. Hearing footsteps from the staircase, she looked up eagerly. "Meredith," she said, her face breaking into a warm, welcoming smile-a stark contrast to her usual pride and aloofness.

Meredith approached with a neutral expression, "Miss Chloe, you wanted to see me." This was the first time Meredith had addressed Chloe as "Miss Chloe," finding it the most fitting title under the uncertain circumstances. Chloe, abandoning formalities due to urgency, blurted out, "Joy is missing. She hasn't come home since leaving the police station and can't be contacted. Could you call Terrence Sterling and see if he took her?"

"So, you came here for Joy Chaucer," Meredith sat down, her demeanor calm and unemotional. "Why should I help? And what makes you think it was Terrence Sterling who took her? Why would my husband abduct the daughter of the Chaucer family?"

Chloe, frustrated by Meredith's stern attitude, said, "Let's be frank, Meredith. Fiona wronged Grandma Sterling, and your family suspects Joy was complicit. With Fiona gone and Joy missing right after being released, who else but the Sterling family could be involved? Our families have been close for generations; there's no need for ugliness between us. Let's talk this out."

Meredith glanced at Chloe coolly, "Miss Chloe, you don't seem in the mood for a calm discussion."

Chloe, nearly at her wit's end, remarked, "Meredith, you're going to be a mother soon. Think of your child-do it for their future..."

Before Chloe could finish, Meredith's stern gaze cut her off, "Miss Chloe, I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I 'accumulate virtue'? It's rather you, abandoning your own daughter-how does your conscience cope with that?"