Chapter 218
Stella was a little surprised.
‘Why is dad calling me?’ Stella wondered. ‘Don’t tell me he regrets giving me that bracelet the night before.’
In Stella’s perception, Albert was very stingy.
Rainee said that he was probably afraid of being poor because he grew up in poverty. Even after he had the money, he was still
stingy with it. His stinginess was not just toward Rainee and Stella but also himself.
Rainee, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She liked to spend money when she made it. Maybe it was because they
had different values. They would argue about money all the time.
Albert would criticize Rainee for spending money without restraint. Rainee would perceive that Albert’s mindset was too narrow
and that he was too concerned with making or losing money. When they met big clients, he would not even buy a suit that cost
over ten grand and would not book a decent hotel. He was afraid of losing money if the deal fell through.
But, to say that Albert was penny-pinching was not entirely accurate. At least when it came to his own relatives, he was pretty
generous.
Albert was the first person from his hometown to attend college and make it big in the city. So, he was quite famous back home.
When news of his successful company got out, all sorts of distant relatives started coming out of the woodwork and connected
with him.
arrange
Albert cared about his reputation. Whenever someone asked for a favor, he would everything he could. Hence, many of his
relatives from his hometown were working for his company.
Although Stella’s grandparents had passed away early and she seldom saw them, she had a strong impression of her uncles
and aunts, who had taken advantage of Albert’s status to act arrogantly in the company.
He did not mind supporting these people who were not contributing to the company, but he would complain for a long time when
Rainee bought a purse.
And now that Stella had grown up, she realized that apart from her dowry during her marriage, the most expensive gift Albert had
ever given her was the piano in their home. And, even that was bought reluctantly only after Rainee’s insistence.
Rainee used to say that Albert was accustomed to hardships and did not like to waste money, and Stella shared the same belief.
However, ever since Rainee went into a coma, Albert’s actions made Stella realize that he was not just stingy but heartless.
Whether it was for reputation or profit, he would only spend money when it was advantageous to him. Once someone had lost
their value, he would show no mercy in kicking them out.
So, when Stella made him give her the bracelet, she had no guilt whatsoever and even felt that it was too little.
Looking at the blinking name on the caller ID, Stella thought for a moment. Then, she answered the call.
“Hello.”
“Stella, how are you feeling today?” Albert’s voice was unusually gentle.
Stella’s forehead twitched.
Albert rarely spoke to her with such kindness. He usually only did so when he needed something.
“I’m feeling better,” she replied calmly.
“I heard about your food poisoning How’s your appetite lately? I had our cook make some pelmeni. I remember you used to love
them. I can have someone deliver them to you later. Stella thought, ‘That was like a few years ago when I said I wanted to eat
pelmeni. He must have gone to great lengths to recall that, so he could use it as an excuse.”
“Thanks, dad. But, you don’t need to go through all that trouble. We have a housemaid who can make them for me if I want it.”