Mr. Kane Got Blacklisted

This question was indeed quite bold, especially after Wren had " betrayed" her.
Stella understood why Wren didn’t pursue the issue when she stood up for her.
For a girl with no background and a seriously ill family member, this job was crucial.
If she didn't accept the olive branch offered by Darcie Arnold, she would be seen as ungrateful, and her future in the company
would become increasingly difficult.
Stella knew Wren had her reasons, but she couldn't help feeling hurt.
She wanted to say, "What does that have to do with you?" but seeing the cautious look in Wren's eyes, she couldn't help but
remember the time she found Wren crying in the bathroom because she couldn't afford her grandmother's medical bills.
Having experienced such helpless moments herself, Stella couldn't bring herself to say anything too harsh.
However, she wasn’t ready to forgive Wren easily either, so she responded with a cold "Hmm." Wren's eyes dimmed.
She seemed to want to say something else, but the elevator doors opened and Julia Harper walked in with several colleagues,
silencing Wren.
Julia greeted Stella, then turned to Wren with a teasing tone, " Wren, I heard from your manager that your salary was reissued,
and Ms.
Arnold even gave you a consolation bonus.
Isn't this a blessing in disguise?" Stella paused and glanced at Wren, who was pale and biting her lip without speaking.
Julia continued to stir the pot, "Ms.
Saun was just joking with you.
Who would've thought Ms.
Hall would take it so seriously? But thanks to Ms.
Hall's seriousness, you got that extra bonus.

You really should thank Ms.
Hall." Wren's eyelashes fluttered.
The news of the money Aubrey gave her had already spread throughout the company.
Everyone knew Stella had stood up for her, only to be betrayed.
The reason for the money was crystal clear.
Shame kept Wren from meeting Stella’s eyes.
Julia smirked and flicked her curls over her shoulder, adopting a tone of earnest advice as she spoke to Stella, Ms.
Hall, you should be more careful in the future.
Being kind to ungrateful people is like feeding a dog for nothing." Wren's face turned ghostly white as she squirmed in
discomfort, while the other colleagues gave her strange looks, their silence speaking volumes.
Stella looked up at Julia.
"Are you teaching me how to do my job?" Julia’s smile faltered a bit.
"No, I was just giving you a heads-up, Ms.
Hall." Stella's face remained cold as she retorted, "One moment you tell her to thank me, the next you say I can’t judge people.
Is it your brain that's the problem or my ears?" Julia's expression stiffened, and she stammered, "Ms.
Hall...
that’s not what I meant." Julia had assumed Stella would despise Wren, and that mocking Wren in front of Stella would leave a
good impression, helping her stay in everyone's good graces.
Unlike her aunt Aubrey, who was loyal to Darcie, Julia felt that Darcie was getting old and that Caline would soon be taken over
by younger people.
Jaylene Saun was timid and not very smart, obedient to Darcie.

If something happened to Darcie, Jaylene might not be able to hold onto Caline.
Therefore, Julia wanted to keep a potential ally in Stella.
If Jaylene failed to control Caline, Julia would have a backup plan.
However, Stella didn’t play along, leaving Julia no face at all.