Stella's sadness

Lara stared at Mike in shock and she shook her head in rejection and quickly replied, "No."

Mike groaned and he said, "Oh! Just know that the next time you pout your lips out like that, I'm not going to ask for your permission. I will just kiss you directly."

Lara blushed and she nervously replied, "Okay."

Mike said, "Bless the meal."

Lara said a short prayer, and Mike ended it with, "Amen."

Soon Lara and Mike began eating the delicious yam porridge garnished with fried fish, and the dining table fell into an awkward silence with only the sound of them eating.

****

At Ernest Villa.

Stella had been waiting for Mike to call her on the phone, but still no call came in, neither did any driver come to pick her up and take her to Mike's house, and she was slowly losing her patience as even Gloria had left the house and told her earlier she was going shopping.

Gloria had asked Stella, "Won't you follow me to the boutique to shop? When Mike's driver arrives, the gatekeeper will call us on the