I immediately helped Wayne to sit up. Wayne was patient, but no matter how amiable a person is, being pushed so harshly like that was going overboard. Wayne looked angrily at Kane. "What are you pushing me for?" Kane also looked stunned that he pushed Wayne suddenly. He stuttered, "I....I did not intend to use so much s-strength." Kane recovered his senses. Like someone who had done nothing, he even blamed Wayne. "Besides, I saw you touching her. What are you planning to do?" "I am showing him my sample drafts. Of course, we have to move closer so he can see it. He did not touch me deliberately." I explained. Kane frowned. But he did not speak. He took my cup and drank from it. "Hey, that's mine!" Kane ignored me and finished the whole cup. He then went back to his position and pretended nothing happened. I was in shock. "Kane, you are not even going to apologize?" Kane looked away from us. "...." How can he be so shameless?! I was so angry that I am about to nag him
It was around summer when Stella first met Kane and Layla. She was a rebellious nine-year-old who felt like the world was against her. For a child to feel like that at a young age, she was under so much pressure that it affected her psychologically. She deeply abhors music and Victoria who forced her to do things she doesn't like. As usual, her mother Victoria dragged her to attend a social gathering where other aristocratic families attended and forced her to socialize. For the young Stella who doesn't have the freedom to do things she likes and was abused mentally, being forced into a crowded place where there were many people who resembled Victoria was pure torture. In her young small world, there was only restraint, threats, coercion, and unhappiness. All judging eyes that stared at her were piercing, making the young Stella cowered in her shell. At that time, if she had not met Layla who appeared and saved her from the bullies, she must have not endured the torture for so lon
****During the whole weekend, I did not come out of my room. I only ordered take-out food and never show myself in the kitchen. Thankfully, I have a reason to lock myself in the drawing room.My absence helps since it would give time for Kane and Layla to be alone together.However, I could not avoid Kane forever. Because we still have to go to school together.I purposely woke up late and wished that Kane would notice the hint that he doesn't need to cook me breakfast and that I don't need him to accompany me to school. But he waited for me in the parking lot.Seeing him standing in his hood, the memory of that day that I hid in the corner of my mind resurfaced again.My ears turned red.Agh.No matter how much I distract myself from not thinking about it, that memory would come up from time to time to torture me.If I was affected by that simple bite, how would I be able to play the role of cupid in Layla and Kane's love story?Agh. I hope that encounter would be soon forgotten as
Thankfully, Denise kept her word. She arrived at the library together with the others. Being surrounded by people who were on my side, I can now finally relax my guard."Have they gone?" I asked Denise."No. They have a lot of free time on their hands and squatting in the hallway. We already called the Dean. A lot of them dispersed when the Dean threatened them. However, some of them are from Acting Department so the Dean could not send them all away. And I think some of those who are obsessed to see you are mixed with them.""I think they are more obsessed to curse at me.""Don't worry, Stella. The whole Art Department united to protect you. We won't allow them to hurt you!" Kate make a fist and made a promise with a solemn face.The seniors they brought also made assurances to protect me.I looked at them stunned. To be honest, I am still not used to being the center of these people. I feel burdened by their feelings toward me.But now, it doesn't feel bad to be protected. Even thou
.....Looking for proof was only a matter of time. If you have money, time would be shortened and you can gather evidence quickly.However, for a broke person like me, I don't want to waste my savings on hiring a professional detective. I can do the investigation myself because I know where to look.First, the dashcam of my car.The footage could prove that Kane and I were never intimate. Thankfully, the scene under the shade of the tree was caught. We were not kissing but quarreling. However, there were no sounds. Because Kane was too close to me, it looked like we have a couple's quarrel.Ugh.This would be a pain. It would be hard to look for the parking lot's CCTV footage.In Layla's case, Eduardo was able to get it because of his connection. I can also get it if I used my family's connection. But ever since I cut off my communication with the Mackenzie, I never once used my family name.So the only option was to get help from Eduardo.But would I ask help from a rival? After all,
When I woke up, it was past five in the afternoon. A thick blanket covered my whole body and there was a wet towel on my forehead.Did Layla come back?I glanced at the bedside table and saw a full glass of water and medicine beside it. When I slept earlier, there was nothing on the bedside table.I slowly sprang up. My fever went down a lot. I don't feel chills anymore but I am a bit hungry. I don't have any appetite so I only drank water and planned to drink medicine again and sleep if I can, when the door suddenly opened.Kane came in with a tray in hand. "Oh, you woke up. How are you feeling?""!"How come Kane was here?What about his class?!"What are you doing here?" I asked in a hoarse voice.Kane approached me and touched my forehead.I flinched from his touch. "Your fever went down a lot." He took the medicine from me and went to my closet as it if was his room and took a loose t-shirt from it. "Change your clothes. Then make sure you eat first before you drink medicine. I
Layla hugged me. "Come on, don't show me that face. You have to eat and be well so you can go to school. You don't want any more absences, right?""Yeah." I started eating the porridge while feeling relieved at my heart. Thankfully, Layla understands."But. You can't go to school today. You just recovered.""What? I am healthy enough.""Nope.""Hey, I have a scholarship I am maintaining. I need to minimize my absences."In the end, our bantering ends up with me not attending the first half of the day and going to school in the afternoon with Layla.****When we left the house, Kane was still sleeping.It's been a long time since I went to school with Layla. So we were quite rowdy in the car.Even though we met daily, we don't lack things to talk about.We arrived at the school together. However, Layla who was not usually sensitive to people's stares still noticed the public's strange glances toward me."Is it just me?" Layla suddenly asked while we were walking around the campus."Hmm
The class for today ended. I part ways with my classmates in good mood. Since Layla would be waiting for me in the parking lot, I did not visit the library as usual and went straight directly to her.I saw Layla in the parking lot with her hands crossed around her chest. Her expression was not good.My steps halted.Layla has a grave expression on her face. Her aura was heavy and scary.She looked so pissed.For Layla to be this angry, I could guess what might have happened and what caused her to be angry.As I expected, when she saw me, she strode towards me with heavy strides. I could practically see a malevolent aura around her as she scolded me."Why did you not tell me?"Layla was so angry that she turned red. "Why do I have to learn from others that you got bullied? Why did you hide it from me? Even when I told you about the people's stares....you know it but you still lied to me.""...I don't want you to get involved." I sighed. The cat was now out of the bag. There was no use
After listening for an hour, I came to believe that Kane did really visit me in those times as he told me some of the things he was concerned with. It seemed that he bottled it all up. Kane pouted, "When I came to visit you, aside from the first few times, you don't look like you missed me. You are happy with them. Especially with that person named Hugh. You are being too close to him. Are you sure he doesn't have a crush on you? Whenever your group hang out, he was always there." "Because he is part of the group. Don't worry about Hugh, I think he has a crush on Lilac." "Your dormitory friend? But they looked like they hate each other." "Didn't we also start that way?" Kane chuckled, "Right. It only changed when you played Cupid." I could not help but smile at the memory. Wait.... I slapped Kane's arm. "You are changing the topic. I am still angry at you." Although I said that, there was no really no anger in my heart anymore. I just wanted to make it difficult for Kane for
My consciousness started to stir as I felt someone wiping my face. The wet towel then wiped my neck, arms, and hands. Although I am already aware, my body was numb and I couldn't move. I wasn't in the mood to bother about it. The one who was wiping my hands and face was so gentle in his movements, that I slowly fell to sleep afterward.The grumbling in my stomach woke me up. But the dizziness made me groan.I felt a movement beside me. That person gently brushed the hair away from my face."Dizzy?" His gentle voice was familiar but the aching in my head made me muddle-headed to think bout it further.I muttered, "Head...hurts..."That person massaged my head and spoke in a low voice, "You should drink a hang-over medicine. Here...." That person's voice was low and magnetic. It calmed my heart immediately.With my eyes closed, the man lifted me up until I was able to sit up from the bed. The man grumbled as he helped me drink, "....Paul made me drink you again, right? That man never l
When I disappeared that year, the Cruz family suddenly break ties with the Golden Corp. Then they began attacking the Mckenzie family. There was a huge case involved regarding the murder of Mrs. Cruz. When I first heard about it, I was shocked. According to Denise, the Mckenzie family was behind the accident which caused Mrs. Cruz and the unborn child to die. I put the pieces together and understood why Uncle Tristan used such methods to threaten us. Although it was a bit unfair that I am the one receiving the scare of his threats, I still felt bad about it. It turned out that the Mckenzie was more disgusting than I thought. I don't want to admit that I came from that family. My parents were actually the person who caused so much pain to Kane's family. After knowing the truth, my anger towards Uncle Tristan and Kane dissipated a lot. I had become more obedient as a hostage which in return, Uncle Tristan gave me a bit more freedom. He allowed me to socialize here and let me meet m
Three years later.... Many friends and families of the graduates came to attend the graduation. I have become one of the elite students who graduated with flying colors. I looked around the hall looking for familiar figures. "Stella Mary, congratulations." My classmate, Hugh, with a thick Russian accent, came to congratulate me. He was one of the friends I made here at the university. "Thanks, Hugh. Did your family come?" "They will arrive later. You know how my family always comes late." I laughed at Hugh's answer. "Stella Mary! Congratulations! I know you will come out on top of your course!" One of my dorm mates, Jamie, hugged me. She put the flowers she brought into my hands. "Hey, don't huggle Stella on your own. My turn." Lilac, who came after Jamie, pushed the latter away and hugged me. Jamie and Lilac were both of my dorm mates for three years. We have become friends since then. It's been three years since I stayed at the university. I did not expect I would stay
Snow was falling. As far as my eyes can see, the whole world was covered in a white blanket. Just where the heck am I? Am I in the north pole? I was unconscious the whole time. When I woke up, I was already in this small villa where snow was constantly falling. I bet I am in another country. Because there was no way it was snowing in the middle of summer. And the mountain of snow outside the window just tells me that I am in a cold country where snow was falling for a long time now. I hugged the thick overcoat and felt saddened by the fact that I am a hostage. "Young Miss. The adviser is here." Adviser? I moved my wheelchair and went to the study room. Fortunately, these people did not mistreat me even though my status was a hostage. They provided me with everything I need like food and clothing. But I couldn't get my phone or tablet back. Any kind of communication was cut off. The only people who were allowed to talk to me were these guards. Because I know that it was Uncle Tr
Kane's eyes were bloodshot. "It is you who said to me that I should love only one woman who moved my heart. And it is Stella. I won't love anyone but her in this life. No matter if she was once a Mckenzie, I don't care. Even if you don't accept her, I will only love her. The Mckeznie? To hell with them. I don't care what you do to them. But you have to return Stella to me." Tristan's face turned dark as well. "You can love anyone but not her. She has a blood of a Mckenzie, a red-head-" "I don't care! I love her, Dad! To me, she is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life. If you can't accept that, then I won't force you. Just tell me where she is." "I can't. With her around, our fight with the Mckenzie will complicate you. You are already unstable. If she is by your side, it will affect your decision-" "I am not interested in fighting the Mckenzie. You can fight with them the way you want." "Kane...Are you saying you would rather choose that woman than our family?" Tristan
..... "Master, I have received a call from Young Master Kane. He is on his way here." The head butler came to report to Tristan. The head butler felt uncomfortable for lying to his young master. But he couldn't disobey his Master's orders. Tristan was standing on the window looking at the bright moon above. He did not react to the head butler's report and just continue to stare at the dark sky. When the head butler thought that he would be dismissed, the man asked. "Has she arrived safely?" The head butler bowed and answered, "Yes, Master. The people there called me a few minutes ago that they have arrived at their accommodations." "How long is it until her legs will heal?" "It's about a month, Master." "Don't let her come out of that place then. Watch her closely. If she ever made contact with my son, changed the address. I don't care which country she lives." The head butler hesitated a bit. "Master...I know I am going out of line by asking this, but is it really alright
"I don't believe it as well. So I dig deeper into this so we can prove that the Cruz empire is innocent. However...." "But what?" Kane asked in a heavy tone. "Things got more suspicious. The more I investigate the more I found their movement fit all the missing pieces in the puzzle. I think someone higher up in your company has control over all of this. " "...Send me the details." Kane was having difficulties accepting all of this. He wouldn't believe it as long as he see it with his own eyes. He could not accept that his own people would do this to the people close to him. A while later, he received an email from Eduardo. Kane printed all of them and was stunned when he read every page. If it was other people, they wouldn't be able to find out the involvement of Cruz Empire in this incident. They were meticulous enough and did not leave any traces. However, Eduardo was not an ordinary person. He has the means to dig up and his intelligence could find the minute flaws that the
They were the people who kept sending threats with fresh blood. They are the people who caused me to have an accident.Dread came to my whole being. I looked up at the thin middle-aged man with red eyes.Are they here to kill me?This was the first time I saw them in action. There was no doubt that they were here to harm me.I could not help but tear up.After battling with Mckenzie and persevering, I thought I could finally start a new life without being afraid anymore. But it looked like I could not do that anymore.I stared at the man with tears in my eyes, "Are you here to kill me then?"The thin middle-aged man just looked at me, "I want to. But if I do that, I am afraid it will drive my son insane. Like what happened to me."Huh?Son?Suddenly, the familiarity that kept nagging me found its missing piece. The deadpan face overlapped to the face of a handsome middle-aged gentleman."Uncle Tristan?" I asked in bewilderment."So you still recognize me, huh?"His words confirmed my