“I’ll be very quiet. I won’t disturb them.”Stella was silent for a long time. After that, she asked, “Do you still think they’re your children?”Weston continued looking at her without answering.Stella saw the scrutiny in his eyes and turned her head to the other side slightly. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m asking you a question.”“I know. Aren’t you the one who decides whether they’re my children?”Stella sneered, “You seem very confident.”If it were not for that confidence. Weston would’ve never left the decision in her hands entirely. He knew Elias and Emma were his.Both of them knew it.Fortunately, Weston would no longer force Stella to do things against her will. If she didn’t want Elias and Emma to take him as their father, he would not do anything about it.Stella was already annoyed before. The way Weston guarded her tirelessly only irritated her more. Weston was really thick-skinned and would not stop until he got what he wanted.Stella could only compromise.
Stella didn’t expect Roger’s sudden intention to force himself on her. Despite that, the man in front of her had forced her countless times in the past.Stella glared at Weston. “Do I have to remind you? Mr. Ford, what did you do to me when you kept me at Stardust Mansion?”Weston had a bad track record and no chance of arguing with her. She wondered where he got his confidence from and thought he was no better than Roger.Weston’s face remained unchanged, though. Right, it would take some mental qualities for a man like him to be in his position.Weston said frankly, “I won’t do that to you again.”“Don’t you forget what you did to me in the parking lot!” Stella undressed him mercilessly.Weston raised his hand and caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry. I lost control then.”“Stay away from me!” Stella hissed....Roger did not show up in the following days. Even Elias and Emma felt a little uncomfortable from their Uncle Miguel’s absence. They asked, “Why didn’t Miguel come to see
“Indeed.” Yvonne smiled smugly. Stella and Angelina unanimously disapproved of Yvonne’s constant display of love and affection for Lucas.“By the way, Angelina, are you going to start dating someone soon?” Yvonne looked over at Angelina.Angelina hurriedly shook her head. “I’m a popular celeb now. I’m not going to date anytime soon.”After Guinevere’s departure from the entertainment industry, the power in the circle had been reshuffled and was no longer the same as before.Angelina was increasingly popular in the current scene. Guinevere used to be dominant in the circle because of her strong backing, and thus, hard to take her down. Besides, Weston indulged her so much that she could leverage his influence and take down any enemy at will.Indeed, many in the entertainment circle had strong opinions about her. People were glad to see the fall of Guinevere after her embroilment in the big scandal, and they didn't expect to find so much potential to grow her fall.“Did you know? Y
Stella and Yvonne were still shocked. They found it unbelievable!Angelina laughed and said, “I haven’t found the opportunity to tell you, but I feel so much better after sharing it. I’ve been keeping it to myself for very long.”She sighed. “I’ve never looked after infants before, but I have experience with toddlers around three to four years old. If you’re comfortable with me, you can leave Elias and Emma to me.”...Before going to the snowy mountains, Stella took Elias and Emma to get acquainted with Angelina. Elias and Emma liked Angelina a lot since she was a child at heart herself, so they got along very well.Stella could not imagine that Angelina was already a mother of a child.Angelina had gotten a bigger house for herself, and when Stella went over, she met Angelina’s daughter, a very docile and obedient girl.A year older than Elias and Emma, she had that ‘big sister’ look about her.Stella saw the three children got along very well. Then, she quietly called Angeli
Stella said, “It’s beautiful up here.”“Of course. After all, it’s a shooting location. The results have to be worth the investment.”Stella saw the crew setting up the tent and was about to go over and help when Yates pulled her arm and said to her, “It’s dangerous there. You don’t have to help. Let the professionals set up the tent. Amateurs like us shouldn’t get involved. We’ll only be in their way.”Stella thought it was reasonable and agreed. Then, she walked back. Yates was still holding her arms. He was not thinking of anything, just afraid that she would fall.The two were very open with each other. Yates had been in two relationships within the past few years, and whatever affection he used to have for Stella had long faded. Yates simply treated Stella like an old friend. However, this scene was very unpleasant in another man’s eyes.Stella was completely unaware of the gloomy glances coming from the other side. A Maybach Pullman was parked across the road from the
Stella had rarely seen Weston acting so lowly. She was stunned for a moment but quickly regained her composure and pushed him away in annoyance.“My relationship with him has nothing to do with you. Don’t forget who you are. You have no right to be pointing fingers.”“I’m not pointing fingers at you. I’m just...” Weston paused slightly. Stella was annoyed at his sudden low tone. She pushed him away in irritation, “If that’s all you have to say, you can stop. Don’t bother me anymore.”Stella was a little displeased at how he followed her here. She turned away and left without thinking twice.Weston watched Stella walk out but did not go after her. He knew it would only make her hate him more....The tents on the camp outside were set up and ready. When Yates saw Stella coming out, he was the first to go over to her.Yates glanced behind Stella but saw no sign of Weston. He asked, “You’re done?”Stella responded with a light hum. When she noticed how he was looking behind her,
Back when she was young, every time she was on holiday with her parents, they would always travel to tourist spots where the climate was mild and temperate. They had never gone to places as bitingly cold and extreme as this.In the three years that she was abroad, she had basically spent all of her time with her children. She practiced playing the piano in the remaining time she had left. All in all, it had almost been forever since she last enjoyed herself, which was why this place filled her with a sense of wonder and excitement.“It’s so cold here, and even grass doesn’t grow. What do those cows and sheep eat?”“There is a layer of vegetation under the snow and ice, enough for the livestock to keep themselves full even during winter, although the conditions are obviously very severe.”They continued until suddenly; they saw a sheet of melting ice. Bradley stopped in his tracks.“What’s wrong?” Stella asked when she noticed his reaction.“Nothing,” Bradley frowned. He turned
For a long time, Weston just stared at Stella as if he’d never gotten tired of her face.“I thought it was pretty obvious,” he said.Like Stella, he was also wearing a thick padded ski jacket plus a few more layers of clothes underneath it, yet even when he was dressed like that, he still seemed to be towering over everyone else around him. He reached out his hand to adjust Stella’s collar to cover her up more snugly so she was more protected from the cold, and with a helpless tone, he asked, “Haven’t my actions been obvious enough to you yet?”He would never have decided to come to such a place had it not been for Stella. He wasn’t a man who wasted his time with leisurely activities. In fact, traveling had never interested him at all. With his skills and talents, he could use the time he had to go through some more documents or sign a few more contracts, earning him millions more, instead of throwing precious time away by traveling. Why else would he set aside such a huge poten
Stella had rarely ever woken up before him.He had always been terrifyingly strong, but their lovemaking last night must have consumed a lot of his energy, leaving him so tired that he was still sound asleep.She stared at him and suddenly felt like doing something naughty. She pinched his nose and held her fingers there, trying to suffocate him. Unsurprisingly, he soon knitted his handsome brows and quickly woke up.He was surprised to see her mesmerizing eyes as soon as he woke up, which made him pause. He then took her hand into his and kissed it again and again.“Are you okay?” he asked with concern, remembering how wildly he ravaged her last night.She had only been willing to be intimate with him because she was under the influence of a drug, yet he had taken advantage of her and had his way with her over and over again last night.Stella did not speak. Seeing her like that made his expressions turn a little colder. He fell silent for a long time before he got up and sl
The moment Stella saw him, she flew into his arms and clambered onto his body. She kissed him again and again, trying to search for his breath so she could explore his body even deeper. All she wanted was to let him extinguish the fire burning inside her.Half an hour had passed, and the effect of the drug on her body was its strongest now.Weston swallowed his saliva. Without any hesitation, he pinned her against the bathroom mirror and kissed her vehemently on her face, her shoulders, then her neck.Stella could not stop herself from letting out loud moans. The sounds she produced only drove Weston wilder. Even the corners of his eyes began to turn red now.Luckily, there was still a thread of reason in his mind. He pushed her away and, while panting heavily, asked her, “Who am I, Stella?”But Stella’s mind was occupied with her primal urges. She ignored his question and grabbed his shirt collar, saying, “Let’s do it…” The sight of her filled Weston with a desire to just give
Weston paused, then simply replied, “Okay.”When he saw her changing into a pair of high heels, he followed her around and asked, “Where are you going?”“Oh, to a private concert.”Then she added, “If you’re going to spend the night here tonight, then please take care of Elias and Emma. But if you have to leave, I’ll ask Roger to come over instead.”“Don’t worry,” he said. “Just go out and enjoy yourself. I’ll be at home and take good care of the kids.”Stella paused suddenly, feeling inexplicably weird about what Weston had just said. It sounded like she was forcing him to stay at home and take care of the kids while she went out to have fun without a care in the world. She turned around to look at Weston, feeling like he was acting like a poor neglected housewife.She shook her head and tried to shake this terrifying thought out of her mind.When they arrived at the concert, Hayden offered his arm to her like a gentleman. They then walked into the private concert together, w
Stella’s words rendered Weston speechless. She was right. He had been the one to agree to let Stella date other people, so he must seem like a fool saying all those things to her.He withdrew his hands and forced himself to calm down a little. “I have no intention to stand in your way,” he told Stella. “I was only worried about Elias and Emma. Since they’re also here, I think you need to take their feelings into consideration.”The children could sense the strained atmosphere between the adults, so they just waited patiently on the couch with Roger, occasionally poking their heads out to look at their parents.Seeing his kids like that, Weston slowly added, “I’m only here to see the kids, so both of you can go ahead with your date.”Stella said nothing and just took Hayden’s hand and left.When they got downstairs, Hayden glanced at her and asked, “Are you sure you want to just leave him like that?”“I don’t know,” Stella massaged the point between her brows. “I’m not sure wh
Hayden Quirk arrived half an hour earlier than Stella did on their first date.“You’re much earlier than I expected,” he joked as Stella walked in.Stella was actually on time, but she still felt a little guilty when she saw him already waiting for her when she arrived.“The traffic is terrible today,” she said.“Don’t worry about it,” Hayden said, handing her the menu. “Mr. Ford expected me to wait for you for at least an hour.”“I seriously don’t know what you guys are up to,” she grumbled, exasperated, “but I hope it will at least be over soon. Just don’t drag it out and cause me any trouble.”She ordered a few dishes, then handed the menu back to him. Hayden took it from her, ordered a few more signature dishes that the restaurant was popular for, then looked at Stella with a faint smile.“Did you think this is all just a joke?” he asked.“What else could it be?”“I am serious about this,” he told her, his voice suddenly turning grave. “Since even Mr. Ford agreed that we s
Weston raised his eyebrows at Ben’s words. “But he’s divorced. He has an ex-wife.”“What’s wrong with having an ex-wife?”Ben found Weston’s comment strange. “This man has good qualities. Upon investigation, he has a very good personality too. He was an active member during college. He also has an amazingly beautiful resume. It’s normal that a man like him has been married before… Besides, hasn’t Ms. Sealey been married before herself? She even has two children.”Weston’s expression turned cold at once. “Are you discriminating against her?”“I’m not.”Weston said, “Or do you think she can only find a divorced man for her second marriage?”Ben panicked. “I wouldn’t dare!”With Weston’s ridiculous amount of nitpicking, they could find no one that would match Stella.Hayden sat beside and quietly reviewed Weston’s latest psychological health report. As he turned the page, he suddenly said, “I’m actually a little interested in Ms. Sealey.”Hayden laughed a little and turned to Wes
Stella opened her eyes and shot Weston a cold look. Then, she turned her head the other way.Weston did not touch her again. He knew she was probably angry with him, so he stayed silent.A few moments later, he reminded her, “Don’t be angry. That man is unreliable.”Stella propped her chin in her palm. “And what does that have to do with you?”Weston pursed his lips, setting his jaw in a tight line. He said, “I’ve promised to stop pestering you. It’ll be a promise. I’m fine with seeing you with another man, but at least find someone who makes me feel at ease.”“Why do I need your approval when I’m just looking for a date?” Stella found his words funny. “You’re just my ex-husband. Don’t you think you care too much?”Weston rubbed his brow, and his voice suddenly went cold. “If you don’t want me to keep pestering you like I just did, maybe you should listen to me.”Stella questioned, “Are you threatening me?”“No. I’m suggesting.”Stella was lost for words. Then, she suddenly
Stella froze for a moment when she heard the voice. When she turned around, she saw that Weston had appeared behind her at some point.Weston stared at the man behind Stella with a cold gaze and an icy aura around him. Weston had always emitted a strong aura around him. Anyone who saw him would immediately be terrified because of his intimidating aura.The man froze for a moment at Weston’s sudden appearance. He took a step back and quickly steadied himself before greeting Weston, “Mr. Ford.”He still had the same calm and gentle look. “I’m sending Miss Cicily back.”“I know. Don’t ever show up in front of her again,” Weston told him. “You don’t have to send her back. Stay away from her.”It would be a little inappropriate for the man to act a fool at Weston’s straightforwardness, so he tugged at his collar and asked Weston with a polite smile, “Mr. Ford, you should give me a reason, shouldn’t you? I’m having a good time with Miss Cicily.”“You’re the one who thinks she’s having
Stella smiled. It seemed like he had come prepared.Stella enjoyed chatting with the man. He was sincere and introduced himself properly as soon as they started chatting.The man was also a pianist and came from a scholarly family. Although not super wealthy, he was doing considerably well in the middle class. Stella would not need to worry about the quality of life with him, but that was about it. She certainly could not live a luxurious life.Stella had a good impression of him. She also talked to him a little more about piano music.Stella twirled her hair and smiled. She told him with a nice voice, “I’m sure Roger has already told you about my situation.”“I know.”The man looked at her gently and set the coffee in front of her. He said to her, “I’m very interested in you. I think we’re very suitable for each other. Our living standards nowadays have improved quite a bit. Not many look for a partner purely because of material qualities. People with emotional needs will search