Stella sat at the desk by the full-length windows for the last time and stared down at the bustling streets below. Sighing, she said, “I’ll probably try out acting.” “Acting?” Yvonne stared at her, wide-eyed. “Are you for real? You want to be an actress, but your skills don’t seem to match!” “I tried out for an audition previously and the director found me talented and cast me. I haven’t had the time to update you…” Stella looked at Yvonne with affection, “All along…you’re the only one who’s treated me well and helped me genuinely. I will definitely remember everything you’ve done for me. I know that what I say now might sound fake and an empty promise, but in the future, if I have the ability, I will never reject you if you ever need my help.” She looked into Yvonne’s eyes. Yvonne was stunned for a moment before tears began welling up in her eyes. “Why are you making this sound like you’ll be gone forever?” “I’m sorry…” Stella chuckled, “I’m just afraid I won’t have the ch
Yvonne knew that Stella found Lucas biased against her, and therefore, did not want to bump into him. “Why don’t we have dinner together?” she suggested. “Lucas is busy with something at the hospital today and will return very late. I don’t have plans anyway.” Stella gave it a little thought before agreeing to Yvonne’s suggestion. Both of them would probably have fewer opportunities to meet in the future and share a meal. She had no reason to reject Yvonne. “I call dibs on treating you!” she insisted. “You can pick a place.” Yvonne smiled. “Sure.” … The last time Yvonne chose to bring Stella to an entertainment venue, Lucas had repeatedly nagged at her, warning against doing such a thing again. This time, she obediently selected a western restaurant with romantic vibes that seemed more suitable for couples. Both ladies chatted leisurely as they waited for their dishes to be served. The next moment, Yvonne’s expression changed. Her face, which was originally full o
“Then why did you not tell me that you were meeting her? Didn’t you say that you were at the hospital?” Yvonne was so enraged that she refused to accept his explanation. She glared at him coldly, growling, “Go ahead with your dinner! Eat more and make sure I don’t ruin the mood of your date!” With that, she turned to leave. “Yvonne!” Lucas shouted behind her. Yvonne completely ignored him and pulled Stella along her way out. That was when Lucas noticed that Stella was with her, and his face darkened even further. He had repeatedly nagged at Yvonne for keeping in contact with Stella, yet here she was, blatantly going against his advice. After both of them left, the woman looked apologetically at Lucas. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Quirk, for causing a misunderstanding with your wife. Why don’t we call it a night? Please go home and explain things to her.” Lucas sat back down expressionlessly, “No need. Let’s go on.” “That’s not too good, isn’t it?” “She will understand,” Lucas
When truly in love, the pain of betrayal that one experienced would far exceed that of the heart gouged out. Only those who had experienced that kind of hurt would understand. … Stella was completely distracted even after she reached home. Even Weston could sense that something was wrong with her, though he didn’t probe. After dinner. Joan wiped the table clean. Stella entered a small room in the corner of the study, still looking spaced out. Stardust Mansion was where Weston and Stella used to stay in after they got married. In the original study, he had specially carved out a room for Stella to work in. However, since Weston had acquiesced for her to join the cast, Stella began to the script once she settled down in her small room. As she read on, the feelings of angst and unsettlement crept into her mind and she couldn’t help but pull out her phone to text Yvonne and ask her how she was at that moment. The scene at the restaurant kept her worried. Although he
Weston was wearing a set of grey colored casual clothes which his tall, lean figure filled out perfectly. Wisps of stray hair covered his forehead in careless fashion. He looked slightly more personable than usual, although his cold, sharp features remained aloof and distant. Stella halted in her footsteps. “The berries are very good,” she threw out a random remark. Weston glanced at her for a few seconds before nodding. He didn’t appear to have anything further to say. Stella turned sideways to give way to him. Aside from when they were physically intimate, they didn’t seem to have much to say to each other. Stella could always sense the wide divide between Weston and herself. It was not a gap that could be closed, even with daily contact and interaction—like when they were married for that short while, during which they spent many days and nights together. Yet, it was not enough for Weston to develop true feelings for her. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have gotten to t
Weston paused for a moment before lifting her up again. He rested his palm on her back and pressed her against the wall. “It shouldn’t hurt now.” “Don’t move…” he whispered hoarsely in her ear. Stella had no way out of her situation. Instead of struggling any further, she passively took on his aggressive advances. She hung weakly on his body, unsure why Weston was so passionate about kissing. It felt as if as long as he had the time to spare, he could just spend it all kissing her like this. It was only until Stella’s breath became unsteady, almost panting and out of strength that Weston finally released her hands. Her legs gave way as she slowly slid to the floor. Weston chuckled deeply as if chiding her for being weak. He carried her up in his arms back into her small work room. Stella asked, “Why did you bring me back in here?” Weston sat on her chair, leaning her in his arms as he glanced at the script she was reading earlier, "You want to go back to the bedroom
Weston was caressing her hair and accidentally pulled too hard. Stella gasped at the sharp twinge of pain which sent tears to her eyes, which continued staring stubbornly at him. Weston sighed and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’ve already given you my word and I won’t let anyone touch you. Trust me.” These were clearly tender words of promise, yet he said it in such a cold and unfeeling manner. Stella’s words brought to his mind the one-year promise they had between them, which Stella seemed to always have at the back of her mind. Even though she appeared well-invested in the role of a woman who only had eyes for him, it was likely that she was still thinking about how she could leave him. Otherwise, why would she always bring up the one-year timeline? “Your acting skills have improved tremendously indeed,” Weston looked into her eyes and commented. Stella didn’t understand what he meant but knew vaguely that it wasn’t anything good. She said, “I just hope that you ke
“But Mr. Ford…” On the other end of the line, Bella did not expect him to respond so heartlessly, and she cried even harder. “Guinevere said that if she were to see me in Fern City again, she would make me wish I were dead! I really don’t know what I can do…” “Where else can I go aside from staying in Fern City? Must I return to my hometown…” She did not know who else she could turn to aside from Weston. That day… After Weston left Lowe Garden, Guinevere brought along a bunch of people with her. She had come personally, and no one dared to stop her. The manager knew her and dared not offend either Weston or Guinevere herself. What’s more, everyone knew about Guinevere’s relationship with Weston, and everyone could guess what she was there for. Bella had never expected someone as proud and haughty as Guinevere would come to a place like this, and confront a woman like her for the sake of Weston Ford. In the same vein, she had never expected anything lasting to happen
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