That was the highest level of acceptance one could expect from a man like Xavier Ford. Still, Daisy had her own concerns. “What about that fiancée of yours?” she suddenly asked. “Both of you are bound by an engagement contract. How will you explain things to your family if you have a relationship with me?” “You are worthy of being Weston’s secretary, after all—alert and clear-minded.” Xavier lifted her chin. “In that case, I’ll be frank. As long as you are willing, I can bring to rest all your concerns. Of course, this will have to be based on firm determination on your part. I can’t possibly up-end my life's peace and stability for an unsophisticated, fickle-minded woman. What do you say?” “It seems you don’t like me as much as you claim,” Daisy smiled. “I thought you would treat me at least like how Mr. Ford treats Ella.” The way Xavier treated her was more like how one would treat a favored pet. Xavier shook his head and laughed carelessly. “You can’t get Weston out of y
“Do I need to be with her during the treatment process?” Weston asked. Dr. Hayden nodded, but his brows furrowed into a frown when he looked at Guinevere. “Given her current situation, she needs someone she can trust by her side, or it’ll be hard for me to keep her under control. If she were to hurt herself, it wouldn’t be good…” Weston sat down by the bed. Guinevere immediately grabbed his hands. “Don’t go. Stay with me, all right?” Hayden’s eyes glinted as his gaze deepened. “Ms. Cohen appears to be very dependent on you.” Weston remained silent. “Please begin,” he said after a while. He looked up at Hayden. “Do whatever it takes to get her back to normal.” … On the other side of the hospital. Stella finally felt rest assured upon confirming that Roger was fine. Her face turned solemn when she saw Roger hemming and hawing. “What is it that you find so difficult to confess even to me?” “I don’t mean that…” Both of them settled down on the chairs along the corri
When Riley walked out of the washroom, she saw Weston carrying Guinevere into the hospital. She didn’t notice Guinevere at first and was instead attracted by the handsome man, gushing over how lucky she was to see someone so good-looking at the hospital. That was when she realized that the woman in the handsome man’s arms was Guinevere Cohen… Guinevere was a prominent celebrity known as the ‘film queen.’ It was easy to recognize her immediately. She was excited to share what she saw, but Roger’s face had turned stiff. “What’s the matter?” Something was wrong. Thinking she must’ve said something wrong, Riley apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you wait so long…” She had indeed made them wait, but it was only for a couple of minutes. She had always been carefree and easy-going, constantly worried about whether she had upset others. “Let’s go.” Roger stood up, his face clearly upset, though he didn’t say much. Stella remained silent as well. Riley immediate
At the hospital. Weston returned to the ward after smoking a cigarette. Hayden heard a noise at the door and signaled to Guinevere, who was lying on the hospital bed. “He’s back.” Guinevere was anxiously picking on her nails, but she immediately sat upright at Hayden’s signal. “Weston?” she called out anxiously. Her eyes fixed on Weston as he walked to her side. The sight of him finally calmed her down. Hayden looked at Weston. “Seems like you can’t just walk off now.” Guinevere grabbed his hands, allowing him to go no further. Weston looked at the clock on the wall and sat by her bedside. “Continue the treatment.” … Outside the hospital. Stella glanced at her watch and called Zeta. “Dr. Taylor, are you free now?” “What’s up?” “I’m almost out of medicine. When will be a good time for me to hop over and get more supplies?” “I’m a little busy today…” Zeta glanced at her schedule. “Do you have time today?” “What’s a good time?” “Right now?” Zeta pressed h
“You must discuss things with him in advance,” Zeta said without further thought. “These drugs will take a toll on your body if you keep taking them.” Stella asked in a light voice, “Is now the only time I can come over to get the pills from you?” Zeta furrowed her brows, knowing that it would be tough to change Stella’s mind at this moment. “Yes, I only have time right now. If you can make a trip here, I’ll be waiting for you in the office…” Stella took a deep breath. “All right, then.” Even if there was a good chance she’d bump into someone she didn’t want to see, the thought of having to endure the torture over the next month made her decide to step into the hospital again. The hospital was so large, anyway, and she might not necessarily see them. … In the office. Zeta said, “This is enough for one month. Come find me again if you need more.” She handed the pill bottle to Stella. Stella was about to reach out to take the bottle when Zeta suddenly stopped her, “I’
But, so what if he’d fallen in love with her? His love was ludicrous, to say the least. He loved her, yet he forced her to do something she didn’t want. He loved her, yet he ensnared her in a trap that she would never escape from. He loved her, yet he made her life living hell… … Stella waited till both of them left before coming out of the room. She thought that Weston didn’t see her, but the next moment, she saw Weston suddenly stop in his tracks and turn around. Their eyes locked. Stella was completely stunned, not expecting him to suddenly look over. Weston remained calm as he fixed his gaze upon her. He retracted his gaze and remained silent as he continued carrying Guinevere into the ward. In the ward. Hayden followed behind him into the ward. “The treatment has taken effect, just that I am still not sure why it suddenly relapsed. My suggestion is to do a thorough check-up and find other physiological reasons…” Before he could complete his sentence, Weston c
Weston stood up and turned around to see Stella getting out of the car and walking toward him with a strange look on her face. She appeared so suddenly and quietly. “Why aren’t you getting into the car?” Stella had wanted to leave the hospital when she first received his text, but she decided against it and went to the car to wait for Weston. She knew that Weston wouldn’t let her go when they returned to the mansion. She subconsciously grabbed her bag tight, and the thought of the pill inside gave her a sense of security. Weston didn’t pay attention to her subtle movement and simply locked his eyes on her. “I was smoking.” His Adam’s apple moved as he asked her, “Why did you get out of the car?” Stella didn’t reply to his questions but asked rhetorically, “Isn’t Guinevere in the hospital? Why did you come out and not keep her company?” It sounded more like a confrontation or a reminder rather than an actual question. Weston’s eyes were dark as his lips pursed a tigh
Stella’s eyes narrowed, guarding herself against sinking into his trap. “Why didn’t you stay back in the hospital and keep Guinevere company?” The moment she spoke, she felt the pressure on his hand lifting from her body. The atmosphere that barely managed to warm up turned icy once again. The bathroom was still steaming with the heat of the water, but it felt as cold as a freezer. The thorn still lay between them. In fact, it sank deeper with every minute. As much as they tried to disregard it, the thorn refused to disappear, and they were constantly wounded by it. It became a gap between them that they were unable to fuse. Weston switched off the tap, and the hot water stopped pouring out. He lifted Stella’s chin, “Do you really hope I’ll keep her company at the hospital?” Stella looked straight into his eyes, “I just think it’s more suitable for you to stay by her side.” A storm was brewing in his eyes, and his aura overwhelmed Stella. There wasn’t much space in th
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