The music died down. Stella placed her hands on the piano keys as she collected herself. It had been so long since she last touched a piano that she almost forgot that she used to be known as a pianist with immense potential, having earned numerous international awards at a young age. Afterward, due to the tragedy that struck her family, she had no choice but to embark on a profession that could earn her cash instantly. Clearly, the situation that she and Roger found themselves in back then did not allow her to pursue further education in music. Thankfully, she was also extremely talented in dancing, good enough to take up the role of a dance teacher. She had initially wanted to part-time as a piano teacher as well, but a teacher who couldn’t even afford a piano for herself probably wouldn’t be credible in the eyes of the parents. After she was finished playing the piece, Stella suddenly felt bashful. “It’s been so long since I touched a piano. I’ve gotten rather rusty…”
Stella squinted at the sunlight piercing through the dark with a staccato, so tired that she could hardly manage a sound. She lifted an arm and shaded her eyes. Weston stood up, buttoning up his white shirt, and walked to the windows to pull the shades down. Stella turned to her side in a bid to return to sleep. She felt a warm touch at the back of her ear. It was Weston kissing her. “I’m heading to the office. Have a good rest here this afternoon.” Stella nodded. “Go ahead.” She was so exhausted that she had to force herself to speak, not to mention that her voice sounded nasal. Weston chuckled lowly and pinched her nose cheekily, eliciting annoyed grumbles from Stella. “Quit it…you’re such a bother…” He stood up leisurely. Stella slept more soundly than she usually did. By the time she woke up, it was already late in the afternoon. She pulled open the covers and saw hickeys of various sizes imprinted on her legs. Her knees went weak the moment she stood, and she alm
At the hospital. Being well acquainted with the way to Zeta’s office, Stella was there in no time. Zeta was still in her casual clothes, having no time to get changed into her doctor’s robe. “I was supposed to only report to work tomorrow, but I guess it’s just as well that I’m here. I could tidy my documents.” “I’m sorry for interrupting your plans.” Stella sat before her, “I had to bother you for my medicine the moment you returned.” “It’s fine.” Zeta was still very concerned about Stella’s situation. “Are you and your boyfriend… still not on the same page?” Stella paused for a moment before nodding. Zeta sighed. “Why don’t you let your boyfriend get himself checked out? It’s unsustainable, him having such a high sex drive.” Stella’s brows furrowed, and she asked doubtfully, “Is that a problem that warrants a doctor’s visit?” What kind of solution was there, anyway? She had only heard of men seeing the doctor for erectile dysfunction. Zeta thought about it and
A corner of Stella’s mouth lifted as she smiled mockingly at him. “Who do you think you are?” She looked straight into his eyes and said, “I was just responding to your words. How is that considered talking back? Do you really think you’re all that and that I naturally deserve to hear your lecture?” Xavier’s face darkened with displeasure. “You…” Both of them were at daggers drawn. Zeta was still oblivious to what was happening in her own office. She yelled to Stella while searching for the medicine. “I tried to look for something with milder side effects while I was overseas, but it’s better that you cut down your dosage of this stuff. It is an aphrodisiac after all and has significant side effects…” “Of course, it’s not that damaging over the short-term, but using it for a long period, it might result in irreparable damage to your health.” She simply kept going on. Xavier was keen enough to catch the keywords in what Zeta said. He turned to Stella and asked, “You’re b
Stella took the medicine from Zeta. “Thanks, Dr. Taylor. I’ll be off, if there’s nothing else.” Zeta nodded. Daisy was very curious about why Stella was there and asked, “Ms. Steele, are you ill?” She was only curious about Ella because of Weston. After all, she was the only woman around Weston at this point in time. A corner of Stella’s mouth lifted in a smile that hardly reached her eyes as she replied, observing the most basic of courtesy, “Just something minor, nothing much.” Daisy wanted to ask more, but Zeta came to Stella’s rescue, “This is a patient’s privacy. Ms. Daisy, please stop probing so much.” Daisy furrowed her brows. For some reason, she could sense animosity from Zeta. “I’m sorry, I was just asking Ms. Steele…” “She’s my patient,” Zeta cut her off. There was a subtle hint of contention between both women. Daisy stood by Xavier’s side. Xavier caught her hint and glanced at Zeta. Upon seeing that Zeta didn’t even bother looking at him, a slight
She had no choice but to mention Old Mr. Ford. Xavier was naturally fearful of him, and he took a deep breath before sneering, “Not bad, you even managed to convince that old man.” Zeta’s brows furrowed upon hearing their exchange. She turned to Stella. “You know Old Mr. Ford?” Xavier rubbed his wrist, “I’ve already warned you that this woman isn’t decent, and you had better stay away from her. She’s the culprit behind Weston and Guinevere calling off their engagement…” Although she was very shocked, she hated the tone Xavier used to lecture her even more. Her voice darkened with displeasure, “Who do you think you are? We’ve already broken off our engagement. Who are you to teach me a lesson?” She had never spoken so harshly to Xavier before. His face fell, “Zeta, I’m saying this for your own good…” Before he could complete his sentence, Stella stood in front of Zeta. “Did you not hear what she said? She doesn’t want to see you and has nothing to do with you whatsoever!
His contempt and agitation had reached a breaking point. Daisy noticed that something was wrong. “Why are you so angry?” She furrowed her brows and surveyed him. Xavier snapped back to attention and rubbed in between his brows. “Nothing, I just don’t fancy being talked back to like that…” “When did you get so emotionally affected?” Daisy chuckled as she teased. “It’s not like you at all.” Xavier’s face darkened. “Daisy, I’m serious about you, but it doesn’t mean you can test my boundaries.” Daisy’s face froze. “How am I testing your boundaries?” “Whatever it is…” Xavier retracted his gaze. “I don’t like paranoid women.” … In the office. Zeta heaved a sigh of relief and turned to look at Ella. “Thank you for helping me out just now.” Stella shook her head. “I wasn’t much help… it’s just that I can tell Xavier probably brought Daisy along to spite you.” He was clearly here to kick up a fuss, but what she couldn’t figure out was his objective. Zeta furrowed her b
Guinevere wasn’t pleased to be completely ignored. She strode toward Stella and raised her voice. “Hey, I’m talking to you. Did you hear me?” She stood right in front of Stella, blocking her view. Stella looked at her with annoyance. “What exactly do you want?” “I’m just inviting you to dinner, that’s all,” Guinevere replied with gusto. “If my memory serves me right, this isn’t your house.” Stella folded her arms in front of her chest and looked at her in disdain, “Inviting a guest to someone else’s home—is that the kind of manners you were brought up with?” Her words were sharp and incisive; she was more aggressive than she ever was. Guinevere’s face darkened with displeasure, then suddenly contorted into a wicked smile, “Do you know that you currently look worlds apart from Stella Sealy?” She veered to another extreme and said coldly, “Ella, Weston is treating you as a replacement! Stella would never be as vicious and threatening as you are! Your face is the only thin
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