"I don't think you should be leaving when we aren't done with the issue at hand here," said Marshall."Go find whoever did it, then. Get out of my way! This has nothing to do with me," The woman, who was accused of throwing a glass at Stella by her own sister, sullenly said."We will know who the perpetrator is after we check the surveillance footage. You can't leave even if the kid did it and you didn't, since you're her temporary guardian."The woman could not hold herself back when she heard that. "So what if it was me? She deserves it! She's overrated. She bullies her colleagues and would do anything to gain popularity. She isn't worthy of becoming an actor. I was just helping everyone in eliminating that pest!""You've committed a crime and let an underage kid take the blame. After being exposed, you get angry and say that you did it in the name of justice. Is this what you learn from being a fan of Ms. Young? A role model should positively influence her followers, not instiga
Stella was already in a lot of pain from the injury. Her head hurt even more when the woman suddenly approached her and apologized. "Please get up. There's no need to make a scene," said Stella.The woman was no longer arrogant. She shook her head and started to choke up. "No... I'm ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have been biased after seeing a few one-sided comments on the internet, and I shouldn't have hurt you on impulse. I'm truly sorry."Seeing that her sister was about to be arrested, the little girl on the side was terrified. "P-Please don't let the police take my sister, miss. Please..." She cried and pleaded.Stella pressed her lips together and patted the kid's head. She turned to Marshall and said, "Let's send her home first."Marshall nodded, but the little girl was hesitant to go. She held onto Stella and asked, "Are you going to let my sister go, miss?"Stella did not answer her question. Instead, she said, "She'll be back."The kid did not get the hidden meaning be
Stella paused for a while before softly saying, "You don't have to take on everything yourself. You'd be living a tiring life if you did."Marshall swallowed; Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. He clenched onto the steering wheel and waited long before saying, "Just scold me so that I feel better.""Pass. I'll feel bad if I scold you," Stella laughed.Marshall let out a chuckle and said, "Don't worry. I'm not letting this matter slide."Stella did not take his words to heart. She closed her eyes and sighed, "Tell me something, Marshall. Why would these fans put their future on the line for celebrities who wouldn't do the same for them?""Most of them are young and have too much free time on their hands. They won't engage in this nonsense once they grow older and get into relationships."This was Stella's first hearing such an answer, and she could not hold back her amusement. Though, it made sense after she thought about it. "You're funny," she said.Suddenly, she received a not
"You're overthinking it. I wouldn't have agreed to go to the glassware store with you if I was actually trying to avoid people from seeing us together. I just don't feel cold right now," Stella explained.Stella was someone who only remembers the good and forgets the bad. She had forgotten Keegan's warning when Marshall asked her to go shopping for glassware with him. However, Marshall's sudden move of putting his coat over her reminded her how flirty they were being with each other. That was why she rejected the offer.'Then again, he did it so naturally. It doesn't seem like a romantic gesture. I bet Marshall wouldn't even fall for someone like me. Someone as gentle as him would probably like a modest and elegant woman or a girl with a sassy personality who deviates from the norm. And I'm clearly none of those. I'm just awkward and cheesy, especially when it comes to love.'Marshall smiled, hearing her say that. "Alright. Maybe I'm the one who's being overly sensitive." He paused
Stella hesitated for a moment before agreeing to Keegan's request and hung up the phone. As she waited for the red light, she tried to fix her hair while looking into the rearview mirror. She felt relieved only when her bangs covered the wound on her forehead.The building where Keegan usually did his experiments was built on the outskirts of town. Stella knew where it was but never went there before. This was because non-authorized people were not allowed inside the building. Moreover, some materials used for experiments were radioactive, meaning they had to put on a special suit when entering the premise. Naturally, Keegan did not want Stella to go anywhere near the place.Stella parked the car across the entrance of the building and was about to call Keegan when he walked out of the gate. He seemed to sit in the guardhouse, waiting for her to show up.Stella put her phone aside and watched him stride over step by step. 'He looks so good in that suit. I bet he wore it because he k
Keegan's face turned ugly. "I'm not jealous," he said."Then, tell me. Why are you acting out?" Stella had tried her best to downplay everything not to make Keegan worry. She had expected to get his affection and comfort, but he ended up focusing on the fact that she and Marshall were together. Stella's heart turned cold."You never say anything or even tell me anything. You asked me to keep my distance from Marshall and not talk about when you left me alone at our wedding after we married. I know you have your reasons, but they're the only thing you have! You never had any trust when it came to sharing things with me! It's like I'm never good enough for it!"Keegan was frustrated and did not want to argue with Stella. "This has nothing to do with my trust in you. I'm doing this for your own goo—""I'm sick of hearing that! You keep thinking that you're doing things for my own good, but if that were true, you would've told me your reasoning."After a long time, Keegan said, "Marsh
Suddenly, Keegan's face darkened. "Wait, are you saying I'm hindering you from finding another love?" Stella chuckled and said, "I'm saying that I wouldn't choose anyone else with you here. There's no denying Mr. Moore is rather good-looking, but I still love you the most."Keegan's anger subsided after hearing what Stella just said."I think you should be more worried about yourself if you think he'd turn aggressive during his switches. I've only known him for a few months, and we don't even contact each other much. You, on the other hand... You're his childhood best friend, and your families are well acquainted. He'd probably want to hurt you more than he'd hurt me. Right?""He can't beat me," Keegan confidently said."That's not necessarily true, though. I'd say Mr. Moore is as fit as you. He even won first place in amateur boxing before. The only exercises you do are running and lifting some weights here and there. I don't think you're his match."Keegan's eyelids twitched at
Stella's face darkened, and she hit him on the shoulders. "I'm not the one to blame if you fail at cooking. It must be because you lack talent!""Okay. So I lack talent. Can you invest more of your attention on me, Ms. Jewell?" Keegan chuckled."Stop fooling around and drive. The fish's gonna go bad if we don't get home soon," Stella urged as she fastened her seat belt. Keegan stopped talking and began to drive.When they arrived, Stella went upstairs to change. Keegan had just taken off his coat when his phone rang. It was Trevor. 'He's definitely calling to talk about the incident.'As Keegan expected, Trevor questioned him as soon as he answered the phone. "I allowed Stella to stay with you, and this is how you take care of her? I should've gotten her out of there from the start!"Keegan put his phone on the table and went to pour himself a glass of water. He did not listen to a single word of Trevor's subsequent complaints and accusations since he already knew what he would sa
Keegan moved from initial resistance to reluctantly listening, and eventually to questioning."Why do these novels portray men as so stupid and brainless, yelling at the female lead as if they have intermittent explosive disorder?""Is the male lead sick? Forcing the female lead to donate a kidney, is he out of his mind?""How many years would they get for calling the police in their world?""Why is he so dumb? The supporting actress claims the female lead pushed her into the water and he believes it? Is checking surveillance footage illegal?""Stella, are you making fun of me?""I can't learn this. It all feels so neurotic. What does the female lead see in him?"Stella retorted, "Who cares if it's neurotic? Just mimic that stupidity, that's how these innocent women like men who protect them like that."Keegan was very reluctant, but his brain was more compliant than his body. Without needing to study deliberately, everything he heard stuck in his mind.So when Keegan mentione
Keegan's expression darkened with anger. "You're being completely unreasonable!"Stella crossed her arms, wearing an expression that seemed challenging. "You let her take it. Let's see if I dare."Jaylene hadn't actually wanted those junk items in the first place; she was deliberately trying to stir up discord between them. Now that her goal was achieved, she put on a sympathetic look."Keegan, I don't want it anymore. Don't be angry. Your health is more important. Didn't the doctor say to keep your emotions stable?"Turning her head, she reproached Stella. "Stella, are you here to help Keegan recover his memory or just to provoke him?""Shut up, you brat! Do you even have a say here?"Acting under the guise of a drama, playing the role of someone lacking in manners, was incredibly satisfying.She’d wanted to curse this brat for a long time!Jaylene's lips twitched, but she held back, tearfully saying, "Stella, if you don't like me, I'll leave. There's no need to humiliate me l
Jaylene understood the situation perfectly. Even though she didn't particularly like these cold, mechanical devices, she put on a pretense of surprise, saying, "Really, Keegan?"Keegan nodded. "Choose one you like.""Keegan!" Before Stella could finish her sentence, she couldn't hold back her sharp voice, "With your pile of junk that I can't even touch normally, she takes a look and now you want to give it to her? What's the meaning of this?!"Keegan frowned, apparently not comprehending her current anger at all. "Jaylene gave me a gift, and I'm giving her one in return. What's the problem?""What problem?" Stella's eyes started to redden. "I can't touch them, so why should she be able to? Have you forgotten, or do you have inappropriate feelings for her?"Keegan's expression darkened. "This makes no sense!"Jaylene secretly delighted in this, hypocritically trying to calm things down, "Forget it, Keegan. Since Stella minds so much, I don't want it anymore. You've strained your r
The standoff lasted for over twenty minutes before Keegan grabbed a book and knocked the beetle off Jaylene's neck. The beetle fluttered twice and suddenly flew up, landing on Jaylene's face.Jaylene screamed, rolled her eyes, and fainted.As she collapsed, the bug flew off again."Jaylene?"Keegan called out to her.He looked up at Stella and said, "You go start the car, I'll carry her to the hospital."As he spoke, he signaled to Stella.She understood and coldly grunted, "So troublesome."Walking over to Jaylene, she squatted down beside her and slapped her face twice.Jaylene immediately opened her eyes and reached out to push her away. "What are you doing!"Stella was prepared and had already moved back before she could be pushed.She shook her tingling hand and innocently said, "Jaylene, you fainted because of the bug. I was just saving you. Don't believe me? Ask Keegan."Jaylene nearly ground her teeth. Did she think she hadn't heard? She was intentionally exposing h
Her fingertips trembled with a mix of horror and excitement. Just as the teapot was about to slip from her grasp, Keegan suddenly said, "Jaylene, don't move."Jaylene froze, instinctively thinking Keegan had regained his memory. She had barely twitched when Keegan loudly stopped her again, "Don't move, absolutely don't move."Jaylene wanted to say something, but then felt an itching sensation on her neck, as if something was crawling slowly. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.By now, Stella had turned around and saw Jaylene standing stiffly with the teapot in hand. Her eyes quickly assessed the situation and then she noticed the beetle crawling on Jaylene's neck.It was an unknown species, not overly tentacled but as long as a little finger, its mouthparts slightly twitching, genuinely alarming in appearance.Stella murmured, "It's so big."Jaylene couldn't see what was on her neck, unsure if it would bite or if it was venomous. She stood frozen in place, her voice trembling,
Seeing him, Stella even lowered her eyes and softly praised, "Mr. Kane, you acted very well."Keegan glared at her, his voice low and intense. "If you keep watching like this, Coco will cut ties with me tomorrow."Stella replied confidently, "No, she won't. After accepting the red envelope, she can tolerate you a little longer."Keegan asked sharply, "Did you teach her to ask for red envelopes like this?""Don't falsely accuse me; I didn't teach her.""You may not have taught her directly, but you set an example. Have you forgotten how you always make me buy things for you?"Stella was speechless. Whenever she wanted Keegan to buy her something, she would often say, "Gifts are only surprises when given voluntarily. If reminded, it shows they don’t like me that much."It had to be said, Coco had learned the essence of it.Stella also felt a bit awkward, thinking that in the future, she needed to avoid such flirtatious conversations between spouses in front of the children. They
Could she figure all this out?Keegan frowned, casting a disappointed look at Coco. "Are you not listening to me now?"Coco raised her gaze defiantly and stated, "Aunt Stella taught me that if I don't want something someone gives me, I can say no. I don't want this hairpin.""Didn't she teach you that even if you don't like something, you should still say thank you?"Coco fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said to Jaylene, "Thank you, Aunt Jaylene, but I don't want it."Jaylene hesitated with her hand extended, unsure whether to retract it or leave it there, managing a strained smile. "Then what do you like? Next time, I will get you something you do like."Coco asked, "Do you want me to do something for you?"Jaylene was taken aback. "What?"Coco replied seriously, "Aunt Stella says offering help without reason is either deceitful or thieving. Since you don't like me, why else would you give me something? You want me to do something for you, right?"Jaylene forced a s
Leighton's incident did indeed revive their suspicions.Jaylene was gullible, but Darcie might see through this scheme. "Keegan, why didn't you go to work today?" Jaylene chose to ask directly at first.Keegan remained composed. "I've been busy with the press conference lately and haven't had much rest. Now that things have slowed down, I thought I'd take a break and relax."Jaylene spoke gently, "You should rest well. Since you came back, you've been busy, and you've been postponing Dr. Stone's follow-up appointments. Keegan, I'm really worried about your health. Since you're resting these days, I'll arrange for Dr. Stone to give you another check-up. Stella has been living here to assist your recovery for so long. We need the doctor to give a clear assessment of whether there's been any improvement. Otherwise, it's not good for Stella's reputation to stay here so long, unmarried and under one roof."Keegan nodded. "Okay, please arrange it. Thank you."His response was decisive,
Stella had just descended the stairs when she heard that remark, causing her eyelids to twitch as she thought to herself, “Damn it! He really knows how to come up with excuses!”Upon hearing this, Jaylene's eyes briefly flashed with disdain, but she ultimately accepted the shoe covers Keegan handed her. As Keegan led Jaylene into the house, her eyes continued to scrutinize every corner.There were a couple of pillows on the sofa, couple mugs on the table, wedding photos of Keegan and Stella on the walls, and even headbands and hair ties scattered on the table. The house exuded an unmistakable feminine touch.Jaylene's expression darkened, but when Keegan turned to ask if she preferred tea or coffee, she adopted a gentle, harmless demeanor. "Tea would be perfect."Keegan invited her to take a seat and called for Maria to prepare tea. Jaylene spoke softly, "Keegan, I heard from Stella that you brew Dragon Well tea better than anyone else. Is there a special technique?"Stella paused