Stella was awakened by a dog's barking.She opened her eyes and found herself in a room with mud walls covered in newspaper. The tungsten lightbulb on the ceiling looked old, and the glass wall had black mold all over it. The room was filled with various antique items, and she realized she was covered under a large floral-patterned blanket that was very warm and soft, exuding a faint scent of the sun. Suddenly, Stella felt like she was in a movie where she had time-traveled to the 80s.'Does that mean that Keegan had also time-traveled?' she wondered.However, the smartphone on the table shattered her fantasy. She lay in bed for a while but soon decided to get up.The fever had left her feeling weak and sweaty. After spending a few days in the mountains and sweating all night, her body had an unpleasant smell.She wanted to freshen up but realized there was nothing in the room. So, she adjusted her clothes and went outside.She only noticed that she was sleeping in the master bedr
Stella shot him a glance, "Go back then. I didn't ask you to come anyway."Keegan was taken aback. Then, he scoffed and retorted, "Do you think I wanted to come here? I just didn't want people to gossip!"He just would not express his true feelings, which was probably why Arthur "bullied" him.Marshall could not carry out the task at all, so Arthur had to call over some youngers from next door to help.With swift and precise movements, they soon castrated over a dozen of piglets. Marshall was stunned as he asked in a low voice, "Doesn't this... hurt?"Arthur paused for a moment before saying, "Why don't you ask them?"Marshall was left speechless.As Arthur spoke, he grabbed the fattest piglets and asked Stella excitedly, "Stella, how's this one? Or you can pick which one you like, and I'll butcher it for you later."The piglet squealed and struggled as its hind legs were being held up. Stella reached out to rescue it from Arthur's hand and said in a low voice, "I don't feel li
Stella paused for a moment and then lowered her gaze. She remained silent for a while before saying, "Mr. Moore, Keegan treats you as his best friend, and so do I.""I know." Marshall smiled gently, though his face looked a little pale. "I've never dared to imagine replacing him. I just want you to be happy.""I will," Stella replied softly, "Because I know he'll want me to be happy too."Marshall tightened his grip on his phone and stopped saying anything else.Jorgeville was a peaceful and tranquil town.Some years ago, there were some government projects in Jorgeville that took up quite a bit of land. So, many local residents received a substantial amount of compensation for relocation, making their lives relatively comfortable.However, the town did not have any major industries supporting its economy, and the quality of education was subpar. So, many of the younger generation chose to move out.So, when the two good-looking and graceful youngsters came to visit Arthur, ever
So, Arthur said in a gentle tone, "Would you buy a pack of Doral then?"Marshall had never heard of that cigarette brand, but he agreed anyway, "Sure."He grabbed his jacket, turned to Stella, and asked, "Stella, do you want anything?"Stella shook her head, "No, thank you."Her tone sounded polite but somewhat distant. There was a clear hint of disappointment in Marshall's eyes as he spoke softly, "All right. I'll be back in a minute.""Mhm," Stella responded.After Marshall left, Arthur said to Stella, "Stella, stop working and come sit with me for a while."Stella wiped her hands and walked over, feeling somewhat nervous. Arthur patted the doorstep and said, "Come, sit here."Then, Stella sat down next to Arthur."What happened to that kid from the Kane family? Did you guys get into a fight?"Stella initially thought Arthur would ask her about Albert. But to her surprise, he asked about Keegan instead.After coming down from the mountain, Stella had been trying hard to hi
Arthur did not know how to write and could not compose a letter. Hence, he lost touch with Evelyn after three years.He had initially assumed that she would have already wed upon his return. To his surprise, the person he had longed for was still waiting for him at home.Although they hadn't seen each other in years, their reunion was natural, as if they had never been apart. They quickly confirmed their relationship after that.Arthur hired a matchmaker to formalize their union, and they soon set a date for the wedding.The couple were engrossed in the preparations for their new life together, eagerly anticipating their future. Little did they know, tragedy was on the horizon.A series of gruesome murders began plaguing the town. The perpetrator targeted young women, committing heinous acts before taking their lives.In just six months, four lives were brutally taken, causing the people to panic. Women were afraid to venture out alone.At the time, Evelyn was employed at a text
Evelyn's story did not end there. Instead of earning respect for identifying the assailant, she found herself subjected to further humiliation when details of the incident leaked among the community.Many believed that she survived not due to luck but rather because she was compliant with the perpetrator's wishes compared to the previous victims who met their end. Some of her co-workers even commented that her preference for stylish attire may have made her a target as it seemed too flashy.In an era where a woman's chastity was valued above all else, people often resorted to victim blaming.Even the Thornfields claimed that she was an embarrassment to the family. Despite increasing the dowry in the beginning, they ultimately proposed lowering it, perhaps out of fear that Arthur might feel repulsed by Evelyn.Evelyn was filled with a strong sense of Injustice and could not endure any longer. In a fit of anger, she attempted to take her own life.Thankfully, someone noticed this an
Arthur grew fond of Stella because she had a knack for tending to people's emotions from a young age. His affection for her had nothing to do with her being his family. That was why he did not care if she was Albert's daughter or not. However, Arthur respected Keegan's decision to tell him about Stella's parentage.Stella's eyes welled up with emotion. She remained quiet, her gaze fixed downward for an extended period. Keegan had never shared any of this with her. She could not believe he had silently paved the way for her while she was worried about facing Arthur.After a while, Arthur looked up to the night sky above. He spoke in a low voice, "Everything will turn out fine."Marshall leaned against the wall as he eavesdropped on their conversation. Upon hearing Arthur's words, he, too, glanced at the sky. It was enveloped in darkness, and no stars were visible.Marshall and Stella woke up early the following day to prepare for departure. There was not much to pack, as both had tr
After several hours, Marshall and Stella finally arrived in Rivera. As they stepped out of the train station, Stella immediately spotted Trevor. He wore a black overcoat, his brows furrowed with a cold expression. It only softened when he saw Stella.Striding over, Trevor reached out and pulled Stella into a tight embrace. He held her gaze for a long moment and said in a husky voice, "It's good to have you back."Stella reciprocated the embrace, her eyes reddening. She murmured softly, "Trevor, I'm sorry."Trevor did not respond verbally. Instead, he gently caressed the back of her head. It took a while before he finally spoke, "Let's head home."He turned to Marshall, his face serious, "Thanks for everything, Marshall. I owe you one."Marshall nodded, "Stella hasn't had a good night's sleep these past few days. Take her home to rest as soon as possible." He handed over the items Arthur had given them to Trevor and continued, "Take good care of her, and don't hesitate to reach out