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
"She would've told us if she's seeing someone. One of her classmates from when she studied abroad is in town for a visit. She met up with them to show them around," said Darcie.Wenham furrowed his brows, "Why don't I recall her mentioning it?""She brought it up a while ago. Stella was still unconscious then, so you might not have noticed."Wenham sensed a hint of disapproval in Darcie's words.After Stella reunited with the Saun family, Wenham had been emotionally neglectful toward Jaylene. Even though he treated them equally on the surface by giving Jaylene whatever he gave Stella, aside from Caline's shares, he was evidently biased.Wenham knew he was in the wrong and suggested, "How about we invite her classmate over for dinner? It's not often they visit. Let's be hospitable and make them feel welcome.""There's no need for that. Just let them enjoy themselves. Besides, Stella hasn't been in a good mood lately. It's better not to put her in social situations she might not wa
Stella hesitated momentarily, then asked in a low voice, "Where are you?"Aldor quickly arranged a meeting spot.After freshening up a bit, Stella headed out. Concerned for her well-being, Wenham insisted that their driver accompany her.The place Aldor had chosen for their meeting was a cafe. It was 3:00 p.m. on a weekday, so the place was not crowded.Stella provided a room number to the owner, and they escorted her to the entrance of a private room where Aldor was waiting.Upon pushing the door open, she found Aldor sitting inside, accompanied by Ted.Stella was momentarily stunned and closed the door behind her."Mrs. Kane." Aldor sounded like he had a cold, his voice somewhat hoarse. He also looked a little tired. However, upon seeing Stella, he maintained his usual courtesy and warmth. He rose from his seat and pulled out the chair opposite him, "Please, have a seat."Stella set her bag down and sat across from him.Stella's condition was better than Aldor had imagined.