Keegan nibbled his lip, feeling a weird sensation in his heart. His time with Stella before they got married didn't seem as rocky as his mom said. 'But then, why would I still have something she casually sketched in my desk drawer?'After staring at the drawing for a prolonged moment, he placed it back into the drawer."Aldor, inform everyone I won't attend the gathering today. Charge tonight's expenses to my account. We'll have another gathering once I settle the matters at hand."Aldor nodded, then asked, "Mr. Kane, there are new desserts at Memorie Baker. Should we get some for Mrs. Kane?""No need. Pregnant women should watch their sugar. It could make the baby too big for an easy birth," Keegan said casually.This puzzled Aldor. 'When did he learn all this?'Keegan was surprised himself. He hadn't tried to remember it. When he stopped Stella from having an abortion, he had skimmed a booklet about caring for moms and babies. The details stuck in his head without much thought.
Stella scoffed, "I see."She vigorously stirred the dumplings in her bowl, creating a crisp sound as the spoon repeatedly hit the dishware.Having dined together at the Saun residence before, Keegan knew Stella's table etiquette was far more refined than her current demeanor. It then dawned on him that something was wrong. "Are you upset?" he asked."No," Stella flashed a fake smile. "I'm so thrilled that you remembered to bring me food coming home from work so late, Mr. Kane."Keegan detected a pattern. Whenever Stella was angry, she would address him as "Mr. Kane".He vaguely recalled her raising her eyebrows and commenting, "Nice watch, Mr. Kane." Yet, she wasn't genuinely admiring his timepiece; she was being sarcastic.Keegan couldn't fathom what had triggered her irritation, so he asked, "Don't you like shrimp filling?"Stella shook her head and said in a serious tone, "No, I do. Like you said, shrimp is good for pregnant women. It's good for the baby too."Hearing that,
Stella was heartbroken to hear what Keegan had been through.'He was in a daze. How much painkillers did he have to take to be in that state?' Stella couldn't shake off the overwhelming feeling. She contemplated what could have been if she had just held onto him in the river. It might have prevented the subsequent events, sparing him from facing the most challenging moment of his life all alone.Sensing her distress, Keegan's mood seemed to darken. Without meeting her eyes or uttering a word, he matched her stride and silently accompanied her.The streetlights extended their shadows as Keegan suddenly inquired, "Did you use to take walks like this with him?"Stella was momentarily stunned but then comprehended that the "him" Keegan referred to was the previous version of himself, the one she had married. This realization stemmed from her previous statement, "I want to make sure the Keegan who deeply loved me is safe and sound."Dropping her gaze, Stella responded slowly, "No, we r
Stella felt anxious and reluctant to leave, but Baldwin insisted, "Ms. Hall, please step outside. It's Dr. Morghen's protocol."Stella tightly clutched her hands and eventually stepped back. The door closed firmly, muffling any sounds from within.Anxiously pacing outside the room, Stella couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. Finally, she turned to Baldwin and said, "Who is this doctor? Can we trust him?""You've met him before," Baldwin replied.Perplexed, Stella questioned, "When did I meet him? I don't remember.""At the Temple of Abawo.""Temple of— Is he the Venerable Raphael Morghen? Isn't he a religious figure? Since when he knows medicine?" Stella did not recognize Raphael due to his loose hair.Baldwin explained, "His belief and job are two different things."'It sounds like he has quite a flexible career,' thought Stella.Raphael had a deep connection with Cordelia, and her trust in him prompted his invitation. Still, Stella wondered about his medical skills.
Wenham's voice echoed from the kitchen, asking if the soup was ready. "Coming," Darcie replied while swiftly deleting all the messages on her phone. She gracefully carried the hot soup to the dining area."Let Sandra handle these matters moving forward." Wenham wiped his hands and continued, "It's getting cold, and the food will cool down during all the back-and-forth.""Sandra has been busy all night. She's currently having dinner. We shouldn't trouble her with these minor tasks," Darcie said as she filled another bowl of hot soup for Wenham. "Plus, I'm used to it. I took care of your mom, remember? It's not a big deal."Wenham paused upon hearing that and refrained from saying anything more.Darcie had put a lot of effort into taking care of Eleanor over the years. With the wealth of the Saun family, finding help for such tiring work was easy as long as the pay was good. Eleanor, once a renowned debutante in Rivera, had become bedridden because of her illness. Her self-esteem suf
With the thought of Darcie caring for her late mother, Wenham's expression softened. "I've bought two tickets for the theater. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"Darcie couldn't help but feel surprised. Throughout their lengthy marriage, it had consistently been her responsibility to arrange their outings. Wenham rarely took the initiative, and when he did, it was usually in response to invitations from friends.Her raised eyebrows turned into a warm smile as she asked, "Sure. What time is the show?""Three o'clock. I'll pick you up tomorrow," Wenham replied.Darcie nodded in agreement. As Wenham ate his soup, he addressed the unspoken tension between them. "I've raised Jaylene for twenty years, treating her as my own. Being separated from Stella for over two decades and only recently reconnecting, I might sometimes be a bit biased. Please don't read too much into it."With a calm tone, Darcie responded, "I understand. You don't need to explain. I know I was in the wrong before. It
Jaylene had always believed that Keegan stood apart from other men. She trusted that he wasn't one to judge solely based on appearances but their personality as well. The only obstacle between her and Keegan was the time they spent together or the lack thereof.Unexpectedly, Stella shamelessly clung onto Keegan despite him declaring the annulment of their engagement and her having heated moments with Marshall. From Jaylene's perspective, this conduct resembled that of a woman who lacked decency.Unsure of Jaylene's thoughts, Darcie softened her tone. "Plenty of good men exist in this world. The situation between Keegan and Stella is complicated. He isn't your perfect match. You should put a stop to your feelings sooner. Stella is entirely focused on Keegan now. This is your chance. Invest your energy in Caline. Establish a solid foundation quickly because, in the end, your customers are what matter most, not just shares."Jaylene was not enthusiastic about the idea. With Keegan unab
Stella halted and turned around with a smile. "Where to? Galaxy Avenue, Century Mall, or Briller Plaza? Which mall would you like to go to, Mr. Kane? Are we driving there, or are we taking a cab? If you prefer a cab, I can arrange it right away."The immediate switch in her demeanor left Keegan speechless.Her flattering tone was usually the type he detested. Yet, when Stella spoke like this, he not only didn't mind but even felt a peculiar sense of pleasure. He found it adorable.Keegan pressed his fist against his lips, coughed lightly, and averted his gaze. "Let's drive. You choose the place.""Then, let's go to Briller Plaza. They offer goods with a better value for money there.""Sure."Stella made an inviting gesture. "Mr. Kane, come upstairs. I'll help you change."Keegan scowled and asked, "Is one million dollars not enough? How come you want to take advantage of me?"Stella's remark was a playful tease, not meant to be taken seriously. However, Keegan's response caught