'It seems like I overlooked this aspect,' Stella thought. 'I guess I can't rub salt in the wound for now.'Then, another concern came to mind. "Would your mom be released without charges if they found out that I'm not really injured?"Without looking at her, Keegan calmly replied, "Well, the hotel staff accidentally injured themselves while cleaning up the oil."Stella was taken aback. "The cleaning staff injured themselves?""Yeah." Keegan glanced at her and continued, "Should I take you to the surveillance room and show you?"Stella shrugged. "No. It was just a casual question."Keegan observed the talisman she held tightly and felt a little irritated. "You're getting water on my neck," he said.Upon hearing this, Stella immediately wanted to switch hands, but Keegan continued, "Are you trying to get my other side wet too?"Stella did not reply."Put it in my pocket," Keegan said with indifference."But, won't that make your pocket wet?""It's fine. My clothes are thick,"
Stella cast a glance at Keegan.He was visibly upset, torn between wanting to express his frustration and maintaining his fake memory loss.After a considerable pause, he blurted out, "If you thought I was dead back then, why did you go to the wishing well?"Stella had intended to tease him further, but Keegan appeared genuinely distressed. When he asked that question, his eyes even seemed to well up a bit.Stella relented. 'If he wants to continue feigning amnesia, I'll go along with it.'To her, there was no harm in indulging in his act as long as he returned and still held her in his heart. She did not see the need to intentionally stir the pot and make him upset.Stella knew that Keegan would take her words seriously.Meeting his eyes, she softly explained, "Because I don't want anyone else. Even in a sea of people, it's lonely without you."Keegan stared at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze away.His fair complexion gradually tinged with a hint of crimson, spreading
[Stella, how could you say that? I would never tell lies, even if Felicity isn't here. Where's the trust?] asked Vermont.[Sorry, but being pregnant is making me a bit sensitive since the child is pushing against my heart. My mind plays tricks on me, and I tend to overthink things. Please bear with me.] Stella replied.Vermont was at a loss for words upon seeing her response. 'Is she carrying the child in her heart instead of her belly?' he thought.[What do you want to know, Stella?][Tell me everything you know about Marshall. And I mean everything, including his childhood.]Confused, Vermont said, [???]Felicity also replied in the group chat, [!!!][Stella, why do you want to know this?] Vermont questioned.[Some things are better left unasked.]Stella's reply rendered Vermont speechless.[If you want to know about Marshall, why not ask Keegan? They grew up together and spent more time together than I did with him. Keegan knows everything about Marshall. Why not just ask
Stella replied, [What are you thinking? How does his first love concern me? It's not like I'm planning a life with him.]Felicity texted, [Then why are you secretly inquiring about Marshall behind Keegan's back?]Stella typed a response, paused, and then erased it. She retyped, [Keegan wants Marshall to be our child's godfather in the future. I'm actually supporting you two, so I need to know what Marshall is like. I must find a solid reason to dismiss Keegan's idea. My child's godparents should only be you two!]Felicity replied, [What?! Marshall as a godfather to my goddaughter? Spill his secrets, Stinky Cucumber!]To Vermont, Stella was clever and always manipulating people. In fact, he doubted Stella's questions about Marshall were innocent because the choice of godparents would ultimately be hers. With Stella's cunning, Keegan could not outsmart her, even with an extra lifetime. She could even convince Keegan to give their child her last name.Vermont did not understand how h
"Oh, I see..." Keegan pondered, a realization dawning on him. "I always assumed the person who set the password was sending me a message."Stella kept quiet, her mind racing. She vividly remembered the curious glance Keegan had given her when she set the password. She thought, 'Did he always interpret it that way? No wonder he seemed restless that night, mumbling about being more straightforward in the future.'Understanding dawned on Stella, and her expression shifted through various emotions before settling into a stiff expression. She remarked, "You really do have a wild imagination."Keegan noticed her embarrassment, a flicker of pleasure in his eyes. But soon, reflecting on her evasive behavior, his smile waned. He wondered, 'One moment she's affectionate, the next, she's secretive with a phone call. Who was she talking to that made her feel so guilty?'As he glanced at her phone, Stella quickly tucked it into her bag. Disappointed, Keegan thought, 'Fine. I'll find out who's t
Vermont continued, "But with Willow, Marshall was genuinely happy. "Yet, the Moore family would never have approved. We all sensed this but remained silent, hoping Marshall would become strong enough to defy his family."We kept his relationship a secret among close friends. However, no secret remains hidden forever. The Moores found out and demanded Marshall end things with Willow. "When he refused, they targeted her directly. She faced constant harassment from them. During her preparations for postgraduate interviews, she abruptly sent Marshall a breakup message and then disappeared."Felicity, shocked, interjected, "Disappeared? But wasn't she preparing for postgraduate studies at Trinity University? Did she abandon her plans?"Vermont murmured, "That's what's baffling. She left no trace behind. "Her exam results were excellent and she only needed to complete her interview to secure her spot. "But she never appeared for it. Marshall searched everywhere to no avail. She ha
Stella, skeptical, rolled her eyes. "So, you improvised the second half of the story?"Vermont replied, "Not exactly. It's a rough account of the events. Willow had a small family so Keegan organized her funeral, which I attended. "The emptiness of the hall reminded me of my exam answer sheets. If her husband truly loved her, wouldn't he have been there?"He continued thoughtfully, "Willow's disappearance might be tied to the Moore family. The car accident was due to Marshall's condition, but they likely covered it up. It's a complex situation, and perhaps it's better that Marshall doesn't remember."Felicity, frowning, interjected, "He's fortunate to have forgotten. Willow's life was lost because of him. Stella, whatever happens with you and Keegan, avoid someone with baggage like Marshall. He and his family are a web of problems."Stella had been silent until Felicity mentioned her name.Suddenly, Stella asked, "Did Willow and Marshall have any children?"Vermont, taken aback
Stella's questions only deepened her confusion. She had hoped Vermont's insider perspective would clarify things, but crucial details remained murky.Vermont's account hinted that Keegan had been involved in handling the fallout from Marshall and Willow's incident. Stella found it hard to believe Marshall would be ungrateful, yet if he was implicated in the kidnapping case against Keegan, perhaps Willow's accident was not as straightforward as it seemed.Stella, deep in thought, suddenly asked, "When did Willow's car accident happen?"Vermont replied, "Seven years ago, in September. I remember it very clearly. I was doing a double degree and graduated a year later than them. That summer, I went abroad with some friends and didn't return until mid-September."Stella froze. 'That was the same month me and my mother had a car accident. So why was Keegan at the accident scene?'She remembered Detective Karl's findings about a cab involved in their collision. Two fatalities and a pregn