It was a bite and not a kiss.Stella protested with all her might, but Keegan pinned her down along with the blanket. Her limbs were trapped inside the blanket like a cocoon. He ravished her lips recklessly.Because of the gendered difference between their strengths, Stella had no chance of resisting him. When she quieted down, Keegan became gentler toward her, and his bites turned into kisses.As his lips reached her pale collarbone, Stella suddenly spoke. "Keegan, are you mad at me because you're jealous?"Keegan stopped to look at her. Stella, who was under him, stared into his eyes and enunciated her question word by word. "Did you fall in love with me?"Keegan loosened his grip and sat up. He gave her an icy glance. "Don't flatter yourself. Stella Jewell, before we officially divorce, you're still a member of the Kane family. Know your place. Don't mess up and expect others to clean up after you."He put on his clothes and left the room. Stella raised her head up and stared
'Why is Dahlia doing this? She already know Bella's gonna have a baby, but she's still telling Maya to make me drink this yucky stuff? Does she just see women as tools for having babies for the Kane family? It's like they don't care if the baby is born when the parents are married or not,' Stella wondered.Seeing Stella's eyebrows furrow, Maya quickly replied, "Um, I added some sugar syrup to make it less bitter, like Madam Dahlia said."Stella pouted. "Maya, you saw it. Keegan and I are getting divorced. So this stuff isn't needed."Maya shook her head. "But Madam, every couple has tough times. You can't talk about divorce whenever you fight. It hurts things. And look, Keegan left after that call because he cares. Plus, divorced people don't sleep in the same room."Stella didn't know how to explain they just slept on the bed, nothing more."Madam Dahlia said this helps after... you know. To get pregnant," Maya continued.Stella heard this so many times. She used to think that t
Stella clenched her teeth, annoyed. "You know what? You remind me of something. If I stay healthy and sleep with a healthy guy, I can get pregnant. You're the one who needs supplements!" She shoved the drink into his arms and added, "Keep the drink to yourself!"She stormed off, slamming the door behind her. Keegan looked down at the drink, looking puzzled. Maya finished cleaning up and noticed Keegan had left. The bowl on the coffee table was empty. Maya took out her phone and snapped a picture before sending it.Stella arrived at the hotel a few minutes late. Felicity had been waiting for a while. When they met, Felicity teased in a hushed voice, "Man, the pressure is real. Thought we'd be super early arriving an hour before, but nope, we're last! Being a middle-class actor is like a battlefield. People are ready to wrestle for a role."Stella peeked down the corridor and saw around twenty or thirty people there. Some were solo, some had managers with them. It looked like there we
"How would I know? I called people out based on their resumes. Not being called out naturally means that there was no resume," the woman said as she pressed for the elevator."That's impossible! I asked someone to deliver it. How could it possibly disappear? Was it left out? Miss, could you go back and take a look?" Felicity begged.The woman furrowed her brows. "Why are you being such a nuisance? If I said no means no. There were only a few resumes there. How could I possibly mess up?"Felicity let go of her dignity and apologized with a smile. "Miss, I didn't mean it that way. This audition is very important to us. Could you help us and let us have an audition? It won't take up too much of everyone's time.""I don't have much authority. Besides, the candidate has been chosen. With time left, why not put some effort into other production sets," the woman finished speaking. The elevator door then opened, and she walked in."Why was there no resume?" Felicity then hurriedly called
"Hey, Director Woods! Can you just give me a shot? Maybe like five minutes, or even just three? Please, please, please!"The door to the fancy inner room swung open while they were still arguing. Daniel poked his head out and looked all serious, asking, "What's all this noise about?"The staff were about to explain, but Stella managed to slip past the two guys and stepped forward. She said, "Hi, Director Woods! I'm Stella Jewell, the seventeenth actor auditioning. Can you let me audition too?"Daniel gave her a once-over and raised an eyebrow, asking, "I don't see any info about you in the resume pile.""I'm Stella Jewell, I'm 25, and I studied theater at Trinity Film Academy a few years back."Daniel scratched his head, "So, what plays have you been in?"Stella held her breath and admitted in a hushed tone, "Um, none, actually.""None?" Daniel looked a bit surprised. "Did you change your mind about acting after school?""Nah, it's not that," Stella paused, then went on, "After
Daniel's face turned serious as he watched Stella intently. He was impressed by how effortlessly Stella managed her expressions. Despite having many lines to remember, she memorized them all in just two minutes. Her delivery was so skillful that it didn't seem like she lacked acting experience at all.No one on set spoke until Stella finished her performance. Stella was confident, but handling every expression and line in such a short time was challenging. She did her best, and instead of commenting on her performance, Daniel exchanged hushed words with the people beside him. Then, he looked at Stella and suggested, "Why don't you try another scene?"Stella's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. She knew that if things hadn't gone well, they might have dismissed her after a short reading. A new was handed to her. As Stella looked down, she realized it wasn't the same character as before. This time, she was given the role of the third female lead, a consort.This character was a depa
Stella grabbed Felicity's wrist and said in a low voice, "We'll talk outside."After getting into the car and hearing Stella talk about what happened inside, Felicity widened her eyes."Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Daniel let you audition for the role of the beauty? Does he intend to let you play the beauty?"Stella shook her head. "I don't know. How could he let me play such an important role? Besides, hasn't someone already been cast for this role?"Felicity winded up the window."They're all rumors online. No one is sure if anyone, in particular, has been cast. Besides, Daniel isn't against casting newbies."Regardless, Stella still was not confident.On the other hand, Felicity was bursting with confidence. "Did Daniel say anything after your audition?"Stella shook her head, "He told me to leave my number. Maybe letting me audition was a spur-of-the-moment thing.""It would be great if you could play the beauty's role. But, getting the role of the fourth female lead i
Albert spoke sanctimoniously.'Others have lovers because they seek the thrill, but he's doing it because of his comatose wife. He has no choice but to look for other women since he can't satisfy himself. It's as if his actions can be justified after he changes the reason. Humans are not animals. What does he mean by biological needs? Or, are men this shameless in the face of infidelity and shirk the blame to women?' wondered Stella."If your mother was alive and well, I would've never gone to find other women. She and I went through thick and thin together to establish the company. Our relationship can't possibly be replaced by others."'If he hadn't hastily wanted to divorce my mother soon after her accident, I would have believed his nonsense! Besides, would he care if my mother's dead or alive if I weren't married to Keegan and still useful to the Jewell family? He hasn't divorced my mother only because he's pinning me down in the name of taking care of her,' Stella thought.St
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