"I'm sure there will be many opportunities to watch me play, Ms. Moore. It's Mr. and Mrs. Lowe's big day today. I don't want to take away the spotlight from the wedding host. But since you asked, why not I show everyone here a little magic trick as entertainment and my wedding gift to the newlywed?" Stella said in a warm and gentle voice with a smile on her face.Vermont was interested and asked, "Are you going to conjure a beautiful woman?"Stella raised her eyebrows and said, "I'm going to make things come alive."Everyone was looking forward to Stella's magic trick except for Keegan. He frowned when he heard her say that.After a while, the waiter brought a few fuzzy pompoms and two clear glasses. Stella's first performance was known as Sleight of Hands. It was a simple magic trick she learned in high school. She even participated in the school's talent competition to show off her skills. She moved the pompoms from one glass to another without touching the balls. Everyone was ha
Stella did not get mad at Molly. Instead, she said slowly, "My parents... perform animal sterilization, Ms. Moore. If you ever need our services, I can offer you a 20per cent discount. We don't even need to use anesthesia. It only takes three minutes per animal. Even the wildest animals become calm once they're neutered. They stop barking at people."Everyone was at a loss for words. They knew Stella was insinuating something else. It was obvious that Molly knew it, too, judging from the ugly expression on her face. However, before she could speak, Stella said, "Here it comes."Stella pulled off the handkerchief, and a fluffy gray animal was gnawing on a peanut in Molly's palm. It was a mouse.Molly was shocked to her core when she met the rodent's eyes. She screamed and threw the mouse right at the bride. The bride was startled and took a few steps back. Her foot tripped over the chair, and the groom rushed to pull her up. However, both of them lost their footing and fell to the gr
Each of the guests left after that. When Stella passed by Keegan, she whispered, "I need to go to the bathroom. Wait for me." Keegan touched the back of her hand with his to show that he understood.He did not have much to drink today; the alcohol content of the drinks was relatively low. He was not fully drunk but did not feel very well either. However, he remembered what Stella told him and obediently waited for her in the corridor.When Howard came out of the guest room, he saw Keegan standing at the end of the corridor, getting some air. He then decided to walk over and said, "Keegan, long time no see."Keegan froze and did not answer him. Howard did not find it awkward. Instead, he continued, "I was busy a while ago and couldn't attend Mrs. Kane Sr.'s birthday party. How is she?"Stella just came out of the restroom when she heard Howard's voice. 'Sounds like they're exchanging pleasantries. The birthday party was over months ago.' Stella did not want to interrupt the two men,
"My head hurts," Keegan said. Stella beckoned him over and said, "Come here." Keegan came closer and asked, "Why?" Stella put his head on her lap and massaged his temples. "To help you with the headache," she said.Keegan took in her scent, buried his face in her arms, and closed his eyes.Stella had strong fingers and great techniques. Keegan felt a lot better after a while."I just heard you talking to Howard," Stella brought up."Oh. Don't mind him," said Keegan.Stella pinched his hard and stubbled chin, asking, "Aren't you moping because of what he said?" Keegan froze for a moment and let out a low laugh. Stella was puzzled. "What are you laughing at?""Are you thinking that I'm feeling down because I feel sorry for her but don't know what to do because, at the same time, I care for you?""Is that not what's happening?"Keegan grabbed Stella's hand and put it on his forehead, "You don't know her at all. She's not trying to trick me into going back for her; she's forcing me
Stella was amused and decided to play along. "What did he do to deserve this reaction from you?"Keegan's mouth compressed into a thin line. After a long time, he told the story in bits and parts.From his incoherent speech, Stella found out that Keegan disliked Howard because of her. She never thought that she would be the reason. The details were both funny and heartbreaking.Stella did not know Keegan very well when they first got married. So, she decided to talk to his friends to find out what he liked. Since they did not really know her and may not want to engage with her, Stella often made desserts to bribe them into letting her learn more about Keegan.Keegan's friends were kind-hearted. They would inform Stella about his preferences after receiving her gifts.Initially unaware of this, Keegan later discovered it and argued with her. Stella had always believed he was embarrassed by her attempts to impress his friends with desserts.However, she now realized it was because
'Has he never been in a relationship before?! What the hell was he thinking?! Why would I care about him after he told me that he would bring another woman?!' thought Stella."So, the only reason you didn't let me make food for your friends anymore was because Howard was talking shit about me?" She asked in a low voice.Keegan gently pulled her hand from his head and kissed it. Looking up at her, he spoke softly, "Stella, you know I struggle with expressing myself at times. I wasn't upset with you for giving them gifts."I was upset that you put in so much effort to prepare those desserts, only to be insulted. And when I saw that you burned your hand, my anger grew."I bought you some ointment for the burn and even wrote you a note, but you threw it away without reading it."Stella was quiet for a while."I didn't see any ointment."Keegan was taken aback for a moment. He then defended himself by aggrievedly saying, "I bought it. I swear. I'm not lying to you."Stella believed
Keegan gradually fell asleep after some coaxing. Stella could not help but drift off to Keegan's steady breathing.When the doctor came to make rounds the next morning, Keegan woke up to see Stella sleeping soundly. He pulled the blanket over her and made shush gesture to the doctor.The doctor quietly finished the check-up and left.Stella did not wake up until it was almost 9:00 a.m. She opened her eyes and saw Keegan's handsome face close to hers. Stella pinched his cheeks as she said hoarsely, "Why were you so fussy last night?"Keegan found her words ambiguous, hearing them early in the morning. He could not help but think about how she had asked him to follow the doctor's orders and feel distracted."When are you going to give me my reward you talked about yesterday?" asked Keegan.Stella was still a little confused by his question. "What reward?"Keegan's eyelids twitched at the sound of that. 'Do you only know how to start fires and not put them out?' he thought. He took
Keegan was uncertain about Stella's theory.Stella went into combat mode and quickly contacted Xenia, asking her to find a way to bring Albert over so that he could stop Hylda from getting an abortion. She explained the plan in detail, and when she hung up, she saw Keegan staring at her. "What's wrong?""I thought you asked her to bring Albert so he can catch Hylda having an affair," said Keegan.Stella's expression turned cold. "Hylda is extremely careful about her relationship with Ian. Knowing Albert, he wouldn't believe me without solid evidence."The fact that Hylda is keen to get rid of the child is the strongest evidence I have. I'm not going to let her off that easily."I don't care if she wants an abortion. I want her to carry the pregnancy to term and have Albert personally escort her to give birth!"She got together with Albert when my mom was pregnant, let my mom raise her wild child, and finally tried to kill her."She caused all of this herself. I want her to have