Stella was startled. "What did you say?"Keegan avoided her gaze and said coolly, "Cordelia's people here. I don't want grandma to hear any stories, so don't read too much into it."'No wonder,' she thought.Stella pouted.'I knew it. He wouldn't say such strange things. He's the one who's a performing art major graduate; he can get into character anytime and anywhere. But, why should I cooperate with him?' she thought.Just as Stella was about to reject his request, she suddenly saw Bella look longingly in their direction. She looked as if she wanted to pounce over and separate Stella from Keegan.Suddenly, Stella changed her mind.She grabbed Keegan's shoulders and murmured, "Keep your word."Then, she tip-toed and kissed him on the lips.Keegan's lips were a little damp and tasted like red wine; it was faint and smelled a little good.'Keegan definitely doesn't know how nervous I feel every time I use every trick in the book to seduce him. No matter how experienced I prete
Just as Stella was about to reach out and accept the glass, Keegan quietly said beside her, "I thought you couldn't drink right now?"Stella was at a loss for words.'I can't tell him I said that because I didn't want Bella's drink, right? It'll look like I care about him,' she thought."Who said I'm drinking?" she moved her hand away and grabbed the juice she was drinking just now.Then, she smiled at Marshall with her eyes. "You don't mind me drinking juice instead of wine?"Marshall's gaze softened. "Go ahead."Vermont saw Keegan's darkened expression. He quickly grabbed a glass of wine and stuffed it into his hands. Then, he moved closer and said with a smile, "It's only fun to drink wine when everyone's drinking together. Here's to you, Stella."Stella glanced bewilderedly at Vermont.'It can be said that Vermont and I usually can't stand the sight of each other. Keegan's friends all look down on my background and have always complained about how I managed to marry Keegan.
"Of course," Bella said while rummaging through her bag.When Stella saw the bag, her breathing quickened.She secretly peered at Keegan. He was slowly sipping the wine and did not seem to notice the bag.'I suppose he doesn't even spare a glance at the things other people gifted him, so how would he know what the bag looks like? After all, he doesn't even notice that I change my clothes three times a day back home,' she thought.At that thought, Stella felt a little reassured.Bella rummaged through her bag for a while and took out only a pen. She lifted her head a little and apologetically said, "Sorry, I forgot to bring a paper. Why don't we do this another day? Or, I could get Mr. Snyder to pass you my autograph on my behalf after this?"Marshall smiled, "If it's possible, could you sign it on my hand?"Stella's eyes twitched.'Don't tell me Marshall is really Bella's fan,' she thought.However, Vermont was blunter, "I didn't know you were interested in all this, Marshall.
"Would you like to dance?"Marshall's voice sounded very soft, or perhaps, gentle.He always had this magnetic voice, yet that was his first-time talking to her like that.Stella suddenly felt very uncomfortable. She did not know if it was the alcohol or how aggrieved she felt, but tears welled up in her eyes.Then, she said in a hoarse voice, "I'm not good at it."Marshall smiled. "Me neither."He lied. He was a good dancer.He got every beat right as he matched her pace patiently.That was something Stella never experienced with Keegan. She would always step on his foot, and Keegan was never a teacher with patience.He would stop dancing with her after she stepped on him a few times.She was not a terrible dancer, but Keegan would not try to accommodate her pace.Stella already started sweating after two songs.She handed Marshall a glass of wine and asked him while supporting her chin with one hand, "Are you really a fan of Bella Young?"Marshall smiled. Then, he damped
She struggled for a moment before she answered it. However, she heard an automated female voice reminding her to make her credit card repayment.She hung on with an indifferent look on her face. She raised her phone as if she was going to throw her phone away but stopped at the very last moment. Then, she switched off her phone and put it back into her bag.Marshall looked at her actions and somehow thought that she looked cute.He walked over and draped his coat over her shoulder. "I'll send you back.""Forget it. If Keegan told you to do this, tell him to pick up his own wife."Clearly, she was throwing a fit even though she said that she did not care.She only sat there without leaving because she was waiting for Keegan to come back."It's getting late. It's not safe for you to be alone out here."Marshall said in a very subtle way, but Stella could understand that Keegan did not call him.'He probably forgot that he left his own wife behind,' she thought to herself.Then,
"We're not fighting. He agreed to give me a part of his wealth after we're divorced. Why would I fight with him? Money is money, right?""Then, are you going back home now?""No, I'm going to the hospital," Stella said, "The caretaker told me that my mom moved a little this morning, and it seems like she's getting better. So, I want to spend more time talking to her and hopefully, I can wake her up sooner.""I'll drive you.""It's fine. I'm going to take a cab." Stella waved her hands at her and said, "You should sleep early.Rainee was still lying on the bed as usual. What Stella told Felicity was a lie.She just wanted to stay beside Rainee when she felt wronged just like old times. She would feel very at ease even though Rainee could not console her.The doctor always told her to talk to Raine more, but she just could not come up with a topic. Stella had never really talked to her growing up.She tried to talk about what happened in the past to recall her memories, just to r
It seemed like that was the only occurrence in common when Rainee had a reaction.The doctor noted down what the caretaker said in Rainee's medical record before he said, "Perhaps we can continue to stimulate her sense by doing this. However, don't play it for too long. Observe her when you do that next time and notify us right away if there's a reaction.""Sure, thanks."Stella looked at the cassette after the doctors left.The cassette was very old, and most of the words on it were scrapped off. Stella could only see the word "Opera Master" on it."Miss, do you remember which cassette was playing when my mom had a reaction last time?""I can't really recall, but I can remember a small part of it. I can hum it to you."Stella waited eagerly.The caretaker immediately asked after she hummed it, "How was it? Can you recognize which one it was? This is the part I remember the most!"Stella kept quiet.The caretaker really did just hum a small part of it without a single word an
Keegan got a little annoyed by her attitude, as his voice became unnoticeably deeper. "Don't your friend have a phone? Was it so difficult for you to just give me a call?""It's not, but I was worried that you might be too busy to pick up. After all..." Stella paused before continuing flatly, "You didn't even have time to let me know that you were leaving."Keegan was speechless.He continued to speak after some time, "Bella got hurt."'He got worried and immediately sent Bella to the hospital because she was hurt. So, he couldn't find the time to notify his legitimate wife about it.'"Oh," Stella looked down as she said calmly, "Is she dead?"Keegan could not help but frown after hearing the mean words Stella said."Stella Jewell, did you have to be so evil?""I was just asking. Why are you so agitated? It's not like she'd die just because I asked that question anyway."Stella spoke as she went around Keegan.Keegan looked at her back for a few seconds before trying to catch
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