Stella wasn’t surprised that Annie would bite her like a mad dog. After a moment of silence, she asked,
“Mr. Conrad, do you believe her?”
“Whether I believe her or not depends on your answer.”
“No, he’s not.” Stella didn’t want to explain anything meaningless. She added, “Mr. Conrad, you could
look into the days of my pregnancy and check when Horace has come back from abroad.”
Clarence didn’t speak, withdrawing his gaze calmly.
Stella parted her lips. She wanted to say something but she didn’t think it would be useful.
After a few seconds, Clarence said, “It doesn’t mean I believe you. I just don’t believe Annie. You don’t
need to be delighted.”
Stella was speechless.
What he said didn’t make sense at all.
Clarence added, “Stella, there’s no good person in the Conrad family.”
Nor was he.
Stella didn’t retort. She agreed with him, and especially he was a jerk.
However...
She said in a low voice, “I don’t think Justin is the same as others.”
Clarence retorted, “Oh, really? How do you know?”
“I’ve talked to him several times. I can tell if the person was a nice one from his language and
behaviors.”
“In that case, how come I couldn’t understand why so many people like you so much based on your
language and behaviors?”
Stella was choked up by his words again.
She inhaled deeply, “Mr. Conrad, we’re discussing some matters. Please stop your personal attack,
OK?”
Clarence secretly curled up his lips, “I’m discussing the matter with you. What else do you have
besides your appearance? Are they too stupid to see through you?”
“Mr. Conrad, in my opinion, if everyone else had different opinions with you on one matter, you should
consider if it’s because of your own problem.”
“All right. Tell me. On all the things you’ve done, what did I blame you wrongly?”
Stella fell into the silence. No matter if it was she got pregnant and forced him to marry her, she kept
asking him for money, or she pissed him off to divorce her by her pregnancy, those matters indeed had
happened, although she wasn’t so scheming as he thought.
She couldn’t retort him at all.
Clarence snorted. He knew it.
Stella said, “It’s getting late. Mr. Conrad, do you still want to wander around? If not, please excuse me.
I’m going home.”
“Suit yourself.”
Stella couldn’t wait to hear him say so, “All right. I’m leaving. Mr. Conrad, bye.”
Seeing that she left without looking back, Clarence looked quite unhappy.
What an ungrateful woman!
After Stella was gone far, Clarence withdrew his gaze. When he was about to leave, a figure showed
up nearby.
“Clare, wait.”
...
After Stella got home, she found Dolores wasn’t in the house. She guessed that Dolores must go to
see Clarence, so she went upstairs.
She took a shower and walked out of the bathroom. When she was about to sleep, her phone vibrated.
It was a message sent by Alexander.
“Stella, could you come out for a second, please? I want to have the last conversation with you.”
Stella exhaled. With the phone in her hands, she went downstairs.
When she walked out, Alexander was standing at the riverside, lowering his head.
Hearing her footsteps, he raised his head, “Stella, sorry for asking you out so late.”
“It’s alright. What’s up?”
Alexander said bitterly, “Recently, I must have been bothering you a lot. I want to make an apology to
you. I’ve started looking for a new place to rent, so I’ll move away pretty soon.”
Alexander would move away not only because the community was about to be torn down, but also,
most importantly, Stella had rejected him in presence of so many people. For his dignity, he couldn’t
continue staying.
He would have to move out sooner or later. If he moved away now, at least he could still keep his self-
esteem.
Stella pressed her lips. She said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Hans. I...”
“Please don’t apologize to me. I just flattered myself too much.” Alexander smiled, “If there’s any
chance, I’d like to meet your ex-husband. I wondered how outstanding he is that you can’t forget him at
all.”
“What? Well...” Stella said, “You’ve misunderstood. My ex-husband isn’t that outstanding. He’s proud
and arrogant. He doesn’t only have a bad temper but also never speaks nicely. He always thinks others
evilly.”
Alexander was agape by her description, “Then, why do you...”
Stella whispered, “Everyone has his or her shortages. I’m not a perfect woman, either. Besides... I just
want to live all by myself. It has nothing to do with him at all.”
Alexander fell into the silence, “I see.”
“Okay... Then, I’m going back now.”
“Stella, wait,” Alexander stopped her, “How about Mr. Conrad and you...”
Alexander kept wondering the question since last night, but he didn’t have a chance to ask.
Besides, no matter from which perspective, Alexander didn’t think they only knew each other. However,
he couldn’t figure out what kind of relationship was between them.
Before Stella could answer him, a man’s indifferent tone was heard, “Haven’t she told you that I’m her
ex-husband, who is proud and arrogant, doesn’t only have a bad temper but also never speaks nicely,
and always thinks others evilly?”
Stella was speechless.
She wondered why she would be caught by him whenever she was talking evil at his back. Did he
install a surveillance system on her?
Alexander gaped as if he got a lightning strike, “Mr... Mr. Conrad?”
Clarence stood next to Stella with an expressionless face, “Mr. Hans, you keep aiming to bring up my
son. I don’t know how I should appreciate your kindness.”
Alexander even couldn’t wait to find a new place to rent. He moved out overnight.
...
Clarence looked at Stella from her side. The latter dodged his gaze, “Mr. Conrad, look how round that
moon is!”
“It’s the first day of the new moon today. There’s no full moon in the sky.”
Stella rubbed her nose, feeling extremely embarrassed.
Ignoring her, Clarence turned around and walked into the house.
Stella followed him, “Mr. Conrad, what are you doing?”
“The hangover soup.”
“Okay.”
Stella knew that she had done something to offend him. She didn’t turn him down, walking into the
kitchen in silence.
Clarence came back but Ms. Anderson hadn’t, and neither had Ms. Beckham. Stella guessed that they
were still chatting with the neighbors and bidding each other farewell.
There were plenty of ingredients in the kitchen. Stella made the hangover soup pretty quickly.
When she walked out with the bowel of sup in the tray, Clarence was sitting at the stone table. Looking
at the half-done baby’s stock, he was lost in thought.
Stella said, “Mr. Conrad, the soup is ready.”
Clarence put down the thing in his hand and took over the bowel from her hands.
Watching him finish the soup, she whispered, “Mr. Conrad, if there’s nothing else, may I go to sleep
now?”
Clarence cast her a glance and hummed in a low voice, “Ehn.”
Stella exhaled in silence and trotting upstairs immediately.
The unlucky day finally passed.
Fortunately, the acquisition was almost done. She didn’t think that Clarence would stay long. He would
leave pretty soon.
Stella didn’t know how long Ms. Anderson and Ms. Beckham would chat with the neighbors. She was
running out of energy. Lying on the bed, she soon fell asleep.
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