After Evelyn was gone, Dolores asked Stella in low voice, “Did you two fight again?”
Stella couldn’t utter a word for a moment.
Was it so obvious?
Her mouth corners twitched, but she couldn’t tell Dolores why they got into a fight. She could lie calmly,
“Not really. He might not be in a good mood.”
Dolores heaved a sigh. She could understand, “My son is like this since he was a child. He always has
a cold look.”
Stella didn’t speak. Fair enough.
Dolores added, “Okay. Let’s leave him in peace. Time for dinner.”
Shortly after, Clarence came out after changing his clothes. He still looked cold and annoyed as if he
was a debtor who failed to get his money.
It was fine when Stella hadn’t known that Clarence was Ms. Anderson’s son. Now, since she had
known it, Stella felt quite awkward when having meals with them. She also thought herself an outsider,
and she wouldn’t get involved in between them either.
During dinner, Stella carefully studied both. Probably because of their characters, Ms. Anderson and
Clarence got along very naturally, without too much concern or the strangeness and indifference of
their first encounter not long ago.
In Stella’s opinion, this way was quite good.
She could hardly remember what her mother looked like. She didn’t only forget her mother’s
appearance, but also forgot the details when she got along with her mother completely.
If one day, Jeffrey would tell her that she was an orphan and he picked her up from the street, she
would believe that.
Recalling her father, Stella was lost in her thought.
Since that night, she didn’t think about her father deliberately, just treating him as a dead person.
Probably he had taken the money and gone far away to live a carefree life.
If possible, she hoped that she wouldn’t receive any news from him for the rest of her life.
After dinner, Dolores went into the kitchen to do dishes. When Stella was about to go upstairs,
Clarence grabbed her wrist, “Where are you going?”
“Going to bed. Or what? Having a drink?”
He frowned unhappily, “Are you truly a pig? You’ve slept for a whole day. How can you fall asleep
again?”
Stella looked at him calmly, “Mr. Conrad, what can I do for you?”
Clarence stood up and answered flatly, “Have a walk with me.”
“I’ve been walking with you on the street countless times in recent days. Mr. Conrad, why don’t you
take a walk alone. Please excuse me...”
“Yes or no?”
Stella couldn’t utter any word.
She was so annoyed by this wretched man, who couldn’t do anything but threatening her.
In anger, she lifted her foot, “Okay. Okay.”
Clarence curled up his lips, following her to go out.
All the neighbors had come back home, and it was more lively on the street. Occasionally, some mid-
aged women passing by greeted Stella. When they saw the man behind her, they were quite confused.
Their gazes swept between them, becoming quite meaningful.
Soon, Stella was so embarrassed that she wished she could find a crack on the ground and hide in.
The wretched man told the neighbors that he was married, and now she was pregnant. She couldn’t
imagine what the rumors would be spread soon.
However, Clarence, who always cared about his reputation, seemed not to see those gazes. He still
kept calm and indifferent, walking half a meter after her.
Stella fastened her pace. She roughly walked to the end of the street. She said, “Mr. Conrad, please
enjoy yourself. I really gotta go back.”
This time, Clarence didn’t stop her. He hummed in agreement.
On the way back, Stella couldn’t suppress anymore. She asked, “Mr. Conrad, may I ask you a
question?”
“Go ahead.”
“When will your work here be finished?”
Clarence cast her a glance, and his eyes were cold, “What’s your point?”
Stella paused and said sincerely, “No matter what, even if we were just acquaintances, there would be
rumors since we stayed in the same house. We’ve divorced, so we should keep our distance from each
other everywhere... Please don’t take me wrong. I’m not driving you out. Mr. Conrad, you can stay as
long as you like. I’ll find a hotel and move in.”
Clarence asked in a cold tone, “When you hit on me, why didn’t you distance yourself from me?”
Stella blushed slightly. She said in difficulty, “Mr. Conrad, could you... change your wording? Besides,
didn’t we do it based on our willingness? Why do you sound as if I’ve raped you?”
“I dare you.”
After he finished his words, Clarence strode away.
Stella followed him, “That’s just my advice. Mr. Conrad, I’m sure you’ve found that it’s quite
inconvenient for us to stay in the same house based on our current relationship.”
“What’s our current relationship?”
“Currently, we’re divorced...”
Clarence interrupted her mercilessly, “Divorced but still sex partners?”
Stella didn’t think she could continue talking to him.
Why couldn’t he speak like a normal human being?
Obviously, Clarence wasn’t in the mood to talk to her either.
On the way back, neither spoke.
Clarence didn’t follow her as he did earlier. Soon, he distanced himself from her.
Stella felt a bit tired while walking. She sat on a bench nearby to take a rest.
The wretched man was so easy to lost temper.
She just asked him but didn’t mean to move out right away. No matter what, she would be the one who
would be troubled, wouldn’t she?
After sitting on the bench for less than twenty minutes, Stella felt that she was more spiritual than
staying home, although she was depressed.
She exhaled. When she stood up and was about to go back to the house, she saw Clarence standing
not far away from her, gazing at her coldly. She wondered when he had returned.
Probably it was because she had become moodier after the pregnancy, Stella felt wronged for some
reason. The breeze also made her eyes sore. Her tears dropped.
Clarence was helpless.
He walked up to her, “Do you think you are reasonable?”
Although his words were not pleasant to hear, his tone became much gentler than it was earlier.
Stella tilted her head, rubbing her eyes, “Of course not. You are the most reasonable man in this world.
Whatever you said is right. Whatever others said is wrong. Everyone is scheming with evil intentions
and means.”
“I just said one sentence, but you retorted so many words. You are so tough, aren’t you?”
“Then, stop talking to me.”
Clarence smiled. Probably he thought that she was childish, or their argument of nonsense was
childish.
The more Stella spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her tears streamed down and she couldn’t control
them at all.
When she didn’t want to talk to this wretched man and was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed her
wrist and pulled her forward. He put his palm on her back and patted her, “All right. It could be my fault.
Don’t cry.”
Stella was taken aback in his arms. She asked reluctantly, “Could be?”
Clarence said, “Don’t push your luck too far!”
“Okay.”
Clarence smiled. Probably he thought that she was childish, or their argument of nonsense was
childish.
The more Stella spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her tears streamed down and she couldn't control
them at all.
When she didn't want to talk to this wretched man and was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed her
wrist and pulled her forward. He put his palm on her back and patted her, “All right. It could be my fault.
Don't cry.”
Stella was taken aback in his arms. She asked reluctantly, “Could be?”
Clarence said, “Don’t push your luck too far!”
“Okay.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda