Stella had stood in the balcony for an hour, supporting her face with her hands on the rail.
She watched the light snow falling in the air and getting thicker as time went by.
When Sherry finished her shower and went out of the bathroom, she found Stella was still in the same
posture and looked at the same direction. Sherry came close to her and looked toward the same
direction, “What’s so interesting?”
Stella collected her thoughts and smiled softly, “Nothing.”
Sherry asked, “Are you waiting for someone?”
She continued with a sigh, “What’s wrong with the wretched man? He said he’d see you tonight, but he
didn’t show up. If I were you, I would be anxious too.”
Stella, “….”
She defended herself in a low voice, “I’m not thinking about that.”
Sherry doubted, “I don’t believe you.”
Stella looked forward again and took a deep breath, “Emmett told me he likes me yesterday.”
Sherry was cheered up instantly hearing the news, “What did he say? What did he say? No, no, no.
You accepted or rejected him?”
Stella shook her head and said slowly, “I should give myself a chance.”
“That’s right. You should have. You shouldn’t stick to Clarence.”
“…not as what you think. I am not ready.”
“You don’t have to get ready. Love always comes in a sudden with no signs.” Sherry said, “Stella, you
are thinking too much. Life is short. It is not big deal to have a few romantic relationships without
commitments as long as you are happy.”
Stella pressed her lips in silence.
Sherry looked at her, “Stella, actually I know why you are hesitating.”
Stella asked unconsciously, “Why?”
“It’s because you are still in love with Clarence, right?”
Stella lowered her head but didn’t admit or deny it.
Sherry placed her hands on the rail too and sighed, “This is life. Sometimes it doesn’t go as you
wished. But Stella, if the child … is alive, would you marry Clarence again?”
After a while, Stella answered, “He also asked this question.”
“What was your answer?”
Stella forced a light smile, “As you said, life doesn’t go as we wished. If everything could be redone, we
wouldn’t have gotten where we are.”
“Right, if everything can start anew, I’d like to keep away from the asshole Liam Keith as far as
possible.” Sherry stretched herself as she said, “But Emmett made a point. You shou give you a
chance to move on.”
Stella nodded slightly, “I know.”
Sherry said, “I’d like to go to bed now. You’d better come back to your room soon in case of getting
cold.”
“Ok.”
After Sherry left, Stella stood there for another few minutes and right after she closed the balcony’s
door, her phone rang in her pocket.
She answered the phone and heard Clarence’s voice, “You come downstairs, or I come upstairs?”
Stella, “….”
She took her coat and came out of the house.
Downstairs, Clarence leaned against the door of his car, lowering his black eyes with a cigarette
between his thin lips, looking cold and indifferent.
Stella came to him and stopped in front of him, “What I can do for you Mr. Conrad?”
Clarence looked up slowly, took off the cigarette and stared at her with his calm black eyes, “Why didn’t
you tell me what happened today?”
“Mr. Conrad is referring to .…” Stella realized what was he asking as soon as she uttered, “It’s my own
business. I don’t think I have to report to Mr. Conrad.”
Clarence showed no expression on his face and said flatly, “If I didn’t show up there, what were you
going to do?”
“I told you it’s my own business. It has nothing to do with Mr. Conrad however I handle it.”
“You mean I am being nosy?”
Stella said, “Nothing wrong with your interpretation.”
Clarence gazed at her emotionlessly, “Stella, my patience is not without limit.”
Stella laughed hearing his words, “Mr. Conrad’s patience has been run out?”
“You are happy or sad about it?”
“If Mr. Conrad is happy to hear I say I am happy, then the answer is happy.”
Clarence asked, “You hate to see me so much?”
Stella looked away, “It’s not about if I hate it or not. It’s just unnecessary to see you.”
She paused for a while and continued, “Mr. Conrad, I think I should tell you something. Emmett told me
he likes me, and I ….”
“You accepted? You said you don’t like him.”
Stella answered, “I didn’t accept yet, but I decided to have a try with him.”
Clarence uttered word by word, “Stella, look at my eyes.”
Stella took a deep breath and turned to look at him, “Mr. Conrad, let’s end here. Anyway, your patience
has run out. I don’t know your thought, but I really want to start anew and have a life that I like.”
“What kind of life do you want?”
Stella moved her lips but couldn’t find an answer.
Clarence flicked his cigarette and answered for her.
“The life you want is the one without me, right?”
The wretched man made a correct guess.
Stella said, “Mr. Conrad should know that we are very different. Initially ….”
“What different?”
Stella was a little confused, “Huh?”
Clarence sneered, “Right, I am an illegitimate child. I don’t deserve you. You are right, we are different.”
“….”
Was he being unreasonable and playing the game with me?
Stella closed her eyes for a while and then said slowly, “Mr. Conrad, I didn’t mean that.”
“In my view, that is what you mean.”
Stelle felt that their conversation came to a dead end again.
Whenever she intended to have a good talk with him, he always blamed it on her.
He made her feel guilty.
After a few seconds, Stella opened her mouth, “Mr. Conrad, I finished what I want to say. You should go
now.”
Clarence said, “Don’t rush. I didn’t finish yet.”
“…please go ahead.”
Clarence lit up a new cigarette and said slowly, “Annie left the Conrad’s Mansion, and she may come to
see you, but the probability is tiny.”
Stella looked at him blankly and tilted her head, her beautiful eyes were full of confusion. She was
waiting for him to continue.
“I guess they would send her overseas. Who knows what would accident happen to her in a foreign
country?”
Stella realized what he meant, “Mr. Conrad ….”
“Stella, I told you this simply because I want you to know that I’ve never been a good guy. You can stay
together with Emmett. It’s your freedom. But no one could keep me from doing what I want.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda