In the studio, Stella was sitting in front of her desk with one of her hands supporting her chin. She was
gazing at the piercing sunlight outside the studio, and she seemed to be lost in her thoughts.
She wondered what was going on with Clarence’s side, and she couldn’t know whether the directors’
meeting was going well as planned.
Time was slowly ticking away, and the sun was hanging in the middle of the sky. The heat shrouded the
whole city and made it a scorching hot place.
Just as Stella was standing up and about to make some coffee for herself, she saw some people
outside her studio slowly forming a crowd when she reached the door. They seemed to be engaged in
some heated discussion.
The girls in the studio were attracted by this commotion as they all craned their neck, wanting to find
out what was happening.
Stella put down her glass of water and slowly walked out of her studio, almost involuntarily.
As she passed through the passing crowed, she saw a man who was dressed in white shirt and black
pants standing by a black car. He was holding a bouquet of fiery red rose in his arm.
Under the glow of sunlight, his expression appeared a little nonchalant and lazy.
When Stella got a good look at him, she couldn’t help but get stunned.
Clarence met her eyes and raised his brows slightly. He began to move his feet and walk to where she
was. He handed her the flower, “This beautiful lady, do I have the honor to have lunch with you today?”
There was immediately an explosion of noise around them as the crowd started to clamor and whistle.
They were guessing about Clarence’s identity as one of those domineering CEOs who was pursuing
his sweet and demure wife.
Stella’s face swiftly flushed bright red. She didn’t know whether it was caused by the hot weather or
because she was so embarrassed.
She took over the roses quickly and dragged Clarence all the way back to her office.
Clarence had a faint smile playing around his lips, and instead of being led, he held her hand and took
the lead.
The girls in the studio all drooped their heads, pretending not to see this scene.
On the other hand, outside the studio, the surrounding crowd had dispersed, seeing that the
protagonists were no longer there.
After entering the office, Stella put the flower on one side and shut the door. She turned to him and
said, “You…”
Before she could say anything, a huge hand grasped her waist. Clarence was pushing her against the
door, and he was rubbing her chin lightly with his fingers, “This beautiful lady, you still haven’t answered
my question.”
Stella pushed him slightly with her face blushed, “Stop messing with me.”
Clarence replied, “Then I will take that as a yes.”
Stella’s lips couldn’t help but curl up. She looked up at him and asked, “Didn’t you say that you can only
come back at night?”
“Allow me to correct you. You only asked me about what I want to eat tonight.”
Stella was rendered speechless.
This bastard really knew how to play with words.
She stayed silent for a few seconds before replying, “Then… The board meeting has already ended?”
Clarence tucked a few strands of her hair to the back of her ear and mumbled softly, “Everything is
done.”
Stella didn’t continue the conversation as she wrapped her arms around his waist and stuck her face
on his chest.
Clarence looked downwards and chuckled, “What are you doing? Although I like you being the one
taking the initiative, I…”
Stella interrupted her, “Nothing. Stop talking.”
Clarence’s gaze became soft and gentle as he proceeded to hug her.
After some time, he repeated, “Everything’s over.”
Stella closed her eyes and replied, “Yes, I know that.”
When things finally came to an end, all she needed to do now was to wait for the little one to gain full
recovery. Then, they could finally be together forever. There wouldn’t be any nonsense or trifles
interfering with their lives.
At noon, after finishing their lunch, Stella sat in front of her desk to continue her design. Clarence was
simply reading a book by her side.
The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
When it was three in the afternoon, someone knocked on the office door.
One of the girls peeked into the office and whispered, “Ms. Radomil, someone is looking for Mr.
Conrad.”
Stella looked up at her and then at Clarence.
Clarence continued to read his book and didn’t provide any response. He simply said, “I won’t see
anyone.”
Stella added, “Just tell that person that he’s busy. He doesn’t have time.”
The girl nodded and then left.
Stella went back to focus on her draft.
If her guess was correct, it must be one of those Conrads who had come looking for him.
After some time, the girl came knocking at the door again, “Ms. Radomil, another one is here for…”
Clarence replied with the same thing, “Not seeing anyone.”
The whole afternoon, visitors kept coming for clarence, but none of them were able to meet him.
Later on, the news about Clarence's departure from the Conrad Group finally spread like wildfire and
became a hot topic on the internet. People somehow acquired the information that Clarence was at
Stella’s studio. There were more and more people who came knocking.
Besides those from the Conrad Group, numerous reporters came too after hearing that Clarence had
resigned from the president’s position. They all came in the hopes of getting their hands on first-hand
news.
However, no one was able to meet Clarence face to face.
Stella mulled over this situation and came to the conclusion that she couldn’t simply continue her
business today. So, she ended business hours earlier than usual and allowed her employees to go off
work and get back home.
For the others who came visiting much later, not only were they not able to meet Clarence, they
couldn’t even get into her studio.
While on the way back home, Clarence apologized, “I’m sorry, everything happens because of me.”
Stella was driving as she answered, “It’s alright. It just so happens that everyone is busy during this
period of time, and I am trying to find a chance for them to rest which is to no avail.”
Clarence swooped in and his voice suddenly lowered, “Do you mean that I am not disturbing your work
progress?”
Stella never thought that he would have this kind of awareness, so she comforted him, “Not at all. I can
work on my design anywhere, and I can continue it at home now…”
“If that’s the case, let’s go now.”
Stella was confused, “Where are we going?”
“Didn’t you decide on the place already? Semporna.”
They coincidentally reached a traffic junction, and Stella stopped the car and turned her head around,
“Didn’t you say that we will only go during the weekends?”
Clarence mused, “Plans always fall behind changes.”
“I don’t even have anything prepared yet…”
“Go pack up your necessities when you get back home. Leave the rest to me.”
Stella protested, “But…”
“Only when we were gone, those people would stop flocking to your studio and disturbing your
business.”
Stella gave this some thought and decided that he was right. She then nodded, “Alright.”
After getting back home, Stella began to pack up her stuff.
When she was tidying up the wardrobe, she suddenly saw that blue and white striped shirt which was
bought for her by Clarence when he went on a business trip to Malaysia.
At that time when they divorced, she thought that Clarence would have discarded this piece of clothing.
A smile bloomed over Stella’s face as she packed that up into her luggage too.
Not long after, Clarence came in and asked, “Are you all packed up?”
Stella answered, “Almost done. Is time almost up?”
“Not at all. Take your time. We can go whenever we want.” Clarence walked to her side and took over
the shirt she was holding, “Besides these, do you have anything else that you need to bring?”
Stella recalled a few other pieces and ran back to the bedroom.
After packing up everything, when they departed, Stella called Sherry and Elaine to tell them about her
absence. She would come back after a week.
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