But Joyce was not afraid of Stella. She was just taken aback by her look. She’d never seen Stella
acting so cold before…
What was going on with her? What had happened in Yvonne’s office? Why had she changed so much
after that?
Stella had enough time to calm herself down that afternoon. She was a dance teacher, after all.
Teaching the children was still the most important thing in her life.
When it was almost time to get off work, Stella checked the time on her phone. It was the first time that
she resented leaving work. She couldn’t go home now, so she gave her brother a call to tell him that
she would be on a business trip for a while.
Yvonne happened to pass by when she was telling Roger she couldn’t go home. She stopped and
stared at Stella in dismay.
Stella hung up the phone and turned around to leave, only to bump into Yvonne who was looking at her
with a strange expression.
Yvonne looked down at her shoes when their eyes met and said nothing. Stella was about to walk
away, but Yvonne suddenly spoke. “You know,” she whispered in Stella’s ear, “If you need me to tell a
white lie, just ask. I’ll help
you.”
When she first found out about Stella having an affair with Weston Ford, Yvonne resented her for it. But
now that she knew Stella was forced into it by Weston, she had grown sympathetic towards her.
It was plain for anyone to see that a powerful man like Weston Ford could easily squash someone of
Stella’s social status under his boots any time he wished. Not to mention that Stella had a family too, so
even if she managed to escape Weston’s grasp, there was no guarantee that her family would be safe.
Being by Weston Ford’s side was just like walking a tightrope – if you weren’t careful, you would fall to
your death.
“Thank you, Yvonne,” said Stella with a grateful smile. “If you don’t mind,” Stella continued after a
pause, “Could you tell my brother that I’m on a business trip and that I won’t be able to go home for a
while?”
“Sure!” Yvonne nodded. “Thank you!” “Don’t mention it.” Yvonne paused again and sighed. “If you need
any help,” she continued, “Just ask me, okay?”
Not long after that, Stella received a text message from Weston, telling her that he’d sent the driver to
pick her up. Stella thought for a while and replied saying she had a private tutoring class so she might
be going back a little later. This was not exactly a lie. In fact, Weston had checked Stella’s schedule
and he knew that she really was hired as a private tutor, so he made no objections and just told her to
tell the driver when her work was done.
Stella was a little nervous when she got to Mr. Smith’s house because she thought she might meet
Justin there again. She was greatly relieved when she found out that Justin would not be
there that day.
Mr. Smith himself was not at home either. Only a few nannies were with Ruby there. Ruby liked Stella
very much. She was usually headstrong and naughty, but with Stella, Ruby became inexplicably
obedient and affectionate. “Miss Steele,” Ruby said after her dance class, “My dad will be taking me to
a movie set for an audition later. Do you think I’ll be a movie star one day, Miss Steele?” “I’m sure you
will, Ruby!” Stella replied, pinching Ruby’s cherubic cheek. “Since you’re such a pretty girl!” But soon
afterward one of the nannies dashed into the room and told Stella, “I’m sorry, Miss Steele, but it seems
that Mr. Smith can’t make it home in time. The audition couldn’t be postponed either, so Mr. Smith
asked if you could take Miss Ruby to the movie set?” Stella thought about it and almost instantly
agreed. She didn’t want to go back to that place anyway, so why not?
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