Having tasted the pain of being forced to give up her dreams, Stella did not want her only family to
have to go through the same thing.
Right now, she could be dancing or playing the piano on a grand stage. Instead, she was here, staying
at Weston’s side as a secret mistress and having to meet her worst enemy every day while she led a
soulless life.
Weston seemed to see through her then, and gently kissed her forehead in sympathy. “Like I said, say
yes and I can give you anything you want.”
Stella pursed her lips and forced a smile, but kept quiet. She would be leaving Weston in a year—if she
said yes now, things would be complicated when she leaves.
The opportunity she had won from Bradley Lane was different because she had done it by her own
strength. However, if she were to take what she wanted by using her relationship with Weston, she
would become the very kind of person she had always held in contempt.
Looking up pleadingly in his arms, she asked, “May I go home for the night? I want to talk to Roger.”
Weston’s embrace slowly tightened, however, and while he did not refuse her directly, the air around
them seemed to cool, making it obvious to Stella that he was not happy with that arrangement.
She hence kept quiet for a long while, and said quietly, “I’ll do anything you want… But today, just for a
day… Let me talk to him, please?”
Her eyes became slightly red and teary-these days, she seemed to have learned what worked best
against Weston, and she was getting adept at it.
On the other hand, Weston did not want to think if her tears were real even as he watched her. In fact,
she had already left him down in the dumps anyway, and he was helpless whenever he saw her like
this.
Sighing quietly, he said, “You have one night. Settle it right away–I don’t want you to waste more time
on Roger when we have only one year.” “Okay,” Stella replied with a quivering voice.
***
Since Roger was busy at the moment, Weston sent her directly to his apartment. She would have
refused if Roger was there, and even though they knew that he was not, she looked around to make
sure no one saw her after she alighted.
Then, she told Weston, “You should go. I’ll ask your chauffeur to pick me up after I speak to Roger.”
Weston kissed her cheek. “Come to me if you’re having problems.”
Stella nodded, and Weston drove off.
Entering the house, Stella wondered what she should do, and headed to the market to buy some food
ingredients for the dishes Roger liked.
The female owner of the store she used to frequent greeted her when she saw her. “Long time no see!
I thought you and your family moved!” “No, I just went on a business trip.” “I see…” the woman said.
“Your brother hasn’t been here for ages either. I thought you two have gone somewhere else to buy
ingredients these days!” She sounded a little accusative, but Stella took no offense, before suggesting
casually, “Roger usually doesn’t cook, so he may be eating at the campus cafeteria…” The woman
grumbled, “No, I used to see him come by since he cooks on the weekends. I haven’t seen him lately,
though it really has been a while.”
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