Weston knew that without a little temptation, she would never take the bait. “After I finished
work, I spent some time looking into vacancies for foreign students. Are you sure you don‘t want to hear
more about what I found out?”
Stella leaned in immediately. “I do.”
Weston felt a tinge of jealousy at the sight of her being so excited. “Aren‘t you being a tad too good to
Roger?” “We are family. It‘s only natural that we treat each other well,” Stella said. Weston paused for a
moment without responding to her immediately. It‘s only natural to treat family members well. He chewed
on Stella‘s words and couldn‘t help but feel a sense of irony in it. “Not necessarily. Many family members
end up stabbing each other in the back for self interest.”
Stella furrowed her brows. “That shouldn‘t be so. Most families I know live peacefully and harmoniously
with each other.”
Although such family dramas were commonplace on television, she still held onto the belief that most
ordinary families were just like what her family was before her parents passed on.
Weston caressed her head. “Don‘t be too idealistic.”
“Humans are good by nature,“Stella corrected him. “Some are just forced to a corner and end up doing
bad things when they face insurmountable challenges.”
She seemed to be alluding to something.
Weston‘s hand paused for a moment before he resumed toying with a lock of her hair between his
fingers. “Just be direct and say you‘re talking about me. There‘s no need to beat around the bush.”
Stella burst out into peals of laughter. “I wouldn‘t dare to talk bad about you. What if you extend our one–
year timeline?”
Weston suddenly chinned Stella‘s chin and kissed her hard. “When did you have such a smart mouth?”
He had wanted to pry her mouth open with his tongue, but a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he
released her.
Before Stella could react and push him away, he had already let go of her.
“Your health isn‘t exactly in a good condition. I don‘t want to spread the virus to you,” Weston wiped the
corner of his lips and said casually. Stella took a deep breath and straightened herself. “What about the
information you said you wanted to show me?”
Weston clicked on a website. Stella browsed through it and asked, “Why is it all in French?” “You can‘t
read French?” “Of course, I can.” Stella pulled the laptop closer and began reading page by page while
Weston stood by her side and observed her.
He was surprised to find that she could read at a very swift pace. “You‘re pretty good at French,” he
remarked casually. Stella‘s brows furrowed. “I took formal lessons when I was in university.” “I don‘t
remember you being a French major.” Stella nodded, “I took it as a minor. My results were pretty good,
comparable to that of Roger‘s. I was even classified as a gifted student.”
She seemed rather proud of her academic achievements.
Roger and she had always been her parents‘ pride and joy, and they were always the benchmark of
excellence amongst their neighbors. Had it not been for the accident that changed their lives, she would
still probably be the precious princess doted on by her parents, blessed with a decent job she loved,
chasing her dreams, and living the life that all would envy. She turned downcast at the thought of her
past As if affected by the sudden downturn in her mood, Weston held her hand and squeezed her
fingers. “You know you can always tell me what you wish to do in the future.” He kissed her ear. “I‘ll help
you fulfill all your dreams.” “I want freedom. Can you help me with that?” Stella asked him with a smile.
She did not mean it sarcastically, and had, in fact, said it with slight melancholy. In any case, she knew
that Weston would never agree to it.
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