Until now, the only thing on Stella’s mind was to do everything in her ability to ensure Roger would
have a better future. She didn’t have the time to process how his absence would make her feel.
But now, the reality of the situation had finally set in. Ever since their parents died, the two had never
been separated.
“You know…” Roger grumbled gloomily. “I can just study here… I don’t really have to go abroad.”
It was obvious that he was feeling down too.
“Forget it,” he continued after a pause, sighing. “I’ve made up my mind, and all the preparations are
almost done. I won’t back down now. Just wait for me, sis. I promise I’ll study as hard as possible and
get a good job. No one will dare bully you then!” “Good!” Stella smiled. She picked up a barbecued pork
rib with her fork and placed it on Roger’s plate. Ribs were his favorite food. Then her phone suddenly
rang. She glanced at it and the light in her eyes instantly dimmed. It was Weston. She hadn’t told him
about coming here. Roger’s gaze instinctively followed Stella’s eyes, and he asked with a frown, “Who
is it?” “No one,” Stella shook her head, putting the phone into her bag. “Just a prank call.” Roger went
silent for a while before saying, “Why do I feel like I’ve seen this number many times before?”
Roger had a photographic memory when it came to numbers. He was sure that he’d seen this number
always sending text messages to Stella in the past. If it really was just a prankster, why didn’t she just
block the caller?
“I guess pranksters are really persistent nowadays,” Stella replied with a shrug. Then she quickly
changed the subject. “By the way… did Professor Hall really leave this university?” Although her
attempt at changing the topic was too blunt, Roger still thought nothing of it. He soon forgot about the
number and talked to Stella about Justin Hall.
Lunchtime quickly went by. Roger went back home to rest. Stella found a quiet spot and finally picked
up her phone, which had been ringing off the hook.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” a stern voice answered.
Stella said nothing for a few seconds before replying nonchalantly, “I’m on the film set.”
“You know I hate it when people lie to me.”
Stella heaved a long sigh. She knew then that he’d found out she was lying.
“I’m at the university,” she answered softly. “I just came here to see Roger.”
“I’ve never stopped you from seeing him,” he said. “Why did you have to lie?”
Just as he spoke, a black car slowly pulled out from around the corner. Stella quickly hung up the
phone and looked around her. Seeing no one there, she rushed towards the car with her head hung
low.
The second she got inside, Weston pulled her into his arm, lifted her chin, and kissed her ferociously.
Stella had gotten used to his abrupt kisses by now, but she still hated being so close and intimate with
him.
Sensing Stella’s stark resistance, Weston grabbed her hands and held her in place before kissing her
even more deeply and ravenously. It was a long time before he finally had enough of her and let go.
She was now panting and out of breath. “I thought you were still at work!” she argued. “If I was,” he
said, rubbing her lips gently with his thumb, “then I wouldn’t have found out that you were lying to me.”
He had, in fact, quickly settled all his work today to pick her up, worried that Guinevere would cause
her trouble. To his dismay, not only did she sneak out to meet Roger, but she even lied about it.
With those thoughts plaguing his mind, Weston’s darkened eyes pierced into Stella’s soul. “What else
are you hiding from me?” he demanded. Stella said nothing and just hooked her hands around the
nape of his neck. “What can I possibly hide from you?” she replied after a while. “You know that I
couldn’t even if I wanted to, right? Don’t you always see through me?”
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