"That's only because he treats you like a patient.”
“Don’t worry,” Weston reassured her as he smoothed the wild strands of her hair.
“I’ll be right here with you. I'll never let anything happen to you." He kissed her ear.
Stella shuddered when his breath brushed against her skin.
Weston, however, let her go before she could make a move.
“Let's take a bath and go to sleep,” he said, standing up and heading straight to the bathroom.
Stella watched him as he walked away with an inscrutable expression on her face.
Weston truly did not end up doing anything to her that night.He even gave her ample space for her to
breathe comfortably.
The next morning, Weston went to work so early that he was nowhere to be seen when Stella woke up.
She sat in bed, shook her head from side to side, and was relieved to find that she was in much better
spirits today.
After breakfast, she got a call from Bradley Lane, who informed her that the date for the film’s premiere
had been set.
Due to unavoidable reasons, the release was delayed time and time again.
But now, the public’s appetite had been whetted enough.
The cast and crew, elated by the happy news, decided to celebrate the occasion.
Bradley asked Stella if she wanted to join them, to which she politely declined.She felt she was in no
state to go out at the moment.
“I remember how you told me you wanted a long and successful career in this industry,”Bradley
reminded her.
“If that is still the case, then you must seize every opportunity that comes your way.”
“I’m sorry,” replied Stella hoarsely.
“Right now, I'm unsure if I still want to go down this path.” She initially wanted to become an actress to
pull herself out of a rut, gaining strength and status that would put her in a better position when
protecting herself against Weston Ford.
However, considering how things went down, she realized how laughably naive that plan was.
After a long silence, Bradley spoke again in a much sterner voice.
“It’s your choice whether you come out or not.Just remember that this is the last chance I'm giving you.”
He then abruptly hung up.
The hollow beeping tone from the phone unnerved Stella.She considered Bradley's words for a while
before changing her clothes and going out.
Just as she approached the door, however, Joan suddenly came up behind her and asked, “Where are
you going, Mrs.Ford?”
“I’m stepping out for a while.”
“But Mr.Ford has asked you to stay home and get a proper rest!”
“I know,” Stella frowned.
“I just want to get some fresh air.I won’t be long.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs.Ford..." The strange look on Joan's face made it seem like she was hiding something.
“But Mr.Ford insisted that you must stay home…” she repeated.
Sensing that something fishy was going on, Stella asked, “I must stay home? What exactly do you
mean?” Joan said nothing, but her eyes shifted to the door.
Stella shoved the door open, only to see a group of bodyguards standing outside the villa.
All of them stood firmly on guard, obviously under orders to prohibit her exit.
Stella gripped the doorknob.
“What was he thinking?! Is he trying to shut me up inside here all day?” Joan sighed.
“I’m sure Mr.Ford means well...” Stella instantly grabbed lier phone and called Weston.
” What are all those bodyguards doing at the door? What are you trying to do?" Stella demanded as
soon as the call connected.
There was a long, tense silence before she heard his cold, deep voice reply, “You should be a good girl
and stay home."
Stella took a deep breath.
“Have I even lost my right to go out?” she asked.
“There's no need for you to go anywhere,” he answered.
“ You can buy anything you want online or ask Joan to buy them for you.”
“Are you locking me up inside the house?!”
“It can't be helped if you want to look at it that way.”
“Weston!” Stella's voice trembled.
"What do you take me for? Your prisoner?!”
“Surely , you must’ve known,” Weston interjected in a voice that chilled her bones,“that there will be
consequences for your attempt to escape our wedding.”
“Stella,” he continued.
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