Stella came to the balcony. It was rare for her to take the initiative to hug him from behind.
“When did you come over? Why didn‘t you go in?”
Weston stiffened for a moment. He flicked the dust off the cigarette and watched the light of the burning
cigarette between his fingers.
The white smoke rose and made his features look more distinct.
Stella looked down at the cigarette and asked, “Why are you smoking again?”
She rubbed her face against his broad back and ran her hand along the firm line on his muscular arm.
She touched the cigarette between his fingers and asked, “I thought you‘d quit smoking.”
Some time ago, she had found out that Weston had stopped smoking. She wondered why he had started
smoking again.
Weston straightened up and pulled his arm back. He wanted to put out the cigarette, but Stella stopped
him.
“Don‘t...” Stella saw his intention and said, “Don‘t put it out yet. I want to try it too.”
Weston‘s action paused. He glanced down at her and raised his eyebrows. “You want to try?”
“Yeah.” Stella nodded. “I‘ve never smoked before...”
She leaned into his firm arms and stayed in his embrace. Weston had always enjoyed having her in his
arms. He loved the feeling of having her in his embrace.
He watched as the wind messed up her hair, and he tidied her messy hair with one hand. “Smoking isn‘t
good. You shouldn‘t do it.”
Stella was upset. She looked up and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Didn‘t you just smoke too? Why do
you get to smoke, but I don‘t...”
Weston let out a low laugh. He pinched her nose and said, “I‘m not smoking. I only lit it.”
In a few days, Stella would be fit enough to conceive. Then, they would not have to take any safety
measures. If they were lucky, she might get pregnant with his child.
It might be a slim chance, but Weston wanted to see her smile again, so he was willing to give it a shot.
He was preparing to get her pregnant, so he would not smoke. However, he would light one whenever he
was in a bad mood.
Stella grimaced at his explanation . “What a waste. You‘re not smoking, but you’re just lighting it... Why
don’t you let me try?”
There was a light twinkle in her eyes. She seemed very keen to try.
Weston stood up straight and stared at her for a few moments.” Do you really want to try?”
“Yeah.” Stella nodded. “Anyway, you‘ve taught me a lot of things like playing pool, tying Windsor knots,
drinking...”
She looked into his eyes and said, “It‘s just one more thing.”
He seemed convinced. A certain indescribable emotion rose in him.
He was the one who had taught her everything and nurtured her with all his heart. As a man, this sense
of accomplishment was very rewarding.
“Only this time.” Weston let go of her hair and put the cigarette to her mouth. “You can try it once in a
while, but you can‘t smoke.”
“I know.” Stella inched closer. “I‘m just curious...”
When her father was still alive, he loved to smoke. Her mother had always fought with him because of
this.
Her father was good at everything and devoted to the family; smoking was his only flaw.
When Stella was still a child, she saw her father secretly smoking and became curious. ‘Are cigarettes
that good? Why are there so many people addicted to it?‘
As she thought of that, she took a deep puff without hesitation.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
She ended up choking herself and coughed so hard that her eyes were teary. She looked pitiful with her
slightly red eyes.
Weston chuckled at her. His deep laughter resounded from his chest with a numbing vibration.
He put out the cigarette and slowly gazed down at her, then he gently wiped away the tears on the
corner of her eyes and asked, “Do you still want to try? Hm?”
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