Chapter 567
The villa was lit up, every window glowing.
Stella had never really been comfortable with crowds. That’s why she’d been living alone lately, just her and the quiet, with Shirley and Andrew dropping by every now and then to keep her company.
She was sitting on the sofa, clutching a pillow and lost in her thoughts, when a knock at the door snapped her out of it. She jerked her head up. For a split second, something bright and alive flashed in her eyes.
A few moments later, she tossed the pillow aside, completely forgetting her shoes, and hurried to the door.
When she saw Charlotte standing there, Stella’s pale face broke into a huge,
excited grin.
“Charlotte, you’re back!”
“Yeah,” Charlotte said, nodding. Her eyes drifted down to Stella’s bare feet and she frowned a little. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”
“Oh… I forgot.” Stella’s voice was soft, almost embarrassed.
She scurried back to grab her slippers, slipped them on, and rushed right back to Charlotte’s side. With Charlotte, her feelings were always a messy tangle of love and fear.
“How have you been these past few days?” Charlotte asked, her smile gentle as she took Stella’s hand and led her to the living room.
“I’m good,” Stella answered, sitting down obediently on the sofa. She placed her hands neatly on her knees, her lashes fluttering. She looked up at Charlotte with hopeful, almost pleading eyes. “I just… missed you.”
Shirley and Andrew were nice, but they were so polite it made everything awkward. Stella never knew how to act around them.
She still looked pale, like something was off.
Charlotte noticed right away. She frowned, then reached out and patted Stella’s head, her smile softening. “I’ll stay with you tonight.”
Later, after Stella had showered, she came out to find Charlotte on the phone. Charlotte was leaning against the headboard, her pajamas loose and casual. Her long legs were crossed, and the curve of her neck and collarbone caught the light. She looked so relaxed, not even realizing how beautiful she was.
But when Stella got closer, she noticed the red marks on Charlotte’s neck. They looked angry and raw… like hickeys, or something worse.
Stella froze, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“I know,” Charlotte said into the phone, catching sight of Stella. She waved her over. “Come here.”
Stella walked over quietly, sitting at the edge of the bed. She couldn’t help but sneak glances at the marks on Charlotte’s skin. They looked painful content
Anthony must have been really rough.
“Did you want to tell me something?” Charlotte asked, setting her phone on the nightstand. She picked up an apple started peeling it, and looked at Stella, her eyes soft and just a little lazy.
Stella shook her head, her gaze darting away. “No,” she whispered.
“Hm?” Charlotte’s voice stretched out, just a little.
Even that was enough to make Stella panic. She quickly changed her answer. “Actually, yes.”
“Tell me.”
Charlotte patted the bed beside her, and when Stella climbed up, she handed her the peeled apple.
Stella took a few small bites, then finally spoke in a quiet voice. “I got a call today. They said they were my family. They want me to go back.”
“Family?” Charlotte’s tone cooled instantly. Her eyes turned cold, her smile sharp and distant.
“Do you want to go back?” she asked, watching Stella closely.
“No,” Stella said right away, shaking her head. Her eyes went watery and red. “Charlotte, I don’t want to go back.”
Her mother wasn’t there. That place had never felt like home.
They were monsters.
“I get it,” Charlotte said, giving Stella’s cheek a gentle squeeze Her voice was steady and reassuring.” you don’t want to go, no one an make you.”
“I can take care of you, you know.”
Stella looked at her, worry clouding her eyes. Her voice was barely a whisper. “But
they’re awful people. They might try to hurt you.”