That day, Yvonne didn’t go straight home after work, as she usually did. Instead, she stopped by Stella’s place and asked if she would like to go shopping. Stella thought about it for a moment, then agreed. She had just gotten off the phone with Roger, who told her he was going to a party with his classmates that evening. Since they were starting fresh in a new city, Stella thought it would be a good idea to meet new people, so she decided to accept Yvonne’s invitation.
“My husband invited some guests to dinner this evening,” Yvonne said to Stella. “And I really don’t have anything to wear! Would you help me choose something nice?”
“Sure,” Stella replied, smiling.
“But I must warn you, my fashion sense is pretty lousy!” Yvonne added, laughing.
It had been a long time since Stella had felt so relaxed. Spending time with Yvonne helped her forget, even if just for a little while, the pain and heartache that had been weighing on her. They had so much fun shopping that day, and when it was time to part ways, Yvonne was reluctant to say goodbye.
“Why don’t you come over to my place for dinner, Ella?” Yvonne asked.
“But your husband is having guests over tonight!” Stella replied. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to barge in, would it?”
Yvonne smiled. “He has his guests, and I have mine! It’s our house, after all, not just his!”
She paused, then added, “Besides, it’s been so long since I last invited any of my girlfriends over for dinner! You’re my friend now, so let’s have dinner together, okay? I don’t really have many friends here.”
Yvonne’s words made it hard for Stella to refuse, so she sent Roger a quick text, letting him know she wouldn’t be home for dinner. The two women continued shopping for a bit longer.
“My husband’s here to pick us up,” Yvonne said, checking her phone. “He’s waiting for us in the car nearby.”
Yvonne led Stella to the parking lot behind the mall, where a sleek black car was waiting. It looked classy and expensive, but not flashy.
Stella froze in her tracks, a sense of unease washing over her. She recognized the exact brand from Weston’s garage, though she couldn’t quite recall the name. But as soon as they reached the car, the driver stepped out and walked toward Yvonne.
“Madam,” the driver greeted her politely.
“Put these in the trunk,” Yvonne instructed, handing him her shopping bags before taking Stella’s hand and leading her into the car.
Inside the car was another man. He glanced up when he heard the women approach, then frowned slightly when Yvonne clumsily scrambled into the car.
“Be careful,” he said briskly. “Don’t hit your head again.”
Yvonne pretended not to hear him, guiding Stella to sit beside her. The car was spacious, enough for all three of them with room to spare. Once they were settled, Yvonne turned to Stella.
“This is my husband, Lucas Quirk,” she said. “He’s a doctor.”
“Nice to meet you,” Stella nodded politely. “I’m Ella Steele. I’m a dance teacher, and I work with Yvonne.”
Lucas replied with a few polite words before going back to his tablet. Stella couldn’t help but notice how distant and aloof he seemed, though not nearly as standoffish as Weston Ford. Instead, Lucas gave off a sense of dignified decorum, though he didn’t seem particularly warm or approachable.
Yvonne often spoke about her husband, and he was one of her favorite topics. According to Yvonne, Lucas was a stern, old-fashioned man. But now that Stella had seen him in person, she was surprised to find him much younger than expected. He looked intelligent and rather attractive.
Together, Lucas and Yvonne made a striking couple. There was an undeniable atmosphere of intimacy between them, the kind that suggested they trusted each other completely and understood each other without needing many words.
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