“Can you believe this guy?” Yvonne grumbled, shooting a glare at Lucas. “He’s always like that. Never talks. All he does is read medical journals all day… Please, don’t mind the nerd, Ella!”
Stella chuckled.
“You two make such a great pair!” she exclaimed.
“You think so?” Yvonne replied, sounding a little surprised, though her pleased smile was unmistakable. “I guess you’ve got a keen eye after all!” She nudged Lucas with her elbow, adding, “Ella thinks we make a great couple. What do you think?”
“Whatever makes you happy,” Lucas replied without looking up from his tablet.
Yvonne didn’t let Lucas’s indifferent response ruin her mood. She quickly turned her attention back to Stella, and the two continued chatting for the rest of the ride. Before long, they arrived at their destination, a massive mansion that left Stella in awe. She couldn’t help but wonder why rich people loved living in such grand houses. In fact, this one was even slightly bigger than Stardust Mansion.
As they got out of the car, Stella moved to grab her bags from the trunk, but Yvonne stopped her with a gentle tug on her arm. “Just let the driver handle it, Ella,” she said kindly.
Stella was touched by how graciously Yvonne treated her, especially in private. Yvonne had always been cheerful and friendly at work, but she hadn’t expected such warmth outside of it. Yvonne led her into the house with a skip in her step, while Lucas followed them at a slower, more measured pace.
“Take it easy, Yvonne,” Lucas warned. “Your injury’s only just healed. If you sprain your ankle again, you’ll be on your own. I won’t bother with you anymore.”
Yvonne stopped abruptly, glaring at Lucas. She didn’t say anything but slowed her pace in response to his caution. “That guy acts like he’s my father,” she whispered to Stella, a playful pout on her lips. “He’s always nagging about everything!”
Stella just smiled and chuckled softly. She envied how lucky Yvonne was, even with all the nagging.
Lucas was a doctor who poured himself entirely into his career. Though he was relatively young and hadn’t yet built up a significant reputation, his intelligence, education, and exceptional talent made up for it. He was highly regarded among his peers, which kept him busy. Even when he was home, he spent most of his time in his study, working.
Once inside, Yvonne gave Stella a complete tour of the mansion before leading her to a guest bedroom.
“You’ll be staying here for a few days,” she said, smiling warmly. “I’ve asked the maid to get it ready for you.”
Yvonne made sure Stella’s things were put away neatly before leading her outside to the back garden. They spent some time chatting and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. As dinner time approached, Lucas instructed a maid to let them know that the guests had arrived.
Yvonne led Stella back to her room to change. Though Yvonne had asked Stella to help pick something nice, it had actually been Yvonne who chose everything. She had an impeccable sense of style. She even picked out a dress for Stella, who initially protested but eventually gave in because Yvonne was insistent.
Stella’s dress was a simple champagne silk slip dress. At first glance, it appeared plain and minimalist, but the high-quality fabric and exquisite tailoring made it fit her body perfectly. The soft material enhanced her delicate, fair skin, and she looked radiant.
Even Yvonne was stunned by the transformation. She stared at Stella in awe after she had finished changing.
“Clothes really do make the woman!” she exclaimed. “You should dress up more often, Ella!”
Yvonne had always known that Stella was pretty — most dancers were, after all — but she had never realized how captivating Stella truly was until now. Stella’s figure and facial features were stunning when accentuated by the right outfit.
“I guess I just never had the time…” Stella mumbled as she checked herself in the mirror, a little astonished by her own reflection.
Ever since her parents’ death, she had grown up too quickly, losing interest in dressing up. On the rare occasions when she did, it was merely to look presentable enough to land a job.
She had considered sprucing up her appearance after marrying Weston, but he had never seemed to care about anything except their physical relationship. Stella hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up, so she let the idea fade away.
Skip to content