Afterward, Yvonne quickly changed into her new clothes, opting for a red dress that contrasted beautifully with her snow-white skin. The color made her striking facial features even more pronounced, and in that dress, she looked nothing short of bewitching. Even Stella couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her transformation.
The two women had been in the room for so long that Lucas had to come up and rush them himself.
“Hurry up!” he barked, banging on the door. “They’re here!”
Yvonne gathered up the hem of her dress and rushed to open the door. As soon as she did, Lucas paused, momentarily taken aback by the sight of his beautiful wife. His expression softened slightly, and the irritation that had been evident moments earlier dissipated. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem as impatient anymore.
“Can’t you hurry up a little?” he asked.
Yvonne, knowing she had a tendency to be late, flashed him a sweet smile. She pulled him closer and gave him a kiss, clearly attempting to make amends.
“I’m sorry, darling!” she cooed. “Wasn’t that kiss enough compensation?”
Lucas smirked. “Was that compensation, or are you just taking advantage of me?”
Yvonne huffed, clearly enjoying their playful exchange. “Now you’re making me mad!” Lucas shook his head indulgently, brushing his hand against Yvonne’s cheek.
“You and your rotten temper…” he murmured affectionately.
Yvonne paid him no mind, instead turning her attention to Stella. “Don’t worry, Ella,” she said, holding her hand reassuringly. “You’ll sit next to me. They’re all Lucas’s friends, and they’re around our age. Just relax. I’ll be there with you, so you’ll be just fine!”
At that moment, Lucas seemed to realize there was someone else in the room. His demeanor shifted back to his usual distant and reserved self, no longer showing the relaxed, casual side he had with Yvonne just moments ago.
“Okay, Yvonne,” he replied with a nod, offering Stella a polite but distant smile.
The food was already set on the table downstairs, and there were already a man and a woman waiting nearby. As Stella walked down the stairs, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. As she looked up, her eyes locked with another pair. They were dark and distant, yet somehow captivating, as deep as the starry sky at night—drawing you in, almost hypnotic.
Stella froze, her breath catching in her throat.
It was him…
Was she dreaming? How could Weston Ford be here?
Yvonne noticed Stella’s sudden pause. “What’s the matter?” she asked, concern in her voice.
“Nothing,” Stella replied quickly, shaking her head. But she couldn’t hide the fact that her face had gone pale.
Stella could feel Weston’s eyes on her, unwavering. Even though she tried to keep her composure, she couldn’t ignore the way his gaze seemed to follow her every movement. She refused to look back at him, and she certainly didn’t want to acknowledge the woman sitting next to him. Still, the tension in the air had shifted since Stella entered the room.
Weston’s eyes never left her. His gaze was calm, impenetrable—his thoughts unreadable. The woman beside him seemed to sense that something had changed. She couldn’t tell what Weston was thinking, but the long, lingering gaze he directed at Stella made it clear that something was off.
It wasn’t until everyone was seated that Weston finally broke his gaze, pulling his eyes away from Stella.
“You didn’t tell me there’d be a stranger joining us,” he remarked coldly, his words directed at Lucas.
Skip to content