Stella hooked her arm around Roger’s neck, leaning her head against his shoulder as a heavy sigh escaped her. “Yvonne’s,” she answered, her voice soft. “I went shopping with her today, and then we had dinner at her place.”
Roger didn’t react much to her response, his expression remaining unchanged. He wasn’t surprised—after all, Yvonne was the only one in Amber City who was close enough to Stella to be considered a friend. In fact, back when Stella had been struggling to find work, she’d even asked Roger if Yvonne would recognize her. Roger had been concerned at the time, but as the years passed, it became clear that Yvonne had accepted things as they were. Their relationship had remained strictly professional—cordial but distant. She hadn’t even known that Stella had a brother, which made it easy for her to accept things without much question.
But today, Stella had met someone else. Someone who would likely not be so easily fooled.
To avoid worrying Roger, Stella shifted the conversation. “What about you? Who did you spend time with today?”
Roger had become more reserved since his hospitalization, and it was evident in his quieter demeanor. Once an intelligent and prodigious child, he had always adapted well to his environment, even skipping grades in school. He was now at the same age as his peers, even though his experiences had been different.
“It was just a small gathering that some of my classmates organized,” he said with a shrug. “It wasn’t much fun.”
“Were there other female classmates there?” Stella asked, a teasing smile tugging at her lips as she affectionately ruffled his hair.
Roger’s face was pale from his time in the hospital, and the white T-shirt he wore hung loosely on his thin frame. Stella looked at him with concern. “It’ll be the holidays soon. How about I take you shopping for some new clothes?”
Roger pushed her away gently. “You should be focusing more on yourself. I’m a man. I don’t need fancy clothes.”
Stella smirked and pinched his cheeks. “A man? No matter how old you get, you’ll always be a kid in your sister’s eyes.”
“Sis!” Roger grumbled, clearly annoyed. “I’m already a grown man. Don’t keep treating me like a child!”
He placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his tone more serious. “If you ever face any difficulties, you have to tell me. I’ll be graduating in two years, and then I can start working to help share your burden.”
Stella fell silent, her gaze lingering on Roger as tears welled up in her eyes. Their parents had passed away long ago, and before Stella had a chance to enjoy the carefree years of childhood, she had been thrust into the harsh realities of life. Once a pampered princess, she had been tempered by the cruel world around her. Now, all she longed for was a simple, safe home. She had always dreamed of having children, but that hope had long since been extinguished.
Subconsciously, Stella placed a hand over her stomach, as if to cradle a hope that could never be.
Roger noticed her subtle movement, and his heart clenched with pain. He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the anger bubbling inside him. He didn’t want to mention the man who had caused her so much hurt, knowing it would only upset Stella. Instead, he looked at her with earnestness in his eyes.
“Sis, I swear, I’ll never let you suffer again,” he said fiercely, his fists clenched tightly as emotion flooded his voice.
Stella met his gaze, her hand gently brushing his hair as she smiled warmly at him. “I believe in you. When you grow up, get a good job, and find a nice woman to marry, I’ll rest easy knowing you’re happy.”
Roger cut her off before she could finish, his voice firm and resolute. “No, I won’t get married. I’ll always stay by your side. I’ll never leave you alone.”
Stella looked at her brother, her heart full of love for him, knowing that his devotion, though heartfelt, would never change the course of her own life. She hugged him tightly, whispering in his ear, “I know, Roger. I know.”
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