Stella’s transformation was evident. Her demeanor had changed dramatically, a stark contrast to the passive, more obedient woman she once was. Weston was acutely aware of this, but it bothered him. He didn’t want her to grow accustomed to this defiant attitude. He preferred it when people obeyed his commands. He wanted her to be as submissive as she used to be, but now, she was becoming a different person entirely.
“I repeat: Get in the car,” Weston’s voice was firm.
The luxury car slowed to match the pace of the lone woman walking on the road. Weston’s gaze remained straight ahead, not sparing her a glance. “Stella Sealey, don’t be a fool.”
His ultimatum was clear: “There are no taxis around. Do you intend to walk home?”
Stella slowed, glancing over at him. “So what? What does it have to do with you?”
Before she could protest further, the car’s engine roared as Weston stepped on the accelerator, speeding off without another word.
The sudden screech of tires and a cloud of dust was all that remained as the car disappeared into the night. Stella stood stunned for a moment before she laughed bitterly. Weston Ford, as arrogant as always—only caring for himself. The fact that he tolerated her attempts to challenge his authority was more than she had expected, but even that wouldn’t change the reality of who he was.
Looking around, Stella realized the area was empty. There wasn’t a single car in sight, and it was a long way back to the city. The drive had taken about an hour, and now, she found herself alone in this desolate neighborhood.
She sighed, pulling out her phone to find her way out of the area. As she started walking again, a silvery-gray sports car pulled up beside her.
“Hey, beautiful. You’re all alone?” a man’s voice called out from inside.
The window rolled down, revealing a man wearing sunglasses, his face undeniably handsome—reminiscent of a celebrity. Beside him, a woman sat in a bright red dress, showing off her curves.
Stella had no intention of engaging with them, so she kept walking, ignoring the man. But the car matched her pace, staying close alongside her.
“Are you really planning to walk all the way home from here? There aren’t any stops around. You’d have to walk for hours just to find a place to hail a taxi.” The man’s eyes flicked to her shoes. “Aren’t you afraid of wearing them out?”
“None of your business,” Stella replied curtly, a mild snort escaping her lips.
The man chuckled, clearly amused. “A stubborn one, huh?”
He removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of striking eyes, his handsome face undeniably appealing. For some reason, Stella felt an uncomfortable familiarity in his features. They seemed reminiscent of Weston, and the realization made her dislike him even more.
The man seemed undeterred. “Why don’t I give you a ride?”
But just as he spoke, the woman in the passenger seat furrowed her brows. “Darling, there’s only one passenger seat.”
Stella glanced at them, noticing the tension in the air. The man smiled at her, but his expression shifted as he looked at the woman. “In that case, I guess you’ll have to walk like she is.”
The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Xavier Ford, you’re a madman!” she exclaimed, clearly frustrated. She grabbed her bag and threw it at him.
Xavier caught the bag effortlessly, but his expression grew cold. “What are you waiting for? Get out!”
The woman opened her mouth as if about to argue, but then her anger seemed to subside. With a pointed finger at his nose, she spat, “Fine, you’ve got guts!”
Without another word, she stormed out of the car.
As she stumbled to regain her balance, Xavier sped off, leaving her standing there as the car disappeared into the night, the sound of the engine fading into the distance.
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