The door slammed shut with a resounding bang, and Stella could feel the weight of Roger’s emotions in the air. He was difficult to read, his face betraying nothing of what he was feeling. She quietly followed him into the living room and sat on the sofa, waiting for him to speak.
Roger kept his head lowered for a moment before suddenly lifting it to look at her.
“Do you like Professor Hall, Sis?” he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Stella was taken aback. “What did you just say?!” she replied, her surprise evident. Roger didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he sat down next to her, leaning his large frame against her small one. At six feet tall, he looked almost comical, like a big bear leaning on a little rabbit for support.
He asked again, his tone serious, “What kind of man do you like, Sis?”
Stella realized then that Roger was overthinking everything. “Don’t worry, Roger,” she reassured him with a smile. “There’s absolutely nothing going on between your professor and me.”
Roger looked unconvinced. “It didn’t look like Professor Hall thought the same way, though… Don’t you remember what he said?”
Stella chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. “He merely thought I looked pretty, that’s all. Your sister isn’t so irresistible that every man who sees me would fall for me, you know?” she teased.
Roger didn’t seem convinced, but he persisted. “Well, I don’t care what other people think. To me, you’re the prettiest woman in the world!”
Stella couldn’t help but smile at her brother’s flattery, even though she knew he was just trying to cheer her up. His words, however, did make her feel better. “Don’t worry about these things, Roger,” she said kindly. “Just focus on your studies. Remember, he’s still your professor, so you need to be respectful, okay?”
“I know all that,” Roger replied earnestly, though a hint of frustration remained. “But if he really does fancy you, I won’t forgive him!”
Stella rolled her eyes. “Won’t forgive him?” she countered playfully. “And what will you do, huh? So what if he does like me? It’s not like he’ll ever make a move.”
Stella sighed, then added more seriously, “You said it before, didn’t you? You’re an adult now, and you can’t just be brash and do whatever you want. I know you mean well, but sometimes we may not be able to bear the consequences of your impulsiveness.”
Roger’s lips quivered at her words, and he thought back to the time he almost hurt Guinevere when he saw Weston accompanying her to the hospital for a maternity check-up. It was his sister who had to bear the burden of his actions, and it weighed heavily on his conscience.
Stella had always been patient with him. Since their parents had passed, she had taken on the role of supporting the family. Roger realized just how much she had done for him and felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
“I’m sorry, Sis,” he said in a trembling voice. “You’ve really been through so much because of me.”
Stella reached out, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t apologize, Roger. I’m just glad to see you growing up and understanding things better.”
The conversation ended, and Stella returned to her normal routine. As if Weston and Guinevere’s sudden appearance had been nothing more than a fleeting memory, her life slowly returned to its usual pace.
Soon after, Yvonne returned from her business trip, and the first thing she did was seek Stella out.
“I heard Guinevere came here to see you,” Yvonne said, concern written all over her face. “Did she give you any trouble?”
“No,” Stella shook her head, reassured by Yvonne’s genuine worry. “She just invited me for coffee and told me about this woman who looked exactly like me.”
“What?!” Yvonne gasped, her expression turning serious. “What’s wrong with her? She can’t just take out her anger on you like that!”
Though Yvonne sometimes mixed up Stella with Ella, she always respected the fact that they were separate individuals. She never treated them as the same person, and Stella appreciated that.
Stella smiled warmly at her friend. “Don’t worry,” she reassured Yvonne. “She hasn’t been back since. And actually, after that day, all the parents lined up to have their kids learn dancing from me. I’ve made quite a bit of money because of her. If anything, I should thank Guinevere!”
Yvonne sighed in relief. “I’m glad you’re not upset about it. I was worried.”
“Why should I be upset about making money?” Stella laughed. “I’m thrilled!”
Yvonne chuckled, happy to see Stella in such high spirits. “Well, you’re in luck again today,” she said with a mischievous grin. “There’s something else that might cheer you up even more.”
“Really?” Stella asked, intrigued.
“Yeah!” Yvonne nodded enthusiastically. “We just launched a new private tutoring service. You’ll be able to make double or even triple what you make teaching classes at the training center. You should check it out if you have the time.”
That evening, before heading home, Stella contacted the person in charge of the private tutoring service right away. Yvonne, as the head of the company, wasn’t usually involved in such administrative matters, but she often made things easier for Stella when needed. This new opportunity sounded promising, and Stella was eager to explore it.
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