Stella was confused by Mr. Smith’s behavior, but she quickly guessed that it was nothing good. As she got into the car, Justin broke the silence.
“Mr. Smith has always been like this. Don’t think too much about it.”
Stella shook her head. “I didn’t.”
Her simple, straightforward response left him momentarily speechless.
After a brief pause, Justin spoke again. “I thought you might mind if he misunderstood the relationship between us. After all, you and Weston…”
His words trailed off, and his tone wasn’t accusatory, just uncertain.
Stella’s eyes darkened as she stared out the window, lost in thought. She didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, she spoke, her voice soft but sincere.
“Thank you for dropping me off on the way.”
Justin understood her unspoken message—if he hadn’t insisted on giving her a ride, she might have never given him this chance. But with others around, she couldn’t refuse him without it seeming strange.
He knew she had already made her choice. She had decided to be with Weston, and there was nothing more for him to say. Still, he couldn’t help but hope she wouldn’t regret it later, when she found herself cast as a third wheel, the one everyone whispered about in disdain.
Realizing his own thoughts, Justin suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Was he really hoping she would fall hard just to prove he was right? It wasn’t a fair thought, and it felt morally wrong.
He closed his eyes briefly, then let out a quiet sigh, trying to push those feelings away. “I didn’t mean that. I just think—”
Stella interrupted him, her expression unreadable as she turned toward him. “I understand, Mr. Hall. Thank you for taking care of Robb back then.”
Her words stopped him short, and he met her gaze, a flicker of something—maybe regret, maybe resignation—crossing his features.
He gave her a quiet nod before signaling the chauffeur to continue driving. The time was already late, so he directed the driver to take her straight home.
“I know you won’t listen to anything I say now,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter. “But the offer I made still stands. If you ever need help, you can always come to me.”
He paused, gathering his thoughts. “Maybe I was too aggressive last time. I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just hope you’ll make the right decision and avoid any future regrets. No matter what happens, I’ll always be Robb’s teacher. That won’t change.”
Stella looked away, her gaze distant. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate. Finally, she spoke again, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“Did you help me get this tutoring job?”
His smile was self-deprecating as he answered her. “It’s nothing. A small favor. Don’t worry about it.”
His response confirmed her suspicions, and she fell silent for a while, processing everything.
Finally, she spoke again, her voice polite but distant. “Thank you.”
It wasn’t much, but it was all she could offer. She couldn’t say anything more, not when her circumstances didn’t allow her to repay the kindness shown to her.
Words of gratitude were easy, but promises were harder. She couldn’t offer empty ones, so she would wait until the day she could stand on her own and truly show her appreciation.
Her tone remained formal, almost detached, but Justin saw through it. He said nothing, and the two of them sat in the car, the quiet stretching between them.
The car moved steadily, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence, until the sharp ring of Justin’s phone broke it.
He glanced at the screen, his face darkening.
“What’s the matter?” His voice was curt, clearly irritated by whatever he was hearing on the other end.
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