Stella had almost forgotten about him since he hadn’t appeared in several days. But whenever he did show up, an overwhelming sense of anxiety and helplessness would cling to her, leaving her unsettled. Without hesitation, she ended the call. However, before she could regain her composure, her phone rang again. It was the same familiar number.
It seemed he wouldn’t stop calling unless she responded.
Though she knew blocking his number wasn’t a permanent solution, she did it in search of a brief moment of peace. She left the training center, trying not to give it any more thought. Yvonne hadn’t been at work for a while, and Stella assumed something must have happened at home.
Stella didn’t engage much with her coworkers, especially since some of them had little liking for her.
She headed straight for the elevator and walked toward the parking lot.
Just then, a familiar car pulled up beside her, honking. She glanced over and saw it was Justin’s car. Her eyes flickered, and she hesitated, recalling Weston’s earlier call. Justin pulled up beside her, rolling down the window. When he noticed she was standing still, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Stella shook her head, her face stoic. After a beat, she told him the truth. “Weston called me.”
Justin’s expression darkened. “Get in the car,” he said firmly, his fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. Then, as if remembering something, he stopped. He stepped out of the car and moved to her side, opening the passenger door. Stella slid into the car, bending slightly to avoid bumping her head. Justin gently placed his hand on top of her head to guide her, then closed the door and went around to the driver’s seat.
Once inside, he turned to buckle her seatbelt. Noticing her hair had become a little messy, he reached out to tuck it behind her ear before softly cupping her face. “Don’t be scared. I’m here,” he said.
Stella nodded, releasing a quiet sigh.
Seeing her still uneasy, Justin laughed softly and added, “If you’re still worried about it, I’ll take you to get our marriage certificate tomorrow. I’m sure Weston won’t bother you anymore once he sees it.”
Stella had considered the same idea, but she feared that if they went through with it, it would drive Weston into a rage and cause problems for Justin. As if reading her thoughts, Justin gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Trust me,” he said, his voice steady. “If we marry, you’ll be my legal wife. No man will hurt you—not even Weston.”
Justin’s reserved and mature demeanor made Stella feel safe, and she had no doubts about the sincerity of his words.
“I wanted to take you for a drive tonight, but Bryce is on his school holiday now. I promised him I’d pick him up from school. How about dinner together later?” he asked, his tone softening.
Bryce was Justin’s son from his previous marriage. Stella froze. “I’m meeting him already?” she asked, nervous and a bit taken aback. “I’m not ready…”
“You don’t need to get ready for anything,” Justin reassured her, softly stroking her hand. “Just be yourself, and he’ll like you.” He smiled warmly. “Bryce is a mature teen. He’s easy to get along with, and you two will get along well.”
“Really?” Stella gave him a tight-lipped smile, though she couldn’t quite express the mix of emotions she felt inside.
Justin, assuming she was just nervous, didn’t push further. He started the car, and they drove off. What they didn’t notice was a black car trailing them from a distance.
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