Stella glanced at Justin’s face and, without a second thought, blocked Weston’s number. She had reached a point where she no longer wanted him to disturb her life.
Weston, never one to be patient, seemed to have sensed her intentions. He stopped sending her text messages. As their car arrived in front of the school gate, Stella looked at the dark screen of her phone one last time before turning her gaze away.
Justin helped her out of the car, opening the door and unbuckling her seatbelt. He deliberately placed his arm over her shoulders, drawing her a little closer. At first, Stella wanted to pull away, but after a moment’s hesitation, she simply stood stiffly beside him, accepting the closeness.
To anyone watching, they looked like a couple.
Stella realized there was no point in being overly stiff or resistant. After all, they had already discussed their future together, including marriage. It seemed only natural for her to begin adapting to the role of a wife, a position that would benefit both of them.
In this world, there were countless loveless marriages, but Stella believed that she and Justin could still find a way to respect one another while living together. A man like Justin, successful and capable, could easily find a stepmother for his son.
But for Stella, finding a man who could stand up to Weston was no easy feat.
They both needed each other for their own reasons. Justin, despite his strength, would make compromises for her.
So, Stella decided not to be coy about the small gestures. These little things could easily upset him, and she didn’t want to add to his stress. When Justin wrapped his arm around her, she tensed for a brief moment, but quickly relaxed, doing her best to match his energy. He could tell she was pushing herself, and the effort she was making didn’t escape him. His heart ached seeing her act tough when he knew she was struggling.
From the first moment he met her, Justin had noticed something unique about Stella. She stood apart from others, carving out her own path in a world that wasn’t kind. She remembered the kindness others showed her, repaying every favor when given the chance.
Stella wasn’t one to sugarcoat her words and could be a bit pessimistic at times, but her resilience was undeniable. She was like someone lost in a storm, yet she never gave up, always pushing forward. What she didn’t seem to realize was how endearing her strength was, even when she appeared broken.
Bryce, Justin’s teenage son, was in middle school. Stella felt a little nervous at the thought of meeting him. Boys his age were already growing mature.
As the school bell rang, a crowd of students in uniforms rushed outside. On the way out, Stella turned to Justin. “You could send him to a private school,” she suggested.
Justin shook his head. “This school is closer to my workplace. I don’t have the time to be with him as much as I’d like, but at least this way, I’m near. He couldn’t stand being far away from me, so he’s stayed here. He went to elementary school here, made plenty of friends. I did consider transferring him to a better high school, but he wanted to stay. His grades are great, so I didn’t push the issue.”
Stella smiled at him, touched by his consideration. “You really respect your son’s choices.”
Justin was taken aback, his expression softening. He paused for a moment, as if he’d never really thought about it that way. It was a side of himself he hadn’t recognized before, and her words caught him off guard.
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