When Stella finished speaking, she heard a sudden hitch in Justin’s breath, followed by his hurt voice.
“Have you really made up your mind?”
Stella didn’t answer audibly, but her silence spoke volumes. Justin’s voice grew more intense. “Weston is a great guy, but you’ve only just met him. Do you even know who he really is? He already has a family. You need to stay away from him!”
Stella wished she could distance herself from Weston, but it wasn’t as simple as just walking away. She could only do one thing—keep Justin out of the mess. “I’ve told you already. Don’t worry about me. Let’s not meet again.”
Her voice turned firm, almost cold. “You’re just Robb’s teacher. That’s all we are.” With that, she ended the call, leaving no room for argument.
After a moment of thought, she decided to block his number. She didn’t think Justin had any real feelings for her—perhaps it was just an infatuation. Besides, they had only known each other for a short time. It was best to put an end to this before it got more complicated.
She put her phone away and left work.
Yvonne’s Celebration
Yvonne seemed to be in a great mood today. After class, she quickly changed into a sophisticated dress and began touching up her makeup in front of the big mirror in the dance studio.
Stella glanced at her as she passed by. “You look beautiful. Is there something special going on today?”
Yvonne looked up and smiled. “It’s my husband’s birthday today. He’s coming to pick me up, and we’re going to celebrate.”
Stella was taken aback and laughed. “It’s his birthday, but he has to pick you up?”
Yvonne chuckled, applying lipstick with a flourish. “Of course. It’s his birthday, but I’m the one getting celebrated.”
She twisted the lipstick cap back on and tossed it into her bag, then stood up and spun around for Stella’s approval. “How do I look? Anything that needs fixing?”
Stella shook her head. “You look perfect.”
Yvonne straightened her neckline, then walked over to help fix a few stray hairs behind her ears. “You look amazing in that lipstick. It really suits you.”
Yvonne’s bright smile lit up her face. She didn’t need much makeup, but the bold colors really worked for her. A little accent here and there, and she was immediately eye-catching.
Stella watched as Yvonne left the studio, happily going on her date. Then, her phone vibrated. She took it out to check, but the smile quickly faded as she saw the message.
The text came from an unknown number, but the tone was unmistakable. It was Weston. The message contained only two words: “Come down.”
Stella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then put her phone in her bag, trying to shake off the unease settling in her chest. She waited for the others in the training center to leave before finally heading out herself.
She took the elevator to the parking lot. After a few steps, she saw the familiar black Cullinan slowly approaching her. Weston signaled her with a double flash of the headlights, looking casual as ever. He leisurely rolled down the car window and ordered in his usual terse manner, “Get in.”
Stella glanced at him, then quickly looked away, walking forward without acknowledging him. She knew resisting him was futile, but she didn’t know what else to do. Would making a police report help?
She closed her eyes in frustration. For someone like Weston, as long as he hadn’t physically harmed her, calling the police would do nothing. The helplessness of her situation hit her again, and she continued walking with a sinking feeling in her chest.
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