The car drove on, its direction aimless, as if there were no clear destination in mind.
Stella finally broke the silence, her voice laced with frustration. “Where are you taking me?”
Weston glanced briefly at the navigator before responding, his tone casual. “Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t want to go anywhere,” Stella replied, her words sharp. “I just want to go home.”
Weston’s gaze remained steady on the road. “You can come to my place.”
Stella inhaled deeply, refusing to engage further. She remained silent, her thoughts racing. Weston, however, didn’t seem to mind the lack of conversation. He offered, “Do you want to eat something?”
It was dinner time, but Stella had no appetite. “Anything,” she muttered, not really caring.
Despite the cold reception, Weston seemed unfazed. He casually searched for a restaurant, then suggested, “This place has great reviews. Should we try it?”
With a single glance, Stella could tell it was an expensive venue. She frowned. “Never mind. I can’t afford it.”
Weston’s frown deepened as he glanced at her. “I remember giving you a substantial amount of money. More than enough to cover your needs. Don’t tell me you can’t even afford a meal now?”
Stella closed her eyes, the weight of his words settling in. “Money runs out eventually. Do you think it lasts forever?”
She thought back to the time when she was her parents’ precious daughter, pampered and loved, never needing to worry. But in one cruel twist, everything changed. What had once been hers—the comfort, the security—was now gone. Life, she had learned, was unpredictable. The fine line between heaven and hell was something she knew all too well.
Nothing in this world was eternal or reliable. The only thing you could count on was yourself.
She had once been a cherished princess in her parents’ eyes, but now? She was no different from any other commoner.
Weston’s eyes remained on the road ahead as he spoke, his voice casual. “How old are you? Why do you sound so old?”
Stella’s lips twisted into a faint, bitter smile. “Age doesn’t always match experience. Some people are lucky enough to live with innocence, untouched by hardship. But for others…”
Her words trailed off, her face turning slightly grim. “Some others may still be young, but life wears them down.”
Weston shifted his gaze to her, his expression unreadable. “Are you talking about yourself?”
The question snapped Stella back to reality. She realized the man sitting beside her, the one who had driven her into this situation, was asking about her. She paused, the weight of the moment sinking in, and then chose to remain silent.
Weston’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel as he exhaled, a slight tension in his posture. He rarely had conversations like this with Stella. When they were together, it was usually her trailing behind him, learning his preferences, catering to his needs. This was the first time she had revealed anything personal, and despite the cold atmosphere, he listened.
After what felt like an eternity, the car arrived at the restaurant.
Stella glanced at the building’s sleek exterior, a frown forming as she spoke. “Are you really going to take me out like this in public? Aren’t you afraid someone will recognize us?”
Weston’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not a public figure. Don’t worry about it.”
Stella scoffed lightly, not convinced. “Do I need to remind you that Guinevere is a huge star? Everyone knows her name, and you’re always in the headlines. Being the richest man in Ahn City is bound to attract attention. Are you sure we won’t be spotted? What if she finds out about me and tries to hurt me again?”
Her mind raced, her thoughts trapped in a dead end. Weston was forcing her to be with him, and Guinevere? She was no less determined to rid herself of anyone who got close to Weston. It felt like they were working together, intentionally cornering her.
Weston glanced at her, his expression unreadable, before offering his arm to her. “Trust me.”
Stella’s gaze was distant, her eyes filled with indifference. The words “trust me” were empty to her now. To her, Weston’s promises were as hollow as the air between them. She couldn’t trust him—not anymore.
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