Weston stood there, silently observing Stella as she slept soundly on the sofa. His tousled black hair partially obscured his eyes, making it difficult to read his expression.
He remained motionless for so long that he lost track of time. It was only the cold breeze that eventually nudged him to step back inside. With quiet precision, he slid the door open, walked over to Stella, and gently lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom.
The next morning, Stella awoke to find herself wrapped tightly in an embrace. Something hard pressed against her neck. She opened her eyes and saw a man’s arm draped around her.
“Weston,” she mumbled instinctively, trying to push him away.
But Weston didn’t stir. His eyes remained closed as he held her even closer, murmuring softly into her ear, “Let’s sleep a little longer, okay?”
Stella, struggling to free herself, tried to check the time. “I need to go to work,” she said.
Weston, however, didn’t let her go. He pinned her back down and pulled her firmly into his embrace. “Let’s sleep a little longer,” he repeated, his voice insistent.
Stella sighed in frustration. “But I really need to go to work.”
When it became clear that she wouldn’t be persuaded, Weston reluctantly released her, turning his back towards her. Stella hurried out of bed, reaching instinctively for her phone on the nightstand, but it wasn’t there. Then, the memories of the previous night flooded back—she had fallen asleep on the sofa. So how had she ended up here?
Her gaze lingered on Weston, still lying in bed, his presence stirring a mix of complicated emotions in her. But she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she walked out of the room, determined not to overthink it.
She found her phone on the coffee table, checked the time, and realized it was still early. After a quick shower and getting ready, she was about to leave when Weston stirred from his sleep. He glanced at her, his expression blank, and said, “I’ve asked the driver to pick you up.”
Stella nodded without objection. “Aren’t you going to work today?” she asked, noticing he was still in his nightshirt. Before Weston could answer, the sound of a car approaching caught her attention. She rushed towards the door.
“I’m leaving now,” she said, closing the door behind her without another word or glance at Weston.
Her voice had lost its warmth, her tone flat and mechanical, as though she were reading from a script. She no longer had any curiosity or emotional attachment to him.
Weston stared at the closed door, his gaze dark and brooding.
Stella asked the driver to stop at the intersection before stepping out of the car. After a short walk, she arrived at her workplace. There, she saw Yvonne cheerfully handing out gifts. When Yvonne spotted Stella, her face lit up with a smile.
“It’s only been a few days since I last saw you,” Yvonne exclaimed, “but you’ve gotten even prettier!”
Stella smiled softly, noticing how happy Yvonne seemed. “I think it’s you who’s gotten prettier!” she replied. “When I was walking in, I was wondering who that lady was who’s smiling like an angel.”
Yvonne, knowing Stella was only flattering her, still beamed with pleasure. Once she finished handing out the gifts, she grabbed Stella’s hand and pulled her into her office.
“I’ve got a special set of skincare products for you!” Yvonne chirped. “Come on, let’s see if they suit your skin!”
But just before Yvonne closed the office door, Stella felt a lingering gaze on her. She turned around, but no one was there.
Yvonne didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as she happily opened a small golden jar, scooping some white cream with her fingers. Just as she was about to apply it to Stella’s skin, she noticed Stella staring intently at the door.
“What’s wrong?” Yvonne asked.
“Nothing,” Stella replied, dismissing the feeling. She convinced herself it was just her imagination.
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