A faint gleam flickered in Stella’s eyes. “That makes you two childhood sweethearts, doesn’t it? You’ve been together so long and still seem so in love. I can’t help but be envious.”
Yvonne waved her hand and laughed. “There’s nothing to admire. Just look at these dark circles under my eyes!”
To Stella, it sounded more like humble bragging than a complaint. She simply shook her head with a smile.
Yvonne, intrigued, walked alongside her and asked teasingly, “Ella, have you ever been in a relationship before?”
She was clearly curious about Stella’s love life.
Because no matter what the situation was now, there was no way Stella could be with Weston forever.
A man like Weston Ford was the kind who tired of women quickly. And Yvonne couldn’t help but worry—would Stella’s entanglement with him leave her emotionally scarred, shutting the door on love completely?
She recalled how every time she tried to introduce a man to Stella, she’d be flatly rejected. After everything she had been through, wouldn’t her distrust toward men only grow deeper?
“Me?” Stella blinked, slightly surprised by the question. After a pause, she said softly, “I did have a crush on someone once.”
“Oh?” Yvonne’s curiosity was piqued. “When was that?”
“It was back in university,” Stella replied with a nostalgic smile. “There was a senior who really stood out. Handsome, smart, and wealthy—but he wasn’t a flirt or a playboy. Back then, he was like a knight in shining armor to a lot of girls.”
“Knight in shining armor? I haven’t heard that one in forever,” Yvonne said with a laugh. “So, what happened? Did you tell him how you felt?”
Stella shook her head with a hint of self-mockery. “No. He already had a girlfriend.”
“Oh…” Yvonne’s smile faded. After a beat of silence, she sighed. “Sounds like your luck with men hasn’t been great.”
Stella caught the meaning in her words and smiled bitterly. “Yeah, you could say that.”
It was always the same type of man—already taken. But in truth, it had only ever been one man: Weston Ford.
She’d fallen for him in college. Back then, Guinevere was already openly pursuing him, leaving little room for anyone else. Everyone assumed they were a couple, and Guinevere had all but declared herself Weston’s girlfriend.
Though he never publicly confirmed it, a man like Weston wouldn’t allow someone to make such bold claims unless he consented in some way. His silence had spoken volumes.
Stella had never imagined that one day she’d become involved with a man like him. She never thought he’d break up with Guinevere—or propose marriage to her.
But in the end, what was never hers could never truly belong to her.
Her greatest regret wasn’t falling for him. It was believing, however briefly, that her dream had come true—only to wake up to the harsh reality that it had never been real. That was what love had taught her.
Yvonne fell quiet, then asked in a softer voice, “If you’ve never been in a relationship, and you said you and Weston never really… were intimate, does that mean you’re still a virgin?”
The question caught Stella off guard. She had just taken a sip of water and nearly choked, coughing a few times.
Yvonne misread her flushed face and rushed to comfort her. “Oh no, don’t get embarrassed! Really, it’s totally fine. Even though things are more open nowadays, being a little conservative is nothing to be ashamed of.”
She paused, her tone suddenly indignant. “But still… giving your first time to that jerk Weston Ford? That’s way too generous!”
With that, an idea popped into her head. Yvonne’s eyes lit up as she grabbed Stella’s arm. “Ella, I’m being serious. Why don’t I introduce you to a few handsome, clean-cut guys? You can hang out and see who you like. Just have a little fun.”
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