As soon as the man realized his chance was slipping away, he sprang to his feet. “Wait up!” he called after Stella, his voice filled with urgency.
He seemed to have more to say, but Stella, already focused on Weston, paid him no mind. Her gaze flicked briefly in his direction before she looked down, then shifted to Yvonne. She saw Lucas had already joined her side.
A realization hit Stella. She glanced between Lucas and Weston, the pieces clicking into place—they had clearly arrived together.
She pursed her lips, then walked toward Yvonne, her steps calm but decisive. “You should head home first,” she suggested.
Yvonne nodded and reached for her hand, but before their fingers could touch, Lucas gripped her arm and tugged her back.
“What’s going on?” Yvonne asked, startled by the sudden force. “Ella should come with us.”
Lucas gave a subtle nod toward Weston. “Someone else is here to pick her up. What’s the point of involving yourself in this?”
Yvonne’s expression darkened. “What right does he have? She came here with me!”
“Yvonne, stop making a scene,” Lucas said, his tone hard. “Are you really in a position to question her relationship with Weston?”
“But she’s not willing!” Yvonne couldn’t help but protest. “I can’t just stand by and watch her walk into trouble.”
If she hadn’t known the full picture, she could have easily looked the other way. But seeing everything unfold before her eyes made it impossible for Yvonne to let it go. How could she let Weston take Stella away like this?
She felt sick to her stomach.
Lucas, too, had a bad taste in his mouth. He’d never cared much for the drama between other people, but with Yvonne ranting back home about Weston’s actions, he’d eventually confronted him about his intentions. Now, finding himself face-to-face with both Yvonne and Stella, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
He had never liked Stella from the start.
“No matter how hard things are for her, she’s the one who chose this path. Are you really in a position to interfere with her decision?” His voice was firm and unwavering.
Yvonne’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Stella, unwilling to be caught in the middle of their conflict, intervened. “That’s enough for today,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension. “Thank you for bringing me out, I had a good time. I’ll head out now.”
Yvonne, frustrated, pulled away from Lucas’s grip. “No! We came here together. I should be the one to take you home!”
Stella shook her head gently, offering a soft smile. “I’m fine. I’ll go with him.” She glanced at Weston, who stood a little ways off, and continued, “Since he’s here to pick me up, I’ll go with him.”
“Ella!” Yvonne’s voice cracked with a mixture of worry and sadness. She took a step toward her, but before she could reach out, Lucas’s hand stopped her.
His eyes were sharp with disapproval. Yvonne’s face twisted, and she shot him a glare, but he didn’t back down.
Stella smiled warmly at Yvonne. “I’m really okay. Thank you again. I really enjoyed myself today,” she said, her words genuine.
She waved goodbye, then turned to Weston. Just as she reached him, he spoke without turning around, his tone curt, “Follow me.”
With that, he walked off, and Stella, without hesitation, followed him.
It wasn’t until they were out of sight that Yvonne finally lowered her gaze. Lucas watched her for a moment, his face unreadable, then spoke in a low voice, “Still not done watching the show?”
Yvonne shot him a look of pure frustration and turned away, flinging his hand off her arm. She stormed off without another word.
Lucas, now the silent observer, followed her at a distance, not rushing to catch up but keeping a careful watch.
The young man who had been standing by the side cursed under his breath as he watched both women leave. “Such rotten luck,” he muttered to himself. “Meeting two taken women… What a waste.”
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