Stella nodded at Mrs. Smith without showing any emotion, her expression unwavering. Mrs. Smith, clearly feeling awkward, remained silent. She cast a quick glance at the crowd before dragging Joyce away, and soon the last of the onlookers dispersed, leaving only Yvonne and Stella behind.
“Are you okay?” Yvonne asked, her concern evident in her voice.
“I’m fine,” Stella replied with a smile, though there was a hint of weariness in her eyes. “I just feel bad for causing you so much trouble, especially on your last day here.”
“But none of this is your fault!” Yvonne interrupted, frowning. “I can’t believe Joyce would sneak behind my back like that and get involved with Mr. Smith. I thought he was especially close with that secretary of his!”
Stella couldn’t help but reflect on the events that had unfolded. If Mr. Smith hadn’t been so fond of hiring attractive women who were more adept in other areas than in their actual jobs, she wouldn’t have been called to Lowe Garden. That, in turn, had led to Yvonne arranging for Stella to become Ruby’s private tutor.
It was the special treatment she’d received that seemed to have sparked Joyce’s resentment. Joyce had always been bitter about Yvonne’s preference for Stella—how she had been given priority when the great opportunity to tutor Ruby arose. Everyone wanted to be a private tutor, and yet, Stella was the one chosen. This jealousy slowly transformed into a grudge, and Joyce, unable to compete with Stella on equal footing, decided to take a different route. She secretly hooked up with Mr. Smith, knowing full well that he wouldn’t turn down any young woman willing to entertain his desires.
At first, Joyce had been flattered by Mr. Smith’s attention. He had seemed infatuated with her, indulging her every whim. She truly believed, at the time, that he would leave his wife and be with her. But reality soon set in. Joyce came to realize that Mr. Smith would never divorce his wife, no matter how much she tried to cling to him. Despite the disappointment, she stayed, convinced by his sweet words and promises, though fearful that Mrs. Smith would eventually discover the affair.
So, Joyce devised a plan to protect herself. She started using the name Ella Steele when dealing with Mr. Smith, ensuring that even if Mrs. Smith found out, she would never be connected to the affair. As long as Mrs. Smith remained unaware, Joyce could continue her relationship with Mr. Smith and reap the benefits without much effort.
But Joyce had completely underestimated Ella Steele.
Ella, who had always appeared meek and obedient, stunned Joyce with her quick thinking and sharp responses when the truth came to light. Joyce had even prepared a set of lies to deflect suspicion, but before she could speak a word, Ella had dismantled her entire plan.
“Thank God you were able to think on your feet and respond so quickly,” Yvonne exclaimed as she watched the surveillance footage of the incident. “You could have easily been blamed, and Mrs. Smith would have destroyed you!”
Stella remained calm, watching the footage without a flicker of emotion. After a moment, she turned to Yvonne and gave a small, helpless smile.
“Well, what else could I have done?” she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “I’m human, after all. I can’t just let people walk all over me without doing anything.”
Yvonne, seeing the quiet strength in Stella, paused for a moment, then asked, “Have you… found another job?”
The training center was nearly empty now, the last of the employees having said their goodbyes and left. Only Stella and Yvonne remained. Yvonne had intended to lock up the center for the final time, but seeing Stella made her hesitant to leave. She lingered a little longer, wanting to talk before they parted ways for good.
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