At least Roger had grown up in a place like this. He had lived up to her parents’ expectations. If they could witness this, they’d probably feel relieved. It was just that she, on the other hand, had embarrassed them. Stella wondered if she would ever have a career that would make her parents proud. She sighed, lost in thought, before walking into a nearby tea shop. She ordered a milk tea out of boredom and decided to wait for Roger to finish his class.
Sitting at a corner table, Stella checked her savings, pondering her next career move. She had thought about what Roger had said, but given her relationship with Weston, things could get complicated. If people found out about them, it would create a lot of problems for everyone involved. She was always preparing for the worst-case scenario when it came to Weston.
“A milk tea latte, please,” she said as she ordered.
After taking a seat, she absentmindedly scanned the shop. The man at the cashier in front of her turned at the sound of her voice, and their eyes met. Stella was startled. “Mr. Hall?” She hadn’t expected to run into him in such a small, quiet place.
He, too, looked surprised but quickly recovered his usual polite demeanor. Smiling, he nodded. “What a coincidence to see you here. Are you here to visit Roger?”
Stella nodded, glancing at the boy standing behind Mr. Hall. She smiled at him. “Long time no see.”
Bryce, excited to be visiting his father’s university, brightened at the sight of her. He had never been able to spend much time with Justin due to his father’s work schedule, so this visit meant a lot to him. However, his enthusiasm quickly faded when he noticed Stella.
“Hello, Ms. Steele,” Bryce said, his tone polite but lacking enthusiasm. He quickly averted his eyes and stood behind his father, a clear sign of his discomfort.
Stella recognized that Bryce must have formed an impression of her, and she didn’t push it further. She took her drink when it was ready and turned to the staff. “Can you pack this for me, please?”
Bryce watched her, his eyes flickering with understanding. He realized she was intentionally avoiding him, and although he didn’t fully understand why, he chose not to say anything more.
Once her drink was packed, Stella turned to leave. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now,” she said.
Justin handed Bryce the chocolate drink he had ordered, and they both sat down. Bryce nodded but seemed relieved to see her leave. When she was out of earshot, Justin looked at his son, a little amused by his reaction.
“You don’t seem to like her very much, do you?” Justin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bryce froze, sitting up straighter, his expression turning serious. “I don’t dislike her,” he replied, his voice firm, though there was a hint of unease.
“Then why were you so worked up just now?” Justin pressed, still puzzled.
Bryce hesitated. He looked at his father, weighing whether to speak his mind. Finally, he sighed. “It’s just that…” He trailed off, unsure how to explain. He studied his father’s face carefully, searching for a sign of how he would react.
After a long pause, Bryce finally asked, “Father, will you get mad if I tell you the truth?”
Justin’s curiosity piqued, and he regarded his son with a slightly uneasy expression. “Just say it. What is it that you’re holding back?”
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