By the time Weston returned home, Stella was already at the villa. There was something noticeably different about her today—perhaps it was because of the lie she had told. She was unusually docile, her behavior a stark contrast to her usual self. Weston, taken aback, watched her carefully. He had agreed to let her see Roger yesterday, but today, she seemed like a completely different person. He sat down on the couch, pulling Stella into his arms, still processing the events from that morning. Should he tell her about his plan for Roger to study overseas? He hesitated, wondering if he should share this decision with her.
It struck him then—Stella had a unique power over him. As long as she showed a little obedience, it seemed like he was willing to change his mind about things. But in Stella’s mind, she couldn’t stop wondering what would happen if Weston found out she had been lying. Her heart raced, and she was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice how close Weston’s breath was becoming. They had already washed up earlier and were now sitting together, watching a show. The light from the TV flickered, casting a soft glow over them, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.
The kiss came suddenly. Her pulse quickened as Weston’s lips pressed against hers. She put both hands on his chest, feeling breathless, and, in the last moment of her energy, she tilted her head away, breaking the kiss.
In that instant, the mood shifted. Weston, sensing her hesitation, immediately pulled back. He knew she wasn’t ready, and he wouldn’t push her. After all, he was a patient man—hunters were known for their patience. He was willing to wait until the day she was ready.
The night passed quietly.
The next day, after Weston left for work, Stella was planning to head straight to the shooting location. However, she received a message from Bradley, telling her that she only needed to arrive in the afternoon. After thinking it over, she decided to visit Roger instead. Since Weston believed she was with him, it seemed like the right time to go. When Roger saw her, he was surprised—she had told him she was away on a business trip.
“I came back because something urgent came up,” she explained. “Now that I’m back, I wanted to see you. I have some time before this afternoon. Would you like me to join you for class?”
Roger’s face lit up, and he happily agreed.
But as she watched his excitement, a knot formed in Stella’s stomach. She wanted to tell him the truth—that she was planning to become an actress—but she didn’t know how to say it. She couldn’t keep hiding it from him forever, but she wasn’t sure how he would react.
All the university classes were held publicly, and Stella sat beside Roger. It was her first time accompanying him to class, and he was thrilled. He handed her an English book. “Read this if you get bored.”
She hesitated for a moment before handing the book back to him and pulling out her script. “I’ll read this,” she said.
At first, Roger thought it was a novel, but when he realized it was a script, his expression changed. He stopped paying attention to the lecture, his gaze fixed on her with a cold intensity.
“You’re planning to become an actress?” he asked, his voice colder than she expected.
Stella didn’t meet his gaze. She kept her focus on the script, trying to maintain her composure. After a long pause, he spoke again, his tone slow but firm. “Concentrate. We’ll talk about this later.”
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