Upon seeing how calm Stella remained, Roger’s anger flared up instantly. “Do you think this is just a small matter?” he snapped.
“I’ve told you before that I don’t support you entering the entertainment industry,” he continued, frustration lacing his voice. “I won’t be able to help you if someone hurts you out there!”
“I don’t need your help!” Stella interrupted, her voice firm. “I just want you to take care of yourself. Becoming an actress is my choice, and I’m here to tell you, not to ask for your permission. Even though you’re my brother, I wish you could respect my decision.”
Roger, however, was not someone who could easily calm down. His tone grew even more heated. The moment class ended, he grabbed Stella’s arm and pulled her outside. “Why did you change your mind about becoming an actress? Don’t you know how hard that life is?”
Stella stood her ground. “You’re right. I know it’s tough. But every industry has its difficulties. I’ve thought it through, and no matter what happens, I will bear whatever negativity comes my way.”
Roger’s face was tense. “But I don’t want you to suffer! I can’t just sit back and watch you go through this.”
He clenched his fists, the weight of his helplessness pressing on him. “Are you really sure about this? Once you make up your mind, you never change it.”
Stella met his gaze and nodded. “I’m sure. I even brought the script with me. I’m serious about this.”
Roger stared at her for a long moment, as though trying to read her. Finally, his voice dropped, a note of realization in it. “Before this, you said you were on a business trip. Was that a lie? You’ve been planning to enter the entertainment industry for a while, haven’t you?”
Stella bit her lip, the truth now hanging between them. She had come to tell him everything, but because of Weston, she had kept the lie up until now.
“I’m sorry, Roger. I didn’t want you to worry about me.”
A heavy silence settled over them. Roger said nothing at first, only staring at her with a look of frustration and defeat. Then, to her surprise, he let out a bitter laugh. “I’m really useless, aren’t I? I keep troubling you, but I can’t help you with anything.”
“Don’t say that,” Stella replied quickly, her voice soft but firm. “We’re family. We take care of each other.”
Roger’s face darkened. “Exactly. We’re family. But why does it feel like I’m always the one who’s a burden?”
Stella’s brow furrowed. “Roger, don’t talk like that.”
Before she could say more, footsteps echoed down the corridor. The teacher from the school office appeared, knocking on the classroom door. “Is Robb here?” she called out, glancing inside. “Robb, come out for a moment.”
Roger turned to her. “I’m here. What’s going on?”
The teacher walked up to him and nodded. “I need to discuss something with you. Please come with me to the office.”
She glanced at Stella then, her gaze lingering. “Since your sister is here, she should come along too.”
Stella blinked, surprised. “Me?” she asked, her confusion clear. “Why do I need to come?”
The teacher didn’t elaborate, simply gesturing for them to follow. “You’ll find out when you get there.”
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