Their eyes locked. Neither Weston nor Stella looked away.
His gaze, cool and sharp, cut straight through her. It was the kind of stare that stripped away pretense—the kind no one could lie to.
Then, a low chuckle escaped his lips. He ran his tongue lightly over them and leaned in close, whispering, “You’re quite stubborn.” With that, he brushed a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. “That was good. Now, let’s move on to something else.”
Stella’s eyes lit up. In that moment, her stubbornness gave way to something gentler—an unspoken willingness. Sensing it, Weston looked down at her, voice low and probing.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s… quite interesting,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
A smile curved at his lips. “Let’s try again.”
But this time, Stella hesitated. Surprised, she shook her head. “Forget it.”
“Why not?”
“We might run into someone we know…” she said quietly, her voice tinged with unease.
Weston studied her expression. The nervousness in her eyes didn’t escape him—and it stirred something unpleasant within.
“You don’t have to worry. As long as you’re with me, no one will dare say a word,” he assured her, wrapping his arms around her once more. “I won’t let anyone touch you. Trust me. Alright?”
He whispered the promise near her ear, his voice deep and soothing.
Any woman would have been moved by such words. But Stella… she knew better.
Because she wasn’t just any woman.
She was his secret.
And the more beautiful the promises, the more hollow they rang in her heart. Wasn’t he the one who had dragged her into this in the first place? If he hadn’t, she wouldn’t be standing here, worried that someone might recognize her.
Stella moved quickly toward him, her bangs swaying with every step. By the time she reached him, her hair was a tousled mess.
“This place is like a maze,” Weston said, reaching out to gently smooth her hair back into place. His touch was calm, deliberate. “I was worried you’d get lost.”
“Lost?” Stella laughed softly. “How could anyone get lost in a place this small?”
He took her hands in his, but the moment he touched them, his expression shifted. They were dry—bone dry. His eyes darkened, a shadow passing across them. Stella, oblivious to the change in his mood, only noticed how tightly he was gripping her.
“Ow, that hurts!” she winced, frowning.
Weston released her hands at once.
She drew them back quickly, and he caught a glimpse of red marks etched on the backs of her hands.
“…Sorry,” he muttered.
For a brief moment, his gaze lingered on the marks he had left. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Stella stood still, staring after him, confused.
What did I do wrong?
Weston crossed the room and stopped beside Xavier. “That’s it for today,” he said flatly. “We’re leaving.”
“You’re leaving?” Xavier straightened up, clearly surprised. “What’s the rush? I haven’t even introduced you to my new girlfriend yet!”
Weston sighed and rubbed his temples. “Another one? Already?”
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