Chapter 51

▫️Stella’s POV...

I woke up, sighing as I remembered last night. Chris didn’t came into the room. Asshole. But before I could get all dramatic about it, I felt his presence near me, his warm, veiny hand resting on my waist. My dopamine shot up like a fucking rocket.

Without wasting time, I turned to face him and pecked his lips. He was still asleep. Restless. Something was bothering him, and I needed to know what. My fingers trailed along his jawline as I admired his stupidly handsome face for a solid half an hour. Perks of waking up early.

Right on time, he finally woke up, blinking at me. Morning, chick. "Baby"  he mumbled with a sleepy smile. But it disappeared too fast.

I frowned. “What happened? Why do you look so lost?”

Chris looked at me weirdly before sighing and pulling me into a hug. “I don’t know. Everything is just messing up.”

I waited for him to continue, but he stayed quiet for a moment, like he was debating something in his head. Then he looked me dead in the eyes. “Can I trust you?”

I blinked. “Dumb question. You can trust me in every way possible, even if you suddenly decide to rob a bank, I'm in.”

He ignored my nonsense. “Let me ask you something, and you’ll reply honestly.”

I nodded. “Always.”

His next words made my whole body freeze.

“Where were you the night I went to Russia?”

I stared at him, shocked. Why the fuck is he asking me this again?

“I slept,” I said. “I was exhausted as hell and passed out.”

Chris nodded but continued, “You know our private information got leaked, right?”

“Yes, you told me,” I replied cautiously.

His voice dropped lower. “It led to the murder of fifteen of our men.”

I gasped. Holy shit.

“And the guy who stole the info? He died that same night. Killed with the knife I gave you.” His eyes darkened. “That’s why I was asking for it.”

My heart fucking stopped. I shot up from the bed, staring at him with wide eyes. “Chris, I didn’t kill anyone! I swear on my cat, on my life, on my non-existent future children!”

Chris immediately pulled me into a hug. “Calm down.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to calm down?! I’m being suspected for a goddamn murder in the fucking underworld! I know what you do to people like me? I DON’T WANT TO DIE, CHRIS!”

He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “Even if you had killed him, I won't harm you. Just don’t ever admit it. Understand?”

I gawked at him. “But I didn’t—”

Chris cut me off. “I believed you the second you said you didn’t do it. I trust you. No matter what the fuck happens, I won’t even point a finger at you, with or without proof. But you have to be confident in front of others. Just say you didn’t do this, and I’ll handle the rest.”

I gulped, nodding slowly. His eyes softened, and he wrapped me in another tight hug.

“But,” I whispered, “what if my fingerprints matched?”

Chris pulled back slightly, looking at me like I was stupid. “Fuck the fingerprints. I don't care.”

My chest clenched. He was dead serious.

“But let me remind you,” he continued, his voice softer now, “if you really did this, just tell me, okay? I won’t be mad. Just tell me the reason. And if you didn’t, then don’t stress—I won’t let anyone touch a single fucking hair on your head.”

I bit my lip and nodded again. He gave me one last look before getting up for his usual morning routine, leaving me sitting on the bed, staring at the wall.

What the fuck.

I didn’t do it. Not even in my dreams would I betray him. But why did he ask about my parents yesterday? Maybe he was worried they might try their mental torture shit again. But I didn't talked with them, neither they did.

Whatever let's see.

▫️Christian’s POV...

Now that Stella had said, Fuck the fingerprints, I didn’t give a shit about them anymore. She didn’t do it. The end.

So after breakfast, Titan came into my office. Liam and MJ were already there, and Nick and I had just arrived. I grabbed the test results, ready to confirm what I already knew—NO MATCH.

Then MJ handed me the papers and said, “MATCHED.”

My heart fucking stopped.

I looked at them, then back at the results, and in the next second, I said, "Stella denied!”

But before anyone could say another word, I grabbed my lighter, flicked it on, and set the results on fire.

Titan stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Christian, you’re blinded by love. Betrayal can lead to more harm—act smartly.”

I turned to him and, without thinking, grabbed the lamp off my table and smashed it into the wall. Shards of glass flew everywhere. “I SAID I TRUST HER, YOU FUCKING BASTARD! IF SHE SAID SHE DIDN’T DO IT, THEN SHE DIDN’T FUCKING DO IT!”

Before Titan could argue, the door creaked open. My head snapped in that direction.

Stella.

She hesitantly peeked inside. “What happened?”

Shit. She must’ve heard the ruckus. I forced a smile, softening my voice. “It’s nothing, baby. Go to our room.”

She nodded and turned to leave, but then Titan, that dumbass, decided to sign his own death certificate.

“Stella, wait.”

I slowly turned to look at him, pure fucking murder in my eyes.

He swallowed hard and shut the fuck up.

“Stella, GO. TO. OUR. ROOM.” I said through gritted teeth.

She just nodded again and left. Good. She didn’t need to hear any of this shit.

But Titan? This motherfucker had a death wish.

“I’m telling you, she did it,” he pushed. “All the proof says so. Maybe she found out about her parents and is taking revenge for the forced marriage. What if—”

That’s it. I snapped.

I grabbed Titan by the throat and slammed him against the wall so hard the whole office shook. His hands clawed at mine, but I didn’t loosen my grip.

Then—fuck my life—the door swung open again.

Stella.

She didn’t go to the room. And she definitely heard some - everything.

I locked eyes with her, watching her expression closely. Was she gonna react? Did she hear everything?

Her voice came out small, uncertain. “W-What happened to my parents?”

Fuck.

I let Titan go immediately and turned to her. “Nothing happened. They’re safe. He’s just spitting bullshit.”

She shook her head, not buying it. Shit.

I subtly signaled Nick to get her out of here. He grabbed her hand, but she didn’t budge.

I clenched my jaw. “Nick, just take her.”

Titan looked like he was about to open his mouth again, and I swear to fucking God, I was ready to murder him.

Nick didn’t wait anymore. He just threw Stella over his shoulder and walked out while she kicked and yelled at him.

As soon as the door closed, I turned back to Titan and—punched him straight in the fucking face. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

“That’s for blaming Stella.” Another punch. “And that’s for planting doubt in her head.”

I should’ve beaten the shit out of him earlier. Now everything was a goddamn mess. I grabbed his collar and shoved him toward the door. “Go find out who the fuck actually did it and who’s trying to frame Stella. UNDERSTOOD? Useless shit.”

He nodded, wiped the blood off his face, and ran out like a scared little bitch.

I swear I’m replacing him with Ragnar. Titan’s getting useless.

—

By the time I got to my room, Nick was trying to calm Stella down, but my girl was fucking raging.

“I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! STOP HIDING SHIT FROM ME!” she screamed, tears in her eyes.

Fuck, my baby was crying because of that bastard.

I walked straight to her and pulled her into a hug, but she shoved at my chest. “Tell me what happened or FUCK OFF!”

I held her tighter. “Calm down, baby. Nothing happened. At least listen to me once.”

She kept struggling but slowly, slowly, her breathing evened out.

“Let’s FaceTime your parents,” I said.

Her eyes widened. “Huh?!”

I nodded and stand from bed and dialed her father. Not face time just audio call to warn them to hide their condition. Tom didn’t speak, because—well, the guy literally couldn’t speak right now. But Betty answered bcoz she can't pick up. Such a collaboration they are doing.

“What happened?” she asked.

I smiled. “Nothing, mother-in-law. Your daughter just wants to see you safe, healthy, and happy.”

Betty hesitated. “…Should I hide my ..?”

I replied smoothly, “Yes.”

Then I FaceTimed them and handed the phone to Stella.

Liam and Nick exchanged worried looks. “Chris,” Nick whispered.

I nodded with a reassuring look.

On the screen, Tom held the phone while Betty hid herself under a pillow like a dumbass.

Stella frowned. “Mother? Father? Are you okay?”

Betty’s voice came out fake-cheerful. “Of course, dear! We’re totally fine! What could possibly happen to us?”

Stella wasn't saying anything just looking blankly.

After a minute.

I subtly nodded at betty through the screen. She got the message.

Betty smiled and quickly ended the call.

Crisis fucking averted.

I pulled Stella onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. “See? I told you they’re safe. Titan was just talking out of his ass.”

She hugged me back and whispered, “I’m sorry I doubted you. But… what I heard… made me—”

I cut her off, pressing a kiss to her temple. “It’s okay, baby. I get it.”

She sighed. “No matter what… they’re my parents.”

I nodded, signaling my brothers to fuck off and give us some privacy.

Once they left, Stella pouted. “Everything’s been so messed up these past few days. My head’s been spinning with overthinking.”

I smirked. “Wanna clear your mind?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Where are we going?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I grabbed her chin, tilting her face up, and crashed my lips against hers.

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t push me away. Instead, she melted into me.

My hands trailed down her back, pulling her closer until there wasn’t a single inch of space between us. I deepened the kiss, sucking on her lower lip, biting it gently, swallowing the soft moan that escaped her.

Fuck, she tasted like honey and chaos.

I tilted her head back, trailing my lips down her jaw, her neck, biting, teasing, driving her insane. Her hands gripped my shirt tightly, like she didn’t want to let go.

I smirked against her skin.

“Relax, baby. We’ve got all night.”