Chapter 119

Chapter 119:

Tristan responded calmly, “I was dropping Adrian off first, but then Emily told me you went to Starlight Nightclub, so I came over.”

Stella nodded, but inside, she wasn’t sure if she should be grateful to Emily or if she wanted to give her a good scolding!

It was becoming clear to Stella that Emily would tell Tristan everything—whether it was her struggles while living abroad or even when she returned home and what she was doing after work.

When would Emily stop sharing every detail?

Lost in thought, Stella lowered her head, but the car suddenly stopped at a red light. Tristan took off his windbreaker and handed it to her.

“Put this on,” he said, his tone neutral but with an underlying firmness.

Stella hesitated, sensing that Tristan had been holding back his anger since they got into the car. Perhaps Cherry’s presence kept him from expressing it fully, but she knew exactly why he was upset.

He was angry because she had ended up in such a dangerous situation, going to a place like Starlight Nightclub in the middle of the night.

She remembered back in high school, when she lived with the Richard family, how Tristan had always been strict with her.

No matter where she went, he would either accompany her or make sure she got to her destination safely, always picking her up afterward.

One time, when she deliberately avoided him, sneaking out to karaoke with her classmates, Tristan had appeared out of nowhere, storming into the private room.

She still vividly remembered how upset he was, dragging her out without a word and lecturing her the entire way home.

Since that day, Stella had never dared to disobey him again—especially not by going to questionable places.

So now, seeing the stern look on his face, she knew exactly what was bothering him. He had called her his “sweetheart” in front of Andrew, but now, his mood had soured completely.

“I don’t want it,” Stella muttered, tilting her head toward the window, refusing to wear his jacket. What would it mean if she wore it? Besides, her clothes weren’t damaged that badly.

Mₒᵣₑ ᵤₚdₐₜₑₛ ᵢₙ gₐₗₙₒᵥₑₗₛ.𝒸ₒₘ

Tristan didn’t glance at her. “You don’t want to wear it? Then don’t blame me later if I can’t control myself.”

Stella was speechless.

Cherry, sitting quietly in the backseat, was just as stunned.

When had Tristan become so shameless?

Stella had known Tristan for years, since they were kids, and she never imagined he’d say something like this. What happened to the kind and noble “brother” she once knew?

The atmosphere in the car became awkwardly tense. Stella’s face turned red, and Cherry was blushing as well, overhearing everything.

Stella shot a glance at Cherry in the rearview mirror, feeling mortified. Couldn’t Tristan see there was someone else in the car?

What if rumors started spreading at work because of this? If things continued like this, she was certain she’d become the center of gossip.

Reluctantly, Stella took the jacket from Tristan.

His comment about “not being able to control himself” echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Why couldn’t he have said it in a more tactful way?

After she accepted the jacket, Tristan’s faint smile lingered, though it was barely visible in the dim light of the car.

When they arrived at the hospital, Stella still had Tristan’s windbreaker draped over her shoulders as she stepped out of the car.

She tried to convince Cherry not to follow her inside, but Cherry insisted, “Stella, I’ll go with you to the hospital. I’d be too worried to go home otherwise.”

“Alright…” Stella agreed reluctantly.

Just as she opened the car door and placed one foot on the ground, Tristan appeared in front of her again. Without warning, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.

Before Stella could react, she found herself cradled in his strong arms, carried toward the hospital entrance.

Cherry followed behind, chuckling as she watched the scene unfold.

From time to time, she even made teasing gestures, as if asking Stella whether she and Tristan were already a couple.

Embarrassed, Stella shook her head, trying to signal to Cherry that it wasn’t like that. But Cherry kept grinning, clearly unconvinced.

Feeling flustered, Stella buried her face in Tristan’s chest, deciding to ignore the situation altogether.

But a few seconds later…

She realized something was wrong.

.

.

.