Chapter 516

Chapter 515:

Mrs. Reed exchanged a few words with Stella and RK before departing.

Immediately afterward, RK began chatting with others. Stella, disliking such occasions, greeted RK and sought refuge in a quieter area.

She had never been fond of social interactions. The attendees at tonight’s dinner were all prominent entrepreneurs, engaged in lively conversation, yet behind their smiles lay darkness.

Observing these intentionally crafted smiles, Stella felt exhausted.

When Stella was very young, she attended a banquet with her parents. Back then, she was still a child. After her mother left and her stepmother arrived, she found little joy in gatherings, even with an older brother and sister. She never liked Sophia, especially from the moment she stepped into their home.

Humans are strange; as they grow, they often become lonelier. Do they choose their companions or do they choose solitude?

Gently lifting a glass of red wine, Stella gazed at RK in the distance through the liquid. His figure stood out so distinctly that she could spot him easily among the crowd. His tailored suit naturally drew attention from several women, and Stella noticed the fierce glances they cast his way.

Turning away, Stella made her way to the floor-to-ceiling window when an irritating voice interrupted her solitude.

“Stella, if it weren’t for Mrs. Reed wanting to see you, Rene wouldn’t have brought you to this banquet,” Sophia remarked, her voice dripping with jealousy. She had hoped to make Stella envious but instead felt overshadowed herself.

“Yes, I know. I heard it,” Stella replied, her calm demeanor in stark contrast to Sophia’s agitation.

“Stella, I was the one who met Rene first, so he is mine,” Sophia declared, recalling her own foolishness in pushing Stella towards RK.

“I know. But weren’t you the one who pushed me to RK?” Stella smiled at Sophia, her words laced with subtle defiance.

“You...” Sophia seethed, the anger boiling inside her as she remembered her earlier mistakes.

Find the latest at gαℓησvєℓs.cøm Seeing the red wine in Stella’s hand, Sophia turned and pushed her.

Caught off guard, Stella stumbled and fell to the ground, the wine splattering over her body and ruining her white gown.

“Stella, are you okay?” The sound of the wine glass shattering drew everyone’s attention to her. Sophia rushed to feign concern, pretending to help Stella.

Frowning at her drenched clothes, Stella pushed Sophia away and managed to stand up using a nearby piece of furniture for support.

As she straightened and looked up, she found herself in RK’s arms.

“Stella, I helped you up out of kindness. Why did you push me away?” Sophia whined, on the verge of tears in RK’s embrace.

RK frowned at Stella but showed no inclination to release Sophia.

Stella glanced at the two of them and lifted her leg to leave.

The crowd parted for her as she made her way toward the exit.

Just as she reached the door, Mrs. Reed stopped her, with Evan beside her.

“Stella, are you okay? Do you want to go upstairs and change?” Mrs. Reed had witnessed everything from a distance and was surprised by the turn of events. She had thought RK and Stella shared a deep bond, but this incident was unexpected.

“I’m fine, Aunt Reed. I’m sorry, I just received a call from a friend. Something happened, and I have to go now. I’ll apologize to you in person next time,” Stella said, declining Mrs. Reed’s offer.

“Well, Evan, take Stella home. Also, buy her a new outfit on the way; this one isn’t presentable at all.” Mrs. Reed didn’t address Stella’s lie about the phone call, but her actions indicated she was on Stella’s side.

Upon hearing Mrs. Reed’s words, the banquet guests hushed. No one dared to offend Mrs. Reed, and none wished to fall out of favor with her.

“No need to trouble Evan. I’ll take Stella home,” RK interjected, stepping forward to join the conversation.

Sophia tugged at RK’s sleeve, not wanting him to see Stella off.

“Rene... I need to talk to you later, so let Evan see me off. Don’t worry; Evan is your friend. Are you still concerned about her?”

Mrs. Reed’s words blocked RK’s path, leaving him at a loss for words.

“Then we’ll take our leave first,” Evan said, and Stella suddenly realized why he had been by Mrs. Reed’s side all night—she was his godmother. Nodding to Mrs. Reed, Stella smiled and walked out the door.

Along the way, Evan attempted to engage Stella in conversation, but she remained silent, feeling uncomfortable as the wine-

soaked dress clung to her body.

As they drove toward the RK Mansion, Stella suddenly declared, “I’m not going to the RK Mansion. I’m heading to Dream University.”

Stella didn’t want to return to the cold villa; she preferred the bustling atmosphere of her dormitory.

“Sister-in-law, that’s not a good idea,” Evan replied, unable to imagine RK’s reaction if he returned to find Stella missing.

“It’s perfectly fine. You don’t have to worry about what RK will do to you. He won’t be back tonight, so he won’t know I’m returning to college,” she reassured him, turning to gaze out the window.

Evan struggled to respond to Stella’s words. Observing her figure, he felt a twinge of pity.

He redirected the car and soon arrived at the gates of Dream University.

Evan had wanted to stop at a shop to get Stella a new outfit, but she had declined. So, when she stepped out of the car, she was still wearing the white dress stained with red wine.

Under the dim light, the red wine created a striking contrast on her dress, resembling a flower blooming on white fabric, radiating an unspeakable beauty.

Evan watched as Stella entered the university before heading back to the villa for the dinner party.

Upon his return, it was Mrs. Reed who asked if Stella had made it home safely, not RK. This realization led Evan to question RK’s worthiness for Stella. RK might have wanted to check on her, but he felt constrained by Sophia’s persistent presence.

Yet, what Stella had said echoed in Evan’s mind.

That night, RK didn’t go home...

Stella learned from Evan that Sophia had started to feel unwell after the dinner party concluded, and RK stayed with her all night.

However, those details were not the focus of her thoughts now.

On her way to the dormitory, Stella recalled the night she learned she would marry RK and how Damien had startled her on this very path.

Thinking of Damien, she realized it should be morning by now. Stella pulled out her phone and called him. When the call connected...

She heard Damien’s breathing, suggesting he was still asleep. “Damien...”

Stella called his name softly before hanging up.

On the other end, Damien, roused from sleep by the sound of Stella’s voice, felt a sense of longing when he found no one there.

Suddenly, he noticed his phone screen was lit. Picking it up, he saw a call record from two minutes ago.

It wasn’t a dream—Stella had indeed called him!

Without hesitation, Damien dialed Stella’s number, eagerly waiting for her to answer.

The phone rang twice before it connected, and he heard her voice.

“Damien, did I disturb your rest?”

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