Chapter 585

After a while, Anthony finally managed to pull himself together. He picked up the plate of neatly peeled pomelo, then headed back to the bedroom.
He pushed open the door.
The big bed was empty except for a blanket tossed to one side. Charlotte was nowhere in sight.
She’s awake already? He glanced at the clock. She’d only been asleep for half an hour.
Anthony’s face, which had just softened, tensed up again. He turned and walked out of the room.
Outside Stella’s room, Charlotte waited. She wore a crisp white shirt tucked into black jeans, her waist looking impossibly slim.
She knocked. No answer. After a few seconds, she turned the handle and slipped inside.
The villa was a split-level, with each bedroom having its own little living area. The sitting room was empty, but Charlotte could hear a faint rustling coming from the adjoining bedroom.
With her hands in her pockets, Charlotte frowned, looking toward the sound. The bedroom door was cracked open, just enough for her to see inside. Stella was standing with her back to the door, changing clothes.
The sight made Charlotte freeze, her breath caught in her throat. Usually, her eyes were calm, but now waves of emotion surged through them.
Under the light, Stella’s slender figure and pale skin stood out. Her skin was so fair that even the smallest blemish showed. And then there were the scars.
They started at the back of her neck and ran all the way down to her waist, some deep, some shallow, in all shades. They covered almost her entire back, a tangled, heartbreaking mess.
Stella stood there, still holding her clothes, staring at herself in the mirror. She didn’t
move.
Charlotte couldn’t see her face, but she could imagine the look in her eyes. Every girl wants to feel beautiful. Stella didn’t even dare to wear short sleeves, let alone a dress.
The research facility had scar
removal treatments. But right now, Stella was still on medication. The scar cream was hormone-based and needed to be used with special equipment, and the treatment took a long time. The two treatments couldn’t be used together
For now, Stella had no choice.
Charlotte was about to say something when she saw Stella slowly lift her hand to touch the scars on her back After a moment with her head bowed, Stella finally slipped her shirt on, moving quietly.
She picked up a bottle and swallowed two pills, then sat down on the bed, staring into space.
Charlotte recognized the pills. The institute gave them to Stella to help regulate her mood. It looked like Stella had upped her dosage.
Charlotte pressed her lips together, her eyes darkening. She didn’t interrupt. Quietly, she closed the door and left the room.
She stood in the long, empty hallway, leaning against the cold wall, her head down and her whole body wrapped in a heavy gloom.
She felt miserable.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“Why are you standing here?”
Charlotte lifted her head slowly. Anthony stood in front of her, his eyes gentle and affectionate. Just seeing him made some of the heaviness in her chest fade away.
“Hmm?” she murmured, her gaze fixed on him.
Anthony let out a soft laugh, reaching out for her hand. When he felt how cold her fingers were, his brow knit together. He pulled her gently into his arms.
“Come on. Let’s go back to the room. It’s chilly out here.”
Charlotte stayed quiet. She pressed her forehead to his chest, her other hand clutching the hem of his shirt, like a wounded little deer trying tä find comfort in his warmth.