Chapter 165
Chapter 165:
“Let’s go on Saturday, then. It’s my day off,” Stella said, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
Rita nodded, smiling brightly.
Early Saturday morning, Rita knocked on Stella’s door.
They headed to the mall to find a birthday gift but had no luck. Since Rita had worked for the Briggs family for years, she knew a bit about William’s grandfather’s tastes. So when she mentioned that the old man enjoyed calligraphy and painting, Stella took her to the art shop tucked away in a nearby alley.
The store was lined with colorful pieces, but Rita’s gaze quickly locked onto a serene landscape painting. “Ms. Russell, I think this one’s lovely. What do you think?”
Stella paused. It was one of her own.
It wasn’t particularly eye-catching, yet Rita had chosen it immediately. Coincidence? Maybe. But it felt uncanny.
Rita leaned in for a closer look. “Wow, the flowers look so real! Let me check who painted this… Stellarion. Sounds like someone famous. What do you think? If it’s good, I’ll go ahead and buy it!”
Stella smiled awkwardly but didn’t stop her. Rita used the card William had given Stella for gift shopping. As she paid, Stella still found the whole situation a little too coincidental to ignore.
While they were at the counter, checking out, neither of them noticed the figure lurking outside the shop window—just out of view, watching but never stepping inside. Stella, caught up in her thoughts about her hidden identity, missed it entirely.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Marc sat across from the doctor, listening to a summary of his test results.
“Mr. Walsh,” the physician said, folding his hands, “your headaches are stress-related. There’s a clear connection between your migraines and emotional tension. You’ve been overworking and overthinking. I’ll prescribe something mild, but what you really need is emotional regulation.”
Marc leaned back, rubbing his temples in frustration.
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The company was already under strain. Now with Stella acting cold and distant, everything felt like it was spiraling. Couldn’t she just go back to how she used to be? Obedient, gentle.
Couldn’t she stop pushing him away?
Thinking of her only made his head throb harder.
He closed his eyes, trying to block out the memory of her face. Only then did the pain ease slightly.
Just as he was about to leave the hospital’s parking garage, his phone rang. It was his mother.
“Marc, where are you?” Jazlyn asked. “I’m at your place—why aren’t you home?”
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