Chapter 715

Chapter 715:
She lifted her chin and locked eyes with him. His gaze was clouded with emotions she couldn’t quite read, but her own words came out clear and cold. “Mr. Briggs, who he is and why he’s here is my business. Not yours. Perhaps you should focus on your own affairs before meddling in mine.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned, reopened her door, and stepped inside.
She didn’t say it aloud, but she thought he knew she was referring to his engagement to Amanda’s daughter. His personal life was already a mess, so what right did he have to interfere with hers? The thought was almost laughable.
William stood there, watching as she closed the door without the slightest pause. He’d lost count of how many times she’d done that to him. His shoulders tightened, his throat constricted, and though he seemed on the verge of speaking, nothing came out.
Standing in the quiet hallway, his expression shifted from anger to helplessness before turning into something darker and unreadable. Without looking at her door again, he opened his own and walked inside.
Stella leaned back against the door, letting out a tired sigh. Her chest felt tight, and there was this tiny sting in her heart she couldn’t shake.
She shut her eyes, wanting to block out the image of William’s pained expression.
“Stel?” Sharon’s voice floated over, soft but worried.
Stella straightened, took a breath, and forced a small smile. “It’s fine. Really. I’ve got it handled. I’m going to start cooking dinner.”
She then turned to Lance with a gentle tone. “Sorry you had to see that.”
Lance shook his head. “If anything, I’m the one who caused the problem by opening the door. I should be apologizing.”
His perceptiveness caught her off guard. “Mr. Carter, this really isn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself,” she replied firmly.
She helped him back into the bedroom. He lay down without protest, though his eyes stayed on her, thoughtful and searching.
From the look on the man outside and the surprise and disappointment in his eyes when he saw him, Lance had a pretty good guess about their relationship. Even though Stella tried to act composed, he could tell she was fighting to keep her emotions in check.
After a pause, he spoke in a steady, almost detached voice. “That Mr. Briggs… the way he looks at you, it’s not just neighborly.”
Dive into fiction with gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．com
Stella’s fingers twitched, the smallest tremor giving her away. She lowered her head, keeping her face hidden by her lashes.
“He’s just the neighbor. We happen to work at the same place, that’s all.” Her voice sounded weighted, as if she needed to convince him—and herself—of those words.
“Really?” Lance tilted his head. “Because he looked like a guy who just got stabbed in the back by the person he trusted the most.”
Stella’s whole body went still. His words hit too close to home, leaving a dull ache in her chest. Maybe William truly did care for her, but the past had left wounds she couldn’t ignore. Accepting his feelings wasn’t an option, and avoiding them was the only choice she had.
“There’s nothing between us,” she almost said through gritted teeth.
Forcing herself to regain control, she managed a small smile. “Get some rest. Don’t overthink it. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
.
.
.