“Mr. Arbex, it’s already late at night, so you should go home and rest I’ll take care of Stella now!” Natha said, glancing at the clock. Stella knew it was late too and didn’t want him staying by her side all night.
“Victor, go home and rest. You’ve been by my side practically all afternoon and evening.”
Victor remained silent for a moment before finally nodding. Then he gently stroked her head with his hand.
“Alright, I’ll leave now, but you need to rest too. And about what I said earlier–please consider it. I really want to help you!”
After Victor left, Stella looked at the man standing before her.
“Why are you here?“”
“If I hadn’t shown up, what would you two have done?” Nathan leaned closer, his eyes fixed on her face. Stella understood the meaning behind his words and couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful.
“I’m tired of saying it, Nathan–Victor and I are just friends.”
“Friends?” Nathan’s tone rose slightly. It was clear he didn’t believe her, but he said nothing more. Instead, he reached out and placed his hand on her forehead.
She flinched in surprise, realizing he was trying to check her temperature.
“Why don’t you go home too? Liam might need you!” She pushed his hand away.
Nathan’s expression turned colder in response to Stella’s attitude. He didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned against the table by the
bedside.
“Stella, it seems like you really don’t want me here. Why? Do you blame me for preventing something good from happening?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.” Stella’s tone rose slightly as anger flared. She was frustrated with this man who constantly misunderstood her relationship with Victor. To Stella, Victor was family–a brother. It was entirely different from what Nathan thought.
“Do you really not understand?” Nathan’s lips curled slightly. “Or are you just pretending not to?”
“Leave!” Stella pointed at the door.
She was so furious that her chest felt like it might burst. She truly believed she couldn’t communicate with this man. Moreover, he claimed to be teaching her where her place was, as if her affairs had anything to do with him.
“Stella, emember when I told you to stay away from Victor Arbex? But it seems like you’re completely ignoring my words,” Nathan said angrily. “Repeatedly being with him, acting as if no one else exists, being so close were you so impatient that you couldn’t control yourself?”
“Don’t speak about things you don’t understand!”
Stella raised a hand intending to slap him, but he caught her wrist.
His words grew more hurtful.
How do you plan to repay that money? Or do you plan not to repay t at all? Are you going to use your only valuable asset–your body–to pay it back?”
1/3
Chapter 24
Stella’s face went pale, and her eyes filled with tears. She struggled against him, pulling her hand free before wiping her eyes.
She hated crying, especially in front of Nathan. It would only become a joke to him.
“Nathan, do you really think I’m that filthy in your eyes?” Stella asked softly, her voice trembling like a mist. Her question left Nathan momentarily stunned, and an indescribable feeling filled his heart, making it feel empty.
“So filthy that…” Her voice broke as tears streamed down her face. ” have to use my body to get what I need?”
Nathan reached out to wipe her tears, but Stella avoided his hand. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her voice,
“I know you think the worst of me, but don’t worry. When Liam recovers, I’ll divorce you immediately. I’ll disappear from your life forever, and then you can be with Olivia however you want!”
This should have been what Nathan wanted to hear most, but his face turned colder. He pressed his lips together and remained
silent.
Stella ignored him, wiped her face, turned her back to him, and pulled the blanket over herself.
Nathan stood there, staring at Stella’s back for a long time before finally leaving the room.
He didn’t know how to explain it. He had never been someone to meddle in others‘ lives, but when it came to Stella’s problems- problems that seemed unrelated to him–he couldn’t pretend not to see or hear them.
Not only that, but every time he saw her with Victor, he felt an immediate discomfort. He also disliked the way Victor looked at her -his gentleness and how he treated her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.
He was surely a fool…
Nathan got into his car, leaned against the steering wheel, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples with his hands.
He convinced himself that his behavior was because of his fight with Olivia. His bad mood had left him confused.
That night, Nathan didn’t return to Stella’s room or go home. He spent the night in the car, waking around six in the morning to the sound of his phone ringing.
Nathan, being 195 cm tall, with long arms and legs, found his body aching after a night in the cramped car. He frowned and reached for his phone.
“Hello?”
“Nathan, where did you go so early?” his mother asked on the other end.
“I didn’t sleep at home. I had some issues to deal with yesterday, so left.”
Carla was silent for a moment.
“Are you with Stella?” she asked. Nathan didn’t reply.
“Son, what happened between you and Olivia yesterday? She called me, distraught, saying you’re not answering her calls.”
“Mom I just gave Olivia some time to calm down and think. The way she is right now, there’s no talking to her, Nathan explained.
“Son, she loves you so much. Try to put yourself in her shoes. She knows you’re obligated to stay with Stella, so it’s normal for her to be upset. Please, try to be more understanding with her.” Carla’s tone reflected her deep affection for Olivia.
2/3
A second chance for the CEO
