Chapter 128
Stella’s face flashed with embarrassment when she saw Raymond being mocked by the students around him.
She hadn’t expected to walk in on this scene in the cafeteria. She thought, ‘How humiliating. Wasn’t Raymond already expelled? What is he even doing back at school?!
Back then, she and Raymond were always together. Whenever people saw her, they’d think of him, and whenever they saw him, they’d think of her
If the Spence family hadn’t gone bankrupt, maybe it wouldn’t maner. But at that moment, sticking with Raymond would only drag her down.
At that thought, Stella’s expression darkened. Seeing that no one had noticed her, she quickly turned and started walking the other way
She’d just set one foot on the stairs when a syrupy–sweet voice called out behind her. “Stella, your brother’s getting bullied and you’re just going to pretend you didn’t see?”
The girl stood there
e with her arms crossed, her little high–heeled shoes clicking loudly on the floor as she walked,
There weren’t many people in the cafeteria, and her voice was impossible to miss. Before she’d even finished speaking, plenty of people turned to look at Stella.
Someone called out. “Yeah, Stella, Raymond’s right there. Aren’t you going to help him?”
“Raymond’s getting picked on so badly, and you’re just acting like you don’t see it?”
“Ms. Spence’s already landed the piano king Gunnar. Why would she care about someone like Raymond now?”
That damn birch, Stella thought and gritted her teeth, pulled her foot back from the stairs, and walked straight toward Hanni, who was standing in the middle of the cafetena.
Stella looked right at Hanni and, in front of everyone, called out, “Hanni, didn’t you used to have a crush on Raymond? So why aren’t you helping him now!
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Hanni’s face flushed red, her voice suddenly turning sharp and grating.
She never expected Stella to bring up her old feelings for Raymond in public. Instantly, embarrassment and anger flared up, like someone had just dug up her most humiliating secret.
Hanni let out a snort and said, Tm Ms. Yeats, the Yeats family’s heiress. Raymond’s just an adopted kid. Maybe it was different before, but now that the Spence family is bankrupt, he isn’t even good enough to carry my shoes.”
Now that the Spence family had fallen from grace, everyone wanted to kick them while they were down. Nobody wanted to get involved.
After bearing Harmi’s words. Stella gave a faint, mocking smile and replied in a syrupy tone, “Well, since you said it yourself–Raymond’s j
‘s just the Spence family’s adopted child, and I’m the real daughter. Why should I speak up for him!”
Ashe spoke, Stella glanced at Kaymond, who looked completely humiliated. “After all, he’s not my real brother. We’re not even that close
Hanni was left speechless, unable to come up with a single retort.
Raymond, sang in the same cafeteria, had the misfortune of hearing every single word Stella said.
Raymond froze for a moment, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head, leaving him chilled to the bone.
Before he could even react, Stella continued, “My mom’s already divorced Samuel. I’m with her now.
Raymonds with Samuel. He and I love nothing to do with each other anymore, so please, stop trying to lump us together?
With that, Stella turned and left. Plenty of people silently cursed her for being heartless, but with the p oking Gunnar backing her, no one dared say a word to her face.
After Stella left, Marico, Jerry, and the odiers keja reasing Raymond for a while, but once it stopped being him, they
y all drifted out of the cafeteria
y reason he was
When everyone was finally gone, Kaymond slowly stood up, brushed the leftover food off himself, and quietly left as well.
The only reason
it was allowed back at Sogin High School was because Samuel had swallowed his pride and begged on his behalf. Raymond knew that all too well, so he had no choice but to put up with it.
At that moment, the only ones left in the empty cafeteria were Clame and Simone
11:40 AM
Chapter 128
“Serves him right, Claire rolled her eyes as she watched Raymond walk away. “Watching those two siblings tear into each other is honestly so satisfying. I swear, even my chest feels lighter now.”
Simone didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes made it clear she was in a pretty good mood to0.
After leaving the cafeteria. Raymond went to look for Stella. He just couldn’t believe she really meant what the card.
The classroom was almost empty, so Raymond quickly called Stella out, and the two of them headed
They used to be close, but now, standing face to face, neither of them said a word,
Raymond was waiting for Stella to explain, while Stella just wanted him to hurry up and get it over with.
the school rooftop
After a long silence, Stella frowned, sounding impatient. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. It’s not a good look if someone sees us together?
As she spoke, Stella kept glancing around, clearly worried someone might show up and spot them.
Raymond’s face went pale. Even at that moment, he didn’t want to accept what was right in front of him. He swallowed hard and finally managed, “Stella, you didn’t mean what you said in the cafeteria, did you?”
Stella almost Laughed out of frustration. “Raymond, why are you always so clueless?”
khe didn’t bother sugarcoating it. The Spence family’s broke. If I keep hanging out with you, everyone will just look down on me. I don’t want that If you really care about me, just pretend you don’t know me at school from now on.”
Raymond stared at Stella in a daze, silent for a long time. Suddenly, he asked, “Stella, do you remember that time when Dad, Norah, and Charles were all out, and 1 got such a high fever 1 almost died!”
Stella rolled her eyes impatiently, “Yeah, I remember. What about it?”
e day and night. The doctor
Thinking back, a glimmer of hope flashed in Raymond’s eyes, and his tone softened. “You took care of me for a whole day sand if you hadn’t looked after me so well, I probably wouldn’t have made it.
“When I woke up. I even asked you why you were so nice to me. You said, ‘You’re my real brother and of course I’d take care of you!
“From that day on, I swore that, besides Charles, you’d be the most important person in my life”
After saying that, Raymond looked at Stella. “Stella, I still remember every word you said, just tell me—are you hiding something from me?”
“I just can’t believe. I can’t believe you’d pretend I’m not your brother now,” Raymond’s voice choked with emotion.
Stella looked at him, only feeling more annoyed. Without thinking, she snapped, “Idiot, I was just messing with you. Who told you to be so gullibles
Raymond refused to believe it.
He pressed on, “Even if you were lying, you can’t fake how good you were to me back then.”
Back then, Raymond and Stella were both just kids. A latle girl fo slar’d already made herself sick from exhaustionL
forced herself to stay up all night to take care of him,
ad by the time he woke up. and
Every time he remembered it, Kaymond couldn’t help but feel a pang for his sister.
Stella was getting more and more irritated. She hated it when Ituynwaal brought up was honestly terrified he’d start clinging to lier at school.
old stories. She’d wanted to just brush him off, but she
She just wanted a normal life and couldn’t let herself get stuck with the label of “Haymond’s sister
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