Chapter 30
Chapter 30
“Fine. Kill me now,” Stella said icily, enunciating each word.
“You!” Andrew raised his hand to strike, but Fiona quickly held him back.
“Stella, go ahead to your room now,” Fiona said to her.
Instead of going back to her room as Fiona suggested, Stella turned and walked straight out of the house.
No one called after her. It was as if Stella had made the wrong decision, and her family couldn’t even be bothered to keep her at home.
This was Stella’s first time venturing out like this, and everything around her felt utterly unfamiliar.
Stella went back to her old home. Whenever she went to her secret hideout, she would always find Lionel there. No matter how down or heartbroken she felt, just being in that special place with him would immediately lift her spirits.
Everything from the past felt like a dream. Even what was right in front of her seemed surreal. She never felt like she belonged anywhere, as if she were a forgotten soul left behind by the universe.
Stella found a secluded spot where no one would notice her, just like she used to do as a child. But this time, Lionel wasn’t coming to find her anymore.
Stella had no idea how long she’d been sitting there. At first, she paid no attention to the voices in the distance, but the moment a familiar voice registered, her ears pricked up.
“Anna, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Emily said hesitantly. “If Stella finds out how close we are now, she’d be devastated.”
Anna said, “We’re twins, after all. Since you’re my sister’s friend, that makes you my friend, too. And the same goes for my friends. They’re her friends as well. It’s only natural, right?
“No worries. Look, Eleanor’s sick, and you just wanted to come see her. That’s completely normal. The whole Hayes family will welcome you.”
Hearing that, Emily gave a hesitant nod.
Stella watched in disbelief as Emily and Anna walked into the house arm in arm.
She could hardly believe her eyes. For as long as she could remember, Stella had only two close friends, Emily and Kevin.
Emily knew exactly how unfairly Stella was treated in the Hayes family.
Whenever Stella brushed off unfair treatment, Emily would get angrier than anyone, ready to rush into her home and defend her. But every time, Stella would pull her back, telling her to let it go.
During those three years away, Stella often wondered, ‘If Emily and Kevin ever found out, would they go crazy trying to find
me?’
Stella had even imagined that Emily might not heed her words and would make trouble for Anna, believing Kevin would surely hold her back.
Emily’s family was quite well-off when she was young, but after her father went bankrupt, they fell on hard times and never
recovered.
But Stella had always believed her friendship with Emily would never change. She never in a million years imagined Emily
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Chapter 30
would become such close friends with Anna.
Reeling in disbelief, Stella got to her feet and made her way to the living room.
The entire Hayes family gathered around and warmly welcomed Emily with open arms.
Fiona said warmly, “Emily, thank you for coming all this way at such a late hour.”
“It’s only right for me to come. Eleanor has always been so kind to me. When Anna told me how serious her condition was this time, my mom told me to come here right away,” Emily explained.
Fiona said, “You and Anna get along so well. She used to be quite sickly and had few friends, but ever since you two became close, I’ve seen her smile much more. You’re truly a blessing to our family.”
Emily looked at Anna, and they both smiled. “Oh, please don’t say that, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.
“Even with how things are for my family now, you’ve never looked down on me, and you’re still willing to let Anna be so close to me. I truly don’t even know how to thank you.”
