Chapter 45
Max said, “Stella, we only want what’s b than Henry does?”
best for you. Why are you so ungrateful? Do you really think you’ll find anyone who treats you better
Stella, who had started walking away, suddenly stopped and turned around to face Max. She locked eyes with him. “Max, in your eyes, I must
be utterly disgusting, right?”
Max froze, visibly shocked again.
“Exactly,” Stella continued, her voice sharp. “Forget about those people who refuse to believe I wasn’t gang–raped. Even though you personally heard the doctor confirm it, you still wouldn’t believe me.
“To you, a woman like me, who’s supposedly slept with countless men, should feel lucky that anyone would want me. But instead, I’m being picky about everything. You think I’m wrong, don’t you?”
“Max, I’ve already agreed to marry Henry. What I choose to do is my business. Stop bothering me, or I’ll take Eleanor away whenever I want. As for the rest of you, do whatever the hell you want.”
Stella returned to her room, waiting for Martin to arrive for her treatment.
She wasn’t worried. She knew he would show up. The Hayes family relied on him to help her recover, mainly so they could parade her around for the media and boast about how well they’d taken care of her. How hypocritical.
After the acupuncture session, Martin stared at Stella in surprise. “You’re recovering far quicker than I expected. Have you been following all my instructions?”
Stella nodded. “Yes, I walk as much as I can every day. If I get too tired, I take a break.”
Martin said, “That’s excellent. With your dedication, I believe you’ll make significant progress in three months. But about your rheumatism…”
Stella knew it wouldn’t be cured overnight. “I’ve learned to live with it. Thank you, Dr. Dewitt.”
In just a few days, Martin had become quite fond of Stella. Smiling warmly, he assured her, “Don’t worry, Stella. I believe you’ll work a
miracle.”
‘A miracle?‘ Stella thought for a moment. ‘Maybe it’s just about defying fate. Even if it doesn’t end well, at least I’ll have tried.‘
Once Martin left, Stella checked her laptop. Jordan had mentioned some company matters that needed her attention, so she wanted to review them. But first, she decided to grab a glass of water.
She went downstairs. As she turned to go back up, Anna suddenly clamped her hand over her nose. “Ugh, what is that smell? Mary, come here. Did you forget to clean the bathroom?”
Mary hurried out of the first–floor storage room, looking puzzled. “What’s wrong? I just cleaned the bathroom.”
“It smells awful! Disgusting!” Anna said.
Fiona came out of her room, wrinkling her nose. “Oh, my God. It really stinks. What’s going on?”
Stella stood rooted to the spot for a long while, not moving a muscle.
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Chapter 45
Fiona, her sharp sense of smell quickly pinpointing the source, shot Stella a glaring look. “Stella, what on earth is wrong with you? Why does
it smell so bad?”
Stella’s face darkened as she slowly began to walk up the stairs, acutely aware of the servants‘ eyes on her.
Anna’s eyes widened in shock. “S–Stella, don’t tell me you-”
Stella turned to her, glaring coldly. “Yes, just as you think. I had an accident.”
The maids all fell silent, not daring to speak.
Fiona marched up to Stella. “What are you doing? Are you trying to suffocate us with that stench? Stella, what’s wrong with you?”
Stella’s eyes hardened as she met Fiona’s gaze, causing Fiona to fall silent.
She said, “In Dusty Pines, I lost control of my bodily functions. Since coming back, I’ve tried to use the bathroom as much as I can.
“But I’m not used to life here. I’ve been constipated for days. It just
