Chapter 17 What Else Could I Ask For?
Stella walked through the Landon family’s garden, arm in arm with Homer.
The back garden was in full bloom.
Homer took his time introducing the family history of the Landons and listing which relatives held what roles in the estate and the company.
Eventually, the two of them reached a quiet patch of flowers and sat on a long bench.
“Stella, I’ve been harsh with Moses, haven’t I?”
It sounded like a question.
But the way he said it was matter-of-fact.
Stella nodded without hesitation.
He had been harsh.
Just because Moses couldn’t have children, he’d been cut out-his years of dedication to the Landon family nearly erased.
Homer saw her honest answer and smiled warmly.
“Seems like Moses getting a wife like you is his good fortune.”
Ordinarily, no one dared question Homer’s decisions.
Stella gave a small, helpless smile.
“If anyone’s lucky, it’s me. Mr. Moses has helped my family. He’s the one who brought me good fortune.”
Without Moses-
After she left Shane, she would’ve had to start from scratch, build her own business all over again.
Her plans to take over Johnson Corp would’ve been delayed for who knew how long.
Moses was her opportunity.
Homer looked even more pleased. He patted her on the shoulder gently.
“I’m glad you think that way.”
“But, since you two are husband and wife now, you’ll be spending a lot of time together. Don’t hold his condition against him. And don’t worry-when I was sick and forced Moses to sign that will, I still left you something. You won’t lose everything to his nephew.”
He meant to assure her: marrying into the Landon family came with protection. Even if Moses had no heirs, she’d have a safety net.
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But Stella just smiled.
“I didn’t marry Moses for money. He’s good to me. That’s enough.”
“Money-I can earn on my own.”
Every word was sincere.
Homer stared at her for a moment, then slowly dropped the kind grandpa act. The warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by his usual cold authority. He rose from the bench.
“Live well with Moses from now on.”
“I will.”
Even if it was a business arrangement, even without love-
She’d chosen to marry Moses. As his wife, she could still offer him respect and partnership, if not passion.
Homer gave her a long look, then turned and walked back toward the front hall, spine straight, back stiff.
Not a trace of the kind old man remained.
Everyone in the Landon family….
Seemed to be born with two faces.
Stella didn’t dwell on it. Surrounded by the fragrant flowers and beautiful scenery, she took out her phone and snapped a few photos, sending them to her longtime friend Jenny.
She and Jenny had been inseparable in high school.
While Stella had fallen headfirst into Shane’s world and helped him build Unity Corp, Jenny had stayed in Capital City and become a restoration specialist at the local museum.
Though Cloudtopia and Capital City were miles apart-
Their friendship had never wavered. They shared updates, chatted, and sent photos to each other regularly.
Jenny replied almost instantly.
“What a gorgeous garden! Is it some influencer hotspot? Or did Shane finally apologize and rent it out just for you?”
“Has nothing to do with Shane. I’m just out for a walk.”
As she typed that, Stella suddenly remembered the silver ginkgo leaf bookmark that fell out of Moses’s
book earlier.
She asked, “Do you remember that silver ginkgo bookmark I loved in high school?”
Jenny responded quickly.
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“Hmm, I don’t think so? You had so many bookmarks. Maybe my brain’s just fried from work, but I honestly don’t remember.”
True enough.
She’d always loved collecting bookmarks.
And ginkgo ones? She had too many to count.
If even Jenny didn’t remember, maybe her memory was playing tricks on her.
Maybe Moses’s bookmark really was just a coincidence.
Just as Stella was about to take more photos, Jenny sent a couple screenshots of a chat with Shane-along with a message:
“By the way, Star, Shane’s been calling me nonstop. Begging for your whereabouts. Did you guys fight again?”
The screenshots were filled with message after message-every single one with the word Star.
He said he’d apologize. Said he missed her. Pleaded for her to come back. Sweet talk, line after line.
Jenny hadn’t replied.
Every time Shane and Stella fought, it was the same script.
Jenny was sick of it.
And now, Stella was too.
She no longer had the heart to keep taking pictures.
Instead, she told Jenny everything about Shane and Wendy.
Jenny was so furious she called immediately.
“That bastard! I always knew Shane and Wendy were both snakes!”
“Ever since he started sticking up for Wendy, how many times have you two fought? If you hadn’t still loved him back then, I would’ve gone and clawed his face off!”
Jenny’s voice exploded through the phone.
Stella was about to reply-
When she spotted Moses walking toward her.
She quickly hung up.
