Chapter 15 What More Should I Ask For?
The moment Stella felt Shane’s hand on her, it was as if she’d touched something filthy.
She flung his hand off forcefully, her eyes burning with disgust.
“Shane, stop pretending. You stepped all over my feelings again and again. And now you think a late ring can fix everything?
It can’t!”
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He staggered slightly, as if the air had been knocked out of him.
He opened his mouth, but something stuck in his throat.
He wanted to say something–anything.
But in the face of her fury and finality, no words held any weight.
Around them, the servers and hired extras stood frozen, stunned by the sudden change of tone.
What was moments ago a lively, romantic proposal was now silent and awkward.
Stella took a deep breath. Her eyes were steady and cold.
“If you had any decency, you wouldn’t be here bothering me.”
Then she turned and walked away.
Her back was straight and unshakable.
Every step made it clear–there was no going back..
Shane stood frozen in place, feeling like his chest was being crushed.
Up until this moment, he’d believed–deep down–thrat Star would never really leave him.
But now he felt it.
The girl who had once loved him completely… was gone.
Gone because he had pushed her away.
She was never coming back.
No.
He couldn’t accept that.
Star belonged to him.
Outside the hotel, cold air filled Stella’s lungs and finally made her feel alive again.
But her fingers were still trembling.
She headed for the nearby convenience store and grabbed a bottle of cold water to calm down.
She still had to meet Moses’s grandfather soon.
She couldn’t show up looking like a mess.
Come to think of it-
After agreeing to meet the client, she’d texted Moses the hotel address. He’d said he’d swing by to pick her up….
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He should be arriving any minute,
What she didn’t know was that the moment she stepped inside the store-
Shane rushed out from the hotel.
“Where is she?!”
He stood there helplessly, clutching the ring.
It had only been a few days, but Stella felt like a completely different person.
When had things gone so wrong?
While he stood there confused, Moses’s car pulled up in front of the hotel.
Dressed neatly in a suit, Moses stepped out–and immediately noticed Shane.
His brows tightened.
Stella said she was here for business.
Why was Shane here?
His face turned frosty. He was about to look away when Shane walked up.
“Moses?”
Now this was a surprise.
He hadn’t expected to bump into a member of the Landon family here.
Shane forced a warm smile and greeted Moses, quickly pulling out a business card.
Moses’s expression remained unreadable. After a few polite phrases, he glanced at his watch.
“Sorry. I’m meeting someone.”
“Oh–my apologies. If the Landons ever have any projects in Cloudtopia, I’d love to be involved.”
Shane stepped aside gracefully.
Moses’s eyes turned even colder.
“Just got married. No time for new projects.”
“Is that so? Then let me offer my congratulations, Mr. Moses. Wishing you and your wife a long, happy marriage.”
Knowing this wasn’t the time to keep pushing, Shane finally turned to leave.
Right then, Stella walked out of the store–and locked eyes with Shane.
Of all people to run into…
“Star-”
Shane lit up and took a few steps forward.
But just then, his phone rang.
Simon’s voice came through in a panic. “Mr. Shane! Ms. Wendy fell down the stairs–her leg is broken. She’s in the hospital!”
“What?!”
Shane frowned instantly, about to run off.
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But he hesitated. Stella was right in front of him.
He turned back. “I just need to-”
“Do what
you want.”
Stella cut him off flatly, brushing past him without a second glance.
Shane stood frozen for a moment before Simon’s frantic urging snapped him back into motion. He turned and hurried off.
They walked in opposite directions.
And Stella’s heart felt like ice.
Good thing…
She’d already chosen to walk away.
She approached Moses. “Let’s go meet your grandfather.”
Moses, still watching Shane’s retreating figure, had a flicker of anger in his eyes. But his voice was gentle as he guided Stella into the car.
“In front of my grandfather, just do what you want. If you don’t like something, say no. No one’s going to blame you.”
Stella had been staring at the floor, but looked up in surprise.
“There’s really nothing I need to watch out for?”
“You’re already kind, composed, and well–mannered. What more should I ask for?”
His words were light.
But they made Steila feel safe.
$3.99
かり
The Landon Estate.
44
1973
-227 47 115 RM
Stella foliowed Moses into the grand hall. Nearly the entire Landon family was present.
The moment they stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them.
Stella instinctively tightened her fingers.
But Moses gently reached out and took her hand.
“Don’t be nervous. They just want to meet you. And besides, this is a business marriage. Just be yourself.”
He whispered calmly.
To the rest of the Landon family, Moses showing this kind of tenderness meant only one thing–he truly liked his wife.
Homer Landon looked quite pleased and waved them over. “Stella, come here.”
She stepped forward and greeted him politely.
The more Homer looked at her, the more he liked her.
“Moses, you better treat this girl right! Stella, if he ever gives you trouble, just call me. I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
He really did care for Moses.
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“Moses isn’t mean to me. He even went out of his way to pick me up today.”
The room suddenly went quiet.
Moses? Thoughtful?
Homer blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing.
Moses could already guess what was coming. Grandpa would want to ask a million questions, and with so many people around, Stella would be overwhelmed.
“Grandpa, I’m taking her upstairs. You all carry on.”
He leaned down and whispered to Stella, “To my room.”
“Huh? But your family-”
“They’ll keep themselves entertained.”
Moses gave the crowd a sharp glance. No one dared say a word.
So you could actually leave?
Might as well.
Stella followed Moses upstairs.
His room, like the man himself, was cold and minimal. No signs of daily life–just the green of the garden outside the window added a bit of color.
Moses had to greet a few more relatives, so Stella stayed behind. Browsing his bookshelf, she found a well–worn poetry collection–the pages dog–eared from frequent reading.
She hadn’t expected Moses to read poetry.
As she flipped through it, a bookmark slipped out.
She picked it up, startled. “This… looks just like the one I used in high school.”
But that one had been lost long ago.
Probably just a coincidence.
Stella bent to return it to its place–only to spot a few photos tucked inside the pages, just barely hanging on.
If they fell out later, it wouldn’t be good.
She reached out to fix them-
But before she could, a long–fingered hand gently closed the book in her hands.
