Chapter 5
Stella laughed and nodded. She ordered two more huge plates of barbecue, and the two of them ate until dawn before heading home.
As soon as she opened the door, a pillow smacked her right in the face.
Right after, Dante's cold voice rang out. "Do you even know what time it is? Nice of you to finally come home."
Stella blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Dante to be home.
Every time he went out with Vivienne, he pretended it was "client entertainment," stayed out all night, and didn't stumble home until the next afternoon.
Before she could dodge, the pillow slammed into her glasses. The nose pads stabbed her skin, and two thin streams of blood trickled down from her nose.
Dante froze. A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes. He grabbed some tissues, started to get up to help her.
Then stopped himself, retreated back to the couch, and demanded coolly, "Why are you back so late? Curfew was hours ago. Where were you messing around?"
Stella didn't answer. She simply opened a drawer and calmly looked for iodine and cotton swabs to disinfect her nose.
Seeing Stella just straight-up ignored him, Dante got pissed and started grilling her nonstop.
He snapped, "Stella, I'm talking to you. Are you deaf or what?
"Or is it that you did something shady behind my back and don't have the guts to admit it?"
Stella let out a soft, cold laugh and met his gaze.
She said, "What about you?
"What brings you home so early? Vivienne didn't need you tonight?"
Dante froze. He clearly hadn't expected her to tear open the truth so directly.
He recovered quickly, frowning, and insisted stiffly, "What are you talking about? I didn't have any work dinners today.
"I helped Vivienne with something, then came straight home."
"And before, Vivienne and I were only on business trips. Stop imagining things."
"I saw you weren't in a great mood, so I came back to keep you company. It was my fault for bailing on you tonight, but you still shouldn't ignore my messages.
"And staying out this late? I thought something happened. I almost called the cops.
"But sure, come home and give me attitude. And to think I even bought your favorite seafood congee on the way back."
Stella glanced at the congee on the table, stone cold. Her stomach turned.
All these years, he never noticed: every time he wanted her to compromise over something involving Vivienne, he bought this congee to placate her.
She'd grown physically nauseated by the smell.
Stella said, "No thanks. I already ate."
Dante didn't pick up on the coldness in her voice at all. He thought he'd already smoothed things over and just kept going.
He said, "Oh, right. Vivienne said her parents won't stop nagging unless they see wedding photos, so tomorrow I need to go take some with her.
"You know a lot about this stuff. Why don't you recommend a studio? Something fast, with classy gowns?"
He was speaking while practically glowing with happiness. Stella felt sicker by the second.
He knew she researched all this for their own wedding.
'Now he wants me to help with his and Vivienne's?' she thought. 'What a joke.'
Stella replied flatly, "You figure it out yourselves. I have nothing to offer."
When even the seafood congee failed to soothe her, Dante blinked, then his irritation spiked.
He snapped, "Stella, it's just an act with Vivienne. Do you have to take it so seriously?"
Stella replied coldly, "Whether it's an act or you actually fell for her, you know the truth."
He'd been practically sparkling when he talked about the wedding shoot. Anyone could tell he meant it.
Dante totally lost his cool after Stella fired back at him.
It was the first time she'd ever put him in his place.
Dante snapped, "You… you're being ridiculous!"
Stella didn't even bother wasting another breath on him. She just turned on her heel and walked straight into her room.
But Dante beat her to it, barging into the room and tossing her pillow out. "You're not sleeping in the same bed with me."