Chapter 5
Stella stared at Arthur's face, her eyes unblinking. Her heart was so numb that she couldn't feel the pain anymore.
The boy who once soothed her wounds now knew exactly how to tear open the scabs again, exposing the raw pain beneath.
And as he watched her wounds bleed, he could smile and sprinkle salt on them.
She slowly lowered her gaze. "Arthur, am I really this pathetic? Is it really so sad that I can't live without you?"
Her words were barely a whisper, completely lost beneath the sound of Arthur's phone ringing. "What? Margaret, don't cry. I'll be right there."
As he was about to leave, he glanced back at Stella once more. Any trace of tenderness disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a cold, indifferent stare. "Let me ask you one last time. Are you coming or not?"
When she still didn't react, he turned and walked away without a hint of hesitation.
When Stella handed the packed-up items to the maid to throw away, the maid couldn't help but speak up. "Ms. Carter, you're finally willing to toss out all this junk.
"Honestly, Mr. Scott never treated you right. Even my grandson wouldn't want this stuff. Take this doll, for example. It's a free giveaway from a supermarket promotion, and they're made from cheap materials.
"I've heard some people hide tiny cameras inside to spy on folks."
Stella's expression froze as memories of what those people said flashed through her mind. She asked the maid to bring her some scissors right away.
"Oh my god, there really is one," the maid exclaimed.
Stella's whole body was shaking uncontrollably.
"Ms. Carter, you should really call the cops. You kept it right next to your bed, hugging it every single night," the maid added.
Stella suddenly gripped the maid's arm, her icy palm damp with nervous sweat. "Keep this quiet. Don't breathe a word to anyone."
After removing the hidden camera, Stella immediately contacted a friend.
Stella met him at the place they'd arranged and handed the camera to him.
Her friend was furious. "Who the hell did this? Does your boyfriend know about this? Stella, a man's supposed to step up when you need him. Someone's messing with his girlfriend, and he lets you handle it all by yourself?"
Her fingers trembled, and she unconsciously tightened her grip.
'Seriously, how am I supposed to explain this? Am I really supposed to tell him my boyfriend is behind this?' she wondered.
It was like someone hollowed out her heart, but she still forced a smile across her pale face. "Thanks. I don't want him to know."
*****
After leaving the coffee shop, Stella found the street outside crowded with people.
Numbly, she walked with her bag in hand, making her way toward the parking lot across the street.
The motorcycle's engine revved loudly, and everyone moved out of the way without thinking.
But before Stella had time to react, a sudden crash blasted through the noisy street. A beer bottle exploded on the pavement.
Something warm and sticky dripped down her hair. The blood kept flowing more and more.
"Ah, she's bleeding from the head. Someone call 911. Get an ambulance," someone exclaimed.
Her world spun out of control. Stella hit the pavement hard. Through the haze, a familiar figure rushed toward her. "Stella!"
The man clutched her tightly, panic written all over his face. His hands, stained with blood, pressed desperately against her wound. His eyes were so red that it looked like he might cry blood.
"Stay with me. The ambulance is almost here. Don't you dare fall asleep." He looked desperate, as if he loved her more than anything.
Stella's whole body went numb and cold, her eyelids trembling. Before she could speak, she passed out.
*****
At the hospital, Stella woke up in agony.
The room was dim, and a man stood with his back to her, talking on the phone in an unnaturally gentle voice. "Margaret, did you see the photos of Stella after she got hurt? That should make your uncle happy, right?"
"Yeah, he saw them. Uncle's pretty satisfied," replied Margaret.
She added, "Arthur, why are you so good to me? Stella refused to apologize, and Uncle took it all out on me.
"But as soon as you found out, you didn't hesitate and took such a big risk to have someone hurt Stella."
Her gentle voice made his tone suddenly drop, turning serious. It felt like an eternity before Stella finally heard his reply. "Silly girl, I told you I'd protect you for life. No one's going to hurt you when I'm here."
Stella's fingers clenched the sheets beneath her so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.
She'd heard those words before. Back then, Arthur had promised her the same thing.