6
When I woke up again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils.
Liam Knight was guarding my bedside, while a bodyguard blocked Julian Thome, whose door.
“Water. I want water.”
I spoke with difficulty, reaching for the water glass on the
the nightstand.
Liam Knight brought the glass to my lips, carefully helping me drink.
“Drink slowly.”
Julian Thome frantically pounded on the door, roaring my name.
“Stella!”
1 looked at the agitated Julian Thome, puzzled, until Liam Knight clicked on his phone.
His voice was gentle, and the tips of his ears were faintly flushed.
“While you were unconscious, I already announced our engagement to the public.”
My eyes widened, and I coughed softly
we red–rimmed outside the
Liam Knight patted my back, unconsciously tightening his grip on my wrist, and tentatively asked.
“Stella, you… don’t want to?”
The words caught in my throat. I shook my head, then nodded.
“I just think this isn’t fair to you.”
“Liam, I haven’t fallen in love with you yet.”
A soft chuckle escaped Liam Knight. He stroked my hair.
Julian Thome desperately pounded on the glass window. Seeing Liam Knight and me being intimate, his face flushed with furious jealousy.
“Liam Knight, give Stella back to me!”
I looked at the distraught Julian Thome, an ab
Liam Knight grazed my earlobe, then unexpectedly kissed my lips.
It was just a fleeting touch, but my heart pounded wildly.
After being discharged, Liam Knight took me to the city’s top wedding gown design studio.
“Give Stella the best.”
At his words, the designers in the shop immediately gathered around me, introducing their collections.
One magnificent wedding dress after another floated before my eyes, but then I saw Julian Thome standing outside the window, his eyes red.
Liam Knight had arranged for ten bodyguards to protect me, preventing Julian Thome from getting close.
1 casually picked a wedding dress and tried it on, deliberately twirling in front of the glass window where Julian Thome was standing.
His expression was humble. “Stella, don’t marry him.”
Liam Knight rolled his wheelchair over and pulled me into his arms.
Julian Thome had clearly reached his breaking point. He angrily punched the glass window.
Blood streamed down the glass. Julian Thome’s phone rang.
I glanced at the caller ID; it was “Princess Amber.
He hesitated for a second, but still chose to answer.
A delicate female voice came through the speaker. “Julian, someone’s smashing the apartment door. I’m so scared.”
“Can you come back quickly, please?”
Then there was a sharp scream, and the call disconnected.
Julian Thome clutched his phone. Without a moment’s thought, he quickly left.
“Stella, I’ll be right back.”
I gave a self–deprecating laugh, tears splashing onto the floor.
Even though I told myself not to grieve for Julian Thome anymore, I couldn’t help but feel the inevitable pain.
He was the man I had loved with all my heart for six years, yet he had never chosen me decisively, not even once.
My phone vibrated frantically. Amber White had sent me a message.
“Stella, want to know the password to the USB drive your father left?”
“Come find me, and I’ll tell you.”
“Stella, I’ve got your back.”
Even though I knew it was Amber White’s trap, I chose to go anyway.
When I arrived at the apartment, Amber White was the only one in the room.
She cradled her slightly buiging belly, a triumphant arch in her brows.
“Stella, you actually came.”
I didn’t want to waste words with her. I got straight to the point.
“What exactly do you want?”
