Chapter 11
The call ended ten minutes later. Stella yanked out her SIM card and tossed it in the trash.
Before leaving, she took one last look at the empty room.
his house that was supposed to be “home” hadn’t given her a single moment of warmth in months.
he felt absolutely nothing leaving it behind.
tella laughed bitterly, shut the door without hesitation, and wheeled her suitcase out.
Meanwhile, Ryan was getting restless.
his weird anxiety kept creeping up on him, like he was forgetting something important.
eeing Ryan zone out, Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted.
What’s wrong? Are you thinking about someone else while you’re with me? I don’t like it when you’re
istracted.”
ven with Ivy all over him, Ryan seemed miles away.
lonestly, he was getting worried.
ighting down his unease, he asked carefully: “Ivy, when you said your dad only has a year to live… that’s
ctually true?”
Of course it is. Why would the doctors lie?” Ivy snuggled closer. “Why are you asking?”
yan’s jaw tightened: “Nothing, just… he seemed pretty healthy to me. Didn’t look sick at all.”
Ugh, why bring up depressing stuff?” Ivy changed the subject fast. “Look at this photo I just took of you. So
ot, right?”
he waved her phone in front of him her chat with Stella was open, showing the shirtless photos she’d sent.
yan’s face werd dark when he saw Stella’s contact name.
is hands clenched under the covers, but he swallowed his disgust and forced out: “Yeah, looks good.”
vy smiled smugly and went back to scrolling on her phone.
Ryan leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes. Something heavy was sitting in his chest, making
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Chapter 11
him anxious as hell.
Thinking about what the manager had said at the party, and Stella’s “happy for you” text, Ryan decided he needed to go back and check on things.
He got up and started getting dressed, making up an excuse: “I think I left something at your place. Gotta go grab it real quick.”
Ivy’s face scrunched up: “No way, you’re not leaving. You’re not going back to hook up with Stella, are you?”
“Of course not.” Ryan kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Abroad, Stella wheeled her suitcase out of the airport terminal.
Professor Martinez had told her someone would pick her up when she landed, but didn’t describe what they looked like – just mysteriously said Stella would definitely recognize them and that seeing them would be a
surprise.
Stella hadn’t believed it at the time. Her heart was completely numb – what could possibly surprise her now?
She scanned the crowd and suddenly spotted a huge red sign.
Someone had written “STELLA HARPER LOOK HERE” in messy handwriting.
The person holding it up had their whole face hidden behind the sign.
Stella couldn’t help but crack a smile. Curious, she walked over and saw the handsome face underneath.
‘Marcus…?” Stella hesitated for a second before saying his name out loud.
From holding the sign up, Marcus Thompson’s hair was all messy, but it couldn’t hide his sharp features.
When he saw Stella, he quickly lowered the sign and reached out his hand: “Stella, long time no see. I’m here
to pick you up.”
The corner of Stella’s mouth lifted slightly. Professor Martinez was right seeing Marcus really was a
surprise.
She took his hand.
“Yeah, it’s been forever.”
The last time they’d seen each other was at the group home. After Marcus got adopted, they’d completely
lost touch.
12:02 O
The Last Text 1 Sent My Ex. “Rot in That Wheelchair, I’m Off to Marry a Better Man”
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Chapter 11
Professor Martinez must have asked about their backgrounds at some point and realized they might know each other, so she arranged for Marcus to pick her up.
Stella still remembered how little Marcus used to get picked on because he was so scrawny.
Luckily, Stella had always been tall for her age, so whenever someone messed with him, she’d step in and
chase the bullies away.
After that, she had this crybaby little sidekick following her around, calling her “boss” all the time.
Now look at him way taller than her.
The sniffling little kid had grown up into this bad-boy-handsome guy who definitely didn’t look like someone you’d want to mess with.
Stella found it amusing and felt playful for the first time in months. She stood on her tiptoes and threw her
arm around Marcus’s shoulders like old times.
‘Hey punk, you don’t call me boss anymore? Just using my first name now?”
Marcus tensed up. Where their skin touched felt like electricity, all tingly.
His ears immediately turned red.
Get it together, idiot, he cursed himself.
He quickly wiped the weird expression off his face and teased back: “Well yeah, I’m all grown up now.”
Grown up and already ditching your boss, huh? Getting cocky.” Stella gave him a few light punches and
tarted walking ahead.
Come on, show me all the cool stuff around here.”
Marcus’s dark eyes stayed locked on Stella’s back, her words “getting cocky” still echoing in his head. His hroat tightened.
Stella. He repeated her name over and over in his mind.
But after just a few seconds, he pushed down those feelings and hurried to catch up.
12:02
The Last Text ] Sent My Ex: “Rot in That Wheelchair. I’m Off to Marry a Better Man”
