Chapter 17
The Reed family drama was all over the news the next day.
Stella was volunteering at a London children’s home with Marcus when she saw the story trending.
She’d be lying if she said it didn’t sting – these were her biological parents, after all.
But the feeling only lasted like two seconds.
Their precious adopted daughter had literally used her own mom as a human shield when things got
dangerous.
Talk about fucked up.
“You good?” Marcus caught her doom-scrolling.
Stella let out a dark laugh: “Yeah, just reading about some real-life soap opera bullshit.”
Marcus nodded and told her to chill there while he hauled some donated toys to storage.
Bored, Stella looked around the children’s home, getting lost in her thoughts.
Her time in the system had been rough, but also shaped who she was.
Little Stella used to fantasize about some perfect family adopting her, or her birth parents showing up like
in the movies.
She’d just wanted to belong somewhere.
Even now, after her bio family had completely wrecked that dream, part of her still hoped she’d find her
people someday.
Marcus had only been gone a few minutes when Stella heard voices speaking in a foreign language nearby.
‘Yo, there’s some American chick over there. Let’s go check her out.”
“Damn, look at those legs. She’s fine as hell.”
Stella’s heart sank as she saw two guys walking toward her, their eyes full of bad intentions.
The one in front started talking trash: “Hey there, gorgeous. All alone? Why don’t you come have some fun
with us?”
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Chapter 17
Their nasty laughter echoed as Stella backed away, getting cornered against the wall.
They had multicolored hair, cigarettes hanging from their lips total lowlife vibes.
Stella had heard this part of London could be sketchy, but she hadn’t expected to run into trouble this fast.
Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to get out of there.
The guys closed in, and the leader reached out to grab her.
Stella struggled in panic. During the scuffle, his rough hands scratched her arm, leaving a bloody mark that made her gasp in pain.
CRASH. The sound of something heavy hitting the ground mixed with Marcus’s voice from the doorway.
“Get your fucking hands off her!”
In one swift move, he grabbed the leader’s outstretched arm and twisted it hard. There was a sickening CRACK as the guy’s arm bent at a totally wrong angle.
The leader screamed in agony, but still tried to act tough: “Who the hell are you, kid? Mind your own damn
business and get out of our way!”
But the other thug went pale the second he saw Marcus, nudging his buddy.
“Boss, I think that’s Marcus Thompson…”
The leader spat: “Marcus Thompson? Who the fuck is that…”
Before he could finish, realization hit him and his face went white.
Fear flashed in his eyes, but he still tried to save face as he backed away: “Whatever, we’re done here. But
you better not cross us again.”
After the guys left, Stella was still shaken and didn’t have time to process what the thugs had said.
Pain shot through her arm, making her hiss.
Marcus immediately dropped to one knee in front of her, gently examining her arm.
His long lashes cast shadows as he looked down: “This is all my fault. If I’d been here, you wouldn’t have
gotten hurt.”
Stella was about to tease him like old times, but when his warm breath hit her skin, something clicked.
Marcus wasn’t a kid anymore.
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Chapter 17
The man kneeling in front of her had broad shoulders and sharp, masculine features.
Nothing like the little crybaby who used to follow her around.
Watching Marcus’s worried expression, this weird feeling bubbled up inside her.
She awkwardly looked away, her voice catching: “I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”
“What are you fucking two doing here?!”
Suddenly, a tall figure blocked the light from the doorway.
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The Last Text I Sent My Ex: “Rot in That Wheelchair I’m Off to Marrua Better Mant
