Chapter 21
When Stella got invited to the gala, she finally understood just how powerful Marcus’s adoptive parents
were in London.
The guest list was basically a who’s who of Britain’s biggest business moguls even Stella, who barely followed the news, recognized several faces.
When she arrived, Marcus was surrounded by a crowd of people.
He looked different from usual though more refined and distant, smoothly handling all the networking
bullshit.
When he spotted Stella, Marcus raised an eyebrow slightly.
The dress Stella was wearing had cost her several months’ worth of paychecks, but compared to all the trust
fund babies around her, she still stuck out like a sore thumb.
She nervously tugged at her dress, looking uncomfortable as hell.
Then she saw Marcus walking toward her.
Marcus was young but already running the family empire, making him the center of everyone’s attention.
As he headed in Stella’s direction, every pair of eyes in the room followed him.
Stella froze, hearing whispers all around her.
“Who is that girl? I’ve never seen her before.”
“Probably just a server. Look at that cheap dress.”
Marcus stopped right in front of Stella. Before she could even say hi, he suddenly leaned in close.
“My tie came loose. Could you fix it for me?”
Stella blinked, and the whispers around them got louder.
“Oh my God, why are they so close? What are they doing?”
“Forget what I said about her being a server Marcus obviously knows her!”
The murmurs kept floating into her ears as Stella awkwardly reached up and adjusted Marcus’s collar.
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السالمية
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Chapter 21
After she finished with the last fold, Marcus secretly slipped a small box into Stella’s hand.
His cool fingertips brushed hers, sending tiny shivers up her arm.
The feeling disappeared as soon as Marcus pulled away, too quick for Stella to process.
“Let me put it on you,” she heard him say from above.
That’s when Stella noticed the diamond necklace lying in the box – it was perfect for her dress.
She suddenly remembered Marcus complaining yesterday that her outfit was missing something around her
neck.
Her heart fluttered: “Okay.”
Marcus picked up the necklace and carefully fastened it around Stella’s neck.
His eyes lingered on her exposed skin, and he unconsciously licked his dry lips.
When he spoke again, his voice was rougher: “I’ll come find you in a bit.”
With that, Marcus went back to the crowd, looking totally composed and charming again.
But only he knew that the hand that had just touched her neck was still tingling.
After a few drinks, Stella was feeling a nice buzz.
She was wondering when Marcus’s “in a bit” would be when suddenly a strong hand pulled her into a corner
Marcus’s gorgeous face was suddenly way too close to hers.
Marcus put a finger to his lips with a mischievous grin: “You look kinda miserable here. Wanna sneak out?”
‘Sneak out? Where to?” Stella blinked in confusion.
Just follow me.”
Marcus took Stella’s hand and started walking. The warmth of his touch made her awkwardly try to pull
away.
She suddenly remembered sneaking out of the group home at night when they were kids.
She was a picky eater back then, and when she’d get hungry in the middle of the night, Marcus would always slip her candy.
Moonlight danced through the swaying birch trees.
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The Last Text I Sent My Ex: “Rot in That Wheelchair. I’m off to Marry a Better Man
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Chapter 21
Marcus grabbed some beers from a convenience store and they sat on the curb, talking and drinking.
Stella learned about what Marcus had been up to all these years and how well he was doing in business.
“Congrats,” Stella said genuinely.
The cool night breeze made Marcus’s cheeks flush pink.
He suddenly looked at her seriously and brought up the past.
‘After I got adopted, I went back to look for you. But you weren’t at the group home anymore.”
‘When I couldn’t find you, I was miserable for the longest time.”
Stella laughed: “But you found me now, didn’t you?”
‘Yeah, I found you now,” Marcus murmured quietly, like he was drunk-rambling.
Stella teased him: “Wow, you’re such a lightweight.”
But then she saw Marcus looking at her with hazy, half-drunk eyes.
‘Stella, I missed you so much.”
Stella’s heart skipped a beat.
With the smell of alcohol between them, her face started burning up.
That weird feeling came rushing back, like something was about to break free.
Marcus stared at her for what felt like forever, then took a deep breath like he was making some big
decision.
“Stella… I’m in love with you.”
“Have been for years.”
It felt like fireworks were going off in Stella’s head.
“I won’t allow it!”
Someone suddenly jumped out of the bushes next to them.
Stella nearly had a heart attack, her buzz instantly gone.
12:05
The Last Text & Soul MyLy Not in That Wheelchat I’m offto Marry a Better Man”
