Stella knew that she had to be careful every time she talked to Jasper. He could easily pick up on any discrepancies in her statements.
She squinted at Jasper. “How would I get pregnant with that position? We didn’t do it as frequently as you think.”
Jasper: “…”
He sensed deep resentment in her tone.
Had she not been satisfied with him in the past?
Jasper felt uncomfortable at this thought.
Stella Grace went back to her carriage.
Benjamin Levis scrutinized her like a terrifying X-ray.
She glanced back at Benjamin, pretended not to see him, and returned to her own seat.
“Where did you go?” Benjamin asked in a cold tone, as if he was interrogating her.
“I don’t report to you, do I?” Stella replied defensively.
“I am your team leader now. I have the obligation to take care of your safety. You have been out for six hours. Isn’t six hours too long even if you were having a chat with someone? ” Benjamin frowned.
Stella did not want to answer him. “I’m not a kid. Also, we’re on a train. Where could I possibly go?”
Benjamin was persistent. “That’s why I’m curious. What could possibly take you six hours?”
“I have a friend here, I was visiting him,” Stella answered ambiguously.
“Friend?” Benjamin asked.
Stella frowned. “Well. I don’t think a team leader has the right to interfere with my private life.”
Benjamin gritted his teeth and turned his face away while pursing his lips tightly.
His assistant was in equally poor spirits.
Mr. Levis was enraged.
“Inspector Grace, my boss is concerned about you. He checked his mobile phone several times, trying to see if you are safe,” the assistant said.
Stella realized she had been a bit too harsh. After all, she was indeed covering something up.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Levis,” Stella apologized.
Benjamin ignored her and sat still like a sculpture.
Stella glared at him.
She did her part, whether or not he was going to accept her apology was up to him.
Stella received a text notification,
it was from Jasper.
“If your colleague asks you where you have been, you can tell them that I asked you to come over, to discuss about the case. No big deal.”
Stella shoved her phone into her bag.
She had already explained. It would be weird if she clarified it another way.
Anyway, it was no big deal.
Benjamin calmed himself down. “We are staying in the castle tonight. Are you up for it?”
Stella looked at Benjamin in surprise.
She imagined the castle looming in the distance, mysterious and eerie.
It was scary enough there during the day. Wasn’t it a bit too adventurous to stay overnight?
Benjamin gave a sarcastic smile and said, “Are you scared? I heard that you were a doctor before this. Don’t tell me you believe in nonsense like ghosts.”
“I just feel that I would sleep better in a hotel,” Stella explained.
Benjamin looked irritated.
“Are you coming for work or a holiday? Sorry, I have to close the case in three days. I don’t have time to waste. You can go to the hotel yourself. In fact, I don’t think I need you to come along,” Benjamin said sarcastically.
Stella could not rebut him. Why was she being shamed for not staying at the castle?.
“Ahh, I see,” Stella sneered.
Benjamin turned his face away and said coldly, “Useless woman.”
Stella was at a loss for words.
It would seem rude to argue with him face to face.
She didn’t need to convince him. All she needed was to stay true to herself.
But she still felt a little nervous.
Stella sent a text message to Jasper. “Do you know who Benjamin Levis is? He is a very famous detective, and the team leader of this case. He asked us to stay over at that godforsaken castle tonight.”
Jasper replied with a single word, neat and concise. “Okay.”
Stella was a bit disappointed
One word? Just one?
Jasper sent another message. “I’ve already made arrangements. We’ll stay in the castle tonight too. I’ll bring two people with me. Don’t be afraid.”
Stella smiled instinctively, and she instantly felt at ease.
She would be safe as long as he was with her. She was confident he could protect her.
Benjamin snorted and said loudly to make sure Stella could hear him, “You’re just a little girl, pretending to be mature and capable. Do you have to report to your boyfriend whenever something comes up? Are you asking for comfort or reassurance?”
Stella looked at Benjamin in disbelief.
How did he know that she was texting Jasper?
Then again, he had a point.
Did she think of Jasper as her boyfriend?
Stella’s heart beat faster. She blushed and looked out of the window.
The image of her, as a girly woman reflected in the window.
Stella sighed.
Was she going to fall into the same trap again?
The train had finally arrived at Riverside.
“Don’t leave the team again. Somebody from the Riverside City Bureau is coming to pick us up. They have arranged for supper,” Benjamin instructed as he looked into the distance.
Stella guessed he was talking to her.
She decided to analyze Benjamin Levis from a psychology perspective.
Arrogant, rude, self-centered and supercilious.
But he did acknowledge her.
He had his own world,
and that world was not easily accessed..
He didn’t talk to anyone, but occasionally talked to her.
It meant that he was willing to let her into his world, but he was still observing her.
Stella decided that Benjamin was kind of cute and burst into laughter at the thought.
Benjamin turned around and looked at her with a long face. “What are you laughing about?”
“Try and guess?” Stella teased.
“You’re laughing at me,” Benjamin said.
Stella laughed so hard her eyes were curved into slits. “It’s so rare to see you confused. Ha-ha.”
Benjamin gritted his teeth. “You really are laughing at me.”
Stella did not answer and just walked ahead of him.
The Riverside police welcomed them in a police car. It stood out starkly under the street lamps.
It looked so brilliant.
A strong man in a police uniform came forward and said to Benjamin, “You are finally here. Are you hungry? Our Chief has prepared supper. Please come with me.”
“Okay,” Benjamin replied coolly.
There were a total of five of them.
They needed two cars to accommodate their group.
Stella didn’t want to be in the same car as Benjamin so she walked to the other car and got into the back seat. Benjamin followed her and sat next to her.
Stella : “…”
What made Stella even more surprised was that the police Chief also invited Jasper and his people to have supper together.