Stella’s body trembled. She turned around instinctively, but Frederick Addington held her arm and stopped her from leaving.
Stella Grace suddenly felt all the pressure on her.
She didn’t want to face Jasper Milton, more so his family.
She knew what they were going to say. She was afraid that she would have a panic attack.
She was a proud person, and her pride meant everything to her.
She looked at Frederick with pleading eyes. Shaking her head, she trembled and demanded, “Let me go.”
Instead of letting her go, Frederick held her shoulders and went inside together.
There was no way for her to retreat. Her face was pale as she clenched her fists tightly.
Keep it together, Stella Grace.
She didn’t want to be regarded as a lunatic, especially in public. She was extremely petrified.
It was as if she was bracing the storm all alone with no one there to save her. The longer she stayed, the more panicked she felt.
She could hardly bear the mental pressure. She would rather run away.
She stepped back, but Frederick’s grip was so strong that she couldn’t get rid of him. She was then pushed to the front.
She lowered her eyes and dared not to look at anyone.
“Innocence would always come to light for the innocent. I knew you would come out as a free man.” Frederick greeted in a polite manner.
Jasper’s eyes glanced over Stella sharply.
Stella lowered her eyes, not wanting to hear or see. She didn’t even want to feel anything. Just like that, she emptied her mind gradually.
“It is a given that my Jasper is innocent. Perhaps someone got greedy and thirsted for power. However, it seems that they had miscalculated. Well, things did not turn out that bad after all. It’s better this way anyway,” Suzi Shine spoke.
“Stella, what’s your problem? Are you back with Frederick?” Katty Davis questioned in surprise. Seeing the hatred in Jasper’s eyes, she was confused.
Nina Chyl also noticed that Frederick was holding Stella’s shoulder. She couldn’t maintain her composure. She yelled while pointing at Stella, “What’s going on? What a sl*t, changing your man every other minute. She’s known for being a sl*t! Frederick, If you want to take her as your bride, I’ll just pretend that I’ve never had you as my son.”
“Mom, you’ve misunderstood Stella. She had always loved me from the beginning till the end.” Frederick grinned slyly as he tightened his grip on Stella’s hand.
Stella returned to her senses and looked at Frederick.
She did not hear whatever they said earlier.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that she could no longer sense what was happening around her, just like her mother?
She wanted to leave. She could not stay here any longer. “I have to go. I still have something to attend to.”
“Stella, don’t be afraid. You’re my woman and I’ll protect you. You’ll always see these people every now and then, running away is not always the best idea.” Frederick replied with a gentle smile.
She felt that a knife was hidden behind his smile.
“Frederick, are you crazy? Why would you want this kind of woman?” Nina was flabbergasted.
“Mom, I have confirmed that it is me whom Stella truly loves. Now that I have promised to let her stay by my side, I will not break my promise. Stop picking on Stella anymore, it would only embarrass me if you continue to do so.” Frederick stated directly to Nina.
Nina was speechless, but she was still furious. She picked up the wine glass on the table and splashed it directly to Stella’s face. “How could you be so shameless, you b*tch?”
“Mom, you’re only embarrassing me by doing that.” Frederick took a napkin and wiped Stella’s face.
Stella saw the disdain in their eyes.
She did not dare to look at Jasper.
If she had a panic attack now, they would definitely despise her even more. She might even be sent to a psychiatric ward.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” Stella murmured with a trembling voice. She turned around and scurried.
She was afraid that Frederick would catch up to her. She was afraid that they would see her make a fool of herself.
She kept running forward. She ran from day to night, night to day, and ran again from day to night, till the next day.
There was a loud honk.
Stella came to her senses and stared at the truck that was coming towards her.
She remained still.
The car stopped ten centimeters away from her.
The driver yelled, “Are you crazy? Do you want to die? How many times did I honk? Jump into the river if you want to die. Don’t cause me any trouble!”
“I’m sorry,” Stella apologised in a soft voice.
The driver jumped out of the truck and examined Stella. His eyes brightened slyly. “Where are you going? Why are you here alone?”
Stella saw his malicious intention and replied, “I came to visit my relative. We’ve agreed to meet right in front.”
“Isn’t your relative coming to pick you up? It’s not safe for a young lady like you to be alone outside. Where is your relative staying? I’ll send you there.” The driver said as he came over to pull Stella’s hand.
Stella slapped his hands off and warned, “Don’t touch me, I don’t need your help. I’ve already called my relatives, they’ll pick me up right away.”
The truck driver noticed that no one was around, so he picked Stella up forcefully.
Stella held on to the edge of the truck to prevent the driver from pulling her in.
“Help! Help! Stella cried out.
A car stopped in front of Stella.
“Go away. This is between me and my wife, don’t get involved.” The truck driver yelled at the driver fiercely.
“We are not husband and wife. He is trying to kidnap me from the middle of the road. Just ask him if he knows my name?” Stella spoke anxiously.
The driver got out of the car and told the truck driver, “I am a police officer. You’ll have to come along to the police department to explain if you’re married and what your relationship is.”
Realizing that he was a police officer, the truck driver immediately pushed Stella away. He climbed into the truck and drove away.
Stella was pushed to the ground.
The car owner wanted to take a picture of the truck’s number plate, but it was too dusty. Nothing could be seen.
“Were you hurt?” the driver questioned Stella.
Stella shook her head and replied, “I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”
Stella was about to take her business card out.
But she noticed that she had lost her bag.
Her cellphone, proof of identity, and her wallet were all in the bag. However, she couldn’t remember how she had lost her bag.
Her condition seemed to be getting worse.
She was afraid that she could not even last for three months.
She didn’t want to be like her mother. A person who ate, drank, and excreted on the bed while others could only look at her through a glass window.
She didn’t want to live anymore.
She no longer had the ability to deal with matters such as Timmy Nine, the massacre in the village, or the treasure map.
She couldn’t even handle herself.
She was fated to bring misfortune upon whoever that was close to her.
“Ma’am, ma’am? Can you hear me?” The car driver yelled.
Stella turned towards the driver slowly and spoke, “I’m fine, thank you for saving me. Please give me your contact details, I will repay you with a sum as a token of appreciation.”