CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: WASN’T IT FOR ME?

Andy Lockwood’s private villa was as securely guarded as a fortress. Several guards in black stood ramrod straight, eyes fixed ahead.

Suddenly, a figure burst out from the side door.

Carlos Fenton was holding a girl tightly in his arms, rushing with swift steps.

Her face was deathly pale and devoid of any expression, with glaring purplish-red choke marks around her neck that were shocking to behold.

Carlos crammed her into the car that had been waiting, and with a roar of the engine, the car shot out like an arrow, leaving nothing but dust behind.

Behind the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor, Andy Lockwood stood quietly.

He didn’t reach for the heavy curtain until the car had disappeared from view, and slowly pulled it shut.

At the moment the curtains closed, the muddled look in his eyes was swept away, returning to a cold clarity.

Now, his episodes were occurring less frequently, the residual toxins in his body nearly cleared, all thanks to Stella’s creation of the vial of reagent #13.

The sudden ringtone of his phone sliced through the silence of the room.

Andy lowered his eyes, giving the name flashing on the screen a glance.

Almost instantly, a corner of the icy sheen in his eyes melted away.

He swiped to answer, his movement quick, without a hint of hesitation.

"Senior! It worked! I created it!"

On the other end, Stella Grant’s voice carried an undeniable joy, albeit mixed with the hoarseness that follows exhaustion.

"This time it really worked, no rejection at all! Not even a little!"

Andy Lockwood’s previously straightened spine seemed to relax just a bit.

The remaining cold edge in his eyes was completely replaced by gentleness, softening even his voice.

"Congratulations, Stella. That’s amazing!"

"Wait for me, I’m going back to the company now and we’ll celebrate tonight! We have to celebrate properly!"

"No, senior, another day." Stella Grant replied, her voice clearly fatigued.

"I’m... a bit worn out after working non-stop at the lab for three days and nights, all I want now is to go home and sleep till I’m dead to the world."

"Alright." Andy agreed immediately, "Then hurry home and rest, don’t push yourself."

To her request, he almost never said no!

"Hmm, you weren’t here the past two days, has your head issues flared up again? I made you a vial of reagent, it’s in Insulated Room 9, try it."

Her words were infused with care for him.

"Okay. Good."

After hanging up, he seemed to be savoring the warmth of her words.

...

As evening descended, dusk enveloped the surroundings.

Vivi Sterling was worrying her head off, still unable to reach Stella Grant. Gritting her teeth, she dialed Aiden Fordham’s number directly.

As soon as the call connected, her anger burst forth:

"Aiden Fordham! Where have you hidden Stella?!"

From the other end came a man’s cold laugh, "She’s your best friend, you can’t find her, and you’re asking me? Vivi Sterling, aren’t you being a bit ridiculous?"

Vivi Sterling was so furious she couldn’t choose her words:

"Ridiculous? You’re the one who’s ridiculous! You’re such a ’competent’ husband! Besides that little bedroom nonsense, can you even call yourself a man? Huh? Do you know what’s happened to her? Have you ever cared about her safety?"

"Beep——"

The call was abruptly cut off.

Aiden Fordham clutched his phone, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

The air pressure around him dropped alarmingly, his face darkened like it could drop ink.

...

At seven in the evening, Stella Grant walked out of Lockwood Tower, taking a breath of fresh air, even the air felt sweet.

Because she had finally created the most crucial vial of reagent.

This vial would save many, many people.

At eight, Aiden Fordham arrived at Stella Grant’s apartment door.

Originally, he had Keegan Lindsey book a restaurant, but Stella Grant had flatly refused to meet him.

Leaving only one sentence, if there’s anything, come find her!

So, naturally, he came storming in!

Stella Grant opened the door, and seeing the person standing outside, her brows furrowed tightly.

Aiden Fordham?

Impeccably dressed, but completely out of place in the small apartment.

"President Fordham, what brings you here?" Her voice was devoid of discernible emotion.

Aiden Fordham didn’t answer, his gaze roamed past her, landing inside.

"Stella Grant, I have something to ask you."

As he spoke, his hand was already pushing open the door, walking in seamlessly, as if it were his home.

His steps stopped by the small dining table.

Two plates of dishes, a bowl of white rice were laid out on the table.

The tomato scrambled eggs gleamed brightly, and the beef stir-fried mushrooms were still steaming.

Chopsticks were placed at the edge of the bowl, obviously untouched.

"You haven’t eaten?" he asked.

"What do you think?" Stella Grant shut the door, her tone carrying subtle sarcasm.

Aiden Fordham shamelessly pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

"I haven’t eaten either." He paused, adding, "I originally wanted to take you out for a meal, but you wouldn’t come out, so I had to come over."

The meaning of his words was clear, he intended to mooch off this meal.

Stella Grant walked to the table, not looking at him.

"Say what you came to say quickly, or my food’ll get cold."

She only wanted to get rid of him quickly.

Aiden Fordham acted as if he wasn’t an outsider at all. He picked up the chopsticks on the table, grabbed a bite of tomato scrambled eggs and popped it into his mouth.

Chewed a few times.

"Tastes good." He commented, then picked up a piece of beef and put it into his mouth.

His actions were so quick that Stella Grant had no time to stop him.

He swallowed the food in his mouth, raised his head to look at her, "Why don’t you serve another bowl of rice, and we can eat and talk."

Stella Grant was almost laughing from her anger.

This man had turned so shameless? This meal wasn’t meant for him at all.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the burning anger in her heart, and sat down opposite him.

"Say what you need quickly." Her voice was cold and hard.

Aiden Fordham put down the bowl, wiped his mouth with a napkin, leisurely.

He scrutinized her, his probing gaze made her uneasy.

"I heard, you’re an orphan." He spoke, his tone casual, but the content was sharp, "Came to Meritopia at around ten."

It seemed like idle chat, yet it felt like an investigation.

No change showed on Stella Grant’s face.

She just looked at him calmly. Had he taken the wrong medicine today?

The ex-husband who’s divorced her, showed up at the ex-wife’s home, eating the ex-wife’s dinner, then engaging in small talk?

What sort of move is this?

"If President Fordham is here for casual conversation, then please leave."

Her voice turned colder, "I have work later."

Aiden Fordham acted as if he didn’t catch her words aiming to show him the door.

He leaned forward slightly, staring intensely into her eyes.

"Stella Grant, why did you want to marry into the Fordham Family?"

She paused for a second, somewhat speechless, but still replied earnestly, "Of course, for your Fordham Family’s money, what else?"

This counter made him a bit dissatisfied, Aiden Fordham clearly caught her perfunctory attitude.

He retorted, "Wasn’t it for me as a person?"

Stella Grant: "..."

"Stella Grant, when we were young... did we know each other?"

He finally asked the question.

"We didn’t!"

She spit out three words, her voice trembled slightly, yet her tone was resolute.

It’s all in the past.

The road paved with thorns and tears of blood, she wished never to look back.

During the three years she lived with him, he never attempted to understand her.

If he’d asked her before, she surely would’ve told him the story.

But now... there’s no need!

"Ring ring ring." The phone’s ringtone broke the current tranquility.

Stella Grant picked up the phone, answering Vivi Sterling’s call.

Upon hearing, her face turned pale, ending the call, she stared at the phone, seemingly about to crush it.

Aiden Fordham noticeably sensed her shift in mood, "What’s happened?"

"Slap!"

A crisp sound of a slap fell, printed on Aiden Fordham’s handsome face!