CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: HE’S ACTUALLY THINKING OF HER

10:00 P.M.

The black Maybach glided silently, finally stopping at the base of the apartment complex of The Platinum Crest Residence downtown.

The streetlight’s glow outlined the profile of the man in the driver’s seat through the car window.

Andy Lockwood didn’t turn off the engine immediately. He turned his head, his gaze falling on the woman in the passenger seat.

Stella Grant leaned back against the seat, her head slightly tilted to one side, breathing evenly, seemingly asleep.

Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyelids.

The car’s heating was set warmly.

A faint, almost imperceptible pink tinged her fair cheeks.

Andy’s fingers curled slightly on the steering wheel.

He wanted to touch her, even if it was just a strand of her hair.

As soon as the thought emerged, he forcibly suppressed it.

His Adam’s apple moved.

In the silence of the car, only their breathing and occasional honks from outside could be heard.

Stella shifted.

She wasn’t truly asleep, just resting with her eyes closed.

Feeling the car come to a stop, she slowly opened her eyes, traces of fatigue still lingering.

"Are we here?"

Her voice carried the huskiness of someone just awakened, with a deliberately maintained sense of distance.

Andy’s heart skipped a beat.

"I’m leaving, thank you." She opened the car door without hesitation.

"Stella!" He got out of the car, his voice deep, cutting through the night with undeniable force.

Stella turned around, "Senior, anything else?"

He extended his hand.

Stella stiffened, almost instinctively wanting to dodge.

But his fingertips merely brushed away nonexistent dust from her shoulder.

The movement was so swift she thought it was an illusion.

Yet the warmth from his fingertips was real, passing through the thin fabric.

With a slight tingling current.

Stella’s heart felt like it was struck by something not too painful, yet it was dull!

Andy’s hand slowly retracted, sliding into his pocket.

He tried to make his voice sound calm and unruffled, like a truly caring senior.

"Rest early."

He spoke those words slowly, with a deliberate gentleness.

Stella was silent for two seconds, then raised her face, giving him a standard, polite smile.

"Mm, you too."

The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She didn’t linger after speaking, turning to stride into the apartment entrance.

Back home, the entryway lights turned on with a click.

Stella kicked off her high heels and, without even changing clothes, headed straight for the study.

She opened her unassuming yet deeply complex laptop.

Her fingers typed quickly on the keyboard, and the screen instantly filled with strings of complex codes and medical terms.

Her gaze was focused and sharp, a stark contrast to her usually quiet and timid demeanor.

The screen light flickered on her face.

In the search box, she quickly typed a line—

The Hawthorne Matriarch, mid-stage lung cancer, latest treatment plans and clinical data analysis...

The next day, the sun was just right, the breeze gentle.

Vivi Sterling burst in with a whirlwind, her voice arriving before her.

"Stella! I’m back! Mom’s love-filled lunch is ready; come quickly and taste it. Airplane food is simply inhumane!"

Stella set down her medical book, helplessly watching as Vivi reached her and threw herself onto her.

"You just got back and didn’t even rest before coming here."

Vivi released her, grasping her face for a serious look, "Hmm, you look well, recovering nicely. You can go shopping with me this afternoon."

Stella smiled, "All you think about is shopping. Was your business trip smooth? Did you secure the client?"

Vivi puffed out her chest, looking smug, "Of course, I went to Norwick, my uncle is the mayor there; no client I can’t handle."

Finishing, she winked proudly.

Stella resignedly tapped her forehead, "I hope you won’t bring trouble to your uncle in the future."

Vivi pouted, "It’s all because of the old man, refusing to have a third child, leaving all the family responsibilities on me."

Stella rolled her eyes teasingly, leading Vivi towards the dining table, "What did your godmother make to eat?"

"All your favorites: pineapple ribs, chicken balls, veal, and mushroom soup."

Stella’s appetite grew just by looking; her godmother’s skills could conquer the world, "She really is the best."

Vivi’s mood suddenly dropped, "Once I’m prepared, I’ll head to Mardale in Nation A."

Stella paused, then looked seriously at her, "When the time comes, I’ll go with you."

"Mm, let’s have some soup," Vivi nodded and smiled.

Stella knew Mardale was the Sterling Family’s old wound; five years ago, Vivi’s brother Tyson Sterling experienced an accident there, a massive explosion where even Tyson’s body was never found. Over the years, the Sterling Family kept searching in Mardale but to no avail, leaving them afraid to bring it up.

Thus, the responsibility of the Sterling empire fell on Vivi, and Mr. Sterling made her a business manager for training.

While sipping soup, Stella suddenly asked, "By the way, Vivi, did you hear about the illness of the Hawthorne Matriarch?"

"The Hawthorne Matriarch?" Vivi set down her spoon, her eyes showing a hint of something, "Are you talking about Damian Hawthorne’s grandmother?"

"Mm, I heard from Damian earlier that it might be a lung issue."

Vivi recalled, "The Matriarch is lovely, very kind. I even attended her birthday when I was little."

A hint of nostalgia appeared on her face.

"But the Matriarch has been secluded in the old residence over the years, rarely meeting people," Vivi’s eyes lit up, "Hey, why don’t you help her?"

This was exactly what Stella thought, "But I need to meet her, and not too deliberately."

"Ah, at the end of the month, it’s her birthday. The Hawthorne Family won’t make a big affair for fear of tiring her, but they’ll privately invite friends to gather. We can go together then!"

Stella’s heart stirred, looking at Vivi, "Alright."

The two continued enjoying the meal when Vivi’s phone rang, and up popped a photo of Young Master Grant with a minor starlet, their kiss fervent.

Vivi coldly spat out two words, "Player, his taste just keeps getting worse."

Stella glanced at it, a bit worriedly looking at her, "Are you okay?"

Vivi set down her spoon, smiling brilliantly, "Do I look like someone affected? You seriously overestimate Abraham Grant; to me, he’s just a name and nothing more!"

She pointed to where her heart was, her clear eyes steady.

Though they grew up together, their families arranged their engagement when they were eighteen.

But over the years, Abraham kept philandering, earning a death sentence from Vivi long ago.

Now she was focusing on work, intending to break off the engagement once she held the reins of power, as it wasn’t time to fall out with the Grant Family yet.

Seeing her like this, Stella naturally didn’t worry.

"Who sent this?"

"Who knows, it arrives monthly, more punctual than my period, each different. It used to be hot international models, now it’s down to second-rate stars, tsk tsk tsk."

Vivi clicked through photos, shaking her head in disdain.

"Why don’t we dig up dirt on Aiden Fordham?"

Stella paused, "No need."

Yes, when it’s time to end, end it!

In the evening, Aiden Fordham inexplicably returned to The Sovereign Estate, seeing servants trimming newly delivered lilies.

"Young Master, you’re back," the butler immediately approached, "These are newly delivered green lilies, extremely rare, less than ten in the world. Madam will surely love them."

Aiden glanced back at the green lily, expressionless, walking towards the main house.

A feeling of terrible discomfort clutched at him; knowing she loved lilies, he once scoured the world for the rarest breeds.

To keep them at Coregarde.

Hoping she’d be delighted every time she visited The Sovereign Estate.

But she wouldn’t be coming again.

He stood on the balcony, staring at The Lily Garden, an intense sense of emptiness wrapped around him.

Damn!

He actually thought of her...