Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Evan was visibly irritated.
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Still, he forced his voice into something restrained. “ For the past six months, I only cared about making sure my brother’s child was born safely. I know you’re angry. I know you blame me, but- ”
His phone began vibrating before he could finish.
Dora called.
He didn’t need to guess why she was calling.
Evan’s jaw tightened. He declined the call.
A second later, it rang again.
Persistent. Insistent.
Stella’s smile turned sharper. “ You should answer. She’s probably on the hospital rooftop by now, crying for Steven. ”
She tilted her head slightly. “ After all, only your face can calm her down. You look exactly like him. ”
Depression really was the perfect excuse.
It made people sympathetic. Made them forgiving.
Every time Summer spiraled, the Wright family panicked about the baby and called Evan immediately.
Evan let out a long breath and, almost unconsciously, reached out to smooth a hand over Stella’s soft hair.
As if soothing a startled kitten.
He answered the phone.
“ What. ”
“ Evan, hurry! Summer is on the hospital roof. She – she’s going to jump! ”
Dora’s voice was hysterical.
Stella’s smile deepened with quiet mockery.
See?
She could predict it every single time.
Whenever Evan was with her, Summer would find a reason to summon him away.
Evan’s face darkened.
Before he could respond, Dora continued frantically, “ I know you said you’d stop seeing her after the baby was born. But the child was just delivered. If she really dies, how are you going to face your brother? ”
That landed.
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Evan’s expression hardened further.
Summer was relentless.
He ended the call.
Stella pushed the car door open.
Without a word, she reached into the back seat and pulled out an umbrella.
She stepped out into the rain.
Evan didn’t start the engine immediately. He reached for her wrist. “ Let me take you home first. ”
She didn’t respond.
She just stood there under the umbrella, rain pouring down around them.
His phone buzzed again.
This time, a photo.
High resolution.
Summer standing at the edge of the hospital rooftop.
Another call came in immediately.
“ Evan, please save her. I’m begging you.
Dora was sobbing.
Finally, Evan started the car.
He hung up and looked at Stella.
“ Take a cab home. ”
He didn’t wait for her reply.
The car shot forward like a bullet, disappearing into the rain.
Stella remained where she stood.
Water slid down the edge of her umbrella, splashing against her shoes.
Cold.
Just like her heart.
Her phone rang again.
It was Ruby Bailey.
“ Stella, it seems you still haven’t learned your lesson. ”
The threat in her voice was sharp enough to cut through the rain.
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opter 13
Clearly, she was furious that the public backlash hadn’t died down.
Stella smiled faintly. “ Why don’t you guess how Harbor City will curse your shameless daughter tomorrow? ”
Silence on the line.
Then Ruby’s voice exploded, “ We’ll see who ends up paying for this, Ms. Bailey. ”
Stella’s voice was calm. “ We’ll see who ends up drinking that penalty, Ms. Bailey. ”
She hung up.
Not far away, inside a black Maybach, a man sat in the back seat with his
eyes closed.
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Cold composure wrapped around him, refined and restrained.
“ Sir, ” the driver said quietly, “ Evan Wright has left. ”
The man opened his eyes.
They were cool, measured.
“ When? ”
“ Just now. Miss Rowan answered a call. She didn’t look well. Likely someone from the Wright or Bailey family. ”
The driver hesitated, then added, “ Summer is threatening to jump. ”
In the back seat, Felix’s already cold eyes seemed to freeze over.
He lifted his gaze again.
Through the rain – streaked window, he saw Stella standing alone beneath a black umbrella.
That small, lonely figure in the rain.
She looked almost pitiful.