Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Stella had just taken out her phone to call Gray.

A sleek Maybach rolled to a slow stop in front of her.

The door opened.

Felix stepped out.

Tailored suit. Gold – rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. The refined details softened the edge of his cold authority, adding a trace of restrained elegance.

But his eyes were too cold.

Cold like something untouchable. Almost divine.

A wicked thought crossed Stella’s mind.

What would a man like this look like dragged down from his pedestal by a woman?

Still-

Why was he here?

“ Mr. Henderson. ”

The thought was improper, but her tone remained polite.

To her, Felix was the most difficult person around Evan. It had always puzzled her how Evan, reckless and impulsive as he was, could be close friends with someone so controlled and reserved.

Rain slid down Felix’s hair and onto his shoulders.

He stepped forward.

Her umbrella was wide enough. It immediately shielded him from the rain.

Stella instinctively stepped back half a pace. “ Mr. Henderson, you ”

“ Left behind again? ” he asked calmly.

She went still.

That word again stung more than she expected.

Being abandoned for another woman was humiliating enough. Having it pointed out made it worse.

“ I’ll take you home, ” he said.

He turned and held the car door open wider.

“ I’m fine. Someone’s coming for me. ”

He glanced back at her.

There was something unreadable in his eyes.

opter 44

+30 Bonus

She tried calling Gray. No answer.

A sharp gust of wind cut through her coat, sending a chill straight to her temples.

“ … Then thank you, Mr. Henderson. ”

Perhaps it was the recent miscarriage. The cold wind made her head throb. She just wanted to get home.

She got into his car.

Beside her, Felix removed his rain – damp coat. The faint scent of ambergris filled the interior, heavy and calming.

She remembered Evan arguing with him repeatedly today because of her.

Evan had even gone looking for Felix.

“ I’m sorry about what happened earlier, ” she said quietly.

She assumed Evan had been influenced by Summer. And seeing Gray, a new face, must have fueled his suspicions about her and Felix.

She wasn’t ready to reveal her brother’s existence yet.

So she offered Felix an apology instead.

Felix glanced down at her.

She was small. Delicate – boned. Even the softness of her face never made her look heavy. She seemed almost too slight for the storm she was standing in.

Behind his lenses, his eyes deepened.

“ It’s nothing, ” he said evenly. “ I’ll have someone deliver the evidence that Summer plagiarized your Redcrest Valley project. To Artisan Grove. ”

Stella froze.

Artisan Grove.

Her first jewelry design studio. The place she loved most. The brand behind multiple best – selling

collections.

How did he know?

If he knew-

Did Evan know?

As if reading her thoughts, Felix gave a faint smile. “ Evan doesn’t. ”

That should have relieved her.

Instead, her heart skipped.

“ Why are you helping me p>

Chapter 44

+30 Bonus

Knowing she owned Artisan Grove and not telling Evan was one thing.

But handing her evidence against Summer?

Felix was Evan’s closest ally.

His gaze behind the glasses was too deep to read.

Instead of answering, he folded his long fingers together.

“ Or, ” he said mildly, “ I could have Jack send it to Biotech Park. You’ve been there often lately. ”

Stella stared at him. 1

He knew about the biotech company too?

Even Lucas didn’t know about that one.

She had concealed it carefully. With Summer’s mother watching for weaknesses, she would never expose her strongest cards.

“ Which address? ” he asked calmly.

After a pause, she straightened. “ The studio. ”

She would accept the evidence. Whatever his motive, it benefited her.

He dropped her off at Imperial Terrace.

Before stepping out, she hesitated.

“ Thank you. ”

He simply looked at her and gave a small nod.

As she moved to close the door, she added, “ I explained things to Evan. He doesn’t believe there’s nothing

between us. About this … I- ”

“No need to explain. ”

“ And your friendship with him? ”

If something like this happened between brothers, it would fracture things.

They had business ties too.

Felix remained unconcerned.

“ Even marriages fall apart, ” he said lightly. “ Friendships are no exception. ”

The meaning beneath his tone was layered.

The way he looked at her – something in his gaze had shifted.

A chill ran down her spine.

The door closed automatically.

3/4

Porter 14

“ Drive, ” he instructed.

The Maybach pulled away.

She stood there a moment longer, unsettled by the way he had looked at her.

Gray arrived quickly.

He showed her several photos on his phone.

Summer on the hospital rooftop.

Stella let out a cold laugh.

“ Change tomorrow’s release, ” she said calmly. “ Send out my hospital surgery record instead. ”

The one she had signed herself.

Summer wanted sympathy tonight?

Then she would answer with something far more devastating.