Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Evan set a bowl of soup in front of her.
When she said she was going out, his expression darkened slightly.
He placed the bowl down.
His tone was even.
“For the next few days, you’re staying here. You’re not going anywhere p>
Stella looked up.
“You’re putting me under house arrest p>
“What house arrest?” His voice sharpened. “Don’t make it sound dramatic. You know exactly what you’ve
done p>
He’d gotten the update last night.
Ruby’s mansion at Bay International had burned down to nothing but a frame. The losses were massive.
Right now, Ruby probably wanted Stella’s blood.
Stella met his gaze calmly.
“I caused trouble all by myself p>
Evan went quiet.
No.
Ruby had struck first.
A warning.
That’s what she’d called it.
Ruby had meant to teach Stella a lesson for going after Summer. She just hadn’t expected Stella to strike back with something sharper.
One warning from Ruby-
And Stella answered with a cactus.
Now Ruby’s hands were full of thorns, and she had nowhere to vent her fury.
Evan knew Ruby well enough.
She would retaliate.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Ruthlessly.
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Stella took a sip of the soup.
Her brows knit together.
“Why does this taste so bad p>
Marianne stepped forward instinctively.
“Is it? I-It was p>
Before she could finish, Evan shot her a look.
She swallowed the rest of her sentence.
“I added some medicinal herbs since you’ve looked pale lately,” Marianne said carefully. “That might’ve changed the flavor p>
Stella didn’t notice the tension in her voice.
She simply found it unpleasant.
After two sips, she set the bowl down.
Evan frowned.
“It’s good for you. Finish it p>
He’d held her half the night and she’d still felt cold despite the climate control.
When had she started feeling this fragile?
She hadn’t been like this before.
“I’m not drinking it,” she said flatly. “It tastes awful p>
Medicinal soup didn’t have to taste strange if it was balanced properly.
Something was off today.
Evan sighed.
He stood, walked over, and sat beside her.
He picked up the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to her lips.
Stella stiffened.
“What are you doing p>
Her expression turned cold instantly.
“Finish it p>
r
“I said no p>
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Het tone hardened.
So did his.
The look in his eyes made it clear-if she didn’t drink it, he would not be pleased.
He held the spoon steady near her mouth
Stella lowered her gaze-
And froze.
There, just above the collar of his robe.
A bite mark.
A bite mark.
Summer?
Her eyes went ice cold.
“Open your mouth,” he said, patience thinning.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Then-
She raised her hand and knocked the bowl and spoon straight out of his grip.
They hit the floor with a sharp crash.
Silence.
Evan’s face went dark.
Marianne jumped.
That was the soup he’d gotten up early to make himself.
She hurried to grab cleaning supplies.
Stella had completely lost her appetite.
She stood.
But Evan grabbed her wrist.
She tried to shake him off, but his grip tightened.
“Drink p>
The tone wasn’t a request.
Marianne had just returned with a broom when Evan’s voice cut through the room.
“Pour her another one p>
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N
rock you. Manage aught out another bowl and set it in front of Stella.
vek who word. He scooped up a spoonful and lifted it to her hos again.
dos how weak you’ve gotten?” His voice softened slightly, almost coaxing. His dark eyes
bolu box on your mouth p>
W
She drink it, he wouldn’t drop it.
And measure, she snatched the bowl from his hand and drank it in one go
Fiat Sesión dased.
“That’s be
With a sharp bang, she slammed the empty bowl down onto the table
The bike mark on his neck was impossible to ignore. She refused to look at it agai
The rest of breakfast passed in silence,
Thick
Suffocating
After breaktast. Stella stood and headed for the door.
Evan’s voice cut across the room.
“I told you. You’re not leaving p>
“And if I insist?
Neither of them backed down
Evan’s gaze handemed, something dangerous flickering beneath it
Stella fel a righness in her chest.
She had always known he was ruthless.
He just had never been ruthless with her.
But if she pushed him far enough?
Would he turn that edge on her too?
She didn’t know.
And at this point, she didn’t care.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.