Chapter 10

Stella returned home absent-mindedly and flopped lazily on the sofa, playing with her phone.

There was an unread message from Nicholas.

"Are you free for dinner tonight?"

Stella looked at the message, her eyes lowering slightly with a hint of hesitation.

Meanwhile, Alexander had just pushed open the door when he saw a figure curled up on the living room sofa.

Elodie was wearing white silk pajamas, her long hair spread across the sofa as she slept.

Seeming to hear the door open, she slowly opened her eyes. The moment she saw Alexander, her eyes lit up and she quickly got up.

"Alexander, you're back."

Her voice was hoarse from just waking up, her eyes showing undisguised expectation and grievance.

"Why are you sleeping here?"

Alexander's tone was flat as he took off his suit jacket and handed it to the servant.

"I was waiting for you."

Elodie bit her lip and walked toward him.

"Yesterday was my birthday. I thought you would spend it with me."

Seeing her aggrieved expression, Alexander only gave a brief reply and headed straight for the stairs.

"Something came up yesterday."

"What was so important?"

Elodie couldn't help but press him, her voice somewhat sharp.

Alexander stopped and turned to look at her.

His eyes were calm and emotionless, as if stating an objective fact.

"I thought you understood that our engagement is based on my responsibility to you. You should know clearly that I have no feelings for you."

The words were blunt and cruel.

Elodie's face went pale, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hem of her nightgown.

"But we can develop feelings! Alexander, I truly like you."

"That's not necessary."

Alexander interrupted her, his eyes showing a detachment that saw through everything.

"My responsibility to you isn't based on feelings, only duty. So you don't need to have expectations you shouldn't have, and you definitely shouldn't interfere in my affairs."

With that, Alexander turned and left.

Elodie stood there, watching him disappear around the corner of the stairs, a flash of unwillingness in her eyes.

Suddenly, her eyes focused, her pupils contracting.

There was a faint lipstick mark on Alexander's white shirt collar!

If she wasn't mistaken, that color was the shade of lipstick Stella usually wore.

Which meant Alexander had been with Stella last night.

At this thought, her hands clenched into fists, her sense of alarm growing stronger.

Stella again!

To avoid alerting Stella, Elodie said nothing, suppressed her anger, and quietly left.

At that moment, Stella was responding to Nicholas's invitation.

"I'm free tonight. Let me treat you to dinner."

Thinking about how much effort Nicholas had put in for her yesterday, Stella didn't feel right refusing his invitation again.

At seven o'clock that evening, Stella arrived on time at the restaurant Nicholas had chosen.

It was a newly opened Western restaurant with an elegant atmosphere and soft lighting.

"Stella, I'm over here."

Nicholas was already waiting at a window seat. Seeing her arrive, he smiled and stood up to pull out a chair for Stella.

"Thanks."

Stella thanked him somewhat stiffly and set her bag aside.

After ordering, Nicholas looked at her with gentle eyes, his tone caring.

"You seemed to be in such a hurry yesterday. Did you run into some trouble at work?"

Stella froze at his words, then lowered her head to cover up and answered vaguely.

"It's nothing, just some work that came up suddenly."

Seeing she didn't want to say more, Nicholas didn't press further.

"By the way, I haven't seen Elodie today."

Nicholas changed the subject, asking casually.

Hearing him mention Elodie, Stella's movements paused, her eyes dimming.

"I haven't been in touch with her for several days either, so I don't know."

Her voice carried undisguised disappointment.

She and Elodie used to be best friends and family who talked about everything. Now they were like strangers, and this feeling was even more painful than a breakup.

Nicholas watched her sad expression, his mind stirring as he quietly took out his phone and sent Elodie a message.

"I'm having dinner with Stella, and she looks really sad. Is there some misunderstanding between you two?"

After sending the message, he put down his phone and poured Stella a glass of red wine.

"Don't be sad. Maybe Elodie has just been too busy lately. Have some wine and relax."

Faced with his comfort, Stella felt somewhat down.

She took the wine glass and drank it all in one go.

The alcohol went to her head, her tense nerves relaxed a bit, and she gradually became more talkative.

But she had barely said a few words when a figure blocked their light.

Stella looked up to see Elodie standing by their table.

"Elodie, you came!"

Although she hadn't invited Elodie.

The moment she appeared, Stella couldn't help but feel happy.

Elodie nodded slightly, her lips pressed together.

"I came to check on you."

Elodie spoke caring words, but sat down directly next to Nicholas.

"You finally came. I thought you weren't going to talk to me anymore."

Stella looked at Elodie's somewhat cold demeanor and couldn't help acting a bit spoiled.

Seeing Stella's slightly drunk appearance, Elodie glanced at the wine glass in Stella's hand and lowered her eyes.

There was a lip print on the wine glass, and that lipstick shade looked very familiar.

Thinking of the lipstick mark on Alexander's shirt, Elodie suppressed her anger, her hand gripping the wine glass, tightening.

"How could that be?"

She forced herself to be pleasant with Stella, though her words carried an unclear distance.

Stella looked at Elodie, her expression somewhat hurt.

She forced herself not to overthink and turned to serve Elodie some food.

"Elodie, try this."

Before Stella could grip it firmly, Elodie instinctively pulled back. The food she was holding fell, and oil splattered directly onto her pure white clothes.

In an instant, Elodie's face darkened.

"I'm sorry."

Stella panicked, sobering up considerably, and quickly grabbed a napkin to help wipe it off.

Elodie pushed her hand away, looking at the obvious oil stain on her dress, her face dark.

"Stella, can't you stand to see me have one nice piece of clothing? This dress cost me quite a bit. Maybe it's nothing to you, but it's very expensive for me. Can't you stand to see me doing well?"

She questioned sharply, as if Stella's action was deliberate.

Stella was stunned by her outburst and apologized quietly.

"I'm sorry, Elodie, I didn't mean to."

"Forget it."

Elodie took a deep breath and simply wiped it with a napkin.

"Stella, we're no longer on the same path. Let's keep in touch less often from now on."

With those words, Elodie turned and left.

Stella watched Elodie's departing back without any reluctance, standing there in a daze, her eyes gradually reddening.