But Joyce was not afraid of Stella. She was just taken aback by her look. Sheâd never seen Stella acting so cold beforeâ¦
What was going on with her? What had happened in Yvonneâs office? Why had she changed so much after that?
Stella had enough time to calm herself down that afternoon. She was a dance teacher, after all.
Teaching the children was still the most important thing in her life.
When it was almost time to get off work, Stella checked the time on her phone. It was the first time that she resented leaving work. She couldnât go home now, so she gave her brother a call to tell him that she would be on a business trip for a while.
Yvonne happened to pass by when she was telling Roger she couldnât go home. She stopped and stared at Stella in dismay.
Stella hung up the phone and turned around to leave, only to bump into Yvonne who was looking at her with a strange expression.
Yvonne looked down at her shoes when their eyes met and said nothing. Stella was about to walk away, but Yvonne suddenly spoke. âYou know,â she whispered in Stellaâs ear, âIf you need me to tell a white lie, just ask. Iâll help you.â
When she first found out about Stella having an affair with Weston Ford, Yvonne resented her for it. But now that she knew Stella was forced into it by Weston, she had grown sympathetic towards her.
It was plain for anyone to see that a powerful man like Weston Ford could easily squash someone of Stellaâs social status under his boots any time he wished. Not to mention that Stella had a family too, so even if she managed to escape Westonâs grasp, there was no guarantee that her family would be safe.
Being by Weston Fordâs side was just like walking a tightrope â if you werenât careful, you would fall to your death.
âThank you, Yvonne,â said Stella with a grateful smile. âIf you donât mind,â Stella continued after a pause, âCould you tell my brother that Iâm on a business trip and that I wonât be able to go home for a while?â
âSure!â Yvonne nodded. âThank you!â âDonât mention it.â Yvonne paused again and sighed. âIf you need any help,â she continued, âJust ask me, okay?â
Not long after that, Stella received a text message from Weston, telling her that heâd sent the driver to pick her up. Stella thought for a while and replied saying she had a private tutoring class so she might be going back a little later. This was not exactly a lie. In fact, Weston had checked Stellaâs schedule and he knew that she really was hired as a private tutor, so he made no objections and just told her to tell the driver when her work was done.
Stella was a little nervous when she got to Mr. Smithâs house because she thought she might meet Justin there again. She was greatly relieved when she found out that Justin would not be there that day.
Mr. Smith himself was not at home either. Only a few nannies were with Ruby there. Ruby liked Stella very much. She was usually headstrong and naughty, but with Stella, Ruby became inexplicably obedient and affectionate. âMiss Steele,â Ruby said after her dance class, âMy dad will be taking me to a movie set for an audition later. Do you think Iâll be a movie star one day, Miss Steele?â âIâm sure you will, Ruby!â Stella replied, pinching Rubyâs cherubic cheek. âSince youâre such a pretty girl!â But soon afterward one of the nannies dashed into the room and told Stella, âIâm sorry, Miss Steele, but it seems that Mr. Smith canât make it home in time. The audition couldnât be postponed either, so Mr. Smith asked if you could take Miss Ruby to the movie set?â Stella thought about it and almost instantly agreed. She didnât want to go back to that place anyway, so why not?