It happened to be the exact day she bumped into Guinevere Cohen. Was it mere coincidence, or did someone lash out on her behalf?
âThis is our latest design, Miss. May I ask how old is the man youâre shopping for?â
âHeâs eighteen.â
âAh, perfect! Our new designs have been especially popular among youngsters. Theyâre modern, fashionable, and made of high-quality materials thatâ¦â
Stella listened to the employee intently, hoping to find a set that would suit Roger best. Then, someone appeared outside the store, waving his hands frantically at Stella. However, she didnât notice him at all.
âExcuse me, Miss, but is that gentleman over there your friend?â
Stella turned in the direction the employee was pointing, and her eyes met with Michael Sealeyâ¦
She froze. Her pupils shrank.
Outside the store, the man in a black suit was smiling radiantly at her. He seemed to be saying something, but she couldnât make out his words due to the glass between them. She guessed it must probably be a polite greeting or something Stella took a deep breath to calm herself down and turned to the employee to excuse herself before putting the shirt in her hand down and walking out of the store.
Michael stood at the store entrance as if waiting for Stella. His back was facing her. He should be about forty now, yet age had done nothing to him save for endowing him with an air of maturity.
With a successful career added to the mix, it wasnât hard for Stella to understand why her roommate chose to be with him, even if it meant throwing her honor and decency out the window.
But she was no longer Stella Sealey. She was Ella Steele right now. Even if it was true that she would be facing the relative who had betrayed her, all she could do right now was to put on a mask of friendly politeness.
âWhat a coincidence!â she smiled. âI didnât think Iâd meet you here!â
âQuite a coincidence, indeed, â echoed Michael. He gazed at her with what seemed to be a warm smile on his face. But it didnât matter how harmless he looked; Stella had seen his true colors a long time ago.
âIs your wife not with you today?â Stella asked, tilting her head to look behind him.
âSheâs still a little shaken emotionally, so sheâs still resting at home.â âOh,â Stella nodded. âIf thereâs nothing else, then Iâ¦â âIâm Michael Sealey,â he cut her off before she could finish. âI just want to apologize once again for mistaking you for someone else that day.â âItâs fine,â she replied briefly. âI get mistaken for her a lot, actually. I must really look like the woman named Stellaâ¦â
âYou donât just look like her,â Michael interjected, eyeing Stella up and down. âYouâre basically identical to her in every way. Even your names sound similar. If I didnât know that Stella died a long time ago, I wouldâve thought sheâs standing before me right now.â
âBut the dead donât come back to life,â Stella shrugged.â You both should try to move on from her death. If Stella knew that so many people cared about her, she wouldâve been happy.â
âHappy?â Michaelâs sunny countenance was suddenly clouded over. âIâm not so sure about that. In fact, Iâm afraid she might bear a grudge against me.â
âWell,â Stella pursed her lips, âthatâs a private matter of your family. Iâm just an outsider ; itâs best I donât poke my nose in it.â
Michael took a step back, smiled, and said, âI saw you buying a manâs suit just now. Is it for your boyfriend?
Youâre not married yet, I presume?â
âNo,â Stella denied before she could think about it.
âOh?â Michael raised his brows. âThen who is it for? Donât tell me that you happen to have a brother too?â
Stella could see that his eyes were full of suspicion. She couldnât admit to that, of course, so she tried changing the subject.
âExcuse me, Iâm a little busy, soâ¦â
âWhy do you seem so scared of me?â Michael interrupted her again before chuckling. He suddenly stepped closer to her and stared her down.