âYeah, I received my pay and wanted to treat you to something nice since youâre about to go overseas.â
She went on hesitantly, âWhy donât we invite Riley to join us? By way of expressing my thanks to her.â
âNo need,â Roger shrugged. Stella had already made reservations at the restaurant. After placing her order, she thought about it before saying solemnly to Roger, âIf you really donât like Riley and see no possibility of being with her, find a time and make things clear with her. The longer you drag things out, the greater the hurt youâll cause her. Do you understand?â
Roger furrowed his brows. âWhy do you keep talking to me about her? Iâm about to go overseas. Letâs not talk about outsiders!â Stella reached out to rub her head. âYou brat! Do you really know that youâre going overseas soon? Now that youâre all grown up, I canât always be by your side, and youâll get to know new people. Riley will be going with you on your studies abroad. It is imperative that you handle your relationship with her, leave no regrets or hurt her, do you get me?â
Roger was beginning to get annoyed with her nagging.â Then Iâll just stay here and keep you company!â
He was saying it as a casual remark, but Stellaâs face fell immediately. âDonât you even think about it!
Do you think youâre still a child, making such immature remarks whenever you please? Donât joke about your future!â
Roger didnât expect her to be so agitated. He lowered his head and said, âOkay, I get youâ¦â Stella didnât know how sincere he was. She pondered about it for a moment and eventually decided to tell him, âI met Michael two days agoâ¦â âWhat?â Rogerâs eyes widened, and he almost stood up.â Isnât he supposed to be overseas?â
âYes, he recently came back,â Stella pressed his shoulders to sit him back down. âDonât panic. Hear me out. I met him at a shopping mall yesterday, and he was with Diana. They recognized me at first, but I told them I wasnât Stella Sealey, but Ella Steele. They barely believed me, though. I think Michael has his doubts.â
Roger began to get worried. âWhatever it is, it is rather unbelievable that there are two people who look so alike.â
âLooking similar might be something that could be overlooked, but if they see you in Fern City, then they would never believe meâ¦â
That was what worried Stella the most. Roger was still rather hesitant. âSo what if Michael knew?
Weâve cut all ties with him a longâ¦â
âDo you remember how he treated us back then?â
Roger fell silent the moment Stella asked him the question.
Of course, it was still in his mind. Back then, their parents died in a plane crash, and he was bedridden from the trauma. Stella was left to host the funeral alone and clean up the Sealey familyâs mess.
As young and ignorant children who had barely mingled with society, they were completely taken advantage of by the older family members, who even chased them out of the family. They did not even leave them a single cent for Rogerâs medical bills. They wouldnât have been so impoverished and destitute if it werenât for Michael. They wouldnât have had to bow down to Weston Ford just so they could settle the medical bills, and they wouldnât have found themselves in their current, sorry plight.
Past memories came flooding back into Rogerâs mind, making hatred arise in his heart. âIf I were to see him in the flesh, I certainly wonât spare him!â
He wanted to ask Michael why he was so cruel to them back then.
In retrospect, he had been so nurturing to them when their father was still alive.
Stella shook her head. âHeâs doing very well now. You should try your best to avoid appearing before him. If he were to know that I am Stella Sealey, he would surely find a way to deal with us.â
Since they had decided to start afresh, they shouldnât get involved with anyone from their past.
Roger understood her rationale and nodded. He was about to open his mouth to speak when he saw two people entering the front corridor. His eyes froze as he trembled violently.
âWhatâs the matter?â Stella followed his gaze and was about to turn her head when Roger reached out to turn her head around. âNothing, donât look!â
But it was too late.
Stella saw Weston and Guinevere at the entrance.
He was in an impeccably sleek suit, making him look all tall and handsome, while the stunning woman next to him latched onto his arm. They were like a match made in heaven.