Chapter 1944

The atmosphere at the upcoming engagement party might be awkward after today’s confrontation.

Recalling Joann’s words, she asked Matthew, “Does she also know Lindsay?”

“I don’t know all the details,” Matthew said in a hushed voice, “but Lindsay apparently saved Joann in the past.

Those two are very close.

”

Stella frowned.

Something was not right about that.

“It sounds like Lindsay just goes around saving people all the time,” she muttered.

“And of course, she always ends up being best friends with everyone she rescues.

”

She didn’t know whether it was all just a coincidence or it was well -planned.

What were the odds of one woman saving other people over and over again throughout her lifetime?

Stella couldn’t help but ponder even the most absurd possibility.

Was Lindsay really as innocent as she looked?

Matthew put some food on her plate.

“Whatever it was that Joann told you today, pay no mind to it.

I’m sorry, I want to do something, but I can’t act out of line on account of the relationship between our families.

”

His voice pulled Stella back to the present.

She thought about what happened earlier and couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t worry; none of it matters to me.

It’s not like I suffered any loss.

”

Then her gaze drifted to the gift box sitting on the living room table, and her smile turned mischievous.

“I do wonder, though, how she would feel once she opens my present for her at the engagement party.

She might think that I’m deliberately picking a fight with her.

”

Matthew stared at her for a moment.

Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he said, “Well, it’s fine as long

as you don’t take anything to heart.

My family’s relationship with the Crawfords is pretty casual.

We’re only attending the engagement part for the sake of the Lowell family.

”

It was Stella’s turn to peer at Matthew.

He seemed to be uncharacteristically on edge, like he was walking on eggshells.

Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Are you nervous about something?”

Matthew froze for a few seconds and quickly shook his head.

“No, why would I be?”

Stella stared at him with a faint, knowing smile.

“Really? You’re not worried Joann might have said something to me?”

When Matthew remained stiff, she added, “Like, say, the fact that you almost married Lindsay before?”

There was a slight shift in Matthew’s expression.

It was fleeting, but it didn’t escape Stella’s notice.

And while she had told herself repeatedly that it was all in the past, it didn’t make the confirmation of her hunches any less unpleasant.

What irked her the most was that Matthew had never mentioned something so important to her.

At the back of her mind, she knew that he wanted to take this secret to the grave if he could.

It made her wonder… What else was he trying to hide?

Stella bit her lower lip.

The more she thought about it, the more irritable she became.

She even lost her appetite.

Still, she did her best to remain composed as she put her fork down.

“I’m full.

I’m going upstairs now.

”