Chapter 2357

When he saw Stella later, he would confront her directly and demand the truth.

After her conversation with Sanford, where he promised to take care of the rumors, Stella went back to working on her design sketches.

However, a wave of tiredness soon hit her.

She had been feeling unusually drained lately, so she decided to rest her eyes for a bit.

When she finally woke up, the day had already slipped into the evening.

Glancing at her phone, she noticed that the trending topic had disappeared, and the two photos were nowhere to be seen.

A post from Matthew caught her eye; it had been sent just ten minutes earlier.

The message read, Fake news. Accountability pursued.

Stella hadnt anticipated that Matthew would come across the news.

Instantly, a wave of unease washed over her.

She feared that their fragile relationship, recently improved, might be on the verge of another break.

Sitting on the sofa, her brow furrowed as_ she struggled to figure out how to explain everything to Matthew.

At that moment, a knock echoed from the door.

It was a new designer from the studio, calling from the other side, Stella, theres a man outside looking for you.

Should I let him in? Stella assumed it was Matthew at the door, so she said, Let him in.

But when it opened, it was Sanford standing there.

Surprised, Stella blinked and asked, What are you doing here? Sanford raised an eyebrow, his voice steady as he replied, Whats the matter? It seems like you didnt expect me or didnt want me here.

He frowned slightly, his face showing a hint of concern before he added, Is it the news online thats bothering you? Are you afraid that being seen with me might make things worse, and youre trying to keep a distance from me? Stella quickly shook her head, her words stumbling out as she said, No… I… I didnt mean… A wave of panic hit her, leaving her flustered and unsure of how to explain herself.

What bothered her most was the thought that if Matthew showed up and found Sanford there, it might spark another misunderstanding.

The thought made her head spin with worry.

Sanford, on the other hand, appeared to relax, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Im glad thats not the issue. I thought you might be angry with me because of this.

Feeling a rush of anxiety, Stella quickly asked, Is there anything else? If not, I really need to step out for a moment.

Sanford glanced at her, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face, but he replied, I thought maybe we could have dinner together, but if youre busy, we can do it some other time.

Stella gave a quick nod, grabbed her bag, and moved toward the front door.

Sanford walked beside her, keeping pace as he asked, By the way, is everything okay with your car after the minor collision? The old mans car is already at the shop for repairs, so if your car isnt working, I can give you a ride.

Stella quickly shook her head and said, Theres no need, thank you.

My cars fine.

Without another word, she instinctively picked up her pace.