Chapter 834
When Love Comes Late
âPlease go back inside and get some rest as well.
Iâll make sure to visit often.
â
Lucia nodded in response and released her hand.
The car began its slow departure.
Stella kept her gaze affixed to the passing scenery outside her window.
Matthew caught a glimpse of her profile and suggested, âYou should stay at Prosper Bay tonight.
â
Startled by his proposition, Stella turned to him with wide eyes.
Matthew elaborated, âYouâve left the hospital, but your wounds are still healing.
The thought of you being alone concerns me.
My house has your room ready.
Youâre welcome to stay there during your recovery.
â
Stella hesitated, her response caught in her throat.
Undeterred, Matthew pressed on, âIf youâre not comfortable with that, Iâll move into your studio.
But you canât let me sleep on the sofa all the time, can you? Sleeping on the sofa is really uncomfortable.
â
Stella blinked, then finally nodded, and her face turned pink.
Matthewâs smile grew wider as he caught the subtle hint of her shyness.
That evening, Stella retired to her former room.
It was immaculate, as though it had been cleaned daily.
She surrendered to sleep swiftly after her nightly routine.
Yet, deep into the night, nightmares jolted her awake.
Stellaâs scream tore through the silence as she bolted upright, a sheen of sweat coating her brow as she surveyed the unfamiliar room.
Only the rhythmic knocking at the door anchored her back to reality.
Matthew entered, flicking on the light switch and rushing to her side.
âWhatâs the matter? What happened?â he inquired, dabbing at her forehead with tissues.
Huddled against his chest, Stella trembled, the haunting images lingering.
âEver since the accident, the same dream haunts me.
It features a young couple and myself as a child.
I call them Dad and Momâ¦â
She frowned as she tried to reconstruct the vision from her dream.
âBut for some reason, they insisted on leaving and said goodbye to me.
Could there be any plausible reason for my parents to leave me at an orphanage?â
Stella looked up at Matthew, eyes brimming with a mixture of hope and confusion.