Chapter 1279

“Coffee,” stated Keegan.

“Tea,” replied Marshall.

Stella hesitated momentarily, then glanced at Keegan and suggested, “You might as well have some tea too. It would save us from firing up the coffee machine.”

Keegan looked slightly displeased about the situation but chose not to argue.

Marshall pressed his lips together slightly as he watched the scene unfold. ‘Brewing tea was also a bit of a hassle,’ he thought. The fact that Stella did not ask him to accommodate Keegan’s request felt respectful, yet created a sense of unfamiliarity between them.

Keegan settled onto the nearby couch, maintaining a comfortable distance from Stella. He turned to Marshall and asked, “How’s the injury?”

Marshall opened up his palm to show Keegan the wound. Though it was healed, the scar remained prominent. It would likely need some time to fade. “It’s alright,” he said.

“Given your experience, you don’t really need to take on cases like that. The pay isn’t a lot, and there are tons of risks involved. Why bother?” Keegan said indifferently.

Marshall chuckled and said, “I wasn’t planning on taking it initially. But no one wanted a messy domestic abuse case, especially since the man’s family had connections. I felt sorry for the woman. She’s visited nearly every law firm in town. I’ve seen her at our office multiple times, and on each visit, her face bore signs of injury. Once, her left ear was torn and needed stitches. She was determined to proceed with the divorce, even if it meant losing everything.”

“I asked myself why should individuals who just want to live endure such hardships. And that was when I took on her case. I just didn’t expect her husband to locate her new residence so quickly that it almost led to Stella getting hurt.”

Keegan thought about it and said, “You shouldn’t have taken her there, and you shouldn’t have gone alone. You should’ve involved the authorities. You should’ve known who you were dealing with. Thank god that nothing major happened that day. Did you ever consider what your parents would feel if you lost your life?”

Marshall’s throat tightened slightly, and he clenched his fist. After a while, he admitted, “You’re right. I made the wrong call.”

“Try your best not to let your parents worry. You might not recall it, but I witnessed firsthand how devastated they were when that incident happened to you seven years ago. No one is forcing you to push yourself to the extremes, Marshall. You don’t have to take on everything head-on. Do you know that your current state is far from what it used to be when you were abroad?”

“Is that so?” Marshall smiled and said, “I feel fine.”

Keegan was a little annoyed by his response and decided to stay quiet.

Marshall used to engage in extreme sports overseas, from racing to marathons. Even people accustomed to the laid- back lifestyle like Vermont envied his achievements.

However, upon his return to Rivera, he seemed to revert to his state from seven years ago. He was dull and depressed as he carried the weight of everything behind his back.

After a while, Keegan spoke again. “Get to know the girls your mom introduces you to and go on dates with them. If you find a connection, give it a shot. Being in a relationship is generally more fun than being alone.”

Marshall lowered his gaze and said, “Being with Stella is quite exciting.”

Hearing that, Keegan froze. “Are you intending to pursue her?

“Do you have a problem with that?” Marshall stared at him and asked.

Keegan thought about it and said, “No, of course not. I’m fine with it as long as you’re genuine.” He knew Marshall did not stand much of a chance, so there was no harm in letting him try. “However, if you’re not brave enough to pursue her, I advise you guys to remain friends. Don’t make things awkward.”

Marshall looked at him for a moment before suddenly asking, “Why don’t any of you want to tell me what happened seven years ago?”

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience, and the scene was gruesome. Some things are best forgotten,”

Keegan replied indifferently.

“Was I the one who crashed into Stella’s mom?”

Keegan was taken aback. “Why on earth would you think that? Don’t worry. Your injury wasn’t caused by a car accident.”

As Marshall was about to continue, Stella entered the room with the tea. “Felicity went out for breakfast. She’ll be back soon,” she said.