Chapter 24

Chapter 24:.

Stella felt a surge of anger so intense that she struggled to maintain her composure.

Her grandmother was meddling and she feared what would happen if she found out that RK was her ex-husband. She was sure Grandma would kill him and cut him to pieces.

If it weren’t for her grandmother’s fragile health, Stella would have revealed the truth about this man’s true nature.

But instead, she looked at Grandma and said, “Grandma, there’s no need to bother Mr. RK. I can go home alone. I don’t want to meet any danger on the way…”.

Stella’s eyes flickered to RK, hinting that the danger she spoke of was none other than him. But Grace had full confidence in RK’s character and was not swayed by Stella’s words.

“Stella,” Grace said firmly, “let Rene take you home. I’ll be worried if you go alone, and it’s not safe. Only when he takes you home will I feel safe.”

With that, Grace gently pulled her toward RK, clearly anxious to see them together. Stella looked at her grandmother, speechless.

How had this man managed to fool her grandmother so completely? Had he bewitched her for the past six years? At this rate, Grace looked more like his grandmother than hers.

RK picked up the car keys from the next table and turned to Grace. “Grandma, I’ll take Stella home first. You should…”

“Okay, okay… You two go on,” Grace replied quickly, almost shooing them out of the room, hoping they would spend more time together.

If Stella had known that her plans to go home alone would turn into another forced trip with RK, she would have waited for him to leave before making her move. After they both left the room, neither took the initiative to speak, walking side by side like strangers.

It wasn’t until they left the hospital that Stella turned to him and said, “You don’t need to take me home; I can manage on my own.”

RK didn’t even look at her as he responded with his usual cold tone, but there was an unmistakable tinge of menace in his words. “Do you want me to tell Grandma?”.

Stella was dumbfounded, why was he calling her “grandmother” so lightly? She wasn’t his grandmother, but she was his grandmother.

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Stella rolled her eyes at him. This man knew very well how to threaten her with her grandmother. In the company, he used his authority as a boss to threaten her, and now, outside the company, he was using her grandmother as leverage.

Stella was so angry that she felt that one day she might die at his hands…. Because this man was infuriating.

Once inside the black Rolls-Royce, the atmosphere was so quiet that every little sound seemed amplified. Stella reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She counted out 2,150 rupees and handed it to RK.

“This is all I brought with me. I’ll pay you back all the money you spent on my grandmother’s medical expenses. There’s still some left at home, and when I come back, I’ll give it to you…”

Stella was not the type to accept money from a husband who had abandoned her without a second thought.

She knew her grandmother’s medical expenses weren’t cheap, and if she accepted that money without a problem, what difference did it make between her and those beggars?

Since they were already divorced, she wanted a clear and clean break with him. RK didn’t even look at the money.

“You don’t have to pay me back; Grandma’s medical expenses are covered by the terms of your divorce.”

When Stella left home, she didn’t even take anything from him. She left with nothing. His words stung, but she insisted no more. Silently, she put the money back in her wallet.

Looking away from him, Stella turned her head toward the window and said in a cold voice, “Now that I’m back, I’ll take care of all my grandmother’s medical expenses. And please don’t get any more involved with her. Don’t give her the impression that you are interested in me. You and I both know very well that you have a fiancée and there can be nothing between us. If Grandma knows that you lied to her, she would be sad.”

He knew that RK had not told his grandmother about his fiancée; otherwise, Grace would have tried to set them up.

“Stella Richards,” RK’s voice cut through her thoughts, “do you think you can control me?”.

His blue eyes looked at her, his gaze fell on Stella’s face who was looking out the car window. Through the window, they could both see each other’s emotions reflected in the glass.

Ha! He had just called her “Stella” in front of her grandmother, and now he was using her full name.

She couldn’t understand this man’s thoughts at all. RK just looked at Stella’s face from the car window and quickly turned her face away. His voice was still cold as he asked, “Why don’t you ask your grandmother if she wants me to stay away from you.”

Stella was speechless. She knew exactly how her grandmother would react: she would criticize her for this. Stella was very angry, but she had nowhere to vent her frustration.

They were divorced, but this man insisted on meddling in her life, even with her grandmother’s illness.

She could understand his initial help out of compassion or conscience, but now that she was back and able to care for her grandmother, why was he still interfering?

And with a fiancée, no less, why was she still letting her grandmother think they were a potential couple? She had no idea what RK really wanted.

The Rolls-Royce drove through the city streets and finally stopped in front of her apartment building. When Stella got out of the car, she saw that RK did too. He had never done it before, usually staying inside and never coming out. But today…

Stella looked at the tall figure next to her and saw that he was looking in a specific direction upward. Stella followed his gaze and looked in the direction of her house. Wasn’t she looking toward her balcony?

But why was she looking at her house for no reason? After a while, Stella saw the figure moving on the balcony. She knew it was Adrian. He had a habit of sitting on the balcony and waiting for her.

At first, he looked down, but when he saw that RK was also looking in his direction, he quickly ran away. But in less than a minute, his little head popped back up, peering down at them. He looked in RK’s direction.

Fear gripped Stella and she quickly stepped in front of RK, trying to block his view. She knew the distance was considerable and that RK might not have seen Adrian clearly, but so what? She was still afraid.

RK looked at the woman in front of him. Stella hastened to explain, “The child is Emily’s nephew!”.

Stella had been relieved that RK didn’t know of Adrian’s existence. If he ever found out that Adrian was the boy she had once said she didn’t want, she didn’t know what would happen. She was afraid that RK wouldn’t like her son. If he knew Adrian was her son, she feared he would hurt her….

RK didn’t show much emotion after hearing her words. “Why did you take the pictures of me?” he asked lightly. Had Adrian taken the pictures of him?

But when? Hadn’t today been the first time father and son had seen each other? When had they crossed paths before?

Without waiting for her reply, RK added, “She’s in the same school as Alia, isn’t she?”

Stella realized she couldn’t keep anything from him. She and Adrian had just gotten back together, but RK had spent a lot of time with her grandmother. She even knew where Adrian went to school. Did he find out the last time when she went to pick Adrian up from school?

“Alia has a heart problem. The school teacher told me that it was Adrian who helped her last time,” said RK. “If you are free, I would like to thank him in person.”

If it had been anyone else’s child who had helped his daughter, he would have been eager and proud to receive her gratitude. But when it came to Stella, she didn’t want thanks. She felt bitterness in her heart.

This man, who had never known how to show his gratitude before, was now willing to do so for his daughter. It showed that RK really cared about Alia and adored her. It also showed that Alia was really his daughter. Otherwise, how could he do this?

Despite the bitterness in her heart, Stella kept her composure and shook her head calmly. “There’s no need for that. Adrian is like that: he’ll help anyone.”

If she thanked Adrian in person, then wouldn’t father and son see each other again? No, she would not let that happen again. She would never let this man meet his son again….

RK did not press her. But before he left, his gaze once again rested on the diminutive figure on the balcony. His eyes were deep and piercing, as if he could see through everything. Stella, standing in front of him, felt a shiver run down her spine.

But he said nothing and just got into his car. The black Rolls-Royce drove away.

Stella watched as the car disappeared from her sight, with the feeling that she had just witnessed the man’s unwavering directness and indifference of the man. Just as before…

When Stella went upstairs, before taking

the key to unlock the door, the little boy had already opened it and said, “Honey, you’re back!”

Adrian had a small, chubby face with a sweet smile. He was like an obedient child who opens the door and hands you the slippers. He was very warm and sweet.

Stella looked at the little boy who was on the floor handing her the slippers. She looked at him and said, “Adrian, get your cell phone and show it to mommy.”

Adrian stood still, looking at her with innocent eyes. “Mom, why did you want my phone?”.

Could it be that the guy had already complained about him sneaking pictures? Adrian considered this possibility and quickly said, “Mom, my phone is out of battery. I’ve put it on charge.”

Stella ignored the slippers and went straight into her room. She looked around, but didn’t see her phone on the charger. It was on a stool on the balcony. She picked up the phone and opened the photo album.

Indeed, there were pictures of RK. He had sent her home three days in a row, and he had photos from all those times. In some of the photos, RK was looking directly into the camera. That meant that he had already realized that Adrian was taking a picture of him.

No wonder RK didn’t seem surprised when he saw Adrian in the hospital. He already knew about him. Stella had lied and said Adrian was Emily’s nephew, but he had been with his grandmother for so long? Had she already revealed everything to him?

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