Chapter 242

Chapter 242:

Stella stayed alone in her room for a while before the servants came in with RK’s private doctor.

“Miss Richard, how is your foot?” the doctor asked, but as soon as he saw Stella’s right foot, now even more swollen than before, he was stunned.

Stella curled her lips, unwilling to explain what had just happened.

However, the maid standing beside her quickly spoke up, “Miss Richard... she slipped accidentally,” Stella lied smoothly, unwilling to air her family’s dirty laundry. She didn’t want anyone to know how bad her relationship with Sophia truly was.

The doctor, though surprised, didn’t push further. “Miss Richard, I already told you not to put weight on your foot. Why are you moving around again? Now it’s even more swollen!” he said, concerned.

Stella remained silent, unable to shake the frustration building inside her. The tension between her and Sophia wasn’t new. They had never gotten along, even when Stella was part of the Richard family. But now, the animosity seemed to have worsened.

If something like this happened today, it could easily happen again.

Stella felt a deep sense of melancholy. If only her mother had been able to take her away from the Richard family, none of this would be happening. She wouldn’t have grown up alongside Isabella and Sophia, who only brought her misery.

There was an indescribable weight in Stella’s heart as she sighed heavily. She still didn’t know if marrying René Kingston, as David had forced her to, was a blessing or a curse.

The doctor checked Stella’s foot again, applying some ointment to help with the swelling. He warned her once more, “It’s important not to aggravate the injury. If you don’t take care of it, it’ll only get worse and take longer to heal.”

Stella nodded silently, and the maid standing nearby offered to help. “Miss Richard, let me apply the medicine for you. Your foot hasn’t healed yet.”

But Stella, unaccustomed to being cared for, declined.

“No, I can do it myself. You don’t need to stay. I’m fine.”

Lᴀt푒st chαptєrs in ɢ퓪lnovels.푐표푚 The maids exchanged glances before nodding and leaving the room.

Once the room was quiet again, Stella felt a wave of loneliness wash over her. She couldn’t stop thinking about Sophia’s harsh words.

Even though Stella knew her marriage to RK would likely be short-lived, Sophia’s taunts still struck a nerve. She questioned herself, wondering whether it was right or wrong to continue staying at the RK mansion.

Deep down, she had already made up her mind. They would divorce sooner or later, so she needed to distance herself from him.

It was only a matter of time.

As Stella was lost in thought, her phone rang.

Looking at the screen, she saw it was Kelly calling. At that moment, she welcomed the distraction. Stella had always confided in Kelly, even when she lived with the Richard family.

Kelly had been her closest friend for years, and even now, nothing had changed.

Stella picked up the phone, her voice carrying the weight of her unhappiness.

Kelly, on the other end, immediately noticed something was off.

“Stella, are you okay? Your voice sounds... different,” Kelly asked, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

“Yeah...” Stella replied, but her tone gave away her frustration.

Originally, she had been in a strange mood after RK’s sudden return the previous day. Although she found his presence unsettling, there was an odd sense of security in it. Stella shook her head, thinking she must be going crazy to feel that way.

It had to be because of the boredom during summer vacation, being stuck at home every day. That had to be why she felt a strange comfort in RK’s presence, something she never thought she would feel.

“What’s going on? Tell me,” Kelly urged, her voice warm and familiar. She was always ready to listen, just like in the old days when Stella confided in her about everything.

“Is it because of RK? Did he make you angry again?” Kelly teased. She knew well that if anyone could upset Stella, it was usually René Kingston.

Stella sighed and lowered her head. “It’s not RK this time... Sophia came to the RK mansion and found me.”

To be honest, Kelly didn’t need Stella to explain further. She already knew what kind of person Sophia was and the strained relationship between the two sisters.

Stella and Kelly had been friends for so long that Kelly understood everything about her, even without words.

Having spent so much time together over the years, Kelly was fully aware of Stella’s family dynamics and her half-sister, Sophia.

She knew how deep the tension ran between them and how troubled their relationship had always been.

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