But as soon as he finished speaking, he caught the glimmer of amusement in Stella's eyes and realized she was pulling his leg again.
His fingers twitched with irritation as he stood up abruptly, grabbed her wrist, and led her outside to the garden.
Stella let him lead her away, watching his back withoutment.
It wasn't until they were alone that Beck finally let go of her.
"All you want is a stake in the business, right? No need to crash this kind of event." Stella gazed into his eyes, her fingertips brushing against nearby flowers.
The Sanders family seemed to have a fondness for flowers.
"Beck, if I told you I wasn't after the Sanders family fortune, would you believe me?" Of course, Beck didn't believe her. He had seen firsthand how she had swindled money from countless men, leaving them spinning in circles.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"This event tonight isn't for you. You should go home." It wasn't that Beck was heartless. He had finally gotten a chance to spend twith Maja, and he didn't want Stella, an outsider, to ruin it.
Plus, with Stella around, the atmosphere would just get awkward. He couldn't fathom why his dad had invited her in the first place. Stella lowered her lashes, quietly touching the flower in front of her, saying nothing.
Beck grew impatient. "Didn't you hear me? I told you to go home." "You're trying to protect Maja, aren't you? Afraid she'd be upset to seehere?" Beck felt a pang of truth in her words, his brow furrowing. "I thought sthings didn't need to be spelled out." For a moment, Stella genuinely envied Maja—having such a caring brother and loving parents.
She smiled faintly. "I understand. I'll leave now." Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Beck half expected her to pull strick, but after a few minutes, he saw only her retreating figure.
He stood there for a while, contemplating returning to the living room, but then he remembered the Sanders family's drivers were all out, and one had even gone to pick up his older brother. There was no one available to drive Stella home.
He figured she would shamelessly return soon enough.
But after waiting another ten minutes, Stella hadn'te back.
A bad feeling crept over Beck. Surely she wasn't walking home? How long would that take? He immediately followed in his car, scanning the area until he finally spotted Stella.
Alone, she seemed captivated by something on the ground, squatting down to take a closer look.
Beck couldn't understand his own e anything but ovel?@ as he pulled up beside her, his tone anything et en.kikistories "Weren't you all tough-skinned before? I toe when I tell y leave you just leave? What's your angle now?" en.kikistories Stella was examining a small blade of grass, touching it gently.
"Beck, look how well this grass is growing." Beck followed her finger to amon blade of grass peeking through a crack in the stone.
Yet, Stella seemed mesmerized before she stood up and smiled at him.
"Beck, I knew you'de looking for me. After all, you're a good person." Beck was momentarily speechless, but he couldn't in good conscience let her walk down the mountain.
He almost begrudgingly let her into the car, alternating between being angry at her and at himself.
Once Stella was in the car, she buckled her seatbelt right away.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut Beck didn't start the car immediately.
"Beck?" He hesitated for a long while, unsure whether to head down the mountain or go back.
Stella closed her eyes. "Beck, could you please takehome? I've got things to handle today too." Beck relented and stepped on the gas, following her request.
When they arrived at the Morris residence, Stella was greeted by a fuming an.
an rushed at her, hands wrapping tightly around her neck.
"Did you cause that mess on the school forum? Are you out of your mind?!" Struggling to breathe, Stella couldn't utter a word.
Beck hadn't planned to get out of the car, but seeing an's lethal grip, s to en.kikistorant baytely intervened.
belongs to en.kikistories "an, what are you doing?" Seeing him, an released his grip.
"Beck, what are you doing here?"