Stella sat in silence the entire time, her eyes calmly fixed on the objects scattered on the coffee table.
Boris let out a sigh. If Morgan was the storm, Stella was the eerie calm that sometimes followed.
"Elle, head up to bed now." Only then did Stella lift her gaze, offering him a gentle smile, "Okay, Dad. Don't stay up too late, alright?" Through his years, Boris had never heard his son utter such words.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNor had he ever truly embraced the role of a father, but in that moment, something stirred in his heart, his lips pressed tightly before he sighed.
"If you ever run short, just letknow." "I'm fine, Dad. The twenty thousand you gavelast time? I haven't even touched it." Boris said nothing more, retreating upstairs to change before heading out to meet one of his lovers.
Stella remained alone in the living room, the vastness of the space amplifying her loneliness, making her feel as if she was the only person left in the world.
But this was nothing new; solitude had always been her constant companion.
Just as she was about to head upstairs, the phone rang - a special ringtone that instantly spread fear through her. Her face paled as she quickly answered.
A man's hoarse voice cthrough, "I'm sending someone for you tonight." This man was the head of the JG organization, a figure Stella had unwisely entangled herself with to escape a dire situation with Alan, another dangerous man. She had no choice but to seek protection from someone even more powerful.
Stella's silence was broken by the man lighting a cigarette, "What, Stella, you dare to refusenow?" Trembling, Stella's fear of this man was deep-seated, "Jason, I... I can't do those things anymore." "Stella, do you think you have a choice? Or have you found a new protector, like you usedagainst Alan?" Her thoughts went to Beck, the one person she would choose if she had to. Among them, Beck was the most naïve, his high status notwithstanding. Unlike the Otel not who thrived on danger, Becko seemed the safest choice. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesBut there was no easy way out now, not unless she found someone of even higher status to cling to.
After a minute of silence, Stella ended the call, her decision understood.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmJason's dark chuckle followed, "Just don't regret it." That night, Stella couldn't sleep. Every little noise startled her, sweat covering her back as she recalled the first tJason took her away.
Jason had many lovers, but he derived pleasure not from the physical act but from dominating them, making them wear collars and crawl on the ground. Stella's first tcrawling was met with his laughter and a promise to keep Alan at bay. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesBut instead of tears, Stella found none. Her dignity seemed inconsequential compared to her longing for survival.
Yet, why did Bonnie always oppose her, and why did Morgan allow his lackeys to torment her? Wishing she could fight back with fangs, Stella realized her limitations. Growing up in an orphanage and begging on the streets from a young age, what power did she truly have? Content belongs to en.kikistoriesCUMS Relying on men had been her survival strategy, but getting involved with Jason was her biggest regret.
Locking her windows and doors, she still felt unsafe and dialed Beck's number, "Beck, I'm really scared. Can I stay with you tonight?" Beck, thinking he was hallucinating at the late hour, checked the time. It was two in the morning.
"Stella, do you think I'm not capable of getting angry?" Curled up under her blankets, Stella's voice was pleading, "Beck, I'm genuinely scared. Can you cpickup?"