Meanwhile, in the hospital room, Stella lifted a spoonful of soup to her lips, her face lighting up with delight. The warm aroma filled the air as she smiled at Miley and said, “This soup is incredible, Miley. You’re really outdoing yourself in the kitchen.”
Miley beamed, her voice soft and affectionate. “I’m just glad you’re enjoying it. Anything to brighten your day a little.”
The room felt lighter, as if the two of them had managed to push aside the chaos of their lives for a fleeting moment of peace.
But the tranquility didn’t last. Stella’s phone vibrated on the table, breaking the mood. Glancing at the screen, she saw Matthew’s name.
Miley noticed the name as well and immediately rose to her feet, gathering the dishes. “I’ll take care of these. Go ahead and take your call.”
Stella hesitated, her finger hovering over the phone. She let it buzz a few more times before finally picking up.
Matthew’s deep voice came through the line, direct and unwavering.
“Stella, where are you? Let me come and get you.”
Stella exhaled quietly, her tone calm but firm as she responded, “I’ve fallen behind on a lot of tasks recently. I’ve decided to book a hotel room nearby for a few days. I won’t be returning to Prosper Bay for the time being.”
Matthew’s voice tightened with disapproval. “A hotel? That‘s neither practical nor safe. No matter how late it is, I’ll come and get you. You should be home.”
Her shoulders sagged slightly, weariness seeping into her voice.
Stella wasn’t in the mood for a back-and-forth. “Matthew, I’m drained. I think spending some time apart will help us both clear our heads and figure things out. Please, just give me the space I need.”
The weight in her words wasn’t lost on him. Though he disliked the idea, Stella’s conviction stopped him from pushing further. After a pause, Matthew relented, saying, “Fine. But please, take care of yourself.”
As the call ended, Stella‘s hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
Her fingers brushed lightly over the gentle curve as a heavy sigh escaped her lips.
Her gaze faltered, filled with doubt. “Am I doing the right thing by hiding my pregnancy from Matthew? What if he finds out later and gets even angrier?”
The next morning, after waking up, Stella instinctively reached for her phone to check for new messages.
As she scrolled through, a news headline caught her eye-it was about Lindsay reporting to the police.
Stella’s heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to click on the article for more details, the door swung open, and Miley walked into the hospital room.
With a look of surprise, Miley announced, “Stella, they’ve caught the person who killed Robin. But.. she’s already dead.”
Stella stared at Miley in confusion. “Can you explain what happened?” she asked.
Miley took a moment to collect her thoughts before replying, “I just got the news from Neville. Early this morning, Lindsay went to the police and reported that her maid had left a suicide note before taking her own life. In the note, the maid claimed that Robin had raped her while he was drunk. Out of despair, she hired someone to kill him. But later, consumed by guilt and fear, she couldn’t handle it anymore and ended her life.”
Stella listened carefully but couldn’t shake off a nagging suspicion.
Frowning, she said, “This feels so off. Something about it doesn’t add up. Miley, how did my pen end up in that maid’s possession?”