Her words struck Matthew like a bolt. His brows knitted together as he quickly asked, “You mean Stella didn’t tell you herself? You overheard about the divorce?”
Lucia, oblivious to the sudden edge in his voice, continued, “We had some free time today, so we thought we’d check on you at Prosper Bay. That’s when we overheard-“
Before she could finish, Matthew cut her off sharply, his tone clipped. “I get it, Grandma. Let’s talk about it another time. I’ve got something to take care of.”
Without waiting for a response, he hung up abruptly, leaving the conversation unresolved.
owlstorynest
Matthew leaned back in his chair, his thoughts tangled. His phone was already in hand, Stella’s number glowing on the screen. His finger hovered indecisively over the call button. Lucia’s words replayed in his mind, stirring up a storm of emotions that made it impossible for him to act.
Across the city, night had fallen, and neon lights illuminated the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors. Inside Stella’s studio, the atmosphere was bright and bustling. She was deeply immersed in the final preparations for the new product launch, her team buzzing around her with documents and discussions filling the air.
As the clock ticked closer to eight, a collective sense of accomplishment settled over the room. The last details had been ironed out.
Stella exhaled, a small, satisfied smile appearing on her face.
“You’ve all done an amazing job today,” she said warmly to her team.
“Head home and get some rest. I’ll take care of what’s left.”
Her team filed out gradually, Leaving the studio in a peaceful quiet.
Just as Stella began organizing her desk, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen-Sanford was calling.
“Stella,” Sanford began, his voice steady, “how’s everything looking for tomorrow’s launch? Are you running into any trouble?”
Stella tucked the phone between her shoulder and ear, her hands busy shuffling through files. “Almost there,” she replied honestly. “Just a few finishing touches left, but nothing I can’t handle.”
Sanford didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll swing by to lend a hand. Two heads are better than one, right? Stella waved off the suggestion with a quick response. “No need, really. I’ve almost wrapped things up here. You’ve had a long day-go catch some rest.”
But Sanford wasn’t one to take no for an answer. He doubled down, insisting on coming over. Left with no choice, Stella relented, albeit reluctantly.
After ending the call, Stella turned her attention back to her work, the hum of determination filling the studio.
Minutes later, the door creaked open. Without glancing up, she assumed Sanford had made good on his promise. “Wow, you’re here already,” she remarked.
But when she looked up, it wasn’t Sanford standing there. Instead, it was Matthew, his presence catching her off guard. Surprise flickered in her eyes, mingling with astonishment.
Matthew’s gaze was a mix of unreadable emotions as he finally asked, “Who were you expecting?”
Dodging the question, Stella shot back coolly, “What brings you here so late?”
Her tone was distant, the kind reserved for strangers.
That frosty demeanor didn’t sit well with Matthew. Yet, understanding dawned-he’d wronged her, and her anger wasn’t misplaced.
Dropping his gaze, he murmured with uncharacteristic humility, “I owe you an apology.. about the misunderstanding this morning. I was wrong.”