Sanford looked at Stella’s weary face and felt a pang of sympathy.
“Don’t worry too much,” he said gently. “Eat something first. You wouldn’t want your grandfather to wake up and find you unwell too.”
Stella glanced at the Lunchbox on the table but couldn’t bring herself to eat. “I have no appetite,” she murmured, pushing it aside. She handed the phone back to Sanford.
Sanford accepted the phone and then offered her a new one. “The broken phone is in the repair store. I’ll return it to you later. Use this one for now.”
Stella took the new phone and thanked him softly. “Thank you, Sanford.”
He then handed her two small packages. “These are the items you bought from the jewelry store. I brought them for you.”
Stella thanked him again and placed the jewelry aside without much thought .
Her gaze shifted to Clint, still lying unconscious. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “What about Betsey?”
“She’s been taken to the police station,” Sanford replied.
Stella nodded, saying nothing more.
A short while Later, Sanford’s phone buzzed with a call from Declan. He excused himself, citing an urgent matter, and left the room.
By evening, Clint had yet to regain consciousness.
Stella forced herself to eat a few bites of dinner, but nausea churned in her stomach. After only a few mouthfuls, she gave up.
Looking outside, she realized Matthew hadn’t contacted her all day. Was he really that busy with work?
Holding the phone in her hand, she debated whether to call and inform him about Clint’s hospitalization. After a few moments of hesitation, she opted to send him a text instead.
Meanwhile, Matthew was at Lindsay’s apartment.
After Betsey was taken to the police station, Leona wasted no time contacting Lindsay. She urged Lindsay to convince Matthew to bail Betsey out.
Betsey, sitting on the sofa, sobbed hysterically. “I saw Stella and Sanford shopping together,” she wailed. “They looked so close, Like a couple! She was buying cufflinks for him. I went up to remind Stella, but she got angry and accused me falsely. She even teamed up with Sanford to have me sent to the police station!”
Matthew remained silent, his expression cold and sullen.
Betsey’s emotions spiraled as she continued, her voice growing Louder and more frantic.
Leona quickly joined in, her tone sharp and accusing. “That’s right, Matthew. You can’t just stand by and do nothing. Stella’s behavior is completely unacceptable!”
Lindsay, however, feigned a calm, reasonable tone, attempting to play the voice of reason. “Please don’t say that. Stella and Sanford have known each other for a long time. In fact, Sanford was one of the students Stella’s father sponsored. He probably thinks of her like a sister. Isn’t it normal for siblings to exchange gifts?”
Despite her attempt at diplomacy, the tension in Lindsay’s apartment was palpable. Lindsay’s explanation only seemed to darken Matthew’s expression further. Anger boiled beneath the surface as he clenched his fists.
He knew the truth all too well. The way Sanford looked at Stella had nothing to do with sibling affection-it was the gaze of a man who desired a woman, plain and simple.