Stella acknowledged him with a simple nod, her expression unreadable.
Matthew reached out for her hand, intending to lead her inside together.
However, Stella skillfully dodged his touch, maintaining a distance.
Fixing her with a probing look, he challenged her. “Would you prefer Clint to witness our squabble?”
Stella appeared momentarily adrift in her thoughts, her focus wavering.
Seizing the moment, Matthew gently guided her through the doorway.
Inside, Clint greeted them, his smile wide and welcoming. Matthew joined Clint at the table, enveloped by the inviting aroma of breakfast.
Feeling somewhat obligated, Stella hesitantly settled into the chair beside them.
Clint could feel the underlying tension, and as breakfast wrapped up and Matthew geared up to depart, Clint turned to Stella with a casual dismissal. “Stella, go to work. You don’t need to stick around for me. It was just a minor fall, nothing to worry about.”
Matthew glanced at Stella, his eyes filled with a silent plea for agreement.
Stella looked at Clint, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Grandpa, I’ve arranged for Doreen to bring my work to the hospital. I’ll stay with you for a thorough check-up Later. The doctor said there’s a chance you hit your head, and that’s not something we can ignore.”
Clint made another attempt to convince Stella, reluctant to let her put off her work on his account. “Stella, I assure you, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t sacrifice your day over this. Our butler is more than capable of attending to my needs.”
Unmoved, Stella’s resolve did not waver as she turned to address Matthew, her words sharp and calm. “You have commitments too-Lindsay is expecting you for her rehabilitation session. It’s crucial you’re not late.”
Her tone carried a hint of coldness, as though she were intentionally putting space between herself and Matthew.
Matthew felt a wave of resignation; arguing was useless in the current setting. He complied with a resigned nod. “Understood, I’ll take care of it. Expect me back here after my day ends.”
With a final look, he exited.
Stella watched his retreating figure, her face a mask of stoic calm, the silence around her stretching long after he had gone.
When Matthew closed the door behind him with a click, Clint glanced at Stella, who was clearing the table. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Stella, is everything okay between you and Matthew? He brought breakfast early today-seems like he’s trying to make amends, doesn’t it?”
Stella kept her focus on stacking the dishes, her tone dismissive as she answered, “Oh, bringing breakfast? That’s hardly a grand gesture. He could have just as easily asked someone else to do it.”
Despite Clint’s attempts to smooth things over, Stella remained indifferent. Her concerns lay elsewhere, not with her tension with Matthew but with Clint’s health, which was a constant weight on her mind.
She put aside her worries temporarily when Doreen showed up. Stella urged Clint to get some rest, and then accompanied Doreen to the Lounge in the VIP ward.
Doreen had brought a stack of urgent documents with her. Upon seeing Stella, she extended them, saying, “Stella, these need your immediate attention.”
Stella took the documents, but her thoughts quickly shifted as she inquired, “And how are you, Doreen? Is your foot feeling any better?”
Doreen’s expression softened, touched by the concern. “Much better, thank you,” she replied gratefully.