Her tone softened a fraction. “It’s fine. In a few days, I’ll be accompanying my mom back to Dorburn to finalize the delayed property transfer. I also plan to attend an international exhibition there for some insights.”
Matthew immediately responded, “Then I’ll go with you.”
Stella shot him down without hesitation, her gaze steady as she asked, “If you come with me and something unexpected happens to Lindsay, wouldn’t you have to fly back overnight to take care of her?”
Matthew was left speechless by Stella’s question. He couldn’t deny the truth-leaving Seamarsh wasn’t an option, not while Lindsay still needed his care. #
Seeing him fall silent, Stella felt a lump form in her throat.
She met his gaze, her voice soft yet resolute. “Now, can you let me go?”
Reluctantly, Matthew loosened his grip and watched as Stella turned and walked away, her retreating figure tugging at his heart.
Outside the café, Stella spotted Miley’s car parked by the roadside.
Without hesitation, she opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.
Miley took one look at Stella’s pale face and felt a surge of anger.
“Did Matthew upset you again?”
Stella noticed Miley’s fiery expression, as though she was ready to march into the café and confront Matthew herself. She quickly placed a calming hand on Miley’s shoulder. “Miley, don’t be impulsive. I’m just feeling a little unwell-it’s nothing serious. Let’s go.”
With a reluctant nod, Miley started the car.
During the drive, she kept stealing concerned glances at Stella, relaxing only when she noticed some color returning to her friend’s cheeks. Finally, after a brief silence, Miley spoke cautiously.
“Stella, what did you and Matthew talk about in there?”
Stella let out a soft sigh, her tone heavy with unease. Without holding anything back, she recounted her conversation with Matthew in vivid detail.
“I can’t shake off how bizarre this whole situation feels,” she admitted, her brows furrowed in thought. “Katelyn was just an ordinary maid. I can’t believe she’d have the audacity to hire someone to kill Robin and then choose to commit suicide. It all sounds so implausible.”
Miley nodded in agreement, Stella’s reasoning striking a chord. “You might be right,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s possible Katelyn was just a scapegoat—manipulated by someone else and forced into the role of ‘executioner’ by sheer misfortune.”
Her voice softened as she added, almost to herself, “And then there’s the fact that both these deaths are somehow tied to Lindsay. Honestly, is that woman cursed or something? Why does everyone close to her seem to meet a terrible end? Thankfully, you distanced yourself from her when you did. Otherwise…” She shuddered. “It could’ve been disastrous for you too.”
Miley’s words struck a nerve, sparking a sudden memory in Stella’s mind.
She froze for a moment as the thought crystallized. The day Katelyn had found the pen… Lindsay had been there too.
As this thought crossed her mind, Stella was startled by her own inference. She murmured softly to herself, “Could someone really disregard blood ties?”
Though her voice was barely above a whisper, it carried clearly in the stillness of the car.
But Miley was distracted and didn’t catch Stella’s words. She asked curiously, “Stella, what did you just say?”