By admin Midnight Call Ch 25
When Ryan returned to the hillside villa, he was completely dazed.[]
An unprecedented sense of being out of control washed over him like a tide, his mind filled with his assistant’s words: “Stella’s whereabouts are still unknown.“[]
“What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?“]
Claire wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, sunlight falling on her sleepy eyes, making her look somewhat gentle.
Ryan couldn’t believe that she was the one who had deleted his messages.]
But until the investigation results came out, he didn’t want to pin imagined crimes on Claire.
Ryan spoke in his usual gentle tone: “I was thinking, why did Stella push you off the boat that day?“[]
He could clearly feel Claire’s body stiffen for a moment.]
Soon, she composed herself and smiled: “Probably because she was jealous of how good you are to me.“[]
“Ryan, you have no idea how mean Stella was that day. She called me a homewrecker and a vixen, said I was faking depression to seduce you. She scared me so much!“]
“I don’t know how your brother could have liked a woman like that!“]
At the mention of his brother, Ryan’s eyes turned cold.[]
He examined Claire seriously for the first time.]]
She was still the same person, with the same personality, saying the kinds of things she would say.
Nothing had changed.]
But it felt like everything had changed.]
Claire was completely oblivious to Ryan’s emotional shift, still embellishing her complaints about Stella’s supposed misdeeds.]
Until Ryan coldly cut her off: “Enough! Stella isn’t the kind of person you’re describing. Don’t let me hear you say such vicious things again.”
With that, he went to his study without looking back.
He had no intention whatsoever of being intimate with Claire.[]
Claire stood there stunned, her heart filled with unease.
ise.]]
Was this the first time Ryan had gotten angry at her over Stella?]
Her fingernails dug into her palms, blood dripping down as jealousy and resentment nearly spilled from her eyes![]
Over the following month, Ryan’s attitude toward her remained distant.[]
Chapter 11
Even somewhat deliberately cold.[]
This infuriated Claire, who used every trick in the book but couldn’t arouse Ryan’s desire for her.
Almost every night, Ryan would go to the villa in the south district, lying on Stella’s bed with his eyes closed, as if she were still there beside him.]
People always start missing something after they lose it.]
Ryan was no exception.[]
He began remembering Stella from when they were kids.]
Back then, he and Stella were mischievous, always getting into trouble together, then being scared out of their minds when they got caught.]
Every time, Jake would clean up their messes, cover for them in front of their parents, and take punishment alongside them.]
Once, he took Stella to skip school.]
Just to watch the sunset at the beach.]
They almost got kidnapped by strangers.[]
That day, both families were furious and locked them in their rooms for several days to reflect.
Stella was afraid of the dark, her little hands clutching his tightly, calling him “big brother” in her sweet voice, and falling asleep in his arms countless times.]]
Even as they grew up, they remained closest friends.[]
Until he found the love letter Stella had hidden in her drawer–that’s when he panicked for the first time.[]
Along with the joy came fear.[]
Because he could tell that Jake liked Stella.[]
The next day, he confessed to Claire.[]
His intention was to use her as a shield, wanting Stella to give up on him.[]
He never expected things would develop to this point.[]
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1
Everything had changed, nothing remained the same.
Ryan let out a long sigh, physically and emotionally exhausted.[]
Even he didn’t notice that the seed Stella had planted in his heart was now growing strong and would soon bloom.]
The abrupt phone ring cut through the night. He answered listlessly, only to hear Claire’s anguished wails from the other end:[]
“Ryan… I accidentally fell down the stairs, and I’m bleeding so much!“]
The words hit like bombs exploding in his ears. Ryan’s mind buzzed as he raced to the hospital.[]
Chapter 11
Claire lay on the hospital bed, pale as a sheet with vacant eyes.[]
She turned to look at Ryan mechanically, her voice choked and broken: “Ryan, our baby… is gone.“[]
She broke down crying, overwhelmed with pain.[]
But her next words made Ryan’s scalp tingle.]
“It was Stella! She came to the house just now, didn’t say anything, and pushed me down the stairs… I didn’t want to say anything, but she… she went too far!“]]
She sobbed as she accused Stella, claiming over and over that Stella had killed her baby.]
But just a second ago, his assistant had texted him that Stella had left the country two months ago.]
Ryan suddenly realized that this woman full of lies in front of him was completely different from the innocent, kind girl he had in his mind.[]
J
He cut off Claire’s accusations, his voice ice cold:[]
“Are you sure it was really Stella who caused your miscarriage?“]