Chapter 316
Stella felt her eye twitch involuntarily. “You can stop with the ‘mom‘ thing now.”
Talking about family ties always made her head spin like a merry–go–round.
Susanna sighed. “Think of it as the last bit of kindness you owe her. Just help her out this one last time.”
Stella was speechless. Kindness? She hadn’t realized the word could be twisted into something like this. They continued chatting on the phone for a while longer before finally hanging up.
When Stella walked out of the coffee bar, she saw Finley still lingering around. Just the sight of him made her head throb, and she wanted nothing more than to avoid another word from him.
She tried to sidestep, but Finley caught on. “Hey, Star, I need to talk to you!”
Stella picked up her pace. Listening to Finley was the last thing she wanted to do.
But Finley was persistent and caught up with her. “Listen, you stubborn girl, I’m doing this for your own good.”
Stella’s eye twitched again. Really, buddy? Wasn’t he just trying to throw her under the bus?
Finley shoved a box into her hands. “Here, take this.”
“What is this?”
Stella glanced at the box. She hadn’t seen anything like it before, but reading the description made her brain explode with embarrassment.
Finley had given her… condoms?
Stella was flustered. “Seriously, what are you thinking?”
Wasn’t he worried Ronald would have his hide for this?
Finley shrugged. “No need to thank me. Just doing my duty as a doctor. You and Ronald should take things slow when you get back to Ferrowland. You wouldn’t want to use having a child as a tactic to get ahead, right? Let me tell you, Mrs. Lugar treats you like her own daughter, so don’t go messing things up with something reckless.”
Stella was at a loss for words.
Someone, please save her from this nightmare.
“You’re a doctor, but you’re also a man, for heaven’s sake.”
Finley was puzzled.
“If you had to give this to someone, shouldn’t it be Ronald?”
Why was he giving her this?
Stella finally understood why girls back in Ferrowland steered clear of him. Handsome and a skilled doctor, sure. But with that mouth and emotional intelligence?
Finley said, “Give it to Ronald? Are you trying to get me killed? Stella, don’t be ungrateful. I’m doing this for you.” Stella sighed, “Uh…”
Finley pressed on, “Uh? Does that mean you’re planning to ignore my good intentions?”
Stella replied awkwardly, “Thank you. Really, thank you.”
{
“No need to thank me. I’ve known you for years, and I’m just looking out for you.”
1/2
1/12
14:26
Chapter 31
Once again, Stella was at a loss for words.
“By the way, have you taken any contraception?”
Stella froze. She hadn’t even processed the embarrassment of the pink box, and now this? Her mind spun.
Seeing her confused look, Finley asked, “You haven’t?”
Stella stammered, “I haven’t!”
She barely left the house since returning from Spring Hill. Could her luck really be that bad?
Finley slapped his forehead. “Oh no, this is bad.”
Stella waved him off. “Who hits the jackpot on the first try?”
Finley chuckled. “More than you’d think. If it’s meant to happen, it usually does on the first go.”
Stella felt a headache forming. How could Finley be so utterly infuriating?
“What are you talking about?”
Ronald’s voice came from the stairs, deep and slightly annoyed.
Stella was startled, instinctively hiding the box behind her back. Finley saw Ronald at the foot of the stairs, and his face twitched as well.
“I, uh, didn’t say anything!” Finley blurted out before making a quick exit.
Stella watched him flee, her brain turning to mush. She wished she could drag him back to take the box with
him.
With just her and Ronald now, he walked down the stairs and stopped next to her, holding out his hand. “Hand
it over.”
71
“Huh? Hand what over?”
Ronald looked at her, unimpressed. “The thing you’re hiding behind your back.”
Stella was at a loss for words once more.
