Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 12

Stella did not sleep soundly that night. Her mind kept returning to the gentle way Ernest treated Sylvia. The softness in his eyes and the care in his gestures was a tenderness she herself had never known.

Half–asleep, Stella heard her phone ringing. Without even checking who it was, she answered groggily. An impatient voice snapped through the speaker, “Took you long enough. Stella, where’re your manners?”

Hearing that voice, Stella jolted fully awake. It was Ernest’s mother, Kourtney Lloyd. After a brief pause, Stella replied calmly, “What’s the matter, Kourtney?”

“What? Do I have to have a reason to call you?” Kourtney’s tone was sharp, edged with impatience.

‘Kourtney has never liked me. She never thinks I deserve Ernest. She wouldn’t call me for no reason. She must want something,’ Stella thought.

When Stella remained silent, Kourtney paused briefly on the other end of the line. It was the first time Stella had ever been quiet with her, but Kourtney brushed it aside. “I heard Noreen has asked you multiple times for the design, and you still haven’t handed it over?”

Stella knew instantly that Noreen went crying to Kourtney after failing to get the design. “I’ve been busy,” she replied flatly. “Haven’t had the time.”

“What could you possibly be busy with? Your only job is to look after Irene and you’ve got Betty to help you. What, have you gotten so used to being served that you can’t lift a finger anymore?” Kourtney’s voice was heavy with sarcasm. She was convinced, just as Noreen had said, that Stella was being difficult on purpose.

Stella said nothing. Her repeated silence only irritated Kourtney further, who now understood what Noreen had meant about Stella’s change in attitude.

Swallowing her anger, she went on, “Richard has been saying how much he misses Irene. Since it’s the weekend, bring her to see him this evening. Spend some time together.”

At the mention of Richard, Stella’s expression softened. Richard Lloyd was Ernest’s grandfather, the one who had. encouraged their relationship and ultimately brought them together.

As Richard often said, he and Stella’s grandfather had fought together and shared a bond forged in life and death. It was also why Richard particularly disliked the Jansen family. He’d even had them thrown out on multiple occasions when they came to visit.

Moreover, Richard was the only one in the Lloyd family who had ever stood up for her. It struck her then just how long it had been since her last visit and she should see him one more time before the divorce. “Alright,” she replied.

As soon as the call ended, Noreen hurried over. “Mom, why did you let her come to Lloyd Manor? What if she complains to Grandpa?”

Kourtney tossed her phone aside dismissively. “Don’t overthink it. She’s just throwing a fit because she’s worked so hard and still hasn’t gotten a single kind word from Ernest. Once we talk to her, she’ll go right back to the way she was.”

Noreen thought it over. ‘Mom’s probably right. To keep up her perfect image, Stella never says a bad word about us to Grandpa, no matter how we treat her. She even covers for us. A few times, Grandpa clearly noticed and tried to step in, but she always changed the subject. She might act all dignified around me, but around Mom? She can’t keep up the act.‘

Noreen still felt that something wasn’t quite right, but with Kourtney backing her up, she pushed her doubts aside and

1/3

3:25 pm M ppp

Ernest leaned against the hospital bed, carefully peeling an orange. Sylvia stood nearby, her eyes red from guilt as she watched Irene, who lay quietly with an IV in her arm, her small face still flushed and slightly swollen.

Sylvia pulled a plush toy from her bag. “Irene, I’m so sorry. This was all my fault. I should have paid more attention to you. It won’t happen again. When you’re feeling better, I’ll take you to the new amusement park downtown to make it up to you, okay?”

When she heard amusement park, Irene’s eyes lit up immediately. She had been wanting to go there for ages. “Ms. Jansen, I feel so much better already. The doctor said I could go home today. Can we please go this afternoon?”

“No,” Ernest cut in sharply. “Your face hasn’t even gone down yet, and you’re already thinking about running off to play?”

“Please, Dad? I really want to go,” she pleaded, already dreading the thought of kindergarten on Monday. That meant she’d have to wait a whole week to go to the amusement park. And that felt like forever.

After Irene’s relentless pleading, Ernest finally gave in. “Fine. If the doctor says you’re well enough this afternoon, we’ll go

tomorrow.”

“Ms. Jansen, Dad said we can go to the amusement park!” Irene was so happy that she nearly bounced off the bed. Sylvia smiled gently and handed the plush toy to Irene. Just as Irene reached eagerly for it, a voice cut through from the doorway, shattering the moment. “If you don’t want her allergic reaction to get worse, you’d better not give her that.”