Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 136

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“No way she doesn’t like you.” Stella stroked Daisy’s hair gently.

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“Irene just doesn’t know how to talk to you yet. Don’t worry, give it some time–I’m sure you two will be friends once you get to know each other,” she continued softly.

Daisy nodded, still a little puzzled, but after hesitating for a couple of seconds, she walked over to Irene, who was standing stiff and defensive. Daisy reached out, trying to hold her hand to show she wanted to be friends, but Irene swatted her hand away with a sharp smack.

“Don’t touch me!” Irene screeched, her voice pitchy with anger. “I’m not gonna be your friend! And my mom isn’t here to play with you either! She belongs to me, and no one’s ever taking her away!”

Even though Irene was just a kid, she was surprisingly strong for her size. Daisy’s hand turned bright red on impact, swelling up with a clear little handprint.

Daisy’s eyes welled up from the sting, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall. She managed a brave, shaky smile for Stella, trying to reassure her. “Ms. Pretty, I’m all right! It doesn’t hurt at all.”

One was wild and domineering, the other quiet and resilient–the contrast between Irene and Daisy couldn’t have been sharper.

Erica couldn’t help but feel her heart ache for Daisy.

She gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to snap back at the unruly kid. She hoisted Irene up and marched off. “I’m bringing her straight to the teacher before she turns the place upside down again,” she muttered, tight- lipped with annoyance.

Irene twisted and shrieked at the top of her lungs. “You bad lady, let go of me, or I swear I’ll bite you! You’re all the worst, I-”

As Irene’s shouts faded further away, Stella didn’t even turn her head. She lifted Daisy’s small hand, blew gently on the swollen spot, and asked softly, worry clear in her voice, “Does it hurt?”

The cool breath eased the pain right away. Daisy broke into a big grin, eyes shining. “It doesn’t hurt anymore! With your magic breath, Ms. Pretty, it’s all better!”

“You’re awesome, Daisy,” Stella said, beaming at her.

Her cheeks flushed, and Daisy flashed Stella a shy, delighted smile.

Simon had been annoyed at first, but the way Stella and Daisy got along so well softened him up. A goofy grin crept over his face, and his irritation just faded away.

“Can you not smile at her like such a creep?” Erica snapped when she returned from dropping off Irene. Seeing Simon grinning like an idiot at Stella, Erica glared at him, visibly disgusted. “And seriously, keep your distance from Stella from now on.”

Simon’s goofy grin faded, and he just stood there, suddenly quiet.

18:13 Mon, Oct 20

Chapter 136

47

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It wasn’t long before the school bell chimed, and just like that, the PTA meeting was about to get started.

Stella made plans with Daisy to take her out for some fun tomorrow, and then Simon took Daisy by the hand and led her back to the classroom.

“Are we leaving?” Erica asked.

“We’re already here,” Stella said, shaking her head. “We might as well wait until the meeting is over.”

Erica shrugged. “Fine by me.”

Linda scooped Irene up and carried her back. As they passed Stella and Erica, Irene gave a dramatic huff and turned away, leaving the two of them with nothing but the back of her little head radiating pure annoyance.

Stella and Erica didn’t let it bother them. Once the PTA meeting was done and they’d gotten the latest scoop, Erica hooked Stella by the arm and hauled her away without even a backward glance.

“Finally, that’s over! Let’s move–barbecue is calling, and after that, we’ll raid my dad’s wine cellar for the good stuff,” Erica said, already dragging Stella along.

*****

At the wine cellar door, Cody let out a cold laugh, watching Erica, now stuck in his trap cage like a mischievous mouse. “With all the wine you have sneaked out of here already, you really think I wouldn’t set up some defenses?”

He turned to Stella, who stood by awkwardly, and could only shake his head, sounding half exasperated and half amused. “Stella, I remember when you used to be such a good girl. Since when did you turn as rebellious as this troublemaker?”

Stella gave an embarrassed smile. “Mr. Russell.”

Erica clung to the bars, grumbling, “Old man, this is seriously too much! You were just hanging out here waiting for me, weren’t you? Who sets up booby traps in their own house anyway?”

Cody was so exasperated that he nearly burst out laughing. “And who exactly sneaks around their own house stealing wine like a little mouse?”

“Steal? Please,” Erica retorted without missing a beat. “It’s all yours now, but it’s basically my future stash. I’m just getting a head start on my inheritance!”

18:13 Mon, Oct 20

Cody was clearly set on teaching his daughter a lesson, and Stella could only offer a helpless smile. “Erica, just hang tight in there for a bit. I’ll save you some barbecue. Mr. Russell won’t keep you locked up for long–he’ll let you out soon, I promise.”

Erica clung to the bars, on the verge of tears–instant karma hit her so fast, she barely had time to process. ‘Come on, does payback really have to be this brutal?‘ she groaned inside.

Well, at least there was barbecue to nurse her wounded soul. It was pretty much all the comfort she had left.

She munched on a skewer, put on a tragic little show, and started singing to herself, “The poor girl gripping the rail, gazing longingly at freedom outside…”

Downstairs, Erica’s screeching and dramatic singing bounced off the walls. Cody, slouched on the living room couch, felt his temples pound as he listened to the ruckus.

Stella sat down opposite him, forcing an awkward chuckle. “Mr. Russell, Erica’s always been like this–so energetic, all these years. You…”

“That’s enough.” Cody interrupted, massaging his forehead. “No need to cover for her. She’s twenty- something and still stuck in her rebellious phase. This isn’t lively–she’s hell–bent on sending me to an early grave.”

Stella really didn’t know how to respond to that.

Cody was really just grousing about his wild child. If he actually disliked Erica, she wouldn’t have been mooching off him for all these years.

18:13 Mon, Oct 20

Chapter 136

47

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Finished with his dad–rant, Cody changed the topic. “So, how’s the Spencer family holding up lately?”

“Not too bad.” Stella grinned. “We managed to weather the worst of it. Now it’s all about keeping things steady and growing step by step.”

That whole clash with the Lloyd Group got handled by the powers–that–be. Thanks to the officials stepping in, the Spencer family finally gets a breather and a shot at firming up their base.

Stella knew it was kind of twisted to think this way, but facts were facts–even after Sylvia’s whole mess blew up, Ernest had his hands so full dealing with her, he probably couldn’t even remember who the Spencers were at this point.

“You think you’re out of the woods?” Cody chuckled, shaking his head. “Stella, you’re still too young.”

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