Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 158

It was hard not to compare.

It made her wonder if the past seven years of devotion had been a lie, which would explain why she never got any real affection in return.

Erica pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry, Stella. I’ll be gentle with you.”

Stella couldn’t help but laugh. “If you gave me a break for just two days, that would be a miracle in itself.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Erica declared dramatically. “I’m a delightful handful, thank you very much.”

“Alright, alright, a delightful handful,” Stella said, hugging her back. Then she looked over at Jeremy, who was still on the phone, his expression thunderous. “Jeremy, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

“If you ever pull something like this again, consider our business done.”

eremy snapped, ending the call. He turned to Stella. “Kane invited them. I thought it was just a casual dinner. I had no idea e was turning it into a celebration party for the deal.”

“Then let’s just celebrate the deal,” Stella said with a placid smile.

“But…”

Jeremy frowned, clearly disgusted by the cheap move. If Kane had been upfront, he never would have agreed.

“It’s okay,” Stella soothed. “It’s just dinner. It’s not a death sentence.”

“Alright,” Jeremy finally relented.

Erica thumped her chest. “Don’t worry, I’ve got Stella’s back. I’d like to see anyone try to start something…”

“Stella!”

A sharp, piercing voice shouted from outside the car.

Erica’s expression instantly darkened. She turned to look..

Noreen was standing outside, holding Irene’s hand. The dim yellow streetlights cast an ugly, menacing shadow over her face

as she glared down at Stella with undisguised contempt, as if the mere sight of her was offensive.

A wicked grin spread across Erica’s face. It was the look she got right before she went off

“You guys wait here. I’m just going to have a… ‘friendly chat‘ with her.”

Before either of them could stop her, Erica was out of the car, and all hell broke loose.

Jeremy was speechless.

Stella was stunned.

‘Well, she thought, she’s certainly a woman of action!

Snapping out of it, they scrambled out of the car to break up the fight.

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1:53 am

Chapter 158

‘Jeremy, did you already forget what I just said?” he grumbled.

“Erica, stop! You’re going to kill her!” Stella yelled.

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Noreen, who always acted so high and mighty in front of Stella, was now pinned to the ground by Erica, who was slapping her relentlessly. Her face was already a swollen, bruised mess.

She struggled to open her eyes to glare at Stella, her voice muffled. “Stella, you bitch-”

Another slap from Erica cut her off mid–sentence.

Erica’s eyes were ferocious as she leaned in close. “Listen to me. If you ever mess with my Stella again, I’ll give you worse.”

Noreen, thoroughly traumatized, couldn’t meet her gaze. “I–I get it,” she stammered.

She never would have come if she’d known this was waiting for her.

“Good,” Erica huffed, letting her go.

Before Noreen could even get to her feet, a crying Irene charged forward, ramming into Erica. Erica stumbled backward.

anding hard on Noreen’s stomach.

Noreen let out a strangled gasp, looking like she was about to cough up a lung.

Jeremy quickly pulled Irene away.

Stella rushed to help Erica up. “Erica, are you okay?”

Noreen was floored.

‘What the hell? Shouldn’t they be asking if I’m okay? I’m the victim here!‘

Erica shook her head. “I’m fine. Had a soft landing.”

“Good”

The two of them spoke as if nothing had happened, and Noreen nearly coughed up blood on the ground.

“You mean lady! Why did you hit my aunt?”

Irene’s shrill voice pierced the air.

Seeing the child still struggling in Jeremy’s arms, Erica’s hand twitched, but she held back. “You little brat…

“You’d better shut your mouth.”

The voice that cut through the air was cold and merciless, like ice.

Erica froze and looked up.

Under the dim streetlights, Ernest emerged from the shadows. The chilling aura around him seemed to freeze the air. His dark eyes locked onto Erica, radiating an immense pressure.

Even the fearless Erica fell silent for a moment.

Stella frowned, stepping in front of Erica to block his line of sight.

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*Protecting an outsider instead of your own daughter?” Ernest scoffed at the sight. “You really are something else.”

Stella let out a sarcastic laugh, her voice dripping with mockery. “Well, you are the company you keep, right? People change depending on who they’re around, don’t they?”

Her jab about him and his new flame was obvious.

Ernest’s face darkened, and his gaze turned heavy with pressure.

But Stella met it without flinching.

The night was dark, the wind cold. They stared each other down, locked in a silent battle of wills.

The stalemate was broken by a soft voice.

“Ernest, we should get Noreen to a hospital.”

nest’s gaze softened as he turned to steady Sylvia, who was approaching unsteadily. “I told you to wait inside. I can handle

yivia leaned against his chest, looking frail and worried. “How could I just sit there after hearing Noreen was in trouble?”

She patted his chest soothingly, her voice as gentle as a flowing stream. “Well, I’m out here now. Please, let me see how Noreen is. I hope she’s not seriously hurt.”

Ernest sighed, carefully helping her walk over.

Sylvia…”

Noreen cried, scrambling to her side like she’d found a savior. “What took you so long? They were bullying me!”

he’d never been slapped like that in her life.

ene ran to Sylvia and pointed. “Ms. Jansen, that mean lady over there hurt my aunt. You have to get her!”

rica peeked out from behind Stella with a sneer. “Oh yeah? Bring it on. I’m waiting.”

rnest’s eyes went cold. His words were flat, like a final judgment. “I’ll hold the Russell family accountable for your actions

rica was furious. “What? On what grounds? I’m the one who hit her. What does the Russell family have to do with it? Are ou that pathetic?”

Miss Russell, Sylvia said softly, her voice dripping with insinuation. “Are you not a member of the Russell family?

Chapter 159