Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161

As the little girl listed all the ways Stella used to dote on her, what should have been a heartwarming memory only made Stella’s expression grow colder. Any lingering warmth she felt for the child vanished.

‘So she did know, Stella thought. ‘She just took it all for granted.

Now that Stella had withdrawn that affection, Irene missed it.

It wasn’t that she was sorry; she just missed being the center of someone’s universe.

“Mommy…”

When Stella didn’t answer, Irene looked up, her eyes bright with a desperate hope. “Can’t you please come home?” “It’s time to go.” Stella ignored the question, tucking the wet wipe away and taking the little girl’s hand to lead her out.

k at the Lloyd Villa, the moment Stella opened the door, she knew something was wrong.

It was too dark. Too quiet.

The night–lights were off, plunging the entire villa into a silent, inky blackness.

Having lived there for seven years, she knew the place inside and out. This was not normal.

Stella didn’t step inside. She pulled Irene back from the doorway, then knelt to look her in the eye. “Irene, where’s Betty? What about the other staff? Who’s on duty tonight?”

The rapid–fire questions seemed to daze Irene.

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Stella frowned.

In her seven years with Ernest, she’d been through countless kidnappings, hostage situations, and other close calls. Her gut was screaming that something was wrong inside the villa.

That it was dangerous.

Her instincts were right.

“Don’t move”

The cold, sharp edge of a dagger pressed against the hollow of Stella’s throat. A man’s low, threatening growl came from

behind her.

Stella stood perfectly still, holding Irene tight. “I think you have the wrong people,” she said calmly. “We were just passin by

The man let out a harsh laugh. “Do you think I’m an idiot? I saw you unlock the door with a key

Stella was about to claim she was just a housekeeper when he added, ‘Besides, you think I could’ve found this place without doing my homework?”

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Chapter 161

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That confirmed it. He knew exactly who she was and her connection to Ernest. He knew Irene was Ernest’s daughter.

There was no point in lying.

“What do you want?” Stella asked.

“Less talking, more walking. Get inside,” he snarled, shoving her forward.

With no other choice, Stella clutched Irene and stepped into the oppressive darkness of the villa, a chilling silence hanging

in the air.

“You two stay in here. Anyone tries to run, they’re dead!”

The man wore a black ski mask that hid his face, but his eyes burned with a terrifying madness.

He shoved Stella and Irene into an upstairs storage room and slammed the door, the lock clicking shut with a heavy thud.

The room was pitch–black.

didn’t dare move until the footsteps outside faded away. Only then did she take her hand off Irene’s mouth and fee! the wall for the light switch.

Waaah–mmph!”

As light flooded the room, Irene gasped for air and opened her mouth to wail, but Stella quickly covered it again.

‘Shh,” she whispered, her voice low but gentle, filled with a calming strength. “Don’t be scared. Mommy’s here. I’ll protect you.”

‘But…” Irene sobbed. “But the bad man said he’s going to kill us. I’m scared. I want Daddy.”

Stella stroked her hair. “It’s okay. Daddy will be here soon.”

‘Really?”

‘Of course.”

After calming Irene down, Stella began to search the storage room.

The kidnapper had taken her phone, so she needed to find another way out.

But after a quick search, all she found was some rope scattered on the floor and a few empty shelves.

Her captors had clearly emptied the room of anything useful.

Stella picked up the rope, wondering if she could use it to rappel down from the window.

Her heart sank when she saw it had been nailed shut. Her last sliver of hope vanished.

“Mommy…

Irene, uncharacteristically clingy, clutched her pant leg, her wide eyes filled with unconcealed fear. “When can we get out of

here?”

Stella forced a smile. “Soon. Just wait a little longer. Someone will come for us.”

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When he didn’t get a text, he’d know

‘Please, she prayed, ‘let him figure it out quickly!

Of course, Stella wasn’t just going to wait to be rescued.

She told Irene to stay quiet, then tiptoed to the window. Placing her hands on the frame, she began to push with controlled, rhythmic force, trying to work it loose.

Meanwhile, in a nearby room, several similarly dressed kidnappers were gathered around a coffee table.

“What’s the status? Did you send the picture to Ernest? Has he replied?”

“Boss, the picture of Ernest’s daughter is sent. We’re still verifying if the woman is his wife, but we’re running out of time. The cops are on to us. We need to get this done and get out of the country.”

“Damn it, his daughter is enough. Forget the rest,” the man sitting sprawled in the center snapped. A jagged scar ran from his black glove up his sleeve. “I don’t believe Ernest Lloyd is cold–blooded enough to abandon his own kid.”

he subordinate who sent the text spoke up nervously. “Boss, it’s been five minutes. He hasn’t replied.”

The boss’s eyes narrowed, a murderous glint in them. “Wait. A big–shot CEO like him is busy; he’s not staring at his phone all day. Give it ten more minutes.”

He paused, his voice turning icy, a cruel edge that sent a shiver through the other men. “If he’s still playing dead in ten minutes, we’ll start by cutting off one of his daughter’s hands.”

‘Yes, boss.”

*****

Crack.

The sound of the wooden frame splintering away from a nail was quiet, but it made Stella’s heart pound.

She held her breath, listening.

When no sound came from the hallway, she let out a sigh of relief. No one had heard.

She worked the small gap she’d created, slowly rocking the frame back and forth.

After a few more pushes, the other nails began to loosen.

Her palms and fingertips were already covered in blisters. Some had burst, and the raw skin beneath stung fiercely, but she ignosed the main and bent muching

She thought of Jeremy. He had told her to text him once she and Erica were home safe. When he didn’t get a text, he’d know something was wrong.

‘Please, she prayed, ‘let him figure it out quickly.

Of course, Stella wasn’t just going to wait to be rescued.

She told Irene to stay quiet, then tiptoed to the window. Placing her hands on the frame, she began to push with controlled, rhythmic force, trying to work it loose.

Meanwhile, in a nearby room, several similarly dressed kidnappers were gathered around a coffee table.

That’s the status? Did you send the picture to Ernest? Has he replied?”

ss, the picture of Ernest’s daughter is sent. We’re still verifying if the woman is his wife, but we’re running out of time. he cops are on to us. We need to get this done and get out of the country.”

“Damn it, his daughter is enough. Forget the rest,” the man sitting sprawled in the center snapped. A jagged scar ran from his black glove up his sleeve. “I don’t believe Ernest Lloyd is cold–blooded enough to abandon his own kid.”

The subordinate who sent the text spoke up nervously. “Boss, it’s been five minutes. He hasn’t replied.”

The boss’s eyes narrowed, a murderous glint in them. “Wait. A big–shot CEO like him is busy; he’s not staring at his phone all day. Give it ten more minutes.”

He paused, his voice turning icy, a cruel edge that sent a shiver through the other men. “If he’s still playing dead in ten minutes, we’ll start by cutting off one of his daughter’s hands.”

“Yes, boss.”

Crack.

The sound of the wooden frame splintering away from a nail was quiet, but it made Stella’s heart pound.

She held her breath, listening.

When no sound came from the hallway, she let out a sigh of relief. No one had heard.

She worked the small gap she’d created, slowly rocking the frame back and forth.

After a few more pushes, the other nails began to loosen.

Her palms and fingertips were already covered in blisters. Some had burst, and the raw skin beneath stung fiercely, but she ignored the main and kant nuching

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