Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Grandpa had been unusually chatty tonight–going on and on about Ernest’s childhood, and how they matched each other.

Stella listened patiently, nodding in the right places, her voice soft but distant. She didn’t lean in. She didn’t promise anything.

After a while, even Sebastian noticed. He sighed heavily.

“Alright,” he said finally, his voice tired. “You should go find Irene. She’ll be looking for you.”

Stella nodded. It was time for his rest anyway.

She stood, smoothed her skirt, and stepped out of the study–only to let out a slow, quiet breath the moment the door closed behind her.

And there she was: Noreen, leaning against the wall like she’d been waiting. Same condescending smirk. Same cold look in her eyes.

Stella didn’t bother engaging. She turned toward the stairs.

Their bedroom was on the third floor. Once they reached the hallway–safe from Grandpa’s ears–Noreen quickened her steps and cut in front of Stella, leaning way too close.

“Did you forget what I told you?” Noreen hissed, though she kept her voice low. “Where are the designs? I’m still waiting.

Stella took a half–step back, creating space. Her voice was calm. “I said I don’t have time. Find someone else.”

“Are you insane?” Noreen’s voice trembled with anger. “Where am I supposed to find someone? Do you even get what’s at stake here?”

It wasn’t just about connections–though she had none in the design world. It was about consistency.

She’d been passing off Stella’s work as her own for years. If the style suddenly changed, people would talk. Her whole career would implode.

She took a sharp breath, trying to sound reasonable.

“Look, I know what you’re doing. You want my brother’s attention–and hey, he brought you here tonight, didn’t he? It’s working. So why stop now?”

Then she stepped even closer, a sly, threatening glint in her eyes.

“You’re playing hard to get with this whole divorce talk, and honestly? It’s kind of genius. But don’t push it. I could always tell him you’re not bluffing. What happens then? You really wanna find out?”

But Stella didn’t flinch. The word “divorce” didn’t even sting anymore. If anything, it sounded like a promise.

“Then go

ahead.”

She had no interest in continuing this argument with Noreen. If Noreen could actually speed up the divorce process, Stella might even thank her.

“You-” Noreen hadn’t expected Stella to still refuse to back down, even now.

She reached out to grab her, but just then, a door nearby swung open.

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Chapter 17

“Mommy!”

Irene stood there in her pajamas, freshly washed, with Ernest right behind her–bhis face unreadable.

Noreen instantly let go, shooting a nervous glance toward her brother, afraid he might have overheard.

“Auntic, don’t bother Mommy. She doesn’t know how to draw designs anyway.”

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“But you haven’t read me a story!” Irene protested, her lower lip trembling.

It had been days since she’d seen her mom. Even though she’d had fun with Sylvia, there were still nights when she missed being held by her mother, listening to her soft, gentle voice–like a songbird–that always lulled her to sleep.

Lately, without those stories, she hadn’t been sleeping well. She’d even felt too tired to fully enjoy her outings with Sylvia.

Tomorrow they were going to the amusement park–she didn’t want to be sleepy halfway through!

“Next time,” Stella said quietly.

She didn’t know that her daughter saw her as little more than a sleep aid–a tool to ensure she’d have enough energy to play with Sylvia the next day.

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3:26 pm P PPP

Chapter 17

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But after everything that had happened lately, Stella simply didn’t have the energy or the desire to tell bedtime stories.

All she wanted was rest.

She was exhausted–not just physically, but deep in her soul.

“Mommy!” Irene’s eyes widened in disbelief. She’d never been refused like this before.

In her young mind, her mom had always given in to her every whim–except when it came to limiting sweets or dangerous play.

Even the angry scar across Stella’s back was proof of how far she’d go to protect her.