Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 174

Stella let out a low, scornful laugh that lingered in the silence of the hospital room, unmasking her raw sarcasm and a cold, biting mockery.

Ernest’s brows knitted together, and for a moment, a storm of dire confusion and gloom passed over his deep eyes.

Before he had a chance to say anything, Stella gave him the answer. “Ernest, in your world, is everything just up for sale?

‘Can anyone be bought off with your so–called compensation? As long as you think you’ve put up enough bargaining chips.

She deliberately stressed the word enough, her lips twisting into an even sharper, mocking smile. “Does everyone and everything really have no choice but to follow the script you’ve decided for them? Is it always your way or nothing?”

Ernest’s frown deepened, his voice dropping even lower. “No, that’s not how it is.”

Oh, really?” Stella shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

she looked like she’d just heard the biggest joke in the world. If it weren’t for the sharp pain from her wound, she probably would’ve burst out laughing.

she forced herself to hold it in, but the disgust in her eyes was so strong that it was almost palpable to Ernest. “Then what was all that talk about compensation just now? What kind of twisted logic is that?”

She suddenly dragged out her words, as if a switch had flipped in her mind, her gaze now chilling Ernest with its pure, icy contempt.

So, this whole compensation game is just a special privilege reserved for Stella? Am I the only one you treat like this, Ernest? Is this my exclusive deal?”

Ernest’s tall form stiffened, barely noticeable, but he had nothing to throw back. He was speechless.

Thinking back, that was how he’d acted towards her all those years. It hit him hard.

He was cold, distant, and throwing money and stuff at her instead of real feelings. Everything she was accusing him of now

was true

Stella didn’t need his answer; in fact, the last flicker of emotion in her heart had burned away, leaving only a cold vacancy.

Stella’s voice was clipped and final. “Just go. Don’t come back. I never want to see you again.”

With painstaking effort. Stella turned her back on Ernest, her movements slow and deliberate.

If you really have something to say that can’t wait,” Stella’s words were razor–sharp, her gaze fixed ahead. “Save it for the day we go to city hall to sign the divorce papers, once the cooling–off period is over.”

Ernest swallowed hard, his voice barely a rasp. “Fine.”

His heavy footsteps slowly faded away, the door clicked softly shut, and the hospital room was plunged into dead silence

once more

Yet Stella lay on the bed, her mind restless and tangled, sleep wouldn’t come, no matter how hard she tried.

It wasn’t that Stella still expected anything from Ernest–no way.

It was just like those nights when one was almost asleep, and suddenly spotted a gross bug crawling across your floor.

Even after one kicked it out, the nasty feeling lingered, and there was no way one was falling asleep right away.

And realizing this, Stella couldn’t help but be a little startled at herself.

She’d never imagined that the guy she used to see as the pure sunshine lighting up her teenage world could now, honestly. make her think of something as repulsive as a bug.

Her lips curled into a soft smile, relieved, with a hint of self–deprecation.

Huh. Guess that’s some real progress for me,” Stella murmured.

Since sleep wasn’t coming, Stella decided to step out for some fresh air.

The hallway was shrouded in dim light and complete silence.

However, she’d barely gone a few steps when she suddenly caught sight of someone sneaking around the corner–a shadow noving so suspiciously it demanded her attention.

That figure looked strangely familiar. Stella frowned, mind racing as she tried to place where she’d seen them before.

Then it hit her–Charity party.

That was the designer who tried to throw shade at her during the gala, only to get completely shut down by Jeremy and Irica teaming up against him, Mark Worley.

Why is Mark skulking around the hospital, all sketchy like he’s up to no good?‘ Stella thought, her gut telling her to steer lear and just walk on by.

but as she walked past the door Mark had just slipped into, the faint sound of voices inside seemed to pin her feet to the pot, pulling her in with an almost magnetic force. Stella couldn’t help but freeze, her senses suddenly on high alert.

he held her breath and edged closer to the doorway, making sure every movement was silent.

The hospital room was shrouded in silence..

be kept his gaze locked on Sylvia, who lay there so pale and fragile that every inch of her seemed to command his full tention, no matter how much he tried to look away,

iyivia was half–reclined against the pillows, her complexion still pale. The hospital gown fell loosely over her slender frame, ind the whole picture had a kind of shattered beauty.

she didn’t say a single word and didn’t even look at him.

But that cold, uninterested silence somehow made it a thousand times worse for Mark, leaving him standing there with nerves jangling like she’d already erased him from her world.

Those words Sylvia had once said haunted him, playing on repeat in his mind, a sharp warning he couldn’t outrun. “People

without valur have no reason to exist”

He’d screwed things up, and now he could feel his worth slipping right through his fingers.

Time dragged on in the suffocating silence, every second stretching out like pure torture.

The air was so thick that it was almost impossible for Mark to catch his breath, his heart hammering in his chest, wild and

desperate.

s

At last, Sylvia slowly lifted her gaze. The eyes that once seemed gentle now burned with cold, frosty indifference–absolutely

no trace of warmth left.

Her red lips parted, and she spat out four words, each one as piercing and icy as a blade. “Don’t let this happen again.”

It was like music to his ears.

Mark instantly exhaled, cold sweat soaking his back. He nodded over and over, practically bowing in relief and gratitude.

Yes. Ms. Jansen. I promise this will never happen again, I swear on my life,” he added.

Outside the door, Stella’s brows knitted together in a deep frown.

This situation? Don’t let it happen again?” The way Mark was so strung out, and Sylvia had that chilling command over everything. No way they were talking about just some little mistake.

A bone–chilling thought suddenly raced through Stella’s mind. ‘Wait, could that kidnapping really have been Sylvia behind

it?

But almost instantly, Stella shut that suspicion down.

No way. The logic just doesn’t add up,‘ she thought. ‘Sylvia twisted herself into knots and even played the mistress card, all for one thing to win Ernest over.

Why would she ever put out a hit on him? That’d be straight–up self–sabotage.

ust as Stella’s thoughts were spiraling, voices cut through from inside the hospital room again.

From now on, your whole family needs to lie low–no drawing attention, no messing around,” Sylvia said, her tone as calm is ever, but the way she spoke left no room for argument.

Nobody does anything unless I give the order. Don’t even think about making a move without my say–so,” she added.

Mark’s nerves snapped right back to high alert, and he stammered out, “Understood. We’ll keep our heads down–no drama, I promise!

Sylvia saw straight through his fleeting relief. Rarely one to explain, she let her words carry a cold warning. “Things have been explosive in Lanshire lately.

“What you guys stirred up has drawn way too much heat–more eyes than you know. If anyone starts to dig into the Worley family, even I won’t be able to shield you.”

Mark trembled, finally realizing how deep he was in it. His face was pale. “Yes, Ms. Jansen. We’ll keep that in mind–won’t make trouble for you, I swear

“Alright. You may go. If anything comes up. I’ll contact you myself,” Sylvia said, her tone cool and absolute–making it clear she wasn’t leaving room for discussion.

She let her lashes fall, instantly reclaiming that frail, harmless mask–as if the icy, authoritative aura she’d carried moments before was nothing but a figment of the imagination.

“Yes.” Mark looked as if he’d just been granted a royal pardon, backing away with cautious steps before quickly heading for

the door.

Adrenaline shot through Stella as she tensed outside.

Without stopping to think, she forced herself through the pain in her shoulder and back, not caring one bit how she looked.

She darted, almost stumbling in her rush, and slipped behind the fire escape door a few steps away–holding her breath, heart thundering in her chest.

Peeking through the crack, Stella caught sight of Mark, looking all kinds of jittery as he checked over both shoulders, then lowered his head and made a quick getaway, vanishing down the hallway like he couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Stella didn’t dare relax until his footsteps had fully disappeared.

Finally, she sagged against the icy wall, letting out a heavy breath–her temples damp with cold sweat, heart still pounding like she’d just run a marathon.

Still aching all over, Stella inched her way back to her hospital room, every movement heavy with exhaustion.

She settled back into bed.

Yep. Just great, Stella mentally sighed. ‘Well, I’m totally awake now.‘