Left Them Loved Myself (Stella Spencer) novel Chapter 45

“Okay,” Trisha nodded obediently.

They had barely left when Ernest and his group showed up at the school gate.

Sylvia smiled and asked, “Irene, are you hungry? Want to grab a bite before heading home?”

“Will you join us too, Ms. Jansen?” Irene looked up at her, cyes full of hope.

“Of course,” Sylvia nodded happily. “I’ll stay and finish the meal with you before heading home.”

After everything that had just happened, especially with Ernest acting all strange, Sylvia couldn’t shake off this sense of

urgency.

She decided to take every chance to spend more time with them and build a closer relationship before anything was finalized. She didn’t want to be caught off guard.

“Yay!” Irene cheered, pointing happily in one direction. “Ms. Jansen, Dad, can we eat over there? Lucy’s parents take her there the other day, and she said their ice cream is the best.”

*****

“Do you like it?” Stella asked.

“It’s too cold. I don’t like it,” Trisha said, scrunching up her little face as she pushed the ice cream away.

Stella was taken aback. She honestly thought all kids went crazy for ice cream-just look at Irene, she couldn’t get enough of the stuff. But Trisha not liking it was unusual.

Kristy smiled and explained, “Ever since she was little, Trisha has never liked cold things. Even her drinks never have ice.”

“That’s a really good habit,” Stella agreed, gently squeezed Trisha’s cheek. “Keep it up, Trisha.”

“Okay.” Trisha nodded eagerly.

“Stella, don’t just fuss over her. Make sure you eat too,” Kristy called out with a smile.

“Okay,” Stella replied. Just as Stella was about to dig in, a familiar voice rang out nearby.

“Dad, Ms. Jansen, I want two ice creams,” Irene called out, bouncing with excitement.

Sylvia smiled fondly, holding Irene’s hand. “Of course, you’ve been such a champ today. Have as many as you want.”

Ernest, sitting nearby, remained unfazed, but Stella couldn’t sit still. Irene’s stomach was fragile, and she had ended up in the hospital several times from eating too much ice cream.

To break her habit of eating ice cream every day, Stella had tried everything, making all sorts of desserts, just to barely get her to accept it.

“Irene’s stomach is pretty fragile. It’s best if she doesn’t have too much ice cream,” Stella chimed in. Her suddenly dropping that advice kind of shattered that warm, happy vibe.

Everyone turned to find Stella sitting just a couple tables over, her voice gentle but carrying weight. “Irene has ended up in the hospital a few times because of this. The doctor recommended she avoid too much cold food.”

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Honestly, Stella could’ve kept quiet and let them pass without a word. But as a mother, she couldn’t turn a blind eye. Even though her bond with Irene was nearly gone, she didn’t want to see her daughter sick again.

Irene, however, didn’t care. “Mom, if you don’t want me to eat it, fine. But Ms. Jansen is buying it for me, so it’s really none of your business, right?”

Frustration bubbled inside her, remembering how her mom had ignored her earlier and how she had missed out on her medal. “Also, Mom, can you stop meddling in my stuff? Don’t you know how annoying you are?”

The words hit Stella hard. She pressed her lips together, bitter inside, but deep down, she was numb. Seven years of being pushed aside had left her emotionally numb.

Stella didn’t say anything more, nor did she spare them another glance. Quietly, she turned back to her food, trying to focus on her meal.

But the food, which should have been delicious, tasted strangely bitter and hard to swallow.

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Night had nnally faшen, anu me en

everything pulsing with unstoppable energy.

But Stella felt out of place. Her eyes wandered aimlessly, unable to focus. Even the shadow cast by the streetlights on the ground seemed lonely and solitary.

“Stella?” The gentle voice snapped her out of her daze.

She turned around and was surprised to see a familiar face. “Jeremy? What are you doing here?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that instead?” Jeremy said, his brows furrowing in concern. “Why are you out here looking so lost? Did something happen?”

He had been on his way to find Stella when he happened to spot her walking absentmindedly on the street, looking like she was lost. He’d been worried she might walk into traffic.

That was why he pulled his car over in such a hurry and rushed outside to find her.

“I thought I was still at the school gate,” Stella began, but then trailed off, suddenly feeling disoriented.

She had wandered so far without even realizing it, and now she realized she had been walking in the direction of home.

“School?” Jeremy asked, confused. “You were at Irene’s school? Did you go to one of her events? Did she say something?”

Stella rubbed her forehead, feeling a little overwhelmed. “Jeremy, can you give me a moment to catch my breath?”

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