When Love Comes Late

At the dining table, Lucia placed a generous helping of food onto Stella’s plate and asked, “So, how long is Matthew going to be away this time?”

Stella answered with honesty, “He was planning to be back in three days, but things got a bit complicated.

He’s aiming to return by the weekend.

”

Lucia nodded.

“If you’d rather not stay alone, you know you’re welcome to stay here for a few days,” she said, her voice warm and inviting.

Stella shook her head with a gentle smile.

“Thanks, but Matthew checks in every day, and I’ve got my hands full with setting up the new brand.

It’s just easier to stay in Prosper Bay for now.

”

Lucia sighed, her concern evident.

“Just promise me you’ll drop by for meals more often, okay? I worry you might get so busy that you forget to take care of yourself.

”

A pleasant warmth filled Stella’s heart, and she gave a soft smile.

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“Don’t worry,” she said.

“I’ll come by whenever I can.

”

Her words were still hanging in the air when her phone buzzed on the table.

Lucia’s eyes flickered with curiosity.

“Is that Matthew?” she asked, her voice eager.

Stella also thought it was Matthew.

She grabbed her phone, only to see Miley’s name flashing on the screen.

Her brow furrowed, confusion washing over her.

Why would Miley be calling at this time?

She turned to Lucia with a calm smile.

“No, it’s a friend of mine,” she explained.

“Go ahead and enjoy your dinner.

I’ll just step outside to take this.

”

Stella stood up, walking to a quieter spot away from the table.

“Miley, what’s going on?” she asked, confused.

Miley’s voice came through the phone, tight and shaky with fear.

“Stella, it’s about Matthew.

Something might have happened to him.

”

Stella’s smile faltered, freezing in place as a high-pitched ringing filled her ears.

It was as if the world around her had gone completely silent as she fell into a disorienting trance.

Her body stiffened, rigid as a brittle branch in winter.

For what felt like an eternity, she struggled to find her voice.

“What… what did you say?” she managed to ask in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Who’s in trouble?”

Miley could almost feel the shock and dread coursing through Stella’s veins at that moment.

She inhaled deeply before speaking, her voice gentle but deliberate.

“Stella, stay calm and listen to me.

I just had dinner with Neville, and we saw a news report about a shooting incident in Sothrea, near the Kensea Investment Building.

”

The blood drained from Stella’s face, her hand gripping the phone trembling uncontrollably.

Trying hard to conceal the anxiety in her voice, Miley continued, “Neville tried to reach Matthew as soon as he saw the news, but… there was no response.

The report said three people were killed at the scene.

”

Try as she might, the panic still seeped into her tone.

Stella’s mind went completely blank.

How could this be happening?