Chapter 482: Couldn't Be Happier

Stella Shields didn’t talk back, even after being scolded by Anna Linden.

In fact, she was quite happy.

‘Not having to go home with Silas Hawthorne is the best!’

It felt as if she’d finally escaped a terrible fate.

Anne Sutton, standing to the side, didn’t miss Stella Shields’ subtle reaction. A smile tugged at her lips when she saw how happy Stella was.

Since Anna Linden had to work overtime that evening, Stella Shields got into Anne Sutton’s car after she finished work.

Anne Sutton looked at her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming back with you,” Stella Shields said. “Auntie Linden told me to stay at the Linden family home.”

Anne Sutton looked at Stella Shields. “You waited all this time just for me?”

“I’m a celebrity. It’s not like I can just run out and hail a cab. I was going to wait for Auntie Linden, but she has to work late, so she told me to go with you.”

Anne Sutton glanced over at the woman, who had already dutifully fastened her seatbelt.

Looking at her, Anne Sutton was at a loss for how to kick her out.

She started the car and said to Stella Shields, “I really don’t get you. Are you really that happy just because you don’t have to be with Silas Hawthorne?”

Stella Shields said with a pitiable look, “I can’t even sleep well these days, you know? Whenever I think about being with him, I feel like I might die. I’m too scared to even fall asleep.”

“I didn’t realize you were so afraid of dying,” Anne Sutton said, a little surprised. “I thought you were the fearless type. I never saw you act scared back when you were picking fights with me every day.”

“You wouldn’t have dared to do anything to me.”

“…”

Her self-righteous attitude left Anne Sutton speechless. “I’m pulling over. You can get the hell out.”

Seeing that Anne was actually going to kick her out, Stella Shields quickly apologized. “Don’t… Anne, I’ll never bother you again, please don’t do this. I’m not even fighting you for Nathan Fawcett anymore!”

Hearing her mention Nathan Fawcett, a small smile played on Anne Sutton’s lips. “You can try to steal him if you want. That is, if you think you can.”

For some reason, that was one thing she never worried about with Nathan Fawcett.

She knew he would never be with anyone else.

Even when they were unhappy or fighting, she had absolute trust in him on this matter.

Stella Shields stared at her. “I know I can’t win him from you, but I don’t get it. Why did you turn down Nathan Fawcett’s proposal? Why won’t you marry him? Do you have any idea whose love you’re rejecting?”

“…”

Anne Sutton didn’t respond. She remembered she was supposed to go to her mother’s place today.

She glanced at Stella Shields. Since Stella was heading to the Linden family home now, Anne would have to drop her off first.

Anne Sutton said, “Remember to pay me for the ride. I wasn’t planning on going back to the Linden estate today. This is a detour just for you.”

“Don’t you live at the Linden family home?”

“I had some things to take care of, so I’ve been staying at my own place for the past couple of days.”

Stella Shields stared at her. “What? Are you and Nathan Fawcett getting ready to break up? Are you moving out of the Linden family home?”

‘…’ Anne had no such intention.

But Stella’s question still left her speechless.

She said coolly, “I don’t have to answer your questions.”

Stella Shields said, “Back when you weren’t around, Nathan was pretty good to me. He’d find me resources, and he’d stand up for me if anyone bullied me. I really wanted to marry him back then. I thought we could be together forever. But it was all you. The moment you appeared, everything changed! He’s so biased toward you it’s sickening.”

Anne Sutton’s lips twitched. “What’s the point of saying all this now?”

Stella Shields huffed, and they fell into silence.

Anne Sutton parked in the lot in front of the Linden family home. As they got out, Stella Shields clutched her bag. She was, after all, still recovering from a serious illness and looked quite haggard.

And as a celebrity, she was exceptionally thin.

“You look like a strong gust of wind could blow you away,” Anne Sutton commented. “Being that thin, aren’t you worried about your health?”

“Beauty has its price. Of course, you wouldn’t understand.”

“…” Anne Sutton rolled her eyes at her.

Stella Shields followed Anne inside. Just as they walked through the door, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from her brother. A flicker of fear crossed her face, and she hesitated to answer.

Anne Sutton glanced at her, noticing her hesitation. “What’s wrong? Is it Silas Hawthorne?”

“No, it’s my brother,” Stella Shields said.

“You’re scared to answer a call from your own brother?”

Stella Shields glanced at Anne Sutton, unsure how to explain that her brother had become terrifying recently.

Under Anne Sutton’s concerned gaze, Stella Shields finally answered the phone. “Bro.”

“I hear you went to the Linden family’s place?” Justin Shields’ voice was casual, not at all angry. Yet, as he spoke, Stella Shields could feel her heart pounding in fear.

She nodded and said, “Auntie Linden invited me to stay for a few days. You’re not mad, are you, Bro?”

Seeing how timid Stella Shields was acting, Anne Sutton found herself growing tense as well.

‘She’d met Justin Shields before. He wasn’t that scary, was he?’

‘And Stella hadn’t been this afraid of her brother before. What happened?’

“Why would I be angry?” Justin Shields said. “If you want to go, then go have fun for a few days.”

“Oh, right,” Stella said. “Auntie Linden doesn’t want me to be with Silas Hawthorne. Bro, I don’t think he’s reliable either. Maybe… maybe I shouldn’t see him anymore.”

“…”

The line went dead. He had hung up without a word.

Stella Shields froze, her gaze turning vacant as she stared at her phone.

She hadn’t expected him to react so coldly the moment she brought it up.

She looked up and felt a pang of embarrassment when she saw Anne Sutton staring at her.

She tried to change the subject. “So, where am I sleeping tonight?”

“The housekeeper can arrange a room for you,” Anne Sutton replied.

Just as Anne Sutton finished speaking, Ian came downstairs.

He was in school now and had just gotten back for the day.

Seeing Anne Sutton, he stopped on the stairs, holding the railing. “Mommy.”

Anne Sutton looked at the little boy. Because she had left early with Sharon Sutton the day before, Nathan Fawcett had been the one to bring Ian and Finn home.

A smile spread across Anne Sutton’s face at the sight of her son.

Ian walked over to Anne Sutton. “You’re back! I was just asking Daddy to take me to see you, but he said we’d go tonight.”

As he spoke, he glanced warily at Stella Shields. “Why are you here? You’re a bad woman!”

Stella Shields had never been nice to him, and he disliked her just as much.

“She’ll be staying here for a little while,” Anne Sutton said. “Where’s your dad?”

“Daddy will be back soon.”

“Then I’ll wait for him.”

Anne had originally planned to leave right after dropping Stella Shields off.

But now that she saw Ian, she couldn’t bear to leave. ‘I want to spend a little more time with him!’

…

Stella Shields glanced at Anne Sutton, and seeing that she couldn’t get a word in, she headed upstairs.