Viet Writer
Và Mai Có Nắng
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Chương 5
Chapter 5: Please, Save Me…
He would basically not take her out under normal days. Vincent only met Stella twice. The first time was when Clarence forgot to bring his document. Afraid that it would affect his work, Stella brought it to the workplace. A trace of disappointment flashed across the docile woman’s face when she faced Clarence’s cold eyes. Yet she did not make any complaint, and she looked obedient and understanding.
Another time was during the birthday feast of Dempsey Conrad, the old man of the Conrad family, which was also the second year of marriage between Clarence and her. No one from the Conrad family liked her, and no one introduced her to the guests.
That night, Stella looked like a non-paid housemaid that was hired by the Conrad family. She was completely occupied with work yet she did not get a single compliment but contempt look that saw her as a trouble instead. After that, she stayed at the corner all the time and when she faced those mocking remarks, she did not retort but lowered her head silently, staying further away from them.
In Vincent’s mind, Clarence’s wife was a weak and enduring married woman that surrendered to one’s manipulation, and she would not defend for herself when she was hit or scolded. The aggressive woman who looked like she was going to chop someone into pieces tonight would definitely not be her.
Clarence was still looking at the place where Stella left and did not utter a word. Vincent coughed and digressed, “I met Stanford Leif at the entrance just now.” Clarence asked casually, “Who?”
“I am the chief editor of the SG Jewelry Magazine.”
“I kind of recall something.” The Conrad’s had collaborated with SG Jewelry before, and Clarence had met their chief editor a few times. Vincent sighed and said, “Stanford told me he’s found Sharon, and if nothing goes wrong, she’ll become the designer of their magazine. I suppose you still remember Miss Sharon?”
“No.” Why should he remember someone unimportant to him? Vincent said, “Then I suppose you would at least remember sponsoring the seventh emerging designer competition three years ago? Sharon won the first place in the contest back then. She initially had the chance to get funded by the Conrad’s and further study in Paris, but not knowing why, she gave it up.”
“But I heard that she has once sought for the person in charge of the competition and asked whether she could get cash instead of being funded for her study abroad. The person in charge asked you, but you rejected, and we never heard from her since then. She was really a talented designer, what a shame.”
Clarence slowly retrieved his look. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, and whether he had listened to his words just now or not. “Is that so? I can’t recall.”
As he was on the way of sending them back home, Stanford could clearly sense that Stella’s mood was much worse than when they were having meal. He could not ask her directly and he glimpsed at Sherry, raising his eyebrow. Sherry only shook her head lightly and she seemed difficult to explain the whole situation.
The car was parked downstairs. Stanford spoke, “Miss Radomil, I look forward to your work, and also our collaboration.” Stella had quite calmed down meanwhile. She got back her mind and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Reid. I’ll try my best.” Stanford smiled. “Then I’ll not waste your time any further, get inside, we’ll see each other next week.”
After reaching home, Sherry asked, “Stella, are you still mad about those two?” Stella was slightly absent-minded and she exclaimed. She only responded after two seconds. “No, I’m thinking about the design.” The topic Stanford gave her was “first love”. Sherry said that was the first series they proposed after hiring designer and the main customer targets were young people. Therefore, the design this time was quite important to them.
Yet to Stella, the word “first love” was too far away from her and it had already gone blurry. That kind of excitement that only existed when she was with the person she loved had already eroded until nothing was left during her three years of marriage with Clarence.
Sherry said, “Speaking of this, I want to ask you, have you not stayed in contact with Horace Jason anymore?” Stella shook her head lightly. She had won the first place in the emerging designer competition three years ago. She initially had the chance to study abroad in Paris, but she rejected.
Horace had come to see her for a few times and asked why she refused to go. There were confusion, loneliness and also disappointment on his face. Yet she still did not have the courage to tell him the truth and had deleted all his contact details.
What could she say? Could she possibly tell him that when she was brimmed with happiness that night after getting first place in the competition, she suddenly received the news that Jeffrey Radomil had owed one million Yuan debt? She still could not recover from the shocking and daunting news until now.
Sherry let out a sigh and leaned against the couch. “I still feel pity for you and Horace until now. You were a perfect couple back in school and anyone could tell you like each other, what’s left was you didn’t admit your relationship. We initially thought you’ll be together after going to Paris, who knows that would happen…That’s so unfair.”
Stella only spoke after being silent at length, “That’s already the past.”
“Hey, let’s not mention such an unhappy thing anymore. Oh yes, I suddenly remember one of Vivian Sean’s rumor, listen, she went to shoot for a magazine when she started entering the field, and it turned out she didn’t even know what a light supplement lamp is, and…”
Sherry told a few jokes and after successfully making her laugh, she chastised Clarence and Vivian for the whole night full of passion. Yet when Stella was lying on the bed, she still could not help but recall what Vivian said to her in the washroom. Although Clarence would never say those vulgar words, what he wanted to convey was exactly the same.
Stella knew she had held Clarence back, therefore during their marriage these three years, she had tried her best to play her role as a good wife. No matter what nasty things he said to her, or how the Conrad family mocked her, she would never complain. She knew how much he hated her too. Yet she would still feel pain when reality resembled a poisoned knife stabbing right into her. Even breathing was excruciating.
Stella buried her head in the blanket. She remembered something when she was in a state of dreaming and awake. Three years ago, after knowing Jeffrey had owed a high debt of one million Yuan, she asked around for money and had even abased herself to ask the person in charge of the competition whether she could give up the place to further study in Paris and get cash instead.
She could still remember what the person in charge said to her until now. “Miss Sharon, I’m sorry. Our boss said the chance is for those who truly have the dream to design, not for those who treat this competition as an opportunity to make money and gain benefits.” Stella was startled for a long while when she heard that. She went home and scolded that so-called boss for the whole night while crying. Who wouldn’t wish to have a pure dream?
Few days after that, Jeffrey ran away. The debate came to her house and let her made a choice, which was either to chop down one of her brother’s hands or her taking the initiative to leave with them. Stella was left with no choice and without caring for Channing Radial’s devastated cries, she walked out of the house with them without saying a word.
Those people had sold her to the Twilight Club, which was a money-oriented place that provided rich people with leisure, alcohol and women. They had adulterated their wine. Although she had prepared herself to accept her fate, when the plump middle-aged man in his forties or fifties entered, she suddenly thought of Horace and the promise about going to Paris that she did not fulfill.
Not knowing from where she got the strength, she pushed the middle-aged man away and ran out while staggering. Someone had been chasing after her from behind. Not knowing how long she ran, she finally saw a strong but blurry figure at the front. She fell onto the ground and snatched his high quality suit sleeve. “Please, save me…”
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