Chapter 370
Chapter 370:
Yet, as much as Bella wanted to retort, she bit her tongue. She pressed her palm against the wall and slowly stood, wincing as she moved. Her voice was soft, almost fragile, as she addressed Donna. “It’s fine, Mom. I’m okay p>
Donna’s worry deepened as she watched Bella struggle to mask her discomfort. Each small wince and shaky step pulled at Donna’s heart. She reached out instinctively, her voice a blend of softness and urgency. “Bella, if you’re in pain, let’s not take any risks. We should get you checked at the hospital p>
“Mom, it’s just a fall. It’s not going to kill me,” Bella replied, mimicking Yelena’s earlier dismissive tone. Her words carried the weight of both vulnerability and an unspoken plea for sympathy, tugging at Donna’s emotions.
Yelena observed the scene with quiet detachment. Bella’s theatrics, as Yelena saw them, were no longer worth her focus. Her gaze drifted away, landing on Stella, whose eyes met hers in a fleeting yet deliberate glance.
Stella’s sharp intuition and Yelena’s unerring ability to read a room seemed to align, their shared understanding unspoken yet unmistakable. Stella offered Yelena a genuine smile, extending her hand in a gesture that carried more weight than it seemed.
“Hello, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Stella Loftus p>
This was a rare moment for Stella. She rarely introduced herself with such sincerity, especially in their social circle, where people often sought to step on others simply to climb higher. Her humble background had been a source of ridicule, and she knew that no one in high society truly viewed her as an equal, much less a friend. Given this, Stella had long stopped trying to ingratiate herself with them.
But Yelena felt different. Although the young woman had an aloof air, Stella detected no hidden agenda behind her gaze. There was an authenticity in Yelena that was refreshing.
Yelena, for her part, found herself warming to Stella as well. Stella struck her as a sharp, straightforward woman—someone with a balance of wisdom and strategy. She appreciated that. Taking Stella’s hand, Yelena responded, “Hello, my name is Yelena Roberts p>
gⱯ𝗅𝗇0ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈𝗺, 𝒲𝗁𝒾𝗇𝑒 𝓬𝓱𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝗼𝗻
Stella’s smile deepened. “You know, a lot of people are curious why my surname is also Loftus even before I married my husband. They assume I must be a distant relative of the Loftus family. But I notice you haven’t asked. Aren’t you curious p>
Yelena shrugged nonchalantly. To her, names were just labels. They carried no inherent weight. This was why she hadn’t bothered changing hers when she returned to the Harris family. Callum had suggested she take their family name, but Yelena refused. She had built her life for years as Yelena Roberts, and that name was tied to her identity and accomplishments. There was no reason to change it.
“Not really,” Yelena replied curtly.
Stella chuckled softly, clearly impressed by Yelena’s straightforwardness. “That’s refreshing! For what it’s worth, I’m actually the daughter of the Loftus family’s servant. People often look down on me because of it. It’s absurd, really p>
Her tone was light, but the story carried a shadow of pain. Stella continued, her voice steady. “My father sold both my mother and me to the Loftus family under a permanent contract and disappeared with the money. My mother had no choice but to stay as their servant, and I… well, I was just a nameless child for the longest time. I didn’t even have a registered household record. It wasn’t until I wanted to attend school that the Loftus family allowed me to register. They let me use their surname, and that’s when I chose the name Stella for myself p>
Stella’s smile softened, her gaze distant for a moment. “Even though I was sheltered under their roof, I never accepted the fate they’d written for me. I told myself I’d break free from the limitations of my background. And here I am p>
She turned back to Yelena, her eyes warm. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I don’t even know why I’m telling you all of this. But I’m glad we met p>
Yelena’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Me too,” she replied.
The connection between them felt natural, as if they were old acquaintances rather than strangers meeting for the first time. The events of the day had forged an unexpected bond. What neither of them realized was how this meeting would change the course of their lives. But that was a story for later.