Aidan Sterling’s chest heaved violently.
The last few words were almost at the tip of his tongue, but he forcefully swallowed them back down.
He suddenly turned away, his hands bracing on the cold windowsill. His knuckles turned pale blue from the force, and the lines of his shoulders and back were as taut as a fully drawn bow.
"Brother?" Stella Sterling was startled by his reaction, her heart anxious. "What about Shane Donovan... what happened?"
Aidan did not turn around, and rely squeezed a few words through his teeth, "Nothing. Just rember, stay away from him! That bastard is no good!"
Stella stared blankly at her brother’s tense back—what had Shane Donovan done...?
What could have made her brother hate him so deeply?
"Does this have sothing to do with Owen Callahan?" Stella probed stubbornly.
Aidan’s face darkened. He unconsciously moved his lips, but swallowed the words back down.
Only he knew why Shane Donovan had beaten up Owen Callahan—
Because Owen Callahan was the only eyewitness from back then!
The reason Owen hurriedly left the country to study a completely unrelated field like dicine, couldn’t be without Shane Donovan’s machinations!
That guy is a lunatic!
"...In any case, listen to your brother, you won’t be wrong." Aidan’s tone softened. "If you ever see Shane Donovan, avoid him. If he bothers you, tell imdiately."
...
The circles in Crestfall aren’t too small or too big—the news of Owen Callahan being hospitalized after a beating spread quickly.
Though Aidan tried hard to suppress it without implicating the Sterling Family, there were still so rumors.
Isla Sutton, seeing Stella distressed, assud it was about Owen and the rumors, and thought to take her out to lift her spirits.
Coincidentally, a lady friend of hers had recently opened a high-end equestrian club and invited her to support it, so Isla took Stella along.
"Go out, get so fresh air, don’t stay cooped up at ho." Isla gently adjusted Stella’s collar. "That stable has a great environnt. Didn’t you love horseback riding when you were little?"
Stella didn’t want to turn down her mother’s kindness, so she nodded and agreed.
The stable was located in the outskirts of Crestfall, vast and serene.
The modern clubhouse blended perfectly with the natural landscape, lush grass, and professional tracks.
Isla was chatting over coffee with her friend on the clubhouse terrace.
Stella, anwhile, changed into riding attire and, accompanied by an instructor, went to the stables to choose a gentle horse for a ride to clear her mind.
While she was focusing on a glossy black stallion, a low and familiar voice sounded behind her:
"This ’Black Night’ has a fiery temperant, not suitable for beginners."
Stella’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly turned around.
Shane Donovan was standing behind her, she hadn’t noticed when he arrived.
He wasn’t in formal attire today. Instead, he wore a dark custom-fitted riding suit, perfectly outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist, long legs straight, feet in glossy riding boots, exuding less coldness and more of a noble languor and wildness.
His hair fell casually over his forehead, the vermilion mole at the corner of his eye conspicuously clear in the bright light.
He smirked slightly, "Counselor Sterling, what a coincidence."
The Young Master of the Stables standing behind him twitched his mouth almost imperceptibly, inwardly cursing—
A coincidence, my foot! Young Master Donovan’s serious deanor was revolting!
He wondered who had ’casually’ inquired about Mrs. Sterling’s schedule days ago...
And who had shown ’remarkable interest’ by investing heavily in his newly opened stable, aning he was the actual owner behind it.
Today, that man was ’spontaneously’ waiting here since early morning.
The effort in orchestrating this was almost more attentive than negotiating a billion-dollar acquisition!
Of course, he dared only to complain inwardly, maintaining an impeccable smile outwardly.
Stella knew nothing of these behind-the-scenes maneuvers, only finding the coincidence too deliberate.
She recalled her brother’s warning, feeling slightly heavy-hearted, "President Donovan, what a coincidence."
"This ’Black Night’ is a purebred, descendant of champions, incredibly fast, but also proud and recognizes one master."
Shane Donovan seed oblivious to her aloofness, "I suggest you pick that chestnut one beside it. It’s gentle in nature, with steady gait."
"Thank you for the advice, President Donovan, but I’d like to challenge this ’Black Night’." Stella suppressed the turmoil inside, speaking calmly.
Shane raised an eyebrow, "If that’s the case, Counselor Sterling, be my guest... but ’Black Night’ is indeed proud, be careful when mounting."
Stella said no more, signaling the stablehand to bring out ’Black Night’ to the warm-up field.
Just then, a young man in flashy riding attire, perhaps trying to show off in front of a beauty like Stella, also took a liking to ’Black Night’ and noisily moved to grab the reins.
"Hey! This horse is nice! It’s mine!"
The stablehand hastily stopped him, "I’m sorry, Young Master Shaw, this horse has already been chosen by this lady..."
"Get lost! I’m a VIP!" Young Master Shaw arrogantly pushed the stablehand aside, reaching for ’Black Night’s’ bridle.
’Black Night,’ evidently startled by the rough action, grew agitated, raising its front hooves and neighed discontentedly, close to breaking free from the stablehand’s control!
Stella was nearest; seeing the hooves about to fell, she instinctively cried out, attempting to retreat but too late!
In that flash of a mont, a figure moved like the wind to shield her!
It was Shane Donovan.
He firmly gripped ’Black Night’s’ reins with one hand, while with the other, he swept Young Master Shaw’s wrist—
"Ow!" Young Master Shaw felt a sharp pain in his wrist, scread, and reflexively let go, stumbling backward several steps, looking at Shane Donovan in shock and uncertainty.
Shane Donovan, however, didn’t even glance at him, focusing instead on skillfully soothing the rampaging ’Black Night’ with the reins.
Soon, the once-agitated stallion cald down, snorting and rubbing its head against his arm.
The entire process took only a few seconds.
He turned, his gaze landing on Stella’s slightly pale face, his brows furrowed, "Are you alright?"
Stella was still shaken.
"...I’m fine." She shook her head, her voice sowhat dry.
At this mont, Young Master Shaw also recognized Shane Donovan, his face paling instantly, stuttering, "Young... Young Master Donovan? I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you... I..."
"Scram."
Just one word, as cold as ice.
Young Master Shaw, as if granted amnesty, scrambled away, not daring to look back.
The Young Master of the Stables promptly directed the stablehands to lead the now-calm Black Night away.
The onlookers also dispersed sensibly, no longer daring a second glance.
With the commotion settled, only Shane Donovan and Stella remained near the stables.
The air seed to still, only the rustle of wind over grass and distant hoofbeats audible.
Stella, still recovering from the fright, her heart beating fast.
She looked at the broad back shielding her, "Thank you."
"I happened to need so exercise too, so..." Shane’s lips curved slightly, "care to join?"
"..."
Stella pressed her lips, about to respond when a sudden commotion arose at the stable entrance.
Amidst faint argunt and staff’s appeasent, ca a voice unmistakably familiar—
"Let in!"
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