The orthopedic surgeon’s lighthearted teasing instantly dispelled the heavy feeling in Stella’s heart.
Blushing, she lowered her head, wishing she could just disappear into a crack in the floor tiles.
Just as the doctor had said, the process of setting her shoulder was indeed quick—over in a POP.
It was also incredibly painful.
The pain instantly drained all the color from Stella’s face.
It happened so fast she didn’t even have ti to bite Owen before it was over.
Once her shoulder was set, the doctor immobilized her left arm with a brace and then placed it in a sling across her chest.
He then rattled off a list of instructions, with Owen listening intently the entire ti.
Before leaving, the orthopedic surgeon even praised Owen, calling him a fine, dedicated husband.
Stella’s cheeks, which had just been pale with pain, flushed red once more.
While Stella was getting her shoulder set, Owen had sent Faye Rhodes to check on Ethan Rhodes.
Audrey Rhodes was with Ethan, and Faye quickly returned with an update.
"He just has so external injuries, nothing serious."
Stella nodded, breathing an inward sigh of relief.
’On the way here, she had been wondering what she would do if Ethan had been seriously injured because of her again.’
’She didn’t want to be entangled with him anymore.’
’But the mory of the car crash was too vivid. The sudden flood of recollections had sent her into a panic.’
’She’d thought about it the entire trip here, and in the split second her joint was popped back into place, she reached a conclusion.’
’Who cares how badly he was hurt? What did it have to do with her?’
’She had fallen because of Kiana. Now that Ethan was hurt protecting her, it was perfect. They were even.’
’However, it looked like Ethan had regained his mories.’
’She didn’t know how much he rembered, or what he would do now that his mory was back.’
’Stella had a bad feeling about this.’
Owen noticed her suddenly lost in thought again. He averted his gaze slightly and asked, "Ethan should be settled by now. Do you want to go see him?"
Stella snapped out of it. "Yes."
’She had a score to settle with Yolanda Thorne for that slap.’
A dark glint flickered in Owen’s eyes. Without a word, he took Stella’s right hand and led her to see Ethan.
Ethan had, after all, shielded Stella during the fall. Although his injuries were only superficial, the vast swathes of bruises still looked horrifying.
Yolanda Thorne’s heart ached so much she was in tears, insisting that her son stay in the hospital overnight for observation no matter what.
As Owen led Stella into the hospital room, all eyes turned toward them.
Serena Kane ca forward to greet them. "Stella, how are you? You’re not badly hurt, are you?"
In truth, Audrey Rhodes had already told them about Stella’s condition.
But upon seeing Stella, Serena still feigned ignorance and made polite inquiries.
But before Stella could reply, Yolanda Thorne let out a cold snort. "How badly could she be hurt? Ethan was holding her so tightly. He’s the one who got injured."
Thinking of the bruises on her son’s back and looking at his bandaged head, Yolanda’s eyes turned red. A wave of pure hatred for Stella washed over her, and she dropped her mask of elegant civility.
She turned to glare at Stella. "Get out of here! You’re not welco! Nothing good ever happens to Ethan when you’re around!"
"Mom, don’t bla Stella," Ethan pleaded, taking Yolanda’s hand. "I protected her because I wanted to. Please don’t talk like that."
He craned his neck, trying to find Stella through the gaps in the crowd.
"Stella, co here. I want to see how you are."
Stella remained where she was, standing near the doorway.
Ethan’s overly intimate tone gave her goosebumps.
’It was hard to believe that the man who had previously wished her dead could suddenly beco so affectionate.’
’It was just like when Ethan had woken up with amnesia, turning cold and heartless toward her overnight.’
’She couldn’t accept it then, and she couldn’t accept it now.’
Stella remained motionless. "I’m fine. Thank you for today. But Yolanda was right—nothing good ever happens to you when I’m around. So, for your sake, my sake, and everyone’s sake, we should avoid seeing each other from now on. I heard from Audrey that you only have superficial wounds, so get so rest. I’m injured too, so I’ll be heading ho now."
Stella’s words took everyone in the room by surprise.
They had expected her to offer an explanation, or at the very least an apology. They never imagined she had co to draw a line in the sand.
The gentle smile on Ethan’s face froze. He stared blankly in Stella’s direction.
Stella looked up at Owen. After a brief mont of surprise, he collected himself.
She tickled his palm. "Can we go ho now?"
"Alright."
Seeing that Stella was about to leave, the stunned Ethan suddenly struggled to sit up.
The room descended into chaos again. Seeing that they couldn’t stop him, Yolanda Thorne snapped, "Stella, Ethan is in this state because of you! Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?!"
Stella stopped and turned back. "Actually, I do."
She glanced at Kiana in the corner before turning to Ethan. "Ethan, I know you’re grateful to , so don’t ntion it. But if you really feel the need to show your appreciation... I prefer it in the form of cold, hard cash."
’Grateful?’
’Don’t ntion it?’
’What is she talking about?’
Yolanda Thorne looked utterly baffled.
"Stella, did you hit your head when you fell? I want you to apologize to Ethan and Kiana!"
"Apologize? For what? Yolanda, let correct you on one thing. The reason Ethan is hurt like this is because of Kiana, not ."
Yolanda wondered if she was hearing things.
anwhile, Kiana, who was standing off to the side, felt her eyes redden as tears instantly welled up and stread down her face.
"Stella... what... what are you talking about..." She bit her lip and fell silent for a mont, her expression one of soone grievously wronged. "I know you hate . If you say it was , then... I guess it was ..."
She looked for all the world like soone who had just been beaten into a false confession.
Audrey Rhodes imdiately jumped to her defense, her voice indignant. "Kiana, you can’t just take this lying down! Tell everyone what you saw. Don’t be afraid. With so many of us here, I refuse to believe Stella can get away with spouting such lies!"
It looked like she was backing Kiana up, but in reality, she was forcing her hand.
After she spoke, Audrey received a discreet thumbs-up from her daughter.
Yolanda Thorne and Serena Kane imdiately chid in as well. Their deanor suggested that as long as Kiana spoke up, Stella would automatically be judged the guilty party.
With all eyes on her, Kiana picked at the scab on her palm until it started bleeding again.
She could only bite the bullet and say, "I just wanted to convince Stella to co ho and visit more often. But as we were talking, she suddenly told to stay away from Ethan. She said if I didn’t agree, she’d push down the stairs... Then Ethan showed up, and I don’t know what happened, but then Stella and Ethan fell. It’s all my fault... If only I had agreed to her demand..."
Yolanda understood what she was implying.
’Because Ethan had arrived, Stella had to change her plan on the fly.’
Yolanda shot Stella a venomous glare, looking as if she wanted to slap her again. "Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now!"
At that mont, Owen, who had been standing silently to the side, coldly tossed out three words: "Where’s the proof?"
Yolanda and Kiana’s hearts both skipped a beat.
’They’d forgotten Owen was there...’
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