Chapter 35
i the past, whenever things got rough at home, Stella’s escape was hitting the mall wills fimil
Back then, Stella was always mindful
y’s budget, mendly just browsing and rarely buying anything, if the dit, it was Spinetimes, the’’dinske up a reason, jud tectoral Einily to a new outfit.
i was usually somutkieg
Stella never felt like she owed Emily a thing. So it cut deep, finding Emily stabbing her in the back like this.
Seeing Emily and Arma all chummy together made Stella sick. She turned to lean, not wanting to stick around, when she heard Anna’s unice.
Stella didn’t want to get near her, so she walked faster.
But Ana caught her in seconds. She looped arms with Stella. “Stella! Perfect timing–Emily and I are shopping, I still own you a welcome bark pick something out today”
Stella tried to pull away when Aitna shot Emily a look. Emily grabbed Stella’s other arm right away. “C’mon, let’s check it out inside,” she chimed in.
Stella couldn’t shake them off. They pulled her into the store.
Inside, Anna was buzzing with energy. She grabbed a few dresses off the rack, holding them up excitedly. “This one is so you, Stella,” she gushed. “And this one’s totally your style”
Stella glanced at the clothes–all micro–minis. Way too short. They’d show every bruise.
Still grinning, Anna shoved the pile at Stella. “Go try them on! We’ll wait right outside the fitting room.” She added sweetly. “My treat.”
Stella froze, eyes locked on the flimsy fabric: “Anna,” she said, her voice icy. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
Anna blinked, playing dumb. “Doing what, Stella?”
Emily frowned. “Anna told me about what happened,” she said. She dragged me out to make things right with a gift. Just try them. You’re sisters, you’ll
work it out
“You told her?” Stella looked at Anna with an icy face.
Anna suddenly looked like a deer totally caught in the headlights.
Emily jumped in quickly, “Don’t be mad at her, Stella. Anna sees me as a real friend, so she told me about it, but I swear won’t tease you. I really hope you can recover…”
She shut up quick when she saw the ice–cold glare in Stella’s eyes.
Stella dumped the clothes into Anna’s hands. “I don’t want your gift.”
As Stella burned to leave, Anna rushed after her. Suddenly, Emily yelled, “Anna, my bracelet! it’s gone it was just on my wrist. You paid a fortune for that
thing–where is it?”
“Seriously? It was just on your wrist,” Anna–sounded surprised.
“It must have fallen off. Let’s look for it.”
Anna whirled on Stella, “Stella, did you see Empy’s bracelet?”
“Right here,” Emily cut in sharply before Stella could answer, pointing straight at Stella’s
‘s pocket.
Anina stared at Stella, stunned. “Stella how could you…?
1/3
10:10 Wed, 30 Jul GG
Chapter 35
It was the weekend, and shoppers were stopping, staring
Emily jumped in quickly. “No way! Stella wouldn’t de
“Is that true, Stella?” Anna asked, staring at Stella
Stella shot Anns a cold look. “So what? You think I stole it?
kat when I grabbed i
“I don’t think you’d steal” Anna said, “but how did Emily’s bracelet land in your pocket? You haven’t had any pocket money unce you got back you needed the cash, but”
A voice piped up from the crowd. “Hey, isn’t that Stella Hayes? The one who escaped those kidnappers
“Yeah!” another yelled. “The Hayes heiress, the one snatched three years ago and sold off in Dusty Pines,”
“She was probably broke,” someone muttered. “Guess stealing’s how she got by.”
“Can you blame her?” a bystander scoffed. “Three years in the gutter? She’s gotta survive somehow”
Anna frantically waved at the crowd. “No, stop! You’ve got it all wrong. Stella wouldn’t do this.” She grabbed Stella’s arm, shaking it “Stella, tall them Tell them what really happened.”
“What is going on here?” Max’s voice cut through the noise. He shot Stella a look of pure disgust, as it saying. “You just can’t stop causing trouble,
you?”
Emily explained, “Max, it’s my fault. My bracelet went missing, and… we found it in Stella’s pocket.”
Max whirled on Stella, eyes slits of fury, “You’re stealing now? If you needed cash, why not ask me? Stealing from Emily? Have you got any shame lett
Emily flinched at his harshness. She stopped between them. “Max, not it’s not like that. There’s gotta be some mistake
“A mistake?” Max barked, glaring past Emily at the emotionless Stella. “Ever since she crawled back, she’s been looking for ways to get back at us. Now she pulls this? Stealing in public to humiliate us?”
make it up to you! Did you forget
He took a step closer, voice vibrating with rage. “Stella, how could you? We’ve been bending over backwards to make everything I said?”
“Max!” Anna darted forward, trying to grab him,
“Anna, stay
out of this,” Max snapped. “What happens at home stays there. But pulling this crap in public? Humiliating the Hayes name? Not happening”
Emily moved to speak, her face tight with worry, but Anna caught her arm
“Stella, just apologize to Max,” Anna urged. “Do it now, and he’ll let it go.”
Stella met his glare, voice flat. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?”
Stella….” Anna started, pleading.
Crack! Max’s hand slammed across. Stella’s cheek, the sound sharp and shocking. Any last shred of family band was shattered in that instant
“You think you’re right?” Max barked, his face contorted with fury. He struck again, another stinging slap that snapped her head the other way
Stella’s eyes burned, a silent, terrifying fury.
“Stella, if I don’t knock some sense into you right now, you‘
“I didn’t do it,” Stella rasped
just
keep pushing.” he growled, leaning in. “Admit it,”
10:10 Wed, 30 Jul,GO
Chapter 35
Max’s hand cracked across her face. “Admit it!” he toured. “Say you’re wrong!”
“NO” Stella shouted back.
Max unleashed a barrage of blows The crowd stared, dead silent, fon tinckout to ins
Blood poured from Stella’s nose, but her eyes locked onto his, blazing defiance.
“Last chance,” Max growled, his hand poised in the air. “Say you’re ”
Lionel, who had been standing silently in the background, stepped forward,
Just then, a voice shouted, “Max, enough!”
AD
