Chapter 229
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Teresa turned her face away, wouldn’t even look at Troy. “I don’t owe you an explanation. You don’t need to know everything about me,” she said coldly.
But even though she sounded so indifferent, Teresa’s heart felt soft and vulnerable deep down.
Troy refused to give up. He reached out, determined to grab her arm.
But the instant his hand brushed against her, Teresa frowned in pain, looking genuinely miserable.
Troy panicked and snatched her hand. When he saw the bruises covering her arm, his eyes grew red and his voice tightened with emotion.
In that moment, every trace of anger disappeared, leaving only a crushing ache in his heart for her.
Troy held Teresa’s hand, watching her silently as tears slid down his cheeks.
Teresa tried to pull her hand away, but when she saw Troy crying, her heart clenched out of nowhere. “You…” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Troy kept holding her hand gently and said softly, “Just rest, okay? I’ll be right here.”
Teresa didn’t reply. She just gazed at him, lost in the moment.
He tried so hard to hide his tears, turning his face away, but Teresa still caught the glimmer of them in his eyes.
Once more, she saw that raw ache and worry shining in his gaze.
But she still couldn’t read him. To her, all these emotions just looked like another performance.
Troy turned off the lights and gently coaxed her to sleep.
In the dim room, Teresa had no idea that, bit by bit, tears were streaming quietly down Troy’s face.
It was late, and Teresa was already exhausted.
Within minutes, she drifted off to sleep.
Troy sat by Teresa’s bedside, utterly still, his gaze empty and lost–like he was in a trance, unable to look away from her.
Every bruise she had was like a needle pricking at his heart, each mark hurting him more than the last.
Only after Teresa had fallen deeply asleep did Troy reach over to gently tuck the blanket around her shoulders.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her for the longest time. Then, finally, he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead before slipping quietly out of the room.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, Troy spotted Wendy.
He collected himself, then quietly asked, “Wendy, can I ask you to stay with her a bit longer?”
Wendy looked confused. And you? Where are you heading?”
Troy hesitated before replying, “I’m not doing anything.”
He didn’t wait to see if she agreed–he just walked away.
Meanwhile, after Naomi had taken Charles away, Andrew and Stella joined Jason and Finn at their booth.
The four of them lounged together, drinking and swapping all kinds of stories–funny moments, wild memories, and whatever else came to mind
Even though it was way after midnight, the bar still pulsed with life
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Chapter 229
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Stella had downed two beers, and now her stomach was feeling a bit bloated.
Finding a good moment, she stood up and, a little embarrassed, said to the others, “I’m gonna hit the restroo
Andrew just nodded for her to go ahead.
Stella smoothed out her dress and stepped out of the booth.
But as she stepped down, she accidentally bumped into a girl passing by.
The girl had long blonde hair, was caked in makeup, and wore a skimpy outfit that barely covered anything.
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After Stella bumped into her, the girl whipped around, glaring at her with a fierce, aggressive look. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she snapped.
Stella froze for a second, then shot back, equally annoyed, “Nothing.”
The girl looked pissed and closed in on Stella, getting right up in her space and snapping, “You bumped into me! Don’t you even know how to say sorry?”
Stella was pushed back step by step until her back was literally against the wall. The girl crowded right up against her and barked,
Apologize!”
“It wasn’t even on purpose! Why should I apologize?” Stella shot right back, refusing to let this girl walk all over her.
The girl looked like real trouble–she didn’t even hesitate. She seized Stella’s hair in a rough grip, forcing Stella’s chin up so she had no choice but to meet her glare.
Without warning, the girl leaned in close and spat straight into Stella’s mouth, which was slightly open from shock.
All of it landed right inside. Stella’s stomach turned–disgust and humiliation crashing over her as she nearly retched, gagging hard and struggling not to puke.
But the girl didn’t give a damn. She smacked Stella across the face. “You filthy bitch! Consider it a gift that I spat in your mouth–and you’ve got the guts to look disgusted? Who do you think you are, acting like I’m not good enough for you? You must be tired of living!”
Stella was completely stunned by the slap. When the shock finally wore off, she instinctively yelled in Andrew’s direction, “Andrew!”
There was so much noise over here, it instantly grabbed everyone’s attention.
Andrew didn’t catch Stella calling out, but he did spot all the heads turning, eyes locked on the same spot.
He followed their line of sight–and that’s when he saw Stella getting bullied.
Andrew couldn’t sit still for another second. He shot up from his seat, jumped out of the booth, and shouted at the girl, “What do you think you’re doing? Touch my friend again and you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
But the girl completely ignored him.
Seeing that, Andrew’s temper flared even more. He strode over, clearly ready to stand up for Stella.
But right as he was getting close, the girl whipped out a folding knife–without even flinching, she raked the blade straight across Stella’s face.
Stella’s terrified scream ripped through the whole bar in a heartbeat.
When Andrew saw what was happening, his legs locked up on the spot–he couldn’t move a muscle.
But the girl still wasn’t finished. She slashed the blade across Stella’s face two more times, vicious and relentless.
In seconds, blood was streaming down Stella’s face, turning it into a gory mess.
Stella clutched her face, crying out again and again, “Andrew! Help me! Please, help me!”
She looked to Andrew, blood trickling from her face and seeping into her eyes.
Seeing her like that–her face covered in blood–Andrew felt his whole body go weak.
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Chapter 229
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Jason and Finn had also jumped out of their booth by now. They rushed over to catch Andrew, who looked like he was about to collapse.
The two guys just stared at Stella, but neither one stepped in to help.
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