Chapter 3
A doctor came to bandage her wounds. Her palms and knees needed several stitches–he said there would be stars. But Stella listened numbly, showing no reaction.
After everyone left, she pulled out her phone at once and searched for the city’s best antique restoration specialist
At 2 AM, she secretly went out and found a workshop that was still open according to the address
The elderly restorer listened to her description and shook his head: “Glass for old frames like that is hard to find Restoration takes time.“]
“Money’s no object,” Stella said urgently. “Please, this is really important.“]
The old man sighed. “Three days. That’s the fastest Tean do. ||
For the next three days, Stella practically lived at the workshop. She couldn’t hear to go home and face Adrian, and she didn’t want him to know what she was doing. While the restorer worked, she sat nearby watching, handing tools, helping homever she could.
Adrian never looked for her. Not even a phone call or text
On the third afternoon, the frame was finally restored. As the old restorer handed it to Stella, Adrian suddenly pushed through the door.
“Mr. Hayes searched every restoration shop in the city before finding this place,” the housekeeper quietly explained when he saw Stella]
Adrian’s expression was still grim, but when he saw the perfectly restored frame, his tense shoulders seemed to relax slightly.
“Here, and here–be extra careful” he said to the restorer, posting to the frame’s corners. These patterns are hand–carved. They can’t have any damage whatsoever.”
The old man nodded. “Dont worry. I’ve been doing restoration for forty years. This level of damage is nothing.” Then he looked at Adrian curiously. “This frame must be pretty special in you?“]
Adrian didn’t answer, just carefully took the frame in his hands like he was holding something incredibly fragile.||
Steba stood to the side watching, feeling like an invisible band was squeezing her heart. She knew the story behind this frame. It held an Paige
id an engagement photo of Adrian and
His grandfather had destroyed it before, but somehow Adrian had found another copy of the photo and gotten an stentical frame made. He didn’t care about the frame med–g was that ina time he could never get back||
“Thank you.” Adrian said to the old restorer, then turned to Stella, “Lely go home. ”
Those were the first words he’d spoken to her in three days. Stells suddenly snapped back to reality and nodded, but the moment she took a step, everything went black She hadn’t eaten much in three days and had been running on pure stress–her body finally gave out ||
In the last second before she lost consciousness, she saw Adrian’s phone Eght up. The screen showed “Paige.”
Adrun answered the call, his expression immediately changing “way, be right there.” Then he turned and walked mat of the workshop, not even glancing at her collapsed on the floor.
When she woke up again. Stella, found herself in a spital bed.
She slowly opened her eyes, her vision still blurry, but immediately spotted Adrian sitting beside her. He was leaning forward with his hand against his forehead, eyes closed, dark circles underneath the he’d been up all night.
Hearing her slight movements, he immediately opened his eyes, bis gaze setting on her face
“You’re awake?” His voice was deep and rough with exhaustion. “How do you feel? |
Stella was stunned, a hit disoriented. She remembered that before she passed out, he’d answered Paige’s call and left the restoration workshop without looking back But now he was here, keeping watch by her bedside?)
Didn’t you go to see Palger she asked quietly, her voice dry as sandp
dry as sandpaper
Adrian paused for a moment, then reached for a cup of warm water and handed it to her []
She’s fine.” he said calmly, as if he’d been carefully choosing his words “she has depression and had some suicidal thoughts recently. That’s why I brought her back.” He paused, looking up at her with complicated eyes. “Don’t ove CH. Nothing can happen between us.“1
Hearing this, Stella’s Engers tightened slightly around the water cup. ||
thing can happen?
But you’re still in love with her, aren’t you?].
