Chapter 1297

Stella asked, "Is she a bad influence? How does she even do that?" Lucas replied, "She has too many ideas." Stella said, "Abigail has got her own career and ideas, and she doesn't bend to anyone's will—that's what bugs you about her, isn't it? I'm in a bind here because I genuinely enjoy Abigail's company; I cherish the time we spend together." Lucas chuckled, squeezing Stella's shoulder. "Hey, I was the one who set you free, not because I was dead." Confused, Stella peered at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" Lucas explained, "I mean, I'm the one who can call you back too." Stella felt a chill run down her spine. She realized Lucas was not just talking. She dreaded the thought of being pulled back into a life she just escaped. Lucas once found amusement in Stella's fear of him, but now he disliked it. "Are you scared now?" he asked as Stella kept her silence. He continued, "Look deeper at people in the future, and don't be swayed by mere flattery." When Stella did not reply, he leaned closer and said in a low tone, "I'm speaking to you. I can't stand being ignored." Stella asked, "What kind of response are you looking for from me?" "Just share what you're really thinking." "My thoughts... They might not sit well with you." "I can handle it. Go on." With a rueful chuckle, Stella said, "I might have set myself up for this mess, but I'd rather face the consequences on my own. Your assistance isn't necessary." Lucas's frown deepened. "Calling you ungrateful would be an understatement." Stella said, "Lucas, she's back—the one you adore. We're no longer together. It's her you should be caring for, not clinging to the memory of what we had." Lucas called out sharply, "Stella!" A flicker of triumph lit Stella's eyes at his visible frustration. "I've always questioned whether your heart truly belonged to her. You profess your love, but then, night after night, you're with me. It's quite pathetic." Lucas's voice was stern, a clear warning in his tone. "Be careful, Stella. It would be wise to hold your tongue." Stella said with a steely tone, "You're trying to quiet me because I've hit a sore spot? I fear neither death nor your warnings. My real dread is being stuck with you, cut off from the world." "Is that so?" "Each day at your side seems to stretch on, shrouded in darkness." Lucas let out a low, controlled laugh and averted his gaze, a gesture of conceding the argument. Stella's appetite returned with the end of their exchange. She requested a meal from the flight attendant, finding comfort in the simple pleasure of eating. Later, rejuvenated from her rest, Stella awoke as the aircraft touched down gracefully at Florivera International Airport. At 11:00 a.m., upon the plane's touchdown, Stella immediately powered on her phone to message Abigail, signaling her safe arrival. Her phone, however, instantly erupted with a flurry of breaking news notifications. [Xander Zane, the erstwhile CEO of Zane Corporation, tragically succumbed to an acute illness at 29.] [The meteoric, storied life of Xander Zane.] Overwhelmed, Stella stared at her screen, her thoughts paralyzed by disbelief. Denial set in as she thought, 'These headlines couldn't be true.' She contemplated verifying with Abigail but paused, wary of the potential distress the news might cause her pregnant friend.