Chapter 47

Stella's POV

He smiled at my expression of suffering. The pain was transforming into something between heaven and hell. Feeling him inside me was so hot.

Then, he slowly pulled out, making me moan, then pushed in again, and I barely felt the pain anymore until he decided to move faster.

"Slow..." I whimpered.

′′I2'm sorry. But you really are killing me. I'm using one hundred percent of my self-control right now," he whispered.

I breathed. Right. I had to give him that because he had already given me so much. So, I nodded, capturing his lips.

Then he went faster, and it was both good and painful. It didn't take long before I wanted it faster, wrapping my legs around his hips, feeling him go deeper.

"Damn, you're so wet," he said. He increased the pace even more. The pain was almost imperceptible now, and the pleasure mixed with it was incredible. He was going so fast and was so big that it hurt delightfully. I hugged him tightly, trying to make him slow down.

"Please..."

He didn't stop; on the contrary. he held me tight. going even faster. Crushing my body with his weight. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't; I screamed and monned loudly.

My body was breaking apart again. He increased the force of his thrusts. I was almost begging him to stop. I screamed his name. and he buried his face in my neck. penetrating me with such force that I felt my muscles contracting inside me.

I could not remember how many times we had done until I fell in sleep.

\---

Morning light streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on my face. I groaned and turned over, reaching out to the other side of the bed. only to find the sheets cold where Adam should have been.

Memories of last night flooded back, causing my cheeks to burn. I buried my face in the pillow, inhaling the lingering scent of his cologne. It was so good, too good. I actually slept with him. Where did all my restraint go? In a moment of impulse, all the defenses I had meticulously built crumbled. And the way he looked at me, as if I were some precious treasure.

No, stop thinking about it, Stella.

"Good morning, madam." Joseph's cheerful voice nearly made me jump. "Mr. Lancaster left for the company early this morning."

The knowing smile on his face made me wish I could disappear. Did everyone in the manor hear us last night?Thinking about the sounds Adam made me utter...

"Thank you, Joseph," I tried to keep my voice steady, "I'll have breakfast in the garden."

\---

"What did you do?!" Sam's shriek nearly burst my eardrums.She had rushed over right after breakfast, eager to share the gossip.

"Keep your voice down!" I glanced around nervously,′′NCneed to let the entire manor know!"

′′P1lease, they probably heard everything last night." Sam raised an eyebrow suggestively,"So... how was it? I mean, considering he's in a wheelchair..." "Sam!" felt my face heat up again,'"He's perfectly normal,okay?" "I bet he is 'perfectly normal'." Her grin was infuriating.′′Bthe way.you're glowing. Last night must have been spectacular."

I threw a pillow at her face. "Can we change the subject?Please?"

"Alright, alright. But you should hear what people are saying.Poor Stella, climbing up to a disabled billionaire.' The old money crowd is having a field day."

I rolled my eyes. "Let them talk. They're more concerned about Brian's debacle at the auction."

"Oh my god, yes!" Sam leaned forward excitedly,′′Isit true he couldn't even afford that car? And Lucy! She spent so much just to outbid you - only to find out you were playing her! You're wicked,and I love it."

"Seeing her face was worth it." My smugness faded a bit,"But Adam spending billions on that vineyard was... unexpected."

"Unexpected?" Sam scoffed, "Darling, that man was marking his territory. Dropping three billion in one night - the entire elite circle is buzzing. Speaking of which, how's the Winston family?" My smile vanished instantly,′′Atoxic as ever." As if on cue, my phone buzzed: a message from the hospital saying Grandma could be discharged. Below that was an "invitation" from Anna for dinner. My stomach churned. More like a command.

Returning to the Winston estate after months, I felt nothing but alienation.

I deliberately arrived empty-handed. No matter what I brought,Anna would criticize it. Last time, I brought an expensive vase,and she called it a "cheap knockoff." The time before, it was premium tea, and she said I was "pretending to be cultured."

"No gift?" Predictably, Anna's tone was snide as she opened the door,"No manners. Then again, what can you expect from a stray?"

I bit my tongue until I tasted blood. "How's Grandma?"

"Expensive," she sneered, "But you probably have no idea how much proper care costs, do you? Living in a nursing home."

I followed her inside, counting my breaths to stay calm. They had placed Grandma in a small room next to the storage area,barely big enough for a bed and a tiny dresser. My blood pressure soared, but I maintained a neutral expression. This was their idea of "proper care"?

"Stella!" Grandma's face lit up, though she looked so frail, "You came!" "Of course I did." I took her hand, finding it icy cold. The room didn't even have heating. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than before. it's good to be home." Her smile trembled. "The family has been so kind, letting me stay here..."

Letting you stay here? I wanted to scream. In a place worse than a storage room, while Lucy had three guest rooms for her shopping hauls?

Dinner was pure torture. Lucy's smug face.John incessantly asking, "Where's Adam?", and Anna's endless lectures on family duty. I focused on my food, silently counting to ten.

"Three hundred thousand dollars." Anna's voice cut through dessert, as if discussing the weather. "Per month. For Grandma's care,of course."

So, this was her real intention. How greedy. I carefully set down my fork, resisting the urge to stab someone. "I see."

"That's the bare minimum," Anna continued, inspecting her manicure,"You know how expensive good care is. Just the heating for her room... and special dietary needs, medications... Special dietary needs? They fed Grandma reheated leftovers while they dined on fresh salmon."If it's too much?" Lucy's faux concern made me want to throw my wine in her face,′′Iknow a fashion director's salary might not cover it, but your husband is wealthy..."

"Money isn't the issue," I kept my voice steady, "But I have a condition."

Everyone stared at me. "Return the silver pendant you took.Lucy. Give it back, and the money is yours."

Lucy's face darkened, "That old thing? Why do you want that-"

"Deal or not?"

The pendant was the only thing my birth mother left me. Lucy knew that when she borrowed it for a photoshoot and never returned it.

"Fine." Her smile turned vicious, "But I don't see why you'd want a discarded trinket. Maybe we should charge for storage all these years?"

"Great idea!" Anna's eyes lit up, "Let's add another fifty thousand a month. Family heirloomns need special care..." I stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. Better that sound than the scream building in my throat."I'll transfer the money tomorrow. Thanks for the dinner."