Stella remained quiet. Exploiting Marshall for scandals was one thing, but shamelessly manipulating his feelings to secure his cooperation was a moral boundary she refused to cross. She would rather have Marshall know the truth than burden him with this favor, even if it resulted in his hatred and resentment toward her.
Marshall picked up the necklace in his palm and said, “Let me put it on for you.
This ‘token of love’ is going to make headlines tomorrow.”
Stella instinctively tried to back up, but Marshall did not move away. He gently pressed Stella’s shoulder, and his deep voice echoed in her ear. “The paparazzi are already taking pictures. If you reject the present, the groundwork we laid won’t be believable.”
Stella immediately froze in place.
Holding the necklace in both hands, Marshall put it around her neck and gently fastened it.
From the audience’s perspective, the two seemed to be intimately involved.
Stella turned her face away, avoiding eye contact with Marshall. However, she could still feel his breath in such close proximity, which intensified her inner turmoil.
It was not until Marshall had released his grip and slightly withdrew from her that her body gradually relaxed.
Stella reached up and touched the pendant containing Keegan’s photo. “How much is it? I’ll transfer the payment to you,” she said.
“The necklace was 88 dollars, and the photo was ten. So, the total is 98 dollars.
But, that’s alright. You don’t have to transfer me the money. You can treat me to a late-night snack instead.”
Stella did not respond.
Marshall chuckled and added, “I’ll try not to order over 98 dollars’ worth of food.”
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