Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 611

Stella Hawthorne noticed a new crystal picture frame on his desk, displaying a photo of the two of them.

It was from the day they took their wedding photos.

In the picture, Julius Blackwood was giving her a piggyback ride in a lush orchard as they picked fruit from the trees.

The composition captured her resting on his back while he turned his head slightly to look up at her, and she was playfully feeding him a freshly picked piece of fruit.

It was a beautifully candid shot. Looking at it evoked a rush of romance, making anyone want to visit that very orchard to bask in the sweetness of their love.

Julius had personally selected this crystal frame. She remembered it sitting on the vanity in their bedroom at the Imperial Gardens.

Why was it here now?

"Julius, when did you bring this over here?"

"I want to see you every single moment. So, I had an extra one made for the desk. The original is still at home."

Whenever work exhausted him, a single glance at his young wife put him at ease and gave him renewed motivation.

"Oh," Stella replied softly. "I saw Yvonne Jeter downstairs earlier. She was causing a scene, saying she needed to see you."

If he wanted to display the photo, that was fine by her.

Julius brushed it off dismissively. "She won't get anywhere near me. Security won't let her up."

"She threatened me when she left. Said she'd make me regret it. From the looks of it, she's plotting some grand scheme."

Julius kissed her forehead and said, "Don't worry, darling. Whatever nasty tricks she's brewing, they won't stand a chance against true love."

Stella nodded in satisfaction. "Alright then. I came by today to tell you I'm leaving the Capital for a few days. I'll be heading out soon."

Hearing this, Julius nodded. "I see. Go ahead, then. The lab project is settled.

Do you have any special requirements? I'll hire top-tier designers, and the Blackwood Group has an excellent partnered construction team. We'll have your lab up and running in no time."

She had her own business to handle, and he was never going to stand in her way.

"We'll discuss the details when I get back from Cloudcroft City. I do have a few specifications. I'm leaving soon, though, and I need an SUV. Do you have one?"

The rugged roads back to the village required an off-road vehicle; a sports car's chassis was far too low.

If Julius didn't have one, she was going to ask Carter Coleman.

Subconsciously, however, she wanted to ask Julius first. She had a strong feeling he'd be upset if she went to someone else.

"I do. There's one right here in my private underground garage. You can drive it out whenever you're ready."