The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Unexpected Neighbor!

While in the middle of the city.

Stella nearly jumped out of her seat when her phone vibrated on the dashboard. She didn’t even need to look. She already knew who it was.

Her mother.

Again.

The glowing name "Mommy" flashed like an alarm siren.

Stella sighed.

This wasn’t the first time her mother had called today. Or the second. Or even the fifth. Since five in the afternoon, her mother had been calling her every thirty minutes.

Yes, every thirty minutes.

She had told her she was handling an emergency patient and wouldn’t be home until around ten.

And now, with only five minutes left to ten, her mother was calling again... as if she was on the verge of being kidnapped, murdered, or swallowed whole by a medical textbook.

She pressed the answer button and turned on the speakerphone.

However, before Stella could even say hello, Alicia’s panicked voice boomed through the car.

"Stella, where are you? Are you alright?"

Stella stared at the road in disbelief. "Mom, I’m fine. Why do you sound like I’m trapped in a burning building?"

"Oh. So you are fine."

"Yes, thank you, Mommy, for your attention," Stella said, injecting extra sunshine into her voice in hopes of calming her worried mother.

But of course it failed.

"Where are you now? Still at the hospital?"

"I’m driving home now. I’ll arrive in five minutes."

"Alright, I will heat your dinner. Take care."

The call ended instantly.

Stella exhaled a long, exhausted sigh. She loved her mother. Deeply. But sometimes... her mother had enough nervous energy to power a small city.

Finally, she turned into the parking lot of the Pearl Garden Apartments.

Her eyes lit up when she saw a free slot right near the entrance.

Stella pulled in quickly, grabbed her bag, and practically sprinted toward the building, heading to the elevator.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

She ignored them at first. Probably another tenant. But when the steps came closer, curiosity forced her to glance over her shoulder.

Her eyes widened.

’Dylan?’

He had been mid-step and paused, just as surprised to see her. For a moment, Stella wondered if she was hallucinating from exhaustion. She blinked.

Still Dylan.

She blinked again.

Still Dylan. Still handsome. Still calm. Still breathing the same air.

’Why is he here?’ she murmured under her breath. Then another thought hit her. ’Wait. Is he here to see me?’

Dylan approached, stopping beside her with a soft smile.

"Hi, Stella."

"Hi..." She stared at him, mildly suspicious. "Why... are you here? Are you following me? And how did you get through the main door?"

His eyebrows shot up. He laughed. "Following you? No. Relax. I live here."

She froze.

"You. Live. Here?" she repeated dumbly.

He nodded. "Yes."

Her mind scrambled. Did he move in after learning she lived here? Did he somehow track her down?

No. That sounded ridiculous.

Right?

Still, she had to ask. "Since when did you live here?"

Dylan frowned slightly as if calculating. "Almost five years, I think."

She felt her soul leave her body.

"So... you were living here first. Long before us."

In the dim light.

With an expression that could make demons flee.

"M-mommy?" Stella squeaked, pressing a hand to her thudding chest. "Why... Why are you scaring me like that? What are you doing standing there? And what’s with that face? I thought I saw a demon."

Alicia didn’t answer. She grabbed Stella’s wrist and dragged her toward the dining table like a general hauling a soldier to interrogation.

"Go wash your hands and come sit here quick," Alicia ordered.

Stella obeyed.

Fast.

Then, she sat down slowly.

The silence was suffocating.

"Mom? Can you say something?" she asks, eyeing her mother with worry. "Your silence is giving me goosebumps. Did I make a mistake?" She asked before she started eating her late dinner.

Alicia finally spoke, her tone trembling with betrayal and anger. "Tell me. Why did you hide the kidnapping incident from me? Why did you not tell me it was YOU?"

Stella froze, mid-chew.

Her spoon clattered onto her plate.

"M-Mom... H-how do you know?"

Alicia glared. "Your father has only two daughters. You and Evelyn. Of course I know!"

"That was my sister—"

"Don’t lie to me, Stella Walters! I met your sister today. She told me everything."

Stella gasped.

Her jaw dropped.

One thought blasted through her head like an explosion. ’Geez, sister Eve, you traitor!’

Her mother wasn’t done.

"Do you know how I felt? Hearing from someone else that criminals almost abducted my daughter?" Alicia took a deep sigh before she continued, "So, Dylan had to save you? And you kept it a secret from your own mother?"

Stella swallowed hard.

"Mom... I didn’t want you to worry. You faint easily."