The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1980

"But—"

"Keep it for now. You can return it next time."

Roger pushed the card back toward her and seamlessly wrapped his fingers around hers. His dark eyes bore into hers, his voice dropping low. "Let's stop talking about other people. Let's talk about me?"

"Huh?"

The question was so sudden and direct that Stella didn't know how to react.

"Did you miss me?"

The love in Roger's eyes was completely undisguised, raw and longing. "Stella, I missed you."

Roger had always worn a face of untouchable ice. He rarely showed any emotion, let alone this kind of deep, consuming devotion.

The second he let his guard down, it was like an ocean current, easily pulling anyone under.

"..."

Stella stared at him, her throat suddenly dry. She couldn't speak.

But she knew she had missed him.

She really had.

It was just—

Until everything was out in the open, she was terrified to show too much of her heart.

She was terrified that once the truth was revealed, everything would shatter...

"The weather is nice. Let's go for a walk."

Roger was used to her silence. The fact that she didn't pull her hand away or reject him was more than enough for him.

"Mhm."

Stella nodded, standing up with him.

They hadn't taken two steps before Roger threaded his fingers through hers again.

Stella looked down at their intertwined hands. Remembering his injured right hand, she asked softly, "How is your hand doing?"

"Hmm?"

Roger paused for a fraction of a second before offering an easy smile. "It's fine."

He had been taking the medication, but progress was slow.

Lottie was currently looking into other treatment options.

"That's good." A fraction of the crushing guilt in Stella's chest lifted. She looked up at him and murmured, "I heard the case went well. Congratulations."

"..."

Roger stopped walking. He leaned in slightly, his eyes filled with tender warmth as he looked at her. "Congratulations to us."

The case going well meant he could finally see her.

That was the only thing worth celebrating.

Stella caught the hidden meaning. She hesitated for a second before a small, sweet smile touched her lips.

She realized she was falling more and more in love with being around him.

But she couldn't pinpoint exactly when or where.

A girl with no parents and no background trying to climb the social ladder into the Gates family?

And what was wrong with Roger's eyes that he would actually fall for her?!

The more she thought about it, the more furious she became.

Especially after receiving the notice for her impending evaluation from the Forensic Association. Her anxiety was through the roof.

She refused to lose her boyfriend and her career to the same group of people.

Veronica rubbed her temples, desperately digging through her memories for anything related to Stella.

Suddenly.

The woman's eyes snapped open in sheer disbelief.

She remembered...

Years ago, before she even graduated from university.

She had followed her professor to a remote, backwater village to assist with a case.

It was a horrific, blood-soaked massacre. So many people died.

Only two little girls survived.

And one of those girls had been burned into her memory.

It was Stella!