Chapter 103 A Kiss Under Fireworks
Finished
When Stella heard that, her grip on the phone tightened slightly, and her chest went tight.
“They came prepared. They even leaked that you were the survivor from back then. We can’t get the trending topics taken down. I’m thinking about whether we should just buy the platform.”
Tess‘ voice was tense as she paced on the other end.
Who could be behind this?
Back then, to protect the victims‘ identities, the authorities had kept everything sealed. No names ever got
out.
So why now? Why was this surfacing now?
“Don’t kill the trends.”
“What?”
“Just focus on finding out who’s pulling the strings.”
Her voice stayed steady, which caught Tess off guard for a beat. “Stella… you okay with this?”
“I’m good.”
Everyone had a past. Hers was something she’d made peace with a long time ago.
“But-”
“I’m the victim here. If people are stupid enough to come after someone who survived something like that, why should I play nice?”
Elias‘ hands stilled on the wheel. He caught the shift in the air, pulled over without a word, and killed the engine.
“Got it. I’m on it.”
Stella ended the call and let her eyes close for a moment.
“Click.”
Her seatbelt came loose, and then she was being pulled into familiar arms. That scent–clean, warm. unmistakably him–wrapped around her, and the knot in her chest started to loosen.
“Stella. I’m right here.”
And just like that, the tension bled out of her.
She lifted her arms and held him back.
Once you’d tasted something like this–something steady, something good–you didn’t want to let go.
1/3
Chapter 103 A Kiss Under Fireworks
0475
Finished
“I’m gonna be working late tonight.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
His fingers moved gently through her hair, long and elegant. tracing slow, soothing paths.
“Let’s head back to my place.”
“Yeah.”
The second Stella unlocked her phone, notifications flooded the screen.
“Stella: Survivor of the Child Murders 15 Years Ago
“Nirvana’s Music Comes From a Childhood Nightmare
“Survivor or Accomplice”
“Rumors Survivor Used Other Victims Blood in Artwork‘
“Cancel The Healer Killer or Hero”
Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly as she scrolled. Even at this hour. one of the posts had already racked up millions of comments.
[Wait, using actual children’s blood in paintings? That’s beyond messed up.]
[Why was she the only one who got out alive? Did she make some kind of deal with the guy?]
[I saw this piece once, called “The Fall. It showed this terrified kid jumping off a cliff into the ocean. thinking it was escape. But the water was packed with these twisted creatures, holding organs, eyes gleaming, waiting for the kid to drop. People say she painted it.]
[Anyone who creates something like that has to be broken in the head. And she’s supposed to be a healer? No way. Cancel her.]
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode