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Chapter 69 Breaking Ties
Chapter 69 Breaking Ties
For years afterward, whenever Lucas was with friends, someone would inevitably joke that Stella was his crush.
Lucas believed it himself.
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After all, anyone who had chased a girl for three years and finally won her over–only to lose her in an accident on their very first date–would never forget her.
The stench of the slum was sharp and foul. Even standing at its entrance, you could smell it.
But right now, all Lucas could smell was the light fragrance carried on the wind from Stella.
She was right there, alive, standing in the sunlight.
Her skin was flawless, her smile bright, her hair pulled into a casual ponytail. She was as stunning as ever, just like back then.
Her lively, pleasant voice reached his ears.
But when the meaning of her words sank in, the corner of his mouth twitched.
Ignoring her teasing tone, he opened his arms to hug her.
Stella instinctively ducked under his arm and slipped past him.
Lucas ended up hugging empty air. He turned, his voice tinged with hurt. “Stella, what are you avoiding me for?”
After all this time, wasn’t a hug the natural thing?
Nancy,
who had followed behind Stella, recognized Lucas instantly.
Any normal person would be excited to see a big star.
She was–until she saw him try to grab Stella right away. Whatever goodwill she had evaporated.
“Avoiding you? Why are you putting your hands all over her the second you walk up?”
Nancy spoke first, stepping protectively in front of Stella.
Lucas’s expression cooled. “Mind your own business. She’s my girlfriend.”
Nancy frowned and looked back at Stella, “Seriously?”
She’d just seen an Instagram post last night claiming Lucas had gotten back together with Hannah.
Lucas had been sure Stella still liked him.
But after she dodged his hug, he felt a pang of doubt.
Those eyes—so famously warm online–locked onto Stella, his heartbeat picking up
Surely she wouldn’t deny it?
After all, they’d never officially broken up.
But Stella didn’t even glance at him. She smiled at Nancy. “Of course not
Nancy nodded. “I knew it. No way you’d have such an old boyfriend.”
From the moment she met Stella, she’d thought she looked young–nothing like the “older sister” figure everyone in the company called her out of respect.
Now, standing next to Lucas, the age gap looked obvious.
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Chapter 69 Breaking Ties
Lucas felt the sting. His tone sharpened. “I’m not old. I’m only twenty–nine.
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Nancy shot back. Twenty–nine’s practically thirty, which turns into forty, then fifty before you know it. How’s that not old?”
Lucas’s mouth twitched. “You’re a real math whiz, aren’t you?”
Stella couldn’t help laughing, her eyes curving like crescent moons–beautiful enough to steal the breath from anyone watching
Lucas’s heart pounded.
Back in their first year of high school, he’d fallen for her at first sight when she stood on the podium as the student representative, dazzling under the sun like the brightest star in the sky.
Nothing in the world could compare to having a dead crush come back to life-
Especially when that crush was still eighteen.
He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. “I know you’re upset, but I can explain. Just hear me out.”
Stella pulled her hand back. “I really don’t have time to mess around with you. Goodbye.”
The beautiful girl turned to leave, her hair stirring up a faint, sweet scent.
Lucas leaned in, his voice low. “Stella! I know you’re from another timeline.”
Stella froze, turning back to look at him, her eyes sharp with curiosity,
Who’d blabbed?
No–hardly anyone knew. And none of them should have any connection to Lucas
So he’d probably figured it out on his own.
A male lead in a novel was rarely an idiot.
“So what?” she asked.
Lucas was caught off guard.
Yeah–so what?
What could he even do? Hand her over to some lab for research?
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “Stella, what I mean is… we never actually broke up.”
Let’s break up now, Stella said.
Her decisiveness was both unexpected and completely in character.
After all his scandals, proud as she was, she would never accept someone like him
