Chapter 75 A Midnight Encounter
Chapter 75 A Midnight Encounter
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After dinner, Nathan made a quick call, then turned to Stella. “They’re starting a sweep of the entire slum district. I’ll be informed as soon as there’s any news.”
It all felt too easy–she hadn’t even really cooked for him.
Curled up on the sofa, Stella blinked. “Thanks!”
Nathan reached out to ruffle her soft hair but stopped himself. Instead, he pushed up his glasses with one hand and smiled gently. “I should be thanking you–for putting in so much effort for me today.”
Later that night, lying in bed after a shower, Stella got a WhatsApp message from Ethan.
“Did Mr. Foster take the bait? Or at least agree to help?”
Stella: “He already did. He’s such a good person!”
Ethan: “He’s not… planning to go to the ER tonight, right?”
Stella: “The food wasn’t mine. It was the chef’s. I just pretended.”
Ethan: “Oh thank God.”
Stella: “You better sleep with one eye open tonight!”
After shutting off her phone, Stella stared at the ceiling, guilt twisting in her chest.
Nathan had even thanked her for a meal she hadn’t made.
When the lights went out, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
The dishes had been extra salty today to match the act, and now she was parched. Feeling her way through the dark, she got up and opened her door-
Only to see a tall shadow standing directly in front of it.
A cool breeze blew into the room as the door creaked open.
Nathan’s mind blanked.
He’d just been about to do his usual routine: a glance at her before bed. If her light was off, she’d be asleep within thirty minutes. But it was off now–and she hadn’t slept?
Was she having trouble sleeping?
His heart pounded wildly, shoulders tense.
He probably looked like a lunatic, just standing outside her door in the middle of the night.
He raised a hand to adjust his glasses but fumbled a bit–his fingers were trembling.
“Hey..”
“Wow, Nathan, what a coincidence!” she chirped sweetly. “Couldn’t sleep? Going to get some water too?”
The only two people living here were them.
And from the tall silhouette alone, Stella had easily recognized him. She wasn’t scared at all.
He must’ve just been walking past and stopped when he heard her door open.
“Want juice or water? I can grab it for you!” she offered brightly, trying to make up for lying about dinner earlier.
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3:55 PM
ON
Chapter 75 A Midnight Encounter
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There was a small lounge on the second floor, equipped with a water filter and a fridge stocked with drinks.
Nathan hadn’t expected her to interpret it that way–that he was just casually passing by–and to do it so calmly, too.
She was the kind of person who saw the world through a pure, beautiful lens.
She had no darkness in her heart. So she never expected darkness in others.
In that moment, Nathan hated himself even more.
He was like some creature that crawled through sewage, obsessed with a star that shone high above him.
She was that star–bright, distant, untouchable.
“I’m good. I’ll get it myself,” he said, doing his best to keep his voice calm and even.
At least Lucas wouldn’t do twisted, shady things like this.
The past two weeks of sharing a roof with her had felt like a dream.
So much so that he couldn’t fall asleep each night without seeing her with his own eyes.
Since he’d declined, Stella didn’t insist.
The two of them walked together into the second–floor lounge.
The moonlight outside was beautiful, filtering softly through the balcony doors and washing the room in a dreamy glow.
Nathan reached the water dispenser first–long legs had their perks and handed her a cup.
She accepted it naturally and took a sip. The warm water soothed her dry throat.
“Thanks,” she said with a smile.
Nathan quietly poured himself a glass of cold water and took a long sip, trying to calm the storm in his chest.
“Did the thirst wake you?” he asked casually.
Stella’s long lashes trembled. “No… I couldn’t sleep.”
“Because of Louis?” Nathan’s eyes were fixed on her face.
Neither of them had turned on the lights, and under the soft glow of moonlight, the atmosphere between them grew faintly hazy and charged with something unspoken.
