Paid To Care, Destined To Conquer Novel

Chapter 7 Her Words Shocked Everyone In the café downstairs from the hospital, the barista stared as Stella poured six shots of syrup into her iced coffee. Stella took a long drink, her expression one of relaxed weariness that was oddly magnetic. The cup met the counter with a soft thud, the ice inside clinking crisply. Her gaze drifted to the window, where a stern-looking older gentleman sat with a set of twins. One twin, a girl, looked pale and listless. The boy was fidgeting and flushed, full of restless energy. Stella watched the boy's legs for a silent moment.

The old man turned sharply, his silent command filling the space. Before he could utter a word, the door chimed. Linda swept in, the distinct click of her designer heels marking her direct, unhesitating path toward Stella. "You have some nerve for a girl your age," Linda said, her eyes sweeping over Stella with open disdain. With Sebastian out of the room, she saw no need for pretense. To her, Stella was just a fleeting distraction. Stella watched, one eyebrow raised, as Linda pulled a thin cigarette from her designer bag and held it ready. "So, how much do you want?

Name your price," Linda said casually. "What are you even talking about, old witch?" Stella replied, her voice cool and dismissive. "What did you call me?" Linda's face flushed with anger. She looked ready to attack. "Don't think Sebastian can protect you," Linda sneered, her earlier fear around Sebastian completely gone. "Ever since his legs were ruined, plenty of people have been waiting for him to die. And now he's stuck with a kid who can't even speak." Her gaze swept over Stella, her lips making a faint, disapproving sound that did little to hide the sharp envy beneath it.

She had to admit Stella's face was flawless. Unnoticed by either woman, John stood in the corner with his phone aimed their way. The live feed was streaming straight to Sebastian's screen. In the hospital hallway, Sebastian watched the screen from the shadows. A cold, quiet rage seemed to thicken the air around his wheelchair. Jake swallowed, his legs unsteady. He could only hope, desperately, that Stella wouldn't choose the wrong words. The standoff at the café table dragged on. "Would you say that to his face?" Stella asked, her voice calm. She tapped the counter once for a refill.

The sunlight caught her hands, warming them with a soft glow as she settled back, completely at ease. "It would be a shame for a face like yours to be ruined by a madman like Sebastian," Linda said, her smile cold. "A madman?" Stella repeated quietly, turning the word over in her mind. "You really don't know?" Linda asked, her voice dropping as if she were telling a secret, meant to draw Stella in. "Sebastian has always been drawn to bloodshed," she continued. "After that one incident, he lost what little sanity he had left.

Do you honestly think you're safe with him?" Linda's words sparked a quiet curiosity in Stella. She wondered what incident Linda could possibly be referring to. "Give me information on him, and I'll pay you 300 thousand dollars. Help me when I ask, and I'll arrange for you to study abroad." Linda lit a cigarette and took a slow drag. "What do you think?" Stella looked like she could still be in high school. Linda didn't know how she'd gotten involved with Sebastian, but to her mind, a girl that young should be simple enough to manage.

From his corner, John watched the exchange with cool interest, waiting to see which way Stella would lean. "300 thousand dollars," Stella repeated, her expression going briefly distant, as if the figure had genuinely surprised her. Linda smiled to herself. This was proving easier than she'd thought. "Is 300 thousand really a lot of money?" Stella said flatly, giving her cup a gentle turn. "Of course it is," Linda answered smoothly. To her, 300 thousand was just the price of a few salon visits, a small, worthwhile cost to place an informant close to Sebastian.

"But old witch, do you know how much Mr. Gray pays me?" Stella asked, leaning in with a soft smile, her captivating eyes locking onto Linda's. "How much?" Linda leaned in, the cigarette loose between her fingers. Her eagerness made her forget the earlier insult entirely. Instead of an answer, Stella poured the iced coffee over Linda's head. The air filled with the sharp, sweet-and-bitter scent of coffee and syrup. Linda shrieked and covered her face. "You bitch!" Linda made a grab for Stella, but Stella was faster. She kicked Linda squarely in the stomach.

Linda collapsed to the floor, gasping in pain. The café fell silent. In the corner, John's hand holding his phone trembled a little. He winced inwardly, certain the blow had been painful. "Even if he is a madman, it's not for you to say," Stella said, clicking her tongue against her teeth. Her innocent expression vanished, replaced by clear annoyance. Stella wasn't about to let anyone, least of all Linda, disrespect her golden goose. To her, Sebastian represented her future security.

"As long as I'm around, no one touches him," Stella said, her voice cold and commanding as she looked down at Linda. On top of everything else, Linda had the nerve to smoke indoors, a habit Stella considered deeply rude. "He's my..." Stella said in a low, possessive voice. Before Sebastian could hear the rest of the sentence, the live video cut out. In the hospital hallway, he remained perfectly still, staring at the silent screen in his hand. The dangerous tension that had been clinging to him simply vanished.

Jake, who had been holding his breath in fear, finally let out a slow, quiet breath. 'She's got nerve,' Jake thought, his heart pounding. 'Calling Mr. Gray hers like that? It's so cringe-worthy. What's he going to do to her when she gets back?' Back in the café, Stella's declaration "He's my..." was enough to make John drop his phone in shock. As it clattered to the floor, he distinctly heard her finish the sentence with the words "golden goose". He stared at the dark screen, uncertain whether he should tell Sebastian she'd said that.

"You're going to pay for this, you little witch!" Linda shrieked, her voice piercing as she stood there, soaked and sticky. Stella met her rage with a cold smile and a single, raised middle finger. She was curious to see how exactly Linda planned to make her pay. "He'll pay for the mess," Stella said, gesturing toward John. She then walked past Linda and headed for the door. John stared after her, taken aback by the sudden realization that she'd been aware of his presence the whole time. Just before leaving, Stella seemed to remember something. She turned back toward the dignified old man.

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