chapter1223

Harold's arrival instantly broke the tense atmosphere. However, the conversation was mostly between Stella and Harold; Joshua barely spoke. He was engrossed in his phone, seemingly uninterested in their chat.

Having been by Joshua's side for so long, Harold could easily tell his boss was in a foul mood. He subtly glanced at Stella, but her expression was normal, betraying nothing.

After they had been talking for a while, Stella's phone rang. She checked the caller ID, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Harold, could you keep Joshua company for a minute? I need to take this call outside," she said.

"Of course, Ms. Cameron. Go right ahead."

Once outside the room, Stella answered the phone.

"Star." Neville Connolly's deep, magnetic voice came through the line. "How have you been?"

It had been some time since they had last spoken. After relocating his business to Solmaris, Neville had been focused on stabilizing his company. Shortly after, his grandmother had fallen gravely ill, prompting him to take Marvin back to Aetheria.

"I'm doing well," Stella replied. "How are you and Marvin? And how is your grandmother? Is her condition stable?"

Neville sighed. "Grandma has a terminal illness. The doctors say she has six months at most."

"I'm so sorry," Stella said softly.

"She and my grandfather were very close," Neville said. "After my grandfather passed away, her health started declining. It's a miracle she held on for so many years to help raise Marvin." Before Neville had moved to Neo-Vespera, Marvin had been living with his grandmother. It was only when Neville's company needed to expand back in Novaris that she insisted he take Marvin with him.

"She's in good spirits, though," Neville added. "It's just..."

"Just what?" Stella asked.

Before he could answer, Marvin's voice piped up in the background. "Dad, is that Stella? I want to talk to Stella!"

Neville handed the phone to his son. Marvin hadn't seen Stella in a long time, and though they spoke on the phone, he missed her terribly. After

tonic

they had chatted for a good tem nutes, Neville took the phone back.

"Star, I hope Marvin didn't bother you."

"Not at all. I have some free time right now."

Neville paused for a moment before asking, "Star, are you free tonight? I'd like to take you to dinner. This littles guy has been clamoring to see you ever since our plane landed fate last night."

Stella instinctively glanced toward the hospital room.

Joshua was recovering well and no longer needed her there

twenty-four-seven. She sometimes left for a while to run errands and would return later. Thinking about the strange mood in the room earlier, that odd feeling surfaced again.

After a moment's thought, she agreed. "Okay."

"Great," Neville said with a smile. "I'll come pick you up in a bit. Where are you now, Star?"

"You don't have to pick me up; I can get there myself," she said. "I'm at the

hospital right now, so it's not very convenient."

Neville's voice grew tense. "The hospital? Star, are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine," she explained. "It's Joshua. He was injured and is recovering here."

At the mention of Joshua's name, Neville paused. "What happened to him?"

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