Chapter 17 Stella Stands Up for Herself
Stella had the audacity to flirt with Jeremy right in front of Martha?
Martha’s face twisted as she watched them. In a panic, she stood up. “Stella! You think you can touch Jeremy?
Jeremy was standing right there, so she didn’t dare go too far. Her voice stayed tight with restraint.
He frowned. “What are you standing there for? Clean it up.”
The moment those words left Jeremy’s mouth, Martha’s confidence cracked. Had he seen Stella’s injury? Was he starting to suspect their switched identities?
Jeremy let go of Stella’s wrist.
She took a quick step back and lowered her head, trying to make herself small. “I’m sorry, Mr. Parker. I didn’t mean to ”
Jeremy stood, looking down at the wet stain spreading across his dark, tailored trousers. The milk had soaked through, leaving a clear
Martha rushed in to save the moment, grabbing his arm. “I’ll come upstairs and help you change
But Jeremy smoothly pulled away, widening the distance between them. “You were raised pampered. Now that you’re in the Parker residence, how could I let you wear yourself out?”
His voice was soft, coaxing.
Martha felt a burst of relief and pride. She forced a smile. “I’ll call the maid, then ”
“No need,” he said flatly. “Stella can come with me.”
Without waiting for a response, Jeremy turned and walked toward the stairs.
Stella stood frozen. When she looked up, she caught Martha’s seething glare.
As she passed, Martha pinched her waist hard, hissing under her breath, “Watch yourself. Keep those greedy little hands to yourself.”
Stella didn’t dare linger and followed Jeremy upstairs.
Jeremy had already shrugged off his suit jacket in the walk–in closet. Stella entered cautiously, avoiding eye contact, and walked to the hanging section to find a clean suit.
“I keep thinking you remind me of someone.” Jeremy’s voice was calm, but the words made her tense. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her intently.
Stella froze. She pulled out a freshly pressed jacket and turned around. “Mr.Parker must be mistaken.”
He didn’t reach for the jacket. Instead, he took a step closer. “Is that so? Because I could swear you look just like Martha, especially your eyes.”
Her oversized mask covered most of her face, and keeping her head low was the only thing giving her any sense of security.
Was he testing her? No matter what, she couldn’t let her real identity be exposed.
She took a deep breath and lowered her gaze. “You must be joking, Mr. Parker. I’m just a maid. I don’t deserve to be compared to Ms. Nord. Please change your clothes.”
“There’s no rush,” Jeremy said.
The
set was cramp. Rows of custom–tailored suits hung nearby, filling the air with Jeremy’s cool, minty cologne.
His crisp white shirt gaped open slightly at the collar, revealing toned muscles. The sight made her nervous
Her voice trembled. “Mr. Parker… we’ve been here too long. If we don’t hurry, Ms. Nord might get upset.”
Jeremy ignored her and stepped forward, inch by inch, until his shadow swallowed her whole.
Stella backed up, but there was nowhere to go, just rows of pressed suits behind her.
“I’m not worried,” he said coolly. “Though it’s strange; I’ve never seen your face. What exactly are you hiding, Stella?”
He reached for her mask. Stella tried to step away, but the look in his eyes told her there was no room to say no
Was their entire plan about to fall apart today?
If Jeremy figured it out, she’d be out of the Parker residence for good. And Alison’s treatment…
Jeremy didn’t seem to notice the storm behind her silence. His fingers brushed the skin behind her ear, and the air in the closet went
still.
Stella shut her eyes.
མཆ ཨོཾ་ཟ ེ ཚ
“Jeremy! You’ve been in there so long. Have you changed already?” Martha’s voice rang out from the hallway, sharp and impatient.
Before Jeremy could answer, the closet door unlocked and creaked open a few inches.
Sunlight spilled in. Stella snapped out of her daze, tossed the suit back into the rack, and shoved at Jeremy’s shoulder.
He stumbled a step backward, caught off guard.
Taking the chance, Stella darted past him and out the door.
Jeremy stayed behind, laughing quietly to himself. This game was getting more and more entertaining
Martha, startled to see Stella flee, entered and found Jeremy still only half–dressed. She let out a shaky breath of relief.
“She didn’t say anything weird to you, right?” Martha questioned.
Jeremy’s expression went indifferent. “Said she had to turn off the stove.”
Martha relaxed, scanning him from head to toe with a strained smile. “Do you want me to help you change?”
“No need. I’m in a rush.” He slipped on a new suit and left for the office.
As soon as he was gone, Martha stormed into Stella’s room, kicking the door open.
“You whore! What the hell were you doing in the closet with him? You think you can seduce him in front of me?” She stomped over and slapped her hard.
Stella hadn’t been expecting it. Her cheek burned instantly.
Martha yanked her hair, pulling until her whole body shook.
But Stella grabbed her wrist without hesitation, prying each of her fingers away one by one. “Didn’t you throw me into his bed the night you got married? And now you’re playing victim? Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
Martha’s eyes were red with fury, her hand aching, “When did you start sleeping with him behind my back?”
Stella gave a crooked smile. “I’ve slept with him more times than I can count, and you didn’t care. But now you’re mad about us being in the closet for a few minutes? Don’t you think that’s pathetic?”
She’d followed every rule in that damn contract. She played a maid by day, and a mistress by night. And yet Martha still threw her around like trash.
Al! because of money? They shared the same blood. They were half–sisters.
Stella didn’t retreat. She stepped forward, voice colder than ice. “You can’t hold on to his heart. I can. His actions this morning already proved that, didn’t they?”
Martha snapped, lunging at her. “You bitch! How dare you talk to me like that!”
Stella’s eyes were full of scorn. She grabbed Martha by the collar and slapped her across the face hard.
Stella said, “Careful, Ms Nord. Keep acting like this, and someone might tell jeremy what you’re really like.”
Martha held her cheek, stunned. “You hit me?”
Stella scoffed. “Push me too far, and I’ll push back. We’re both tied to this. If it falls apart, neither of us walks away clean.”
Martha trembled, reaching for a heavy candlestick. However, before she could lift it, her phone rang, breaking the tension.
She glanced at the screen. Her rage evaporated. Her expression shitted instantly into uneasiness and anxiety.
On the screen, Frank’s name came flashing.
