The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1990

Hearing the door open, Stella slowly looked up, her gaze colliding with Roger's.

Roger didn't say a word. Instead, he fetched the medical kit.

He took out some cold prevention medicine, dissolved it in warm water, and finally approached her.

"Drink this. So you don't catch a cold."

"Thank you."

Stella took the cup, taking two small sips before looking back up at him. "Please take a seat, Dr. Gates."

"..."

Roger remained standing, staring at her in absolute silence.

Just last night, she had finally called him "Roger."

Now, the walls were back up, an impenetrable fortress between them.

"..."

Under his intense gaze, Stella gripped the glass nervously. Her pale lips parted. "Charlotte and I met at Lamplighter Village. There were over a dozen kids around our age with us."

"The director of the sanatorium was a sadist who constantly beat and tortured us. We came up with so many escape plans, and finally, right when we were about to succeed... that monster found out."

Stella's voice was agonizingly light, her expression eerily detached, as if narrating a story about a stranger. "He dragged me away and locked me in a room. He said he was going to teach me a lesson."

"Stella..."

Roger cut her off, dropping to one knee before her. He stared intently at her face, his voice rumbling with deep conviction. "If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."

"The girl you were then, the woman you'll be tomorrow—I want all of you."

"No."

Stella shook her head. Her eyes slowly reddened, and she bit her pale lip, fighting back tears. "I was planning on telling you everything tonight anyway."

"I said, it doesn't matter." Roger grabbed her hand, his voice painfully hoarse.

"Let me finish." Stella gently but firmly pulled her hand away. Her fingers trembled violently. "He ripped my clothes off and tried to assault me. But he couldn't perform, and that sent him into a blind rage."

"Dr. Gates, I promised to tell you about my past tonight," Stella whispered against his chest, her arms resting limply at her sides. Every word felt like broken glass in her throat. "Now you know."

"I'm sorry for making you all worry so late at night."

"Charlotte is pregnant. The two of you should go home and get some rest."

With that, she stood up, preparing to usher him out.

"Is that it?"

Roger didn't move. He grabbed her wrist, his eyes simultaneously red-rimmed and terrifyingly fierce. "Do you have anything else to say to me?"

"Yes."

Stella turned around, looking straight into his eyes. Her throat was tight. "I've thought about this very carefully. I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm the right fit for you."

"Let's end this here."

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