TimeNovelThere was no hope left for The Wilkinson Group now.
Jasper stood frozen in place, too intimidated to say another word.
Mr. Burton turned his gaze on Deanna. "You're Stella's former mother-in-law?"
Deanna immediately understood that Mr. Burton hadn't chere to make friends. He was here to settle old
scores.
Her face fell. Forcing an awkward smile, she nudged Keen forward. "Yes. Mr. Burton, this is Stella's son, Keen."
Keen greeted him politely. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Burton."
Mr. Burton inclined his head in a noncommittal nod, barely sparing Keen a glance before turning his attention
back to Deanna.
"You know, | actually have you to thank for meeting Stella."
Deanna blinked in surprise. "Thank me?"
He nodded. "If it weren't for that chronic migraine problem of yours, Stella never would have gone to such
lengths to find me. She beggedfor medicine for half a year to help cure your stubborn illness."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
He paused, his eyes cool. "So, Deanna, did the medicine work for you?"
Deanna's mind reeled. She'd never realized the medicine Stella delivered every month cfrom Mr. Burton
himself. She'd taken that medicine for two years, and after a checkup, her doctor had told her that the ailment
she'd suffered from for decades was finally almost gone. As long as she kept her spirits up and continued with
sadditional medication, it was unlikely to trouble her again.
She blurted out, almost on instinct, "Mr. Burton, your medicine... it worked wonders."
Mr. Burton's gaze shifted to where Keen stood quietly.
"Keen, right? Your mother once cut her hand picking medicinal herbs for me, trying to make a special spray for
you. She still has the scar."
Everyone turned to look at Stella's hand. Sure enough, there was a faint, silvery scar on the back of her hand-
one no one had ever really noticed before.
Haynes' eyes darkened. He remembered that tin the restaurant, when Keen had an allergic reaction and
Stella had.
ovel
pulled out a spray bottle to save him. So that's where it had come
from-the result of her months of
effort and Mr. Burton's help. His gaze toward Stella grew complicated.
But Stella stood there, expressionless, as if surrounded by strangers. Even when she looked at Keen, her face
remained utterly calm, as though nothing could touch her.
Somehow, Haynes felt a sudden, inexplicable frustration. For the first time, he wondered if agreeing to the
divorce had been a terrible mistake.
Mr. Burton's quiet voice broke the silence again.
"Stella would do anything for her family. | always wanted to meet her relatives. Unfortunately, despite everything
she's done for all of you, not a single one of you ever visited my shop."
Deanna's eyes filled with tears. She rushed to defend herself. "Mr. Burton, it's not that we didn't want to visit.
Stella never told us-"
Stella, who had been silent all this time, cut her off. "Deanna, when | first brought you the medicine, | asked if
you wanted to meet Mr. Burton. You told me, ‘Why bother meeting an ordinary doctor?""
Deanna opened her mouth, but no words came. She remembered saying exactly that.
Stella turned to Keen, her voice steady. "When your health improved, | offered to take you to meet the
man who helped you get better. You
said you'd rather go hang out with Rachel, and toldto go oromy own."
Keen lowered his head in shame.
Finally, Stella's gaze shifted to Haynes.
"Haynes, | asked you so many times
to cwithand thank Mr.
for
Burton for his care. You said if money was needed, | should have your assistant handle it, that you didn't have
tfor these kinds of social obligations."
Her words lingered in the air, stark and heavy.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
