Love After Divorce by BELLA

Chapter 50:.

“Stella, what are you thinking?” Isabella advanced the check, as if afraid Stella might not be able to see the

number clearly.

“Stella, if you don’t want to interfere with Sophia’s marriage, | don’t think there's anything wrong with taking

Auntie’s money.”

“It’s the swith Tristan. You know that according to moral ethics, you two can’t be together, so...”

“Mom! What are you doing?”

Before Isabella could finish her words, a familiar male voice cfrom behind Stella.

Before Stella could turn around, she saw a man’s large hand snatch the check on the table from her. Tristan,

fearing that Isabella would return the check to Stella, did not dare give it back to her.

“Mom, are you giving him money to leave town? Have you done this before?”

It was almost lunchtime, so Tristan had decided to go to Stella’s company to have lunch with her. After all, now

that he was pursuing Stella, he wanted to spend more twith her.

The cafeteria was located at the company’s front door, and since Stella was sitting near the window, she saw

them immediately.

But what Tristan didn’t expect was to find Isabella trying to pay Stella to leave X City.

Isabella felt a little embarrassed when Tristan discovered her actions. She said awkwardly, “Tristan, | was doing it

for you. Do | give money to the girl I like to make her go away? Is it for my sake?”

Tristan held the check tightly in his hand, anger evident in his eyes.

Stella had always thought that Tristan was not the type to lose his temper easily. At least, he had never lost his

temper in front of her. But she knew it was only because he was always serene in her presence.

When he was at the Richards’, Tristan had conflicts with Sofia and Isabella, but everything was behind the

scenes. Only when Stella occasionally walked past Tristan’s room or chearly from school did he hear

their arguments. It was always about her.

Despite this, Tristan always acted as if nothing had happened when Stella was around.

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On one occasion, Stella asked Tristan if he had caused her much trouble. He merely rubbed her head with a

gentle smile and told her he would protect her. At that time, Stella was still young. Therefore, she believed

everything Tristan said and felt that everything was really all right.

Now, Stella realized the sacrifices he had made for her behind the scenes, and that made her feel even

guiltier....

“Brother Tristan, don’t be angry!” Stella stood up to stop him. Even though she didn’t like Sophia and Isabella,

she didn’t want Tristan to make an enemy of his mother because of her.

“Shut up! When has it ever been your turn to talk between us?” With a loud bang, Isabella stood up and faced

him.

Isabella had originally disliked Stella, but now that her son was arguing with her because of Stella, she was even

angrier. “Stella, if it weren't for your presence in our family, things wouldn't be so hectic!”

“Mom!” Tristan grabbed Stella by the hand, pulling her behind him as if to protect her from Isabella’s wrath. “If

you have something to say, say it to me, but you're not allowed to treat her like this!”.

“Stella is a woman! If you use words or money to hurt her, she might do something unforeseen!” After finishing

speaking, Tristan took Stella’s hand and left.

Before leaving, he also threw the check on the table.

From childhood to adulthood, Tristan had always protected her like an older brother. Whenever she felt hurt, this

man would stand in front of her to protect her. Even now, after so many years, he had not changed in his

protection of her.

Stella didn’t stop him until they were outside the cafeteria. Only then did she say, “Thank you...”

There were few people in her life who treated her as well as her grandmother and Tristan. Of course, there were

also people who didn’t like her. So, in people’s lives, there were good and bad people in proportion.

“Silly girl! Why are you thanking me?” Tristan rubbed her head with the palm of his hand, a soft smile in his eyes,

as if she were a kitten.

Suddenly, the warmth of their past relationship seemed to return. Stella couldn't remember the last tTristan

had been so kind to her. He didn’t seem like someone who had just argued with Isabella for her sake.

However, after Stella found out about Tristan’s feelings for her, she began to feel more sorry for him. Since

nothing was going to happen between them, this man was still wasting his twith her.

That's why Stella felt even worse for him.

“Brother Tristan,” Stella said, “Auntie didn’t do this for any particular reason. She was just worried about you. You

don’t have to be with her because of me.

Besides, she did it for your own good. She was afraid you'd waste your twith me.”

As Stella spoke, her voice carried a tinge of reflection. Knowing there was no future between them, she didn’t

want to get close or receive kindness from him. It was better to set boundaries.

However, it was clear that Tristan was not happy after hearing this. “Let's go to lunch.” With that, Tristan stepped

forward.

Stella couldn’t disagree and followed him. Since Stella had to return to work in the afternoon, Tristan chose a

nearby restaurant.

They sat at a table by the window and Tristan ordered everything without consulting Stella. It was his tradition.

Whenever Stella went out to eat with Tristan, he would remember her favorite dishes and order them without

asking her.

“Just now, | didn’t expect my mother to clooking for you like this, were you scared?”

Tristan squeezed lemon into the pav bhaji he had ordered and neatly exchanged plates with her. His movements

were very natural, as if he did it every day.

In the past, Stella had accepted this kindness without complaint because she considered him her brother.

However, now things were different.

After learning that this man had feelings for her, Stella could no longer accept his kindness.

Stella shook her head, indicating that it was okay. Then she put the food in her mouth. They both ate in silence.

The atmosphere was a bit uncomfortable. After swallowing her food, Stella couldn't help but change the subject.

“I think you should have a serious talk with Auntie. She did all this for you. There are still a lot of beautiful

women out there.”

Stella's voice gradually lowered as her eyes turned cold.

Tristan put down the spoon and looked at her, his voice no longer soft. “Stella, you can refuse to accept me, but

you have no right to sellto those women outside.”

His words were heavy, filled with the weight of his anger. “Besides, you must know that my mother treated me

like that. As | said, the person | like is a relative of mine. Stella, you've hurtso much!”

Stella was speechless. She had only tried to give him advice.... And yet he said she had hurt him so much!

Hearing his words, Stella felt guilty. It was as if she had ruined his happiness. She secretly looked at him and

rolled her eyes at the man. She didn’t say anything, but he made it sound as if she had broken his heart.

Tristan put more food on his plate. “I don’t want to hear those things again. It's my business who | like. If | could

control my heart, | wouldn't like a heartless person like you.”

The last part of his sentence was softer, more affectionate. Stella lowered her head and did not know what to

reply.

Tristan looked at her and his lips curved into a smile. He liked being alone with Stella. This way, he felt that

Stella's tand attention belonged to him alone.

It was just that after so many years apart, the tthey spent together had becprecious. As for Stella, |

didn’t know what to say.

It was entirely fair to call her a heartless woman. Were it not for the fact that this heartless woman married

another man and had a child, he would not have been so repulsed in his pursuit of her.

How could he not call her heartless? This woman... she had really hurt him a lot. Before he was eight years old,

he had experienced everything with Stella. Until the day Stella married another man, he could still remember

how much pain he felt in his heart!

Now that this woman had finally divorced RK, how could Tristan let her go again? This time, he would decide to

make her his wife.

“Stella Richard!”

Stella lowered her head and, just as she was about to eat another piece of food, a familiar deep male voice came

from behind her.

Before she could turn around, RK’s stern voice interrupted her, “Lunchtis over! Tto go.”