Chapter 2229
Why did Marshall bother dragging Keegan upstairs when he was already drunk?
Couldn't he just place Keegan downstairs?
Even if it was for Keegan's comfort, why did Marshall wait downstairs for her?
There were only two elevators going up; could she really have missed them?
Keegan always had a disdain for the Jewell family. He wouldn't give Sophia a chance to get close to him while sober. And Sophia wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. If she had the capability, she would have succeeded long ago.
So when Marshall drank water, it wasn't because of a headache, but to stall for time, making sure she could catch them in the act.
The more Stella thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. What was Marshall feeling when he came to aid the person responsible for his first love's death?
"Stella?"
Seeing her silence, her face still somewhat pale, Marshall gently called her.
Stella's fingers trembled slightly, then she clenched them, steadying her emotions. She reached out and took it, "Thank you."
She seemed okay, but her complexion wasn't great at the moment, with a layer of cold sweat on her forehead, possibly from being frightened.
Marshall had a lot on his mind, but when he spoke, it came out as a simple greeting, "How have you been lately?"
Stella nodded. "Pretty good."
She paused and added, "A while ago, someone contacted me from your phone, saying you were drunk. I wasn't feeling well at the time, so I didn't go. Did you return after?"
She brought up the topic almost as if she feared he would question her absence. This distance between them left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He smiled. "Yes, I did. Kayla was kind enough to escort me back."
Stella nodded. "That's good."
She fiddled with her cup, choosing her words carefully, "Mr. Moore, when we parted that day, I said some things that were a bit harsh. You've helped me a lot, and I was too suspicious of you. I'm sorry."
Marshall shook his head. "It's because I didn't clarify things before sharing ambiguous information with you. It's natural for you to blame me."
Stella lowered her eyes. "You and Keegan have been friends since childhood. I should trust that you have his best interests at heart, just as he has yours. Before his accident, he spoke to me about you and always mentioned your childhood together. That model cruise ship he placed on the bookshelf, he said it was handmade by you and given to him. The housekeeper accidentally broke the sails while cleaning before, and he was really upset. I even felt a pang of jealousy at the time, thinking it was a gift from his ex-girlfriend, but it turned out to be from you."
Stella chuckled, "He didn't cherish anything I gave him as much."
Marshall's expression was complicated. He tightened his grip on the water glass and took a moment before smiling. "High school creations, I'd almost forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it. Keegan is quite sentimental."
"Yeah, he's always been sentimental," Stella said softly, "Do you know why he created Luna?"
Marshall paused for a moment and remained silent.
Stella continued, "He said he hurt his back playing basketball in school. He was bedridden the whole time. Every day, he felt like a piece of dead meat being moved around by others. He felt he had no dignity, was very ashamed, and had a friend who encouraged him, saying that in the future, he should create a robot butler to take care of patients instead of humans, to preserve their dignity when they're sick. He turned their jokes into reality, but I don't know if his friend ever saw it."