Chapter 21

While Jason hadn't responded for a while, Stella had already walked out of the kitchen with freshly steamed crabs in hand. Ethan walked to the dining room and took a seat. The butler, Troy, the butler, knew that Stella loved crabs, so he specially saved the fattest ones for her to take home. Stella deftly peeled the meat and roe from two crabs and piled them into a small mountain on a nearby plate. Ethan didn't start eating; he just quietly observed her. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "Did you really go to learn martial arts because of Ella Manning?" Fifteen years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Carlson tragically encountered a landslide while searching for their daughter. With no children left, only Dean remained by Thomas's side as a son-in-law. Even though he had initially disliked Dean, over the years Dean had been as attentive as a real son, and the old man couldn't help but be moved. Ethan knew that Stella wasn't unprepared for Dean's actions, but she hadn't made a move yet because of