Chapter 15

“Thank you, Mr. Brown. I look forward to our successful cooperation,” Anthony said, extending his hand for a polite handshake, a smile on his face. “Looking forward to it,” Brown responded with a nod of approval, watching the two of them before personally escorting them to the company’s front door. After a brief farewell, Anthony stopped Brown from walking them any further, and Brown finally turned to head back inside. Once Brown had left, Stella relaxed and stretched. “I thought Mr. Brown would be tough to deal with, but he’s actually pretty easygoing. If I’d known, I would’ve gone straight to him instead of dealing with their manager’s ridiculous demands.” Anthony gave her a helpless smile and gently tapped her forehead. “You’ve never acted like this around me before. You were always so formal, so respectful. What’s with the sudden change? You’re acting like a cat now.” Stella touched her forehead and chuckled. “Well, you did say we’re friends!” “Then let’s celebrate landing this project together. I’ll treat you to a meal.” Anthony patted her shoulder before pulling her along, heading out. “Beep—!” A sharp honk suddenly pierced the air, causing Stella to jump in surprise. Realizing how close she was standing to Anthony, she quickly pulled away, offering him a slightly awkward smile. Anthony glanced at his now-empty hand, a slight twinge of disappointment in his eyes, but he quickly adjusted, letting his hand fall casually by his side. “So, what do you want to eat?” Stella tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I’m not too familiar with Silver Moon Pack. You take me anywhere, it’s fine. I trust your taste,” she said with a laugh. “Alright, I know just the place,” Anthony nodded. “Shall we walk there? It’ll give us a chance to enjoy the scenery and architecture of Silver Moon Pack.” “Sure, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” Stella replied, her voice full of excitement. She was eager to get some fresh air. The two of them walked side by side, chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the car silently trailing behind them. Eric sat in the driver’s seat, his expression tense, lips pressed tightly together, his eyes burning with anger. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white, as he struggled to suppress his growing fury. Had he only lost track of her for a few days? And now, she couldn’t wait to go after another man? He had even booked the fastest flight to Silver Moon Pack and driven straight to the residential area—all just to see her... like this? So happy? With another man? He was torturing himself. When that man’s arm had gone around her, Eric had lost control and slammed his fist on the horn, startling her. At least she had the sense to pull away from him. The truth was, Eric’s feelings for her were complicated. Yes, he liked her, but he also despised her actions. Eric closed his eyes, taking a moment to calm himself, before reopening them. His gaze once again steady, he started the car and followed them at a leisurely pace. He wanted to see where they were going and what they were up to. S Restaurant. Stella and Anthony sat across from each other, chatting and enjoying their meal in a comfortable and warm atmosphere. Stella had recently noticed that she felt more relaxed around Anthony. She could openly share her thoughts and feelings without hesitation. Over time, Anthony had become more of a friend to her. “Stella, now that we’ve successfully closed this project, how about we stay a few more days in Silver Moon Pack? I’ll take you around to see the sights,” Anthony asked, resting his chin on his hand as he tilted his head and looked at her. Stella had initially planned to refuse, but then she remembered the incident with Eric blocking her on the stairs the other day, along with her emotionally distant father and the stepmother who had betrayed her. The thought of it all made her head spin, and, somewhat pitifully, she found herself wanting to escape. The longer she could avoid it, the better. She bit her lip, her clear eyes meeting Anthony’s as she smiled and agreed, “Okay.” Anthony’s eyes lit up with excitement at her agreement, and he eagerly began discussing their sightseeing plans over dinner. Stella mostly focused on eating, occasionally lifting her head to listen as Anthony outlined the itinerary. "Stella?" Anthony suddenly stopped mid-sentence and called her name. "Hm? What's up?" Stella looked up, still chewing, then quickly swallowed and asked, sounding a bit dazed. Anthony reached for a napkin, stood up, and gently wiped her lips. "Here, you've got something on you." His long fingers brushed over her lips with the napkin. She jumped slightly, then quickly reached for the napkin, wiping it off herself with a slightly embarrassed laugh. "Ah... you could've just told me. I can do it myself." Just then, Eric walked in, and this was the scene that greeted him. Anthony was gently wiping Stella’s lips, their faces almost touching. Then Stella shyly took the napkin from Anthony’s hand, wiping her lips herself. Their fingers brushed briefly. Honestly, Eric could feel his jealousy simmering—growing into a full-blown fire. "Good evening, you two," a deep voice drawled, tinged with barely concealed anger. They quickly pulled apart, and Stella looked up in surprise. It was Eric. He wore a finely tailored suit, his left hand in his pocket and his right hand absentmindedly flipping a lighter. His lips curled into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile, but his eyes—sharp and cold like shards of ice—were fixed on the two of them. Stella could almost feel the beast inside Eric straining to break free. Anthony hesitated for a moment, clearly caught off guard, but quickly recovered, forcing a polite smile. "Ah, the Alpha of Pack Eric’s Corporation. Hello, Eric." Eric didn’t spare him a glance, his gaze entirely locked on Stella. "What were you two doing just now? Are you really that desperate?" "As far as I know, Alpha Eric," Anthony replied coolly, "you’re about to break the mark with Stella, aren’t you? You don’t like her, so why are you stopping me from pursuing her? And by the way, what we were doing was completely normal—nothing inappropriate." He glanced at Eric indifferently. Stella was shocked. She hadn’t told anyone, except for her father and stepmother, about breaking the mark with Eric. How did Anthony know? Eric finally turned his eyes to Anthony, sharp as a blade, scanning him up and down. He couldn’t stand the way this man looked so much like Stella. As if Anthony could sense exactly what Stella was thinking, he turned to her, his eyes soft with warmth. He gave her a gentle smile and a reassuring nod. To Eric, it felt like they were flirting. He clenched his teeth and suddenly yanked Stella’s delicate arm. "Don't forget, we haven’t broken the mark yet. You can’t break it with me!" Eric snarled at Stella. Then, without breaking his icy gaze, he turned back to Anthony. Eric’s glare was intense, his words deliberate and chilling as he addressed Anthony. "Mr. Anthony, I think you should know—there’s a thing called boundaries. A man’s wife is not someone you can touch so casually, don’t you agree?"