TRUST at gunpoint

Chapter 9

        Stella’s POV

I sighed in relief, taking in the familiar surroundings of my room. Everything looked so warm, so safe, so mine. The faint scent of vanilla candles mixed with the cool evening breeze from my window.

My bed looked incredibly inviting, the "Sleep Till Wake" sticker above it making me smile.

"Home sweet home," I murmured, stretching out my arms and just basking in the quiet. It felt so good to be back. I didn’t want anything—anyone—to interrupt my life again.

Evening arrived, and my stomach rumbled, reminding me it was dinnertime.

I slipped on a jacket and headed out to pick up groceries. At the store, I filled my basket with pasta, fresh veggies, and some chocolate—a little treat after all the stress.

Back home, I cooked myself a cozy meal, enjoying every bite of my return to normalcy.

I slipped into bed after dinner, pulling my blanket close. The comfort of my mattress felt like a dream. I sank into it, savoring the peacefulness.

“I hope this normal life lasts,” I whispered to myself with a small, sleepy smile. I closed my eyes, wishing for nothing but calm from now on.

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Christian’s POV

At the mansion, I leaned back in my chair, sipping on a scotch, feeling the calm settle in for the first time in days.

My father was satisfied with what he saw; the so-called girlfriend plan had worked—for now, at least. That girl is gone out of my life, right where she belonged.

Liam bounded over, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Hey, Chris, we’re hitting up a party tonight. You coming?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes, setting down my glass. “Not tonight, Liam. I’ve got work to do,” I replied flatly, tapping at my phone as I tried to ignore him.

Liam threw his hands up. “Suit yourself, but you’re missing out,” he said with a smirk, turning to leave.

As he walked away, I started to go through the deals.

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Stella’s POV

I woke up the next morning with a smile, hugging my pillow tightly. It felt so good to be here. I got up, threw on my slippers, and admired my little room again.

Today was the day for a good cleaning.

“Alright, Stella, let’s make this place shine,” I said with a determined grin, grabbing a mop and some cleaning spray.

After cleaning, I jumped into a long, warm shower, enjoying every second. Once I got out, I dried my hair, glanced at my reflection, and wondered, Should I tell Mom about this whole mess? I knew she’d be worried if she knew, so I decided against it. Instead, I called her, keeping our conversation light and cheerful. We talked about her garden and a few neighbors back home. Not a word about Christian or his ridiculous plan.

When we hung up, I felt the weight of everything settling on me. I needed to tell someone. So, I called Kevin—my best friend since high school. Kevin had always been my rock, and I knew he’d understand.

Thirty minutes later, Kevin arrived with his usual warm grin. “Hey, troublemaker, where’ve you been hiding?” he joked, hugging me tightly.

I laughed, feeling a rush of relief as I hugged him back. “You’re not gonna believe this, Kev,” I said, gesturing for him to sit down.

He raised an eyebrow. “That sounds ominous,” he said with a chuckle.
“Spill it. What happened?”

So I told him everything, from the bizarre fake relationship to Christian’s rude attitude to the ridiculous kiss in front of his father. Kevin’s mouth dropped open in shock, and he shook his head in disbelief.