His Shortcake

Chapter 35

Tamara Ramirez

"You're wasting your time," Stella scoffed as soon as Dustyn and Clarrisse were out of sight. Her outfit might not be worse than what Amelia wears, but it looked just as drab. I doubt anyone could rival that woman's questionable sense of fashion—or lack thereof.

"And you're wasting mine," I replied nonchalantly, letting my head fall heavily onto the arm of the chair.

Frankly, I was exhausted. It had been a long week filled with endless tasks and unrelenting responsibilities, and all I wanted was a moment of peace, a few precious hours to simply sleep. Just to be alone, cocooned in silence. Yet here I was, caught in this tension-filled moment.

I craved nothing more than to spend some quality time with the man I loved, to cross off a few items from our never-ending to-do list together. Was that too much to ask? Just a few hours of blissful tranquility with him, away from the chaos of our lives—yet Stella had invaded that space, turning what should have been a sweet interlude into a battleground of snide remarks.

There she was, this woman flaunting her figure as if it were an invitation, desperate for the attention of a man who was already engaged to me. Her attire was a gaudy display of confidence, designed to draw his gaze and provoke insecurity. How pathetic, dressing like that for a man who was committed to someone else.

"He'll leave you for me sooner or later," Stella said, her voice dripping with a false confidence. She leaned back, crossing her arms and snickering at her own inside joke, as if it were a foregone conclusion. "I mean, who wants a kid?" The words hung in the air like a venomous fog, stinging my ears and igniting a fire in my chest.

Yes, compared to her, I must look like a child. Stella was a stunning woman, exuding confidence and allure, yet she was fixated on the wrong man—my man. I might be younger, but I refused to let myself be intimidated by Dustyn's past girlfriends or casual flings.

I smiled at Stella, my gaze drifting to Emil's watchful eyes, silently urging me on. "You know, it doesn't do you any good to chase a man who really doesn't like you," I said, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve.

Her eyebrow arched, a smirk creeping across her lips as if I'd just told her the funniest joke. "That wasn't what he was saying when he was inside me," she retorted, a malicious grin spreading across her face. The way her eyes glazed over suggested she was lost in a memory I never wanted to imagine.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Just the thought of it made my skin crawl. The vivid image she had conjured was a nightmare I never wanted to see or know about. The idea of Dustyn with another woman felt like a knife plunging straight through my heart, twisting painfully.

I knew that Dustyn had been with other women; I wasn't naive. He wasn't the innocent partner I sometimes wished he could be. He was older than me, after all. He had lived through college like everyone else, and I had no doubt he'd indulged in experiences I could only imagine.

If I let her words penetrate my thoughts, it would mean I didn't trust Dustyn.

But deep down, I did trust him. I trusted him when he said he loved me. I believed him when he promised that he would never be with anyone but me. I just had to hold onto that trust, no matter what anyone around us said or did.

"You know, it's a pity you couldn't find another man to obsess over instead of my fiancé. He's mine, not yours or anyone else's. Mine." I stated firmly, reinforcing my claim on Dustyn for what I hoped would be the last time.

When Stella first walked into Dustyn's office alongside Clarrisse, I had hoped we could maintain a civil relationship. After all, this was her job, and I thought she would be more mindful of her words and actions toward me, her client. I didn't want her to jeopardize her career over a few careless remarks during our initial meeting. But it quickly became apparent that wasn't her intent.