Chapter 111
Stella and Barbara’s two–day trip suddenly got extended out of the blue.
Apart from work, I was fussing over recipes with Baibara every day, trying to figure out how to get enough nutrition into Stella’s kid.
Iva seemed to be in a hot mess too. They kept ringing up Stella, asking who the father of the kid was, but she wouldn’t spill the beans until Mitch would
own up.
I was playing secret keeper for her too. I kept silence even when Simmons tried to squeeze it out of me.
“I suddenly crave for some chicken stew” Stella blurted out, rubbing her belly.
Barbara was in the kitchen, stewing beef. She popped out and asked, “Beef won’t do?”
Td prefer chicken.” Stella lay on the sofa like a limp noodle.
Lately, her morning sickness had been getting worse and her food tastes were all over the place.
Sometimes she couldn’t stomach anything, other times she had to have a certain dish.
I grabbed my car keys, I’ll go get you some chicken stew”
“You’re a lifesaver! Thanks!” Stella’s eyes lit up instantly
It was drizzling outside. Without a second thought, I drove to the restaurant where we had eaten last time. Their chicken stew was the topic of the town.
It was dinner rush, so the place was packed. I ordered some chicken stew and a few other dishes to go, then took seat near the door to wait.
When Neil walked in, I was engrossed in my phone. I glanced up at the sound of the door, and froze.
He wore a greyish white suit with a black sweater underneath. The tailor–made suit flattered his physique, accentuating his perfect lines and proportions. His gentlemanly charm was off the charts, with a few strands of hair falling over his expressive features, making him super handsome.
His entrance caused a few gasps from the girls in the restaurant.
Good–looking people always steal the limelight, no matter where they are.
Neil noticed me too. Surprise flickered in his eyes, and then he masked it.
A waitress was already attending to him. Neil ordered two servings of chicken stew and some desserts popular Caladonia, also to–go.
Bonnie craves chicken stew too? I wondered, but kept my cool and went back to my phone.
Neil and I were divorced His business was none of mine.
But for some reason, Neil came over and sat next to me.
I felt uneasy and wanted to change my seat, but I didn’t want to look like a wuss.
If he could act cool, why couldn’t I?
“Is Stella with you?” Neil broke the ice.
“What’s it to you?” I retorted, coldly
Neil seemed to chuckle, “She’s none of my business. The kid in her belly isn’t mine.”
I looked him in the eye, thinking, then why the hell are you asking?
Neil glanced at his watch, then he asked, “Can Stella see me?”
“Why would she want to see you? You guys hardly know each other.” I teased, “Aren’t you afraid Bonnie will be jealousy?”
Neil stiffened at the mention of Bonnie, but quickly regained his composure.
He explained, “Mitch asked me to find Stella. He flew over this afternoon, should have landed by now.”
I was taken aback, “What’s Mitch doing here? Is he here to negotiate with Stella? Such a deadbeat!
Neil looked a bit off, “How is he a deadbeat?”
“Stella’s pregnant and Mitch is her child’s father. None of you guys, except Russel, are worth a damn. Honestly, I worry about how long you can stay faithful to Bonnie pnce the honeymoon phase is over.” I confessed.
This thought had crossed my mind before. In my past life, I died young and didn’t get to see what married life was like for Neil and Bonnie. He might get bored of her in a few years.
My words turned Neil’s face frosty
“In your eyes, is Russel that special?” His tone was icy
“Isn’t it special enough that he doesn’t fall into the playboy type like you guys?” I was puzzled. This is an obvious fact, but Neil still had to ask me.
Neil scoffed, giving me the cold shoulder, and then he looked away.
Soon, my order was packed and ready. I grabbed the takeout and left, about to drive back home when I noticed Neil’s car tailing me.
I had to stop. Neil did too.
“Why are you tailing me?” I was getting annoyed, “Turned into a stalker now, have you?”
“We just happen to be going the same way” Neil sat in his car, looking at me sideways.
“You and Bonnie live near my place?” I asked, annoyed.
Neil furrowed his brow, “I don’t live with her.”
I was surprised, “You don’t live together? Then what are you doing here? Didn’t you help her study abroad?”
Neil replied nonchalantly, “I did help her, but that doesn’t mean I have to live with her. Is there a problem?”
“No problem. We’re divorced so I won’t meddle in your affairs. If you want to fund her studies, live with her, even marry her, it’s none of my business. I was suddenly feeling agitated. With that, I got back in my car and drove off.
Near a crossroad close to home, Neil’s car finally turned a different way I breathed a sigh of relief.
I got home and placed the takeout on the table. Stella was already drawn by the smell of the stew. She kept sniffing it, but would throw up as soon as she had a bite.
Barbara was comforting her, “Poor Stella.”
I was about to share my encounter with Neil when we heard a noise from the balcony. I turned to see a drone flying in with a plastic bag attached underneath.
What the hell? I jumped out of my skin..
Barbara and Stella were also stunned. Then we heard Mitch’s voice coming from the drone, “Stella, check the balcony!”
When Stella heard her name, she was both pissed and amused, standing up ready to take down the drone barehanded. I stopped her and then took off the bag that was on it. Sure enough, it contained two servings of stewed chicken.
Could it be the two servings that Neil just bought?
I couldn’t help but ask, “Stella, did you tell Mitch you wanted to eat stewed chicken?”
“Yes,” Stella was already fuming, “but I really didn’t expect that he would actually send me two servings! Just because I’m pregnant, does he think I eat like two people now?”
Not to mention her surprise, Barbara and I were also taken aback. Who’d have thought this playboy Mitch wouldn’t know about romance.
A
