Chapter 56

Coming out of the Golden Brilliance, Ethan didn't entertain Jason's enthusiastic invitation anymore. He and Stella got into the car and headed back home. Perhaps because she heard Jason revealing some of the man's shortcomings, Stella seemed to be in a good mood. When leaving early, she even invited Jason and the others to come to their home another day. As for Jason, who received the invitation, he turned his head and provocatively raised his eyebrows towards Ethan, receiving a stern gaze from the man. As soon as they entered the villa, Stella walked into the kitchen and grabbed a cup of yogurt from the fridge, handing a bottle to Ethan. Then she glanced at the half-empty refrigerator, thinking about when she could find time to invite Jason and the others over for a meal. Ethan's strange temper must have offended many people. Since getting married, he hadn't invited anyone over for dinner. Jason and the others had tolerated him up until now, so she had to help him solidify the bridge of friendship. Ethan took the yogurt with one hand, his other hand in his pocket, leaning casually against the kitchen door as he watched her, raising an eyebrow. "So, you're not mad anymore, right?" Stella hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. The little bit of anger she had left had already dissipated after hearing Jason talk about his chasing the thief earlier. Thinking about the breakfast Ethan had brought with a hint of apology and appeasement in the morning, she smiled at the man and said, "Actually, upon careful consideration, it seems like I didn't have a reason to be angry. But I just couldn't help it." His actions were still prompted by Aaron's irritating provocation at the banquet. The friends-only post was only seen by Natalie and the others, and it didn't affect her at all, showing that Ethan still had some restraint. Even if his actions had angered her a little, it seemed like he hadn't crossed the line. If this was his attitude towards others, her anger all day really was a bit exaggerated. But when it came to Ethan, she just couldn't help it. Ethan stepped forward and ruffled her hair. "Stella, I've said it before, you can be mad at me." He wouldn't go back on his promise to her. The fact that she could freely express her anger and gradually let go of her burdens to face him made Ethan somewhat happy. Stella's eyes shifted slightly, and she suddenly thought of something, then smiled and said, "So, if I punish you, would that be okay too?" Ethan's expression froze for a moment, and after a long pause, he spoke reluctantly, "Only if you're really angry. You can do you at home." Maintaining his dignity outside was still important to him. But in Ethan's opinion, he couldn't think of anything that would make Stella so angry. Stella didn't dwell on this topic, instead she continued, "I ran into Tom at the Golden Brilliance today. He mentioned there's going to be a class reunion in a while. Are you going?" "A class reunion?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. Stella suddenly remembered that he was always a loner in high school, often skipping classes, and his relationship with his classmates was not particularly good. Of course, except for Jason, who came to find him every day, he didn't seem to have any intention of getting along with anyone else. However, he still nodded slightly. "If you want to go, I'll go with you." Stella replied, "Okay, I'll see if I have the time." After the two finished talking, she went back to her room. Although there was a plan to move to the master room, Stella was so angry at Ethan's shameless behavior in the morning that she threatened to go back to her room. Ethan's plan was forced to come to a halt, which was a lesson learned. Natalie said that sometimes men needed to be taught a lesson, and Stella couldn't agree more. Thinking of Tom mentioning the class reunion location being posted in the class group, Stella checked the announcement messages. The reunion was scheduled for next weekend at an old and renowned restaurant near Jefferson High School. This restaurant had always been very popular, and booking a private room there was extremely difficult. Inside the group, some classmates were chatting about recent events, and although Stella didn't participate, when she exited, she received a message from a listed friend, "Stella, you're actually online? Haven't you been hacked?" Glancing at the nickname, it was Liora, the former class president who often asked her for help with questions and had a decent relationship with her. Stella pursed her lips and replied, "No, today I ran into Tom, and he mentioned there's going to be a class reunion in a while, so I checked the group." "Oh, I see. If you're free, remember to come. It's been hard to keep in touch with you since you left Seattle." "Okay, if I'm free, I'll come." Speaking of which, Stella had always maintained lukewarm friendships with everyone in her class. Right after graduation, she occasionally contacted a few classmates to exchange brief updates on each other's lives. However, unlike others, she was accustomed to farewells and was pessimistically rational, understanding that relationships would gradually fade after graduation. So from the very beginning, Stella never intended to make particularly close friends. The only exception was Layla, who was two years younger and whom she inadvertently saved. Layla grew up in a loving family and was a cute and cheerful girl. Her warmth was irresistible to Stella. As for others, even with the internet, the difference in time zones and distance would still gradually drive people apart until contact was lost. This included Ethan. Although tutoring him started as a bet, by the time they graduated from high school, their relationship had improved significantly. But in the end, contact was lost due to her going to Chicago and his family matters. Stella couldn't help but wonder what Ethan went through during the years when they were strangers to each other while she was in Chicago. The once carefree teenager had come a long way, and it was clear that his success was not solely due to good luck.