33. A Luxury Gift

The car Fabian was driving stopped in an area of deserted shophouses. There were hardly any people around this place. For a moment, Fabian looked around with a doubtful look on his face. For some reason, his gut feeling was suddenly uncomfortable. Suddenly, the bad possibility of being in a deserted and non-elite area like this flashed in Fabian's brain. "Finally arrived. I really miss this place. It feels like so many years since I visited," Stellina said from the back row of the passenger seat. Fabian didn't answer yet. His eyes squinted behind his sunglasses as he took in the surroundings. Although the shophouses here were not actually slum shophouses, Fabian's instincts still felt something unpleasant. Because there was only silence and Fabian did not answer, Stellina stopped her movement. The look on Stellina's face showed astonishment at Fabian who did not give any answer. Stellina frowned and sat down to watch Fabian from the small rearview mirror above. Fabian seemed to be watching the surroundings. I don't know what he was paying attention to. "Why are you just silent, Fabian?" asked Stellina, who immediately realized Fabian. Fabian immediately looked back and took off his sunglasses. Because he was seriously paying attention to the surrounding area, Fabian did not realize that his sunglasses were still on the bridge of his nose. "Yes, ma'am?" Fabian looked awkward and felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Stellina. I was just taking a look at the area around here to confirm whether the neighborhood is safe or not." Fabian's words suddenly made Stellina chuckle. Stellina shook her head at Fabian's unnecessary assertiveness. "Fabian, I've been coming to this place since I was a kid. This neighborhood is often deserted, but it's actually not too dangerous." Even after Stellina explained, Fabian still couldn't feel at ease. Fabian was still silent for a split second. The look on his face still showed doubt. If this place was safe, why did his gut feeling feel uncomfortable? On the other hand, Stellina realized that Fabian did not stop feeling worried. As a result, Stellina only patted the left side of the driver's seat backrest to keep Fabian awake. "Don't daydream. If you're not sure about getting out of the car, you can-" "No, Mrs. Stellina, I didn't mean that," cut Fabian who immediately straightened his sitting position. Like a soldier ready to get orders from his commander. Fabian immediately removed his seat belt with deft movements. Seeing that, Stellina couldn't help but chuckle. Because of Fabian's obedience to Diego, it made her very afraid that Stellina would get hurt. After removing the seat belt and getting out of the car, Fabian walked to the door of the middle row passenger seat. Actually, Stellina was still not used to this kind of treatment. But at Diego's behest, as well as her being in a rich and famous family, she was forced to accept. "Come down, ma'am. I'll make sure Mrs. Stellina is safe." Fabian really felt guilty after doubting Stellina's words earlier. While giving a small smile, Stellina immediately went downstairs. She and Fabian then stepped into one of her favorite cake shops. Stellina's steps were so enthusiastic as she entered her favorite cake shop. Stellina immediately closed her eyes and stopped walking for a while. Just to inhale the aroma of all the cakes in the air. "Gosh, I haven't come to this place in a long time." Stellina was really enjoying her longing. Seeing that this place had not changed since her childhood, Stellina could not help but smile widely. "Does Mrs. Stellina really know this shop?" asked Fabian when he stepped hand in hand with Stellina. Stellina turned to Fabian and nodded approvingly. "That's right. I even love this shop. I should have stopped by a long time ago, but there was never a chance," replied Stellina as she sighed heavily at the end of her sentence. Fabian only nodded repeatedly. He did not answer Stellina's words again so the conversation between the two of them did not continue. Stellina had turned her attention to the glass display case that contained several small and medium-sized cakes. Stellina's sparkling smile instantly curved wide. The look in her eyes became more enthusiastic. "Do you want a cake too, Fabian?" asked Stellina while looking at the cakes behind the glass display case. Fabian's eyebrows remained furrowed in astonishment as he watched the glass display case. His hands were interlocked behind his back. One by one the cakes were looked at so intensely. "I actually don't know what cake to choose," Fabian replied. Stellina was surprised to hear that answer, so she turned to Fabian and looked at him. "You mean you don't know what cake is good?" Stellina looked incredulous. Fabian innocently gave a small nod. "Mr. Diego and I are too busy working, taking care of all kinds of heavy work, and rarely enjoy cake or ice cream." Stellina was still surprised for a moment. She instantly felt sorry for Fabian's explanation. After nodding her head in understanding, she sighed heavily. "You're such a pity. Things as simple as cake and ice cream are rarely enjoyed by you," replied Stellina, who had shifted her gaze to the cake display. "Diego is already pushing you too hard." Fabian just chuckled awkwardly while shaking his head. "Not so, Mrs. Stellina. Although he hardly ever takes the time to eat cake or ice cream, Mr. Diego provides other things." "Including enjoying a meal at a fancy restaurant while doing business?" asked Stellina. Fabian mumbled in agreement. While Stellina just chuckled. Their conversation was interrupted when a woman suddenly appeared from the direction of the kitchen. When she met Stellina face to face, the woman was stunned in disbelief. Stellina was also dumbfounded. But her surprise only lasted for a moment. "Mrs. Leinerge?" Stellina greeted the woman. "Stellina? Is it true that you are Stellina?" "Yes!" Stellina replied enthusiastically. Her smile grew wide as she was flattered. "You remember me! It's been a long time since we've met, Mrs. Leinerge!" The woman called Mrs. Leinerge also chuckled. "That's right, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Gosh, I missed you!" Behind Stellina, Fabian only watched the interaction between the two women. The look on his face showed both astonishment and questioning: why were the two of them so excited? But Fabian did not comment on anything. He remained on guard behind Stellina while watching the surroundings of this area. For some reason, his bad feeling didn't go away despite being calmed down repeatedly. ----- "Are you used to buying that tiramisu cake, Mrs. Stellina?" asked Fabian after closing the driver's seat door. In the middle row passenger seat, Stellina curved a sweet smile as she shifted the shopping bags. She placed them neatly first, making sure nothing would get scattered. After straightening her seat, Stellina replied, "Of course. Ever since I was little, my mom introduced me to this tiramisu cake. So until I grew up, I bought the same cake." Fabian only smiled a small and brief smile at Stellina's explanation. The car had started moving, he drove carefully. His gaze was still watching the surroundings. "I don't mean to trivialize your explanation, Mrs. Stellina. But I've had a bad feeling since I've been in this area." Fabian did not take his eyes off the surrounding area. Even until this moment, he remained vigilant. Stellina frowned. Realizing that Fabian was watching the surroundings, Stellina also circulated her gaze. But she did not find anything suspicious. Now Stellina was wondering, how did Fabian get such a sharp hunch? "That's just your feeling, Fabian. For as long as I've been coming here, I've never found anything dangerous," Stellina replied calmly, in contrast to Fabian's way of speaking. Fabian did not answer. He had already guessed that Stellina would think he was just having a bad feeling. So Fabian continued to look around as he drove the car. "Actually, this neighborhood has been lonely for a long time. But not as lonely as it is now." Stellina started telling stories so that the atmosphere between the two of them would not be awkward. Fabian just listened in between his focus. "Unfortunately, due to the development of technology and the rise of other cake shops, perhaps other customers have moved elsewhere," Stellina continued later. Stellina thought back to a few years ago, when she still frequented this place. Her heart warms and throbs with pain as she remembers how this place used to be a favorite spot for her and her mother. "My mom loved this place too. In the past, almost all the shophouses were open. But now, many are closed." Stellina ended her explanation with a rough sigh at the end of her sentence. Fabian's eyes glanced through the top rearview mirror. Fabian noticed the annoyance on Stellina's face. At that moment, Fabian actually wanted to take a soothing aromatherapy. The thing that Stellina had put down who knows when. Fabian was just about to hand it over to Stellina, before then- BRAAAK! The car Fabian was driving suddenly crashed from behind. Fabian and Stellina's bodies were simultaneously pushed forward, almost swaying if there were no seat belts holding them. Stellina suddenly panicked. She caught her breath and spontaneously looked back, seeing another unfamiliar car already near this car. Stellina's eyes widened immediately. "Fabian, why did that car hit us?" asked Stellina. Fabian also looked back. He saw that the strange car had retreated a few meters, then drove once again at high speed. BRAK! The situation was suddenly tense when the foreign car behind them deliberately rammed the rear end again. Once again, Stellina and Fabian's bodies almost tumbled forward. "Who exactly is the driver of that car?" asked Stellina, who had started to feel furious with the car. BRAK! BRAK! BRAK! Repeatedly, the foreign car behind made a deliberate collision until Stellina and Fabian could not sit still. Fabian stepped on the gas pedal in order to speed up the car, avoiding the car. "Damn," Fabian muttered as he tried to keep the car balanced. Because the road in this area had too many turns, Fabian just turned without knowing the direction. But unfortunately, the car behind did not stop chasing at all. The more Fabian stepped on the gas pedal, the more the foreign car behind followed at a higher speed. Fabian immediately growled because he couldn't increase his speed anymore. The area where there was almost no distance between buildings made him afraid of crashing and harming Stellina. The atmosphere of panic increased. Every time it caught up with the speed of the car Fabian was driving, the foreign car slammed hard into the back. The impact was so strong that it shook the car. Stellina and Fabian could not calm down at all in such a shaken car condition. "Fabian, get out of this area!" Stellina patted the left side of the driver's seat. Fabian repeatedly looked back to confirm what the condition of the rear car was. After Stellina said that, Fabian only nodded as instructed. "Is there a shortcut to get out quickly, Mrs. Stellina?" Fabian asked with his eyes focused on the road in front of him. "There is, you can go straight until you reach the building with the mirror poles. Then turn-" BRAAAK! A stronger and more stressful shock than before was suddenly felt. Now repeatedly more intense. Stellina looked back with a worried look on her face. Her heart began to beat fast. "I've never experienced this in all my time here," Stellina muttered, which Fabian could still hear. There were only a few meters left. Fabian was just about to step on the gas pedal for higher speed. But suddenly, a car turned and drove from the opposite direction. Right straight towards the car Fabian was driving. Fabian immediately panicked. The car was surrounded from the front and back. The turning road was still a hundred meters ahead. But Fabian doubted whether this car could reach the turn before the car traveling from the opposite direction arrived. If Fabian did not turn immediately, there would be a collision from the front and rear. While Fabian was estimating the distance to the turn, the car behind suddenly crashed for the umpteenth time. But this time the car deliberately grazed so that Fabian's car lost control. Fabian glared in surprise. He tried repeatedly to step on the gas pedal, but the car wouldn't let go of the car behind. Suddenly he remembered the possibility of a hook that might have been deliberately installed by the car behind. If there really was a hook deliberately installed, it meant that the car behind would continue to graze this car. Fabian felt that the steering wheel was useless. He was trapped and couldn't get away. "Damn it! Who the hell are they?" Fabian said. The car couldn't go as fast as before, as if it was being held back by the car behind. Stellina frowned. Right at that moment, she realized that the car from the opposite direction was getting closer. In just a matter of seconds, there would definitely be a collision. "Fabian, swerve! Dodge! The car in front!" Stellina repeated her warning. In a state of anxiety, Fabian looked ahead. In that instant, his eyes bulged in surprise. Before Fabian could take the opportunity to dodge, his car seemed to be released suddenly. As a result, the slow pace immediately accelerated because Fabian's foot was still on the gas pedal. Just as Fabian and Stellina expected. The time to turn was not there. The car from the opposite direction eventually hit the car driven by Fabian. There was no way and no time to dodge. Until finally the car carrying Fabian and Stellina just slammed. A severe collision could not be avoided.