When Love Comes Late

Meanwhile, the last flicker of hope in Lindsay’s heart extinguished.

Resigned to her situation, Lindsay didn’t dare to cause a scene.

Instead, she silently endured her bitter emotions.

Meanwhile, Josh observed the unfolding dynamics with keen interest, his eyes occasionally darting to catch Sanford’s reaction.

Yet Sanford remained an enigma, his composure unshaken and his expression inscrutable.

As the music swelled through the venue, Matthew extended his hand with genteel grace, inviting Stella to join him.

He bowed slightly, and with a flourish, led her to the dance floor.

The lights dimmed, casting shadows around the room, and as the orchestra played, Matthew and Stella moved with effortless elegance.

Around them, the crowd mingled; William, Sanford, and Josh circulated among the guests, leaving Lindsay isolated in her wheelchair.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes fixed bitterly on the couple intertwined in dance.

Each step they took seemed to fuel the growing hatred within her.

Unable to watch any longer, the maid approached Lindsay, hoping to offer some solace.

In a gentle whisper, she reassured, “Miss Wheeler, don’t be saddened.

Your legs will heal, and you’ll be able to dance with Mr.

Clark someday.

”

Lindsay’s frustration boiled over.

“What do you know?” she snapped, her voice raw with emotion.NôvelDrama.Org © content.

“Shut up!”

On the dance floor, Matthew enveloped Stella in his arms, marking their first dance.

The significance of the moment weighed on Stella, particularly because Matthew’s memory had betrayed him, making her wonder if their dance was just a farcical twist of fate.

Her nerves jittered as they began to move to the rhythm.

As the music swelled, an unspoken understanding blossomed between them.

Stella exhaled a sigh of relief and her hand found a natural rest on Matthew’s shoulder.

The dim lighting cloaked them in intimacy, the delicate scent of each other’s presence weaving through the air.

Her voice, soft yet tinged with self-mockery, broke the silence.

“I used to daydream about this moment, concocting countless scenarios of our first dance.

I never imagined it would happen when we had become strangers.

”

Matthew felt a pang in his chest, a silent acknowledgment of the poignancy of her words.

His response lingered in the air, unsaid, as Stella’s sense of the absurd grew.

This was the first time Matthew had brought another woman to a social event while they were both in the same city.

Stella had nearly resigned herself to his silence when he finally leaned closer, his gaze piercing as he inquired in a deep, resonant tone, “You came here with Sanford tonight just to provoke me, didn’t you?”

Her smile was wry.

“Are you annoyed?”

His silence returned, thicker this time.

With a sneer, Stella pushed further.

“I don’t think so.

Otherwise, you wouldn’t have brought Lindsay.

”

Matthew’s expression tightened, his brow furrowed in frustration.

“I had a legitimate reason to bring her,” he asserted, his voice stiff.