Chapter 192: Something very strange happens with “Stella”.

Noah was still trying to accept that Stella Lumina was sitting in the living room of his house.

Not only that, but she seemed completely comfortable, far too comfortable.

Stella had greeted both Emma and Sarah politely and, as soon as she had the chance, looked back at Noah with a smile.

"What a coincidence, right?"

Noah smiled uncomfortably.

"Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it."

"I thought it would take longer to see you again."

Ava, who was sitting on the other side of the couch, looked at Stella, then at Noah, and then back at Stella.

Noah recognized that expression immediately.

’Not again.’

Stella seemed not to notice anything.

"Have you lived here for a long time?"

Noah answered.

"Forever, I guess."

"You guess?"

Noah went still.

"I mean..."

He thought fast.

"It’s just a figure of speech."

Stella let out a small laugh.

"I understand."

Ava narrowed her eyes and Noah avoided looking at her.

Emma was preparing some drinks while Sarah talked with Stella’s manager about various documents related to her work.

Noah still didn’t understand exactly what professional relationship existed between Sarah and that woman, but he also didn’t want to ask too many questions.

His main problem was sitting less than a meter away from him and it was Stella.

The same Stella he was trying to bring closer to Hikari and with whom he didn’t want to develop too much closeness, yet now she was in his house.

Stella spoke again.

"Have you already eaten?"

"Of course not."

"That’s good."

Noah looked at her.

"What?"

"That you still haven’t eaten."

"...why?"

Stella smiled.

"Because I haven’t either."

Noah stayed silent and Ava spoke immediately.

"He can eat later."

Noah slowly turned his head.

"Ava."

"What?"

"There’s no need."

Ava ignored that.

"Besides, Noah normally eats with the family."

Stella looked at her.

"That’s nice."

"It is."

Ava moved a little closer to Noah.

"We’re very close."

Stella nodded.

"I see."

Ava rested a hand on Noah’s arm, and he sighed.

’Not this again.’

Stella looked at that hand, then observed Ava, and Noah noticed the change.

Although Stella kept smiling, she now seemed to be analyzing the situation, and Ava was watching her too.

For a few seconds neither of them said anything, and then Stella leaned toward Ava.

"Can I tell you something?"

Ava frowned.

"What?"

Stella leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.

Noah tried to listen, but strangely he couldn’t hear anything and could only see Ava’s expression change.

First she was annoyed, then surprised, then completely serious, and finally she calmed down.

Noah blinked as Ava let go of his arm and settled back on the couch.

"I understand."

Stella smiled.

"I’m glad."

Noah looked at one and then the other.

"What happened?"

Ava avoided answering and Stella sat back normally.

"Nothing."

"It didn’t look like nothing."

"I just told her something."

"What?"

Stella smiled.

"Something unimportant."

Noah looked at Ava.

"What did she tell you?"

"If she says it doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter."

Noah’s eyes widened.

’What?’

That wasn’t normal.

Ava argued about everything and sometimes argued even when she had no reason to, but now she had simply accepted the explanation.

Noah looked at Stella again, who kept the same kind expression.

’What the hell did she tell her?’

He didn’t have time to insist, since Emma returned with the drinks.

"I hope you like them."

Stella took a cup.

"Thank you very much."

Ava also took hers, but she no longer seemed interested in interrupting, and that worried Noah even more.

’She definitely told her something.’

Several minutes passed and the conversation continued normally.

Sarah mainly talked with Stella’s manager about work, while Emma asked more casual questions.

Stella answered politely.

From time to time she spoke with Noah, and Ava did nothing, absolutely nothing.

Noah started seriously considering asking her again, but before he could, Emma called to him from the kitchen.

"Noah."

"Yeah?"

"I need you to buy something."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"Now?"

"Yes, it’s urgent."

Emma seemed a bit confused with herself.

"I forgot to buy one thing for the meal."

"What?"

Emma told him what she needed and Noah looked toward the kitchen.

"Hadn’t you checked everything before?"

Emma frowned.

"That’s what I thought."

Sarah looked at her.

"You checked twice."

"I know."

Emma seemed even more confused.

"I’m sure I had bought it."

Noah shrugged.

"Maybe it ran out."

"It shouldn’t have."

Emma sighed.

"Anyway, can you go?"

"Yes."

Noah stood up and Stella did too.

"I’ll go with you."

Noah stopped.

"There’s no need."

"I don’t mind."

"Seriously, I won’t take long."

"Perfect..."

Stella smiled.

"...then I won’t take long either."

Noah opened his mouth and Ava looked at him, so for a second he thought she would intervene, but she didn’t; she just took a sip of her drink.

Noah looked back at Stella.

"All right."

A few minutes later, both of them left the house.

The afternoon air was pleasant.

Noah walked with his hands in his pockets while Stella moved beside him and, during the first few minutes, they talked about normal things.

The area, the high school, the promotional event, nothing strange, until Stella started asking different questions.

"Do you like your life?"

Noah looked at her.

"What?"

"Your life."

"Yeah...?"

"A lot?"

Noah thought.

"I guess."

Stella looked ahead.

"That doesn’t sound very convinced."

"It’s not a question I ask myself every day."

"You should."

Noah frowned slightly.

Something had changed, but it wasn’t just the type of question; it was the way Stella was speaking.

She was still using the same pleasant tone, but there was something strange, and Noah decided not to react.

’I’m going to pretend I don’t notice anything.’

He didn’t know why; he simply felt it was better, so they kept walking and Stella spoke again.

"You have an interesting family."

"You think so?"

"Especially your sister."

Noah looked at her.

"What did you tell her?"

"I already told you it wasn’t anything important."

"I don’t believe you at all."

Stella smiled.

"But it worked so she wouldn’t get mad at you."

"That worries me more."

Stella let out a small laugh and Noah observed her out of the corner of his eye.

’She’s acting weird.’

He didn’t know how to explain it.

The Stella he had talked to at the high school was friendly and a little tired of her fame.

The one walking beside him now was different, calmer and far too confident, as if she knew things she shouldn’t.

Noah kept walking.

"Noah."

"What?"

Stella looked at him.

"Is your current life better than the previous one?"

Noah stopped completely and, for an instant, he heard nothing but that question.

Stella took two steps before stopping as well and turned toward him.

Noah didn’t answer, but his expression changed and the surprise disappeared.

’What did she say?’