Chapter 372:

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Matthew lowered his head, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind Stella’s ear, and held her waist firmly. «I’ll take you home.»

Stella nodded, allowing him to lead her away.

Inside the car, Matthew spotted her reddened, swollen forehead, and his expression turned grim.

He gently wiped her hair with a wet wipe, cleaning the stains from her face, anger simmering in his eyes. He navigated around her injury with meticulous care, fearful of causing her pain.

Stella dared not move, but Matthew seemed to be taking his time.

Perhaps it was their proximity or the confined space, but sweat formed on her back, and breathing became difficult.

As Stella’s eyes lifted to meet Matthew’s, a shiver ran through her.

His gaze was soft yet intense, almost as if he had the power to draw her into his world.

Subconsciously, she lowered her gaze and grasped Matthew’s hand. «I… I can do it myself.»

Matthew frowned slightly but reassured her in a soft tone, «Don’t move. You can’t see the injured area. This will be over quickly.»

He gently removed Stella’s hand, leaving her no reason to protest. She had to let him continue tidying up her hair and face.

Trying to divert her attention, she focused on anything but the charged sensation of Matthew’s touch.

The five-minute drive felt so long.

When Stella heard the driver say they were finally back home, her tensed body finally relaxed.

She inhaled deeply.

Matthew held her hand firmly to lead her out of the car and guide her into the villa.

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Although the villa appeared unchanged since her last visit, the atmosphere felt different, perhaps due to her altered status.

Casting a glance at their intertwined hands, Stella kept her thoughts private, choosing not to speak her mind.

Just then, Erin, who had been tending the garden, approached with a look of concern. «Miss Anderson, is everything alright?»

Embarrassed by the concerned look on Erin’s face, Stella didn’t know how to respond.

After all, they had talked about Matthew’s wife before.

Matthew spoke, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, but remained resolute. «Erin, please tend to her wound. And from this moment forward, refer to Stella as Mrs. Clark.»

«Mrs. Clark?» Erin repeated, clearly taken aback. Her eyes then fell upon the hands intertwined between Stella and Matthew.

Matthew acknowledged her, saying, «You’ve frequently inquired about Mrs. Clark, haven’t you?»

Erin was surprised that her casual mentions had caught his attention and felt slightly embarrassed.

However, Matthew wasn’t interested in dwelling on such minor details. Solemnly, he told Erin, «Stella is my wife. Please take good care of her. I have something urgent to deal with for now.»

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