Love's Blessing in Disguise (Part 1)

　　

　　Stella Shires woke up and found herself aching and limp, especially the part in her crotch, which felt quite painful.

　　It reminded her she was married yesterday.

　　She had a surprisingly rough night on the first day of her marriage.

　　The entanglement of two bodies, the sweat, the panting, and…

　　Thinking of this, she felt hot all over, and her face immediately flushed.

　　She hastened to get out of the bed, only to find her legs collapse under her the next instant. She let out a piercing scream.

　　"Ah!"

　　The door was pushed open, and a man, wrapped in a bath towel, furrowed his brow his brow as he saw Stella lying naked on the floor. He walked over to her, scooped her up and put her to the bed.

　　Stella hurriedly grabbed the quilt to cover her body.

　　She looked up in abashment and caught sight of his six-pack stomach, full of stout muscles, which shed touched before when she was caught up last night.

　　Her eyes moved downward and saw his wrapped waist and…

　　She hastened to look away.

　　Lifting her eyes, she found the mans handsome face, *in which a pair of deep black eyes rested on her face.

　　Stella felt slightly abashed. The truth was, despite the fact that Ebert Carr was her new husband, the two had met each no more than three times.

　　"Thank you, Im fine. Its just my legs; they feel weak. Please leave me alone."

　　So saying, she became more embarrassed and felt as if she caught a glimmer of smile in his eyes, yet when she looked again, she began to suspect if it was but a delusion.

　　Ebert said in a deep voice, "Are you sure?"

　　"Yes, Im good."

　　Ebert replied with a nod, then turned and left the room.

　　Still immersed in embarrassment, Stella cupped her hot and red face, reproached herself for quite a while, and then went to dress herself.

　　……

　　Stella was having breakfast at the table. The breakfast was bought by Ebert.

　　There was nothing but silence.

　　Abruptly, there came a round of violent knocks, seeming as if many people were trying to bust the door down.

　　Stella froze for a moment, and she heard someone yelling.

　　"Open the door, Stella Shires! Open the door!"

　　She made no response. Ebert rose to his feet to open it.

　　A number of people—men and woman, attempted to flood in as the door was opened, but they hesitated at the solemn countenance of Ebert.

　　Curiously, he was just standing athwart the door, saying or doing nothing else, and it seemed there was an intimidating aura around him that frightened these people.

　　"Whats up?"

　　"Get… Get out of the way, you. Im Stellas uncle. You need to show me some respect and get out of the way."

　　Ebert stood at the door and cast a glance back. Stella had regained her composure; her little face was rather serious.

　　"Let them in," she said calmly.

　　Ebert stood aside, and the mob outside immediately rushed in, each taking a seat by themselves, as if it was their home. Each one of them pulled a long face, seeming to be here only to denounce and punish Stella.

　　Stella was standing in the middle of the living room, while Ebert, leaning against the wall at the door and standing with his hands crossed before his chest, cast a cold nonchalant look at these uninvited guests.

　　"Welcome, uncle, aunt, cousin…"

　　"Save it, Stella!"

　　Tom Shires interrupted Stella with his big voice. He had a lean face, which suggested nothing but utter meanness and cruelty.

　　"Lets just cut the crap and get down to business. Were here to get the compensation for demolition. You must share it with us three families. The house is a legacy of your grandma, and I, am the only son of her, and I deserve the largest share, not your mother. You know, weve offered your mother so much assistance during the past years; its just not right for her to monopolize the compensation. You must give us the money we want today."

　　"Agreed, Im a Shires too; I have my share too."

　　In fact, Stella had expected it—they were here for nothing but money.

　　A former Stella might fear these troublemakers; the present Stella, however, had nothing to be afraid of.

　　There was all coldness and indifference on her delicate little face.

　　"There is no compensation for you. And if you wanna make some trouble for me, come on. If you wanna resort to lawsuits, go ahead. Anyway, youre not gonna get a cent from me!"

　　"You little bastard…" gritted Alex Shires, Toms son.

　　He stepped toward Stella in a rage and was about to hit her when all of a sudden his wrist was tightly gripped by a hand. He let out a cry in pain.

　　"Ah!"

　　Eberts murderous eyes swept across the face of the ones attempting to step forward to help Alex.

　　"Stella is my wife, and her property is my property. Try if Ill share my property with you, ladies and gentlemen."

　　Such was the coldness and ruthlessness in his tone.

　　All the others, including Stella, found themselves intimidated and unable to disobey Ebert at these words.