Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 61: That Was My First Time... (Bonus Chapter)
Shane Donovan raised his hand, using his fingertip to wipe away the blood from the corner of his lips, his deep eyes meeting Aidan Sterling’s furious gaze.
He leisurely took off the broken mechanical watch from his wrist, throwing it casually onto the chaotic office desk, a gesture of calm that starkly contrasted with the current intense atmosphere.
In Aidan Sterling’s eyes, this calmness was undoubtedly the greatest provocation.
"What if I say no?" Shane Donovan lifted his gaze, his eyes tranquil yet carrying an invisible pressure, "In this matter, what you say doesn’t count."
"Is that so?" Aidan Sterling laughed angrily, "Then I’ll leave it at that today! As long as I’m Aidan Sterling, you Shane Donovan will never set foot in the Sterling Family’s home!"
After speaking, he seemed to find even one more glance at Shane Donovan dirty and unsightly, he abruptly turned around and kicked away a toppled chair blocking his path, leaving the office with large strides.
"Bang——!"
The door was slammed shut with a deafening noise, and the entire wall seemed to tremble along with it.
Finally, the office fell completely silent.
Only the mess remained.
Shane Donovan stood in place, breathing slightly, raising his hand to touch the swollen and painful cheekbone, loosening the misshapen shirt collar, and a button rolled away.
The deliberately maintained calm mask on his face finally cracked slowly after Aidan Sterling left, revealing a hint of heaviness.
Aidan Sterling, though having clashed with him from childhood to adulthood, and never seeing eye to eye, had long been accustomed to wearing a mask of false sincerity, maintaining a pathetic semblance of peace at their level.
Doing what he did today, flying over from Crestfall just to confront him face-to-face, leaving such decisive and harsh words in such a loss of control...
Was unprecedented.
Too unusual.
Shane Donovan frowned unconsciously, walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the traffic below that moved like ants.
Is it simply because he can’t stand him?
Shane Donovan frowned unconsciously, a hint of doubt passing through his deep eyes.
Or is it for...some deeper reason?
...
Meanwhile, Stella Sterling returned to the law firm directly after seeing off Isla Sutton.
Even if she forced herself to focus all her energy on her work, as she stared at the case materials on the computer screen, the chaotic images from last night kept surfacing in her mind...
"Boss... Boss..."
Finn Lockwood’s loud voice grew closer, suddenly pushing open the office door, interrupting her wild thoughts.
Stella Sterling was startled by him, and with a ticked-off look, she raised her head, "How many times have I told you, keep it steady..."
Her words stopped abruptly as she saw Shane Donovan following Finn Lockwood.
"!!!"
Why is he here?!
And moreover...
Stella Sterling frowned slightly—what happened to the obvious bruises on his face?!
Meanwhile, Shane Donovan stepped into the office with long strides, his gaze unwaveringly landing on Stella Sterling, as if she were the only person in the entire space.
Finn Lockwood was still on the side, excitedly fulfilling the role of background noise, "President Donovan said he had something to discuss with you, so I..."
Stella Sterling took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, "You go out first, and close the door."
"Ah? Oh, okay, okay!" Although the gossip spirit was burning within Finn Lockwood, he still possessed the ability to read the situation, quickly nodding and bowing as he exited, and thoughtfully shut the door tightly.
Only the two of them remained in the office.
The air suddenly became thick and subtle.
Stella Sterling’s gaze uncontrollably fell onto the bruises on Shane Donovan’s cheekbone and mouth, the wounds glaringly prominent on his stern face.
"Your face..." she almost blurted out the words, immediately regretting asking as soon as she did, wishing she could bite her tongue off.
Shane Donovan walked to her desk, naturally pulling out a chair to sit down, raising his brows slightly, though it tugged at the wound on his mouth, causing his brow to frown imperceptibly; his tone carried a laid-back mocking, "Thanks to a certain brother-in-law."
Aidan Sterling?!
Stella Sterling’s heart sank suddenly.
Did her brother go find Shane Donovan?
And even resorted to physical confrontation?
Shane Donovan watched her facial expressions change, his body leaning slightly forward, locking his steady yet penetrating gaze on her across the desk.
"Counselor Sterling," he began, his voice low and magnetic, "We can set the matter of my face aside for now. Let’s talk about your issue... running away after dinner, no plans to take responsibility?"
"Whoosh——!"
Stella Sterling’s cheeks flushed immediately, like ripe tomatoes, even her ears and neck were tinged with a shade of pink.
How... how can he speak so frankly about such things in the office?!
"What nonsense are you talking!" she instinctively glanced at the closed door, fearing Finn Lockwood outside might hear, "Who’s taking responsibility for you! That was an accident!"
"Accident?" Shane Donovan repeated lightly, the corner of his lips raising slightly, carrying an indescribable hint of meaning, "Counselor Sterling, the law demands evidence. Witnesses..."
He pointed to himself, "Physical evidence..."
He intentionally raised his hand, his fingertip lightly touching the dark-red yet clear bite mark on his neck, "Are all still here."
Watching Stella Sterling appear eager to dive into a crevice, he slowly added, "Besides, it was my first time... taken advantage of so ambiguously by you..."
Wait! First time?!
Stella Sterling suddenly lifted her head, locking eyes with his seemingly earnest yet mischievous gaze, her mind once again crashing.
Him, Shane Donovan... how is that possible?!
But looking at his demeanor, it didn’t seem fake...
Seeing Stella Sterling’s dumbfounded expression, Shane Donovan’s lips slightly curved, "Counselor Sterling won’t run after sleeping with me, right? Isn’t it too much of a bully?"
"..."
She’s the one who suffered, isn’t she?!
It was her first time too...
Fuming, Stella Sterling rushed up to Shane Donovan, reaching out to cover his mouth, "You shut up! Stop talking nonsense!"
Shane Donovan seemed surprised by her hands-on approach, hesitating slightly, but soon, the amusement in his eyes deepened.
Instead of dodging, he gently pecked at her palm.
"!!!"
Stella Sterling recoiled as if burned, retracting her hand swiftly, her heart drumming frantically, her face flushed red enough to emit smoke.
"Shane Donovan!" she glared at him, lowering her voice and speaking fiercely, "I warn you, stop spouting nonsense here! That night... that night I was drunk! I don’t remember anything! Even if... even if something did happen, it was an accident! Do you understand accident?"
Shane Donovan looked at her fierce yet timid manner, nodded along, "Alright, let’s say it was an accident, Counselor Sterling’s misconduct in inebriation..."
Stella Sterling: "..."
Who misconducted?!
