Chapter 48
Rachel wiped away the tears welling in her eyes. “Ms. Cameron, I know you’ve always held my past with Haynie against me, but that was ages ago.”
“Everyone’s got a past. Is it so hard to forgive?” Rachel’s eyes trembled slightly. “Do you think it would take my death for you to let go?”
Stella looked up, a sly smile on her lips. “Well, if that’s what it takes, by all means, go ahead.”
Haynes’ face darkened. “Stella!”
Stella chuckled. “Haynes, you shouldn’t look so grim. Ms. Pearce was the one talking about wanting to die, not me. Is it someone else’s fault if she chooses to be so dramatic?”
Rachel’s eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming down her cheeks. She abruptly stood from her wheelchair and made a mad dash for the window nearby.
“Since Ms. Cameron wants me dead, I’ll gladly oblige!” she cried out.
“Rachel, don’t do anything stupid!” Jasper exclaimed, rushing to stop her.
Haynes, whose expression was cold and stern, grabbed her first. “Rachel, what are you doing?”
Frantic and hysterical, Rachel shouted, “I know Ms. Cameron hates me. If she hates me so much, let me die! Let go of me! Just let me die!”
Haynes’ lips tightened into a thin line. “Calm down, Rachel.”
But Rachel was beyond reason, her voice hoarse from crying. “I should never have returned. I should never have shown my face here again!”
The room descended into chaos, like a pot boiling over. Amidst the turmoil, a voice cut through, cold as ice. Stella’s laughter seemed to echo unnaturally in the heated room.
“Since Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Wilkinson don’t want you to die, why don’t you eat dirt instead?” Stella said with a mocking grin, staring at Rachel. “Ms. Pearce, aren’t you always eager to follow my suggestions? I doubt you’d refuse.”
Jasper was livid, pointing an accusing finger at Stella. “Stella, you’re going too far!”
Stella shrugged, feigning innocence. “I tell her to die, and she’s ready to jump. Now that I’m being kind and changing my mind, you’re still unhappy?”
She paused as if a revelation struck her. “Oh, I get it. You’d prefer if she went ahead and died, right?”
“Stella, you, you…” Jasper was red with rage, teeth clenched, but words failed him under her audacity.
Haynes’ eyes were dark and intense. “Stella, enough.” he snapped.
Stella laughed coldly, her expression hardening. “The ones who should stop are you all.”
Her gaze sliced through Haynes like a knife. “I haven’t even started holding you accountable. Yet here you are, causing a scene in my room! Have you ever heard the saying, ‘those who start trouble are the worst.”?”
“I didn’t push Rachel, but even if I had, she deserved it!”
As Haynes was about to retort, the door swung open.
“What’s going on here? Why all the noise?” A deep, resonant voice came from the doorway.
Neville paused, taking in the scene: Rachel’s tearful face, Jasper’s anger, and Haynes’ icy demeanor. Realizing the tension in the room, he forced a polite smile.
“Apologies,” he said calmly. “The doctor mentioned Star needs peace. If there’s anything to discuss, let’s save it for after she’s discharged.”