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Chapter 34 Raising All My Defenses to Protect Him
Chapter 34 Raising All My Defenses to Protect Him
Chapter 34 Raising All My Defenses to Protect Him
That day, nobody knew the reason behind Ava's swollen cheeks and the blood trickling from the
corners of her mouth.
Her disheveled appearance bore a striking resemblance to the day when Daniel had been beaten.
Some astute individuals quickly connected these two incidents and began to suspect Stella's
involvement. However, given her reputation for being kind, hardworking, and having a good character,
even if she had indeed struck Ava, many would believe that Ava had provoked an otherwise honest
person beyond their limits.
Moreover, without concrete evidence, it was mere gossip that would soon fade away.
Although it was not captured on surveillance, this scene was witnessed by Caleb.
At that time, he was handling matters at a nearby law firm when he witnessed Stella striking someone.
It was an incredibly rare sight.
He immediately reported it to Liam. Perhaps influenced by Oliver, his words and tone now carried hints
of Oliver's demeanor. "Noah, your wife is truly feisty. Those slaps were precise and decisive. She kept
saying that if Ava dared to slander you again, the consequences would be even worse!"
A flicker of amusement crossed Liam's brow, and a hint of a smile appeared on his stern face.
No wonder she came home looking somewhat flustered that day and kept asking me how many years
she would be sentenced for fighting...
Actually, she's probably not unafraid. But in order to protect me, she raises all her defenses.
A warm feeling surged in Liam's heart as he watched Stella bustling in the kitchen, and his gaze
softened.
As he quietly walked in, she was currently engaged in a battle with a fish.
The fish on the cutting board wriggled weakly, and she positioned the kitchen knife flat, raising it high.
With a resounding thud, she struck the fish, rendering it completely stunned. As its mouth opened and
closed slowly, she swiftly seized the opportunity to scrape off the scales and skillfully cut open its belly.
He chuckled, finding it quite amusing to witness the typically gentle Stella engaging in such a bloody
scene of killing a fish.
"Why are you here?" As she turned her head, a few strands of hair fell before her eyes.
"Couldn't you just buy a pre-killed fish?" Liam asked softly, "Why go through all this trouble of buying a
live fish and cleaning it yourself?"
"You don't understand!" Stella explained confidently, "If you have a vendor kill the fish, there's a chance
they might switch it with a less fresh one. It wouldn't be cost-effective. It's better for me to take the
trouble to do it myself!"
He curled his lips.
These past few days had been hot, and she was at home dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. The slightly
transparent white T-shirt revealed the straps of her bra. Her fair and slender legs were prominently
displayed beneath the shorts. As he watched, he felt his heart skip a beat and quickly averted his gaze.
She adjusted the straps of her apron, and it draped perfectly around her thighs.
Liam felt a tightness in his throat, and it became slightly dry.
The kitchen, the apron, Stella's busy figure, her exposed legs, the beads of sweat on her forehead and
nose... All of these sensations filled him with an indescribable sense of heartache.
Taking a few deep breaths, he tried to suppress those beautiful thoughts.
He then realized that he was overreacting. After all, the woman in front of him was his wife! It was
natural to have such thoughts, and nothing was wrong or inappropriate about it.
Stella noticed that he had been standing still without any movement. Straightening up, she looked at
him closely and noticed his face was slightly flushed. He appeared to be short of breath, and his gaze
seemed somewhat unusual. Startled, she quickly wiped her hands and reached out to his forehead.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Oh my goodness, why is your face so hot?"