When Scarlett woke up past seven in the morning, Matthew Saxon was gone again.

Knowing he had slept for barely four hours, Scarlett couldn’t help but feel a tinge of heartache.

In the past, she always thought that young heirs like him would only know how to indulge in a life of luxury all day long, unable to endure any hardship. But now she realized that even in a wealthy family, effort is still required.

Ordinary people toil for their livelihood, and people like them face pressures just the same.

The larger the family business, the greater the pressure.

The Saxon Family is currently at the top of Z City, basking in glory, but maintaining that glory, or even surpassing it, is not an easy task.

Scarlett had just hung up the phone when Olly walked over and respectfully said, "Miss Yates, there’s a Miss Nelson here to see you. She claims to be your good friend."

Miss Nelson?

A hint of delight appeared on Scarlett’s face: "Is it a Miss Stella Nelson?"

Olly nodded: "Yes."

Scarlett immediately stood up and turned to run toward the living room.

--

As it turned out, Scarlett hadn’t seen Stella for quite a long time.

Stella hadn’t called her beforehand and just showed up suddenly, which left Scarlett pleasantly surprised and stunned. But the surprise turned into shock the moment she saw Stella.

Because she never expected that in just over a month, Stella had changed so much.

Scarlett could hardly recognize her.

Was this pale-faced, gaunt, and utterly exhausted woman really Stella Nelson?

She looked spiritless, sitting there listlessly. The always vibrant eyes had lost their sparkle, now staring blankly in a direction. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She remained motionless, engrossed in something unknowable. Even when Scarlett approached her side, she had no awareness.

It wasn’t until Scarlett called her name that she seemed to come back to life, her body shivered slightly before she slowly turned her head.

She blinked her empty, lifeless eyes and gradually focused on Scarlett’s face.

She stared at Scarlett for a few seconds, sadness suddenly clouding her eyes, her lips quivered, and she called out shakily, "Scarlett..."

As soon as the name left her lips, tears silently fell from her eyes.

Scarlett was startled by her appearance.

"Stella, what happened to you?" The first thought that sprang to her mind was if something had happened to the Nelson Family.

It was Scarlett’s first time seeing Stella in such a desolate and sorrowful state.

Even when she broke up with Max Quinn, she hadn’t been this upset.

After Scarlett sat down and reached out to hold Stella’s hand, she found it as cold as ice.

"Scarlett, I thought I wouldn’t care. I really thought I wouldn’t care, but now I’m so sad. My heart truly hurts." Large teardrops splattered on her pale cheeks, falling one by one, then dropping down like a broken string of pearls.

"Stella, tell me, what exactly happened?" Scarlett was flustered and anxious from her crying, worried for her while not knowing what had actually happened. This feeling was incredibly provoking.