Chapter 359: Rest Assured
Chapter 359: Chapter 359: Rest Assured
After saying that, Stella Sterling ignored him and turned to the dark, skinny boy to start asking him questions.
But her words plunged Andrew Shaw’s heart into turmoil.
Her comment about him being "very lucky" had seemed to come out of nowhere, but he knew exactly what she meant.
She was telling him that she knew what had just been going through his mind.
’But since I didn’t actually do anything, she’s letting me off the hook this one time.’
When she said he was lucky, she was also telling him that if he had actually made a move, she would have already sent him to his grave.
He wouldn’t have had the chance to be standing here, talking with her.
’That must be the true meaning behind her telling me I was lucky.’
Andrew Shaw broke out in a cold sweat, his mind going blank for a moment.
He was terrified, but also a little relieved.
He knew she had truly sensed his earlier intentions. He didn’t know how she’d done it—he’d been so careful—but she had found out anyway.
But when he thought about this woman, Stella Sterling, and all her bizarre abilities, he wasn’t so surprised anymore.
’After all, there’s more than just one or two strange things about her. She probably has other abilities I don’t even know about.’
A wave of residual fear washed over him as he thought about how he had nearly taken a fatal misstep and been killed by this woman.
Thankfully, thankfully, he had come to his senses at the critical moment and hadn’t gone through with it.
Otherwise, his life would have been forfeit today.
This incident was a warning to him: never try his luck in front of Stella Sterling again. This woman was formidable; he couldn’t hide anything from her.
If he wanted to live, he’d better just keep his head down from now on. It would be best not to even have such thoughts.
’My life is pretty good right now, anyway. There’s no need to dwell on pointless things.’
Even though he was under her control, she wasn’t treating him like a prisoner. She was providing him with good food and drink. What was there to be dissatisfied about?
’To think I actually considered killing her... I’m a real monster.’
He hadn’t met someone this good even before the apocalypse. She was terrifying, yes, but she hadn’t actually done anything to hurt him.
’It’s one thing to not be grateful, but to actually think of turning on her the moment I got my hands on a gun... I don’t know what I was thinking.’
Frustrated with himself at the thought, he instinctively gave himself a loud slap across the face. SMACK!
That one slap wasn’t enough to quell his anger, so he followed it with several more. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
He didn’t hold back at all. Though he wasn’t very old and didn’t have much strength, his small face quickly turned red, emblazoned with fresh palm prints.
His sudden, bizarre actions drew the attention of the two people who had been talking.
Stella Sterling merely raised an eyebrow at the sight, unsurprised and not bothering to stop him.
The dark, skinny boy, however, stared at the kid in astonishment.
’He seemed so smart before. Even though he’s young, he didn’t talk like a kid at all when we spoke. He seemed pretty mature.’
’A real sharp mind, too!’
’Why is he suddenly acting like an idiot, slapping himself like that? And so hard, too.’
’Or maybe this kid just likes hitting himself? A glutton for punishment?’
With that thought, he scratched his head and looked at Stella Sterling. "This brother of yours... is there something wrong with him?" The dark, skinny boy gestured toward his own head. "Does he have episodes sometimes?"
Stella Sterling scoffed. "Don’t mind him. He’s just admitting his mistake."
The boy was utterly confused. ’Admitting his mistake? What mistake?’
The next moment, he heard the young woman in front of him say, "But he’s not my brother. He’s my subordinate."
The dark, skinny boy was even more baffled. ’Who takes on a subordinate that young?’
But it was their business, so he didn’t press the issue.
He just looked at Stella Sterling and asked, "Was what you said earlier true?"
"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you about that? Go on, do as I said. Gather the remaining people in this city."
As she spoke, Stella Sterling pressed two steamed buns and a bottle of water into his hands, then waved him off.
Looking at the items in his hands, the boy said nothing. He just gave Stella Sterling a deep look, then turned and ran.
His steps were jaunty, and a light sparked in his previously lifeless eyes, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope.
After the boy left, Stella Sterling glanced over at Andrew Shaw but ignored him, sitting down by herself off to the side.
She then took out the food she had collected earlier.
A short while later, Andrew Shaw approached her with his head bowed. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have had those thoughts before. But... but I came to my senses quickly, so I didn’t do it."
He figured that since she already knew, he might as well clear the air.
Otherwise, the issue would just become a ticking time bomb between them.
Hearing this, Stella Sterling glanced up at him, her tone calm. "I know you didn’t do it. If you had, you’d already be dead."
Stella Sterling’s words were calm, but they sent a jolt through Andrew Shaw. ’I knew it, I knew it!’
"So, now...?"
He looked at Stella Sterling nervously, like a prisoner awaiting his final sentence.
Stella Sterling didn’t look at him. "This is the last time. If anything like this happens again, I won’t be so merciful."
"Yes, yes! It won’t happen again! Never again! I’ve thought it through today. I must have been out of my mind to even consider it. It won’t happen again."
Stella Sterling nodded. "You may be spared death, but you can’t escape punishment. For the next three days, you’ll eat nothing but steamed buns."
"Fine, fine! No problem!"
Andrew Shaw nodded eagerly. Hearing Stella Sterling say this, he could finally, truly relax.
’Her saying that means she’s really forgiven me. Otherwise, I’d still be on edge.’
So this time, even if it meant eating only steamed buns for the next few days, he was happy.