Chapter 496 - 505: A Familiar Voice
Chapter 496: Chapter 505: A Familiar Voice
When the leader of the group that had come for Mutt started walking toward Miss Sterling, the expressions of the men from the Three Tigers Corps instantly changed, and they began to move closer to Stella Sterling.
Zane Xavier also watched them warily.
"Boss, that group that came for Mutt... what do you think they’re up to? They can’t be planning to provoke that terrifying woman, can they?"
In another group of people, one of Ronan Rhodes’s underlings sidled up to the tall, thin man and whispered.
Ronan Rhodes was also a bit surprised. He glanced in their direction, a glint in his eyes, and then said to the man beside him, "This has nothing to do with us. We don’t need to get involved."
Though he said that, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes as he watched the two of them.
Then, his gaze fell back on Mutt and the others, his thoughts unreadable.
Stella Sterling saw Felix Lawrence walking toward her and felt a pang of curiosity. ’Could it be that he recognized me?’
She shook her head. ’My appearance now is completely different from before.’
’Even someone who knew me extremely well probably wouldn’t recognize me from my face alone.’
’They might spot some cracks in the facade after spending a long time with me, but not otherwise.’
’But how could he possibly recognize me after just a few glances at a face that looks nothing like my old one?’
’If that’s not it, then...’
After thinking for a moment, Stella Sterling pretty much figured it out.
She had just noticed that Felix Lawrence had been staring at the car behind her.
When she was staying at Felix Lawrence’s place before, he had seen her drive this car.
But now the car was in her hands, and in Felix Lawrence’s eyes, she was a complete stranger. A car that belonged to the person he knew was now with a strange woman. Of course he would be suspicious.
She shook her head. ’I didn’t think of that at first. I wasn’t planning on greeting him, but I never expected him to come looking for me.’
"What do you think you’re doing!"
Hunter Night brought two men and blocked Felix Lawrence’s way, a look of displeasure in his eyes.
To him, Miss Sterling was not just a partner, but also his benefactor.
’I don’t know what this guy’s objective is, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’
Felix Lawrence paused, the situation becoming clear. ’These people blocking me must be with that strange woman.’
’Then... could Miss Sterling’s disappearance be connected to them?’
He suppressed his cold fury and tried to speak as calmly as possible. "I don’t mean any harm. I just want to ask this lady a few questions!"
Hunter Night was about to speak when he saw Quinn walking over.
He looked at Stella Sterling in confusion. "Miss Sterling, just leave this to us!"
Hearing them call her that, Felix Lawrence froze for a second. ’This strange, dark-skinned woman... she’s also a Miss Sterling?’
Stella Sterling gave Hunter Night a polite smile, then said, "That’s not necessary, Boss Night. I know him. I’ll just have a few words with him."
’Besides, my appearance now is a mystery not just to Felix, but to anyone from Sanctyr Base. So even if they have spies around here, they won’t know I’m Stella Sterling. Interacting with Felix won’t be a problem.’
But the moment he heard Stella Sterling speak, Felix Lawrence froze.
’Why does that voice sound so much like Miss Sterling’s?’
’Did I hear that right? The resemblance to Miss Sterling’s voice is uncanny.’
’And they’re both called Sterling... Could there be some connection?’
At this thought, he stared intently at Stella Sterling’s face. But no matter how he looked at it, the face before him was completely unfamiliar.
’I’m positive I don’t know her.’
’But she just told her friend that they knew each other. That’s very strange.’
He studied her carefully once more. The face was a complete blank; he had absolutely no memory of it.
’But the same car, the same name, and that incredibly similar voice...’
He couldn’t help but entertain the idea that they were the same person.
He scrutinized the person before him. ’Looking at her face, she’s a total stranger.’
’But if I don’t look at her face... if I just look at her build... there’s a strange sense of familiarity.’
The thought grew stronger in his mind, and a wave of excitement washed over him. But with so many people around, he had no choice but to forcefully suppress it. He said nothing, his eyes fixed on Stella Sterling.
Hunter Night froze when he heard what Miss Sterling said. ’She knows this person?’
’Didn’t she just arrive in Veridia? If not, she wouldn’t have ended up camping on my turf.’
’But Miss Sterling has no reason to lie to me about it. So they must be old acquaintances!’
’Still, I don’t get it. If she knows these people, why didn’t she just join their faction?’
He mulled it over but couldn’t make sense of it, finally just shaking his head.
’Maybe Miss Sterling really did just get to Veridia, and she only knew this guy from a long time ago. They probably lost touch and are just meeting again now.’
’Considering Miss Sterling’s abilities, this man alone can’t possibly harm her. Besides, we’re not far. If anything happens, we can react instantly.’
So he nodded and led his men away from the area.
Zane Xavier glanced over a few times, curiosity in his eyes.
He had been wondering if Miss Sterling was interested in the bald man, but now it looked like he was wrong. ’So it’s just someone she knew from before.’
Still, a thread of doubt remained in his mind.
’That bald man’s expression didn’t look like he recognized Miss Sterling at all.’
’So why would she say that?’
"You are?"
Felix Lawrence watched Stella Sterling, his voice tentative. He had a guess, but without a definite answer, he couldn’t be sure.
"What, don’t you recognize me, Mr. Lawrence?"
Stella Sterling let out a few low laughs, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
Hearing that familiar voice and that playful tone, any uncertainty left in Felix Lawrence’s heart vanished.
The person in front of him really was the Stella Sterling he knew.
’No wonder. No wonder everything was such a coincidence.’
He opened his mouth, about to call out her name, but after seeing Stella Sterling’s face, he swallowed the name that was on the tip of his tongue.
’Miss Sterling has changed her appearance, and she clearly didn’t want to acknowledge me at first. There must be a reason for all this.’