When she emerged into the vibrant, noisy lounge, the air felt thick with unspoken tension, though only Stella was aware of it. Nelly looked up, a furrow of concern between her brows. "Stella, are you okay? You were in there for a while."
Stella forced a small, shaky smile, trying to compose herself. "Just needed a moment. All that chicken and excitement, I guess," she lied, her voice a little too breezy. The words felt like sandpaper in her throat, a stark contrast to the acid churning in her stomach.
Just then, Daniel sauntered back to the table, a perfectly innocent expression on his face, though his eyes flickered to Stella for a fraction of a second, a silent challenge in their depths. He pulled out his chair and sat, his posture relaxed, as if he hadn't just cornered her in a restro
