Chapter 133

• Stella glanced at the fish soup in the insulated pail before inadvertently peering out the window. Despite the strong storm, she became much more composed. Few would combine the houttuynia cordata with fish broth. This kind of herb was something Alisa had been using in her fish soup ever since she returned from Anqiao Street.
• Put another way, Starry Lake Mansion should be the source of the soup, if she didn't make a mistake. She took a taste of the soup after picking up the spoon. It gave her stomach warmth. Even the baby inside her grew quieter. Stella felt energised again after eating a bowl of fish soup. She felt as though she was no longer fighting alone as she lay on the bed. She hesitated a minute, staring at her phone. "Mr. Conrad, are you awake?" was the text she sent him after remembering that Clarence had advised her not to call him again at midnight.
• When Clarence did not respond to her, she assumed he was asleep. Stella let out a breath. She closed her eyes and put the phone away. Nevertheless, her phone vibrated on the nightstand just as she was about to nod off. Her eyelids opened, and she swiped to respond. Clarence's voice on the other end of the line sounded like a chilly, wet rainstorm. His words were icy, "What's the matter?"