Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 1947

Jonathan stepped away, leading the way with the others closely following behind.

It wasn't until they had disappeared that Estelle, pushing her service cart, made her way into the elevator to begin her rounds of delivering late-night snacks.

She knew Jonathan wanted to see her; a face-to-face encounter was inevitable. That he had restrained himself, not exposing her on the spot or whisking her away immediately, was a testament of his consideration for her feelings.

Having finished her deliveries, Estelle packed a container of spaghetti and caught a cab to the villa where Jonathan and Sylvia stayed.

She rang the doorbell, and Sylvia greeted her with a welcoming smile. "I've been waiting for you, come in."

Estelle nodded, stepping past the threshold.

After closing the door, Sylvia said, "Alvis's upstairs waiting for you. Don't worry-Everyone around here is on his side, and there's no surveillance inside. Feel free to speak whatever you want, do as you please!"

"Thanks!" Estelle responded with a gracious smile.

"We both have our needs; there's no need for thanks," Sylvia said, removing her mask, revealing her face with a radiant smile. "Hurry on up, someone's quite eager to see you."

Estelle placed the spaghetti on the dining table and ascended the stairs, her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Was he still angry?

Would he lash out?

Well, regardless of his temper, she decided not to argue back. Compliance was her chosen strategy.

She couldn't concern herself with much more; after all, she longed to see him as well!

The villa's upper floor featured a cozy lounge, where Jonathan stood before a window. As Estelle reached the top of the staircase, he turned, his dark eyes locking onto her without blinking. Estelle removed her mask and greeted him with a soft smile. " Mr. Alvis, would you care for some spaghetti?"

Jack approached her slowly, his voice a deep, emotionless rumble. "Darling, I'm not in the mood for jokes right now."

Looking up into his face that haunted her dreams, Estelle dropped the façade of cheerfulness. "I'm sorry for deceiving you; it was wrong of me. But I've been safe, without a hint of danger."

Her preemptive softening stance coupled with that earnest look extinguished any anger harbored within him.

What could he possibly say? Seeing her unharmed made all his anger and worry seem trivial.

Her mere presence was everything.

With a tightness in his throat and a shadow in his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Did you even consider how worried I'd be, when I couldn't find you? Ella, how many more near-death panics am I to endure?"

Holding him back, her eyes began to mist. "I'm sorry, I truly am!"

His voice was stern. "Your people told me you encountered danger. What happened? Are you hurt?"

Estelle shook her head quickly. "I'm not hurt; see, I'm standing right here, aren't I?"

"Did you come looking for Gab?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes!"

"I'll help you find him. Tomorrow, I'll arrange for you to leave."

"No!" Estelle looked up while in his embrace. "Jonathan, I have other missions; I can't leave."

"What missions?"

She hesitated, "I can't say!"

Jonathan's patience frayed. "A mission for Eagle Valley? Is that why you can't tell anyone? Fine, I'll join Eagle Valley if that's what it takes. Then you won't have to keep secrets from me, right?" Estelle nearly laughed at his suggestion. "Jonathan, please, stop joking!"

Jonathan joining Eagle Valley?

That was almost comical.

"I'm dead serious!" Jonathan's dark eyes bore into hers. "At least let me know what you're involved in! Unless you don't care at all about the torment I go through!"