Page 37 of King of Rage

Stella released Triston’s wrist and immediately folded her arms across her chest. She lifted her chin, straightened her shoulders, and put on a brave, indifferent expression, as though none of his questions had managed to get beneath her skin.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I just needed someone to play with. We were together for so many years, and I let that bastard control me. When I got the chance, of course I took advantage of it. It’s just a casual fling, nothing more.”

Triston stared at her.

He did not answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face with the kind of look that made it obvious he knew she was hiding something.

“Stella Gibson, don’t forget that I’m not stupid.”

His voice was low, but the warning in it was unmistakable.

“You’re not the woman who does casual things. You’re not the woman who does one-night stands. You’re not the woman who even falls for another fucking man.”

His jaw tightened as he stepped closer, his gaze locked on hers.

“Ever since you fell for Lucius, you haven’t been with another fucking man. And before Lucius, there wasn’t anyone either.” His gaze remained fixed on her. “So don’t expect me to believe this was just some casual fling.”

His voice hardened as he shook his head.

“I know you, Stella. The only man you’ve ever truly fallen in love with is Lucius Frost.”

His patience was wearing thin now, his voice rising with each word.

“So how the hell do you expect me to believe that you’re just playing a casual game with that man?” His eyes narrowed, frustration flashing across his face. “Have you already forgotten why you broke up with him in the first place?”

Stella’s arms remained folded, but her fingers curled tightly against her upper arms.

“Wasn’t it because you called him to come to the entire proposal setup you had made to propose to him?” Triston continued, his eyes fixed on hers. “And instead, a woman picked up his goddamn phone and told you that Lucius was swimming and couldn’t come to the phone?”

His expression hardened.

“You were ready to propose to him, Stella. You had already made the decision to spend your life with him.” Triston’s voice softened only slightly, but his eyes remained fixed on hers. “You had chosen Lucius Frost. You were ready to build your entire future around that man.”

The words struck harder than she expected.

Stella’s face fell.

For a moment, the crowded café around her seemed to disappear. The voices of the customers, the clatter of cups, the hiss of the coffee machine, all of it faded beneath the memory she had spent so long trying to bury.

She remembered that day with painful clarity.

She had not believed the woman on the phone.

Not at first.

She had gone home, desperately searching for another explanation, convincing herself that there had to be one. Lucius was not that man. He could not be.

And then Lucius had come home.

He had walked through the door with the same effortless authority he carried everywhere, looking as composed and untouchable as ever. His expensive coat had been draped perfectly over his broad shoulders, his expression controlled, his movements calm.

He had walked straight to her and kissed her on the lips, just as he always did.

Stella had watched him remove his coat and toss it onto the couch before he headed toward the bathroom to freshen up.

That was when she saw it.

The lipstick stain on his white shirt.