Lemira choked on her own saliva when she heard Janice's blunt question.

She had no idea Janice was so brazen!

Stella's face instantly flushed crimson. "We did, but..."

"But what? He looks like a total beast in bed."

Stella looked away, thoroughly embarrassed. "It was... over pretty fast."

Janice clamped a hand over her mouth. "Wait, does that mean he was a virgin?! Oh my god, I've never met a guy that pure. He looks like a god, and it was his first time!"

Stella stayed quiet, her face burning.

Lemira smirked. "So, Stella, why did you never mention this guy to us before?"

If they had slept together, there was clearly something real between them.

Stella's expression shifted, a flicker of pain crossing her face. "Why would I bring up something so humiliating?"

"How is that humiliating? You slept together. Did he just refuse to take responsibility?"

Lemira shook her head. "He really doesn't strike me as the type to sleep around and walk away."

Stella offered a bitter smile. "After it happened, I asked if we should be together. He told me it was an accident, said I shouldn't read too much into it, and promised he would never tell a soul."

She had been completely rejected.

"Wow, what a jerk! Good-looking guys are always trash."

Janice immediately rallied to Stella's defense.

Lemira looked at Stella thoughtfully. "Back then, wasn't he struggling to pay off his family's medical bills? And working a highly dangerous job? Maybe he was just too afraid to burden you with his life."

"No, he just didn't like me. I was just being delusional, throwing myself at him."

Lemira shook her head firmly. "No, you're wrong. A man like him? If he wasn't insanely attracted to you, there is zero chance he would have been able to perform that night. He definitely feels something for you."

Janice chimed in, "Does he know what you've been going through lately?"

"Yes. He's known about my family's situation for a long time."

Seeing Stella's distressed look,

Lemira softened. "Don't overthink it. He doesn't have those massive burdens weighing him down

anymore. If you still have feelings for him, maybe you should give another shot."

Janice vigorously shook her head. "No way.

out the Stella already put herself

once. If she makes the first

move again, he'll hold all the cards. She'll be totally at his mercy.

Stella nodded aggressively. "Exactly."

A wicked gleam appeared in Janice's eye. "Listen to me, Stella When you interact with him from now on, you have to play hard to get. Make him sweat, it's the only way to bring a guy like that to his knees."

Stella leaned in. "How do I do that?"

Janice and Stella huddled together, plotting the ultimate strategy to tame the stoic ex-mercenary.

Listening in, Lemira silently lit a candle in her heart for the bodyguard. He was going to need all the luck he could get.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from Orion: "Where are you?"

"In the dorm. Asher showed up to harass Stella again."

"Come to Bistrova for dinner tonight. We're throwing a welcome dinner for a certain someone."

Lemira hadn't realized Orion was so close with Caleb. But it made sense-if they weren't good friends, Stella would never have crossed paths with him to begin with.

They operated in completely different social spheres; normally, they wouldn't even have a chance to meet.

Lemira waited for a pause in the scheming before looking at Stella. "We're going to Bistrova for dinner tonight."

Stella looked up, confused. "Why?"

"Orion is hosting a welcome-back dinner for your bodyguard."

Stella hesitated for a second. "Okay, I'll go."

Janice shoved Stella excitedly. "Yes! You have to go, and you need to dress to kill."

"Won't that seem a bit too obvious?"

"No! Men are visual creatures. You have to leave him desperate and panting. Make him look but forbid him from touching. He'll be dreaming about you all night."