Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 31: Could This Excuse Get Any Lamer?

Riveria Airport was bustling with people.

Stella Sterling wore oversized sunglasses, covering most of her face.

She sat on a chair in the waiting area, her fingers unconsciously swiping on her phone screen, checking the copies of the report materials she had sent to the Kenton police and prosecutor’s office email.

Finn Lockwood sat beside her, holding a cup of coffee in his hands, occasionally sneaking glances at his boss out of intense curiosity.

After the boss hastily left the seminar yesterday, she had been out of reach. She appeared this morning, rushing back to Kenton...

The way she was acting, it looked like she was going to do something big!

"Boss..." Finn Lockwood finally couldn’t hold back, moved closer, and lowered his voice, "Are you going back to Kenton this time to... go head-to-head with Attorney Hawthorne’s side?"

Stella’s fingers paused on the screen, and she glanced at him from behind her sunglasses, her tone flat and emotionless: "Just handling work."

Finn Lockwood shrank his neck back, not daring to ask more, but the fire of gossip in his heart burned even brighter.

He felt that something must have happened at yesterday’s seminar...

As he silently speculated, a tall, imposing figure appeared at the entrance of the departure hall, instantly drawing the attention of many around.

The man wore a tailored dark gray coat, with a crisp white shirt underneath, no tie, and the top button casually undone, exuding an understated yet noble aura.

Following behind him was Elias Peyton, who appeared to be an assistant, and the two were conversing in low voices.

It was Shane Donovan.

Stella almost immediately noticed him, her heart skipping a beat for no reason, instinctively trying to bury her face lower, pretending not to see him.

However, Shane Donovan’s gaze accurately swept over, landing on her.

He didn’t pause his steps and walked straight in her direction.

Finn Lockwood also saw Shane Donovan, quickly stood up in a tense manner, plastering a respectful smile on his face: "President Donovan! Counselor Peyton! What a coincidence!"

Elias Peyton nodded expressionlessly, as a sign of greeting.

Shane Donovan’s gaze glanced over Finn Lockwood, landing directly on Stella, who was trying to lower her presence, his lips curving slightly, almost imperceptibly, "Counselor Sterling, what a coincidence."

No escape.

Stella had no choice but to raise her head, remove her sunglasses, and force out a faint smile, "President Donovan, Counselor Peyton, what a coincidence."

"Heading to Kenton?" Shane Donovan’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, asking as if casually.

"...Yes, I have some work to handle."

"Perfect, I’m also on a business trip to Kenton." Shane Donovan nodded slightly, "Is your flight number CA1857?"

Stella paused, instinctively nodding: "...Yes."

"What a coincidence, same flight." Shane Donovan’s tone was flat, "Let’s go through security together, the VIP channel is quicker."

Having said that, he didn’t even give Stella a chance to refuse, gesturing to Elias Peyton behind him.

Elias Peyton immediately understood, stepping forward and gesturing towards Stella, "Counselor Sterling, this way, please."

"..."

Stella forced a laugh, "Thank you."

As their group headed towards the VIP security channel, at the other end of the airport, a tall, imposing man dragged a suitcase out of the domestic arrivals exit.

The man wore a neatly tailored black trench coat, his appearance remarkably handsome, with features somewhat resembling Stella’s, though his were more sharply defined.

As he walked, his left leg moved ever so slightly awkwardly, but one had to look closely to notice. This slight limp did nothing to diminish his aura but instead added a touch of seasoned severity and intimidatory presence to him.

He was on a call as he walked, brows furrowed, "Alright, I got it, I’m already in Riveria, don’t worry, even if I have to tie her up, I’ll get that little girl Stella back for you!"

The person on the other end seemed to still be answering something.

The man replied nonchalantly, "Got it! Talk soon!"

He abruptly hung up the call, unaware that he had just passed by Stella’s group at the entrance to the VIP channel...

...

Through security, into the VIP lounge.

Stella deliberately chose a seat far from Shane Donovan, taking out her phone, pretending to handle emails, and avoiding any eye contact with him.

Shane Donovan, on the other hand, sat on a nearby sofa, with Elias Peyton quietly reporting something to him, to which he occasionally nodded, his side profile cold and focused.

Finally, the boarding announcement sounded.

Stella heaved a sigh of relief and quickly stood up, ready to queue.

"Counselor Sterling," Shane Donovan approached calmly and confidently, "Let’s go, the business class boarding is over here."

Stella then belatedly remembered that someone of Shane Donovan’s status would definitely travel business or first class.

While she had booked economy class.

"No need, economy class is fine for me..." she instinctively refused.

Shane Donovan, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard her refusal, gesturing to the staff who immediately and respectfully guided her to board through the priority lane for business class.

Stella: "..."

It wasn’t until she followed the flight attendant to the spacious and comfortable business class and saw that her seat was arranged next to Shane Donovan that she fully realized—

Her seat had been upgraded! 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

And she was seated conveniently next to Shane Donovan...

...

Within the business class, the environment was comfortable and quiet.

The seats were wide and comfortable, offering good privacy, but for Stella at the moment, it wasn’t very pleasant.

If she turned her head, she could see Shane Donovan’s side profile, very close.

The faint scent of woody fragrance on him wafted over, unsettling her.

The most troubling thing was that the corner of her eye could catch sight of the side of his neck—

After a whole day and night, the originally vivid red mark had turned into a dark red bruise, which was particularly... jarring against his pale skin.

It seemed to silently accuse her of her offense the previous night...

Stella felt her cheeks starting to heat up again.

It was—it was just too much.

And at this moment, Shane Donovan broached the most unmentionable topic.

He put down his tablet, looking at Stella with a slight curve on his lips, "Counselor Sterling, it seems you’re also interested in my neck..."

"I am not!" Stella immediately denied, her voice involuntarily rising, drawing a glance from the passengers in the front row.

She suddenly felt even more embarrassed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

Shane Donovan let out a low laugh, his sound deep and resonating like it had a hook, teasing one’s heart.

He leaned slightly closer to her, narrowing the distance, and the cold woody scent of his faintly surrounded her.

He looked at her almost fully red ear lobes, "However, this mark is indeed a bit problematic."

Stella held her breath, not daring to respond.

Shane Donovan continued slowly, "These days, people keep asking indirectly how I got this. I said it was a mosquito bite, but... it seems like no one believes me."

Stella: "..."

Could this excuse be any worse?

What kind of mosquito would bite in such a shape and position?