Chapter 5 Insomnia Chapter 5 Insomnia Stella wasn't the only one struggling to fall asleep that night . Hannah tossed and turned in bed, wide awake . She had seen Ethan trending . She thought when he said he was busy , it meant something major was happening at the company . She never expected that " busy " meant shopping with another woman . No wonder she didn't receive the hundred grand he'd promised , and he hadn't sent any more money since . So he had a new woman But how ? He was clearly still into her ! In the end , she couldn't resist and sent Ethan a message on WhatsApp . " Ethan . were you out shopping with someone today ? " Ethan didn't reply . He was already asleep . He'd always been a solid sleeper - out the moment his head hit the pillow . ) But at four in the morning , a call woke him up . He rolled over and reached for the phone on his nightstand . The screen showed an unfamiliar number . Ethan had a habit . he always answered calls from unknown numbers . Back when he first put out the missing person notices , he used his own number . Later , there were too many prank calls , so they switched it to Tina's Then even Tina got overwhelmed , so it changed to a few of the secretaries . Any valuable leads would get verified , reported to Tina , then passed on to Ethan . But his number had never changed Someone could've seen one of the old posters and decided to call . He sai up in bed and tapped the screen , his voice still raspy . " Hello ? " There was a pause , then , a low , emotionless male voice came through . " I'm looking for Stella . Is she there ? " Ethan frowned . " Who are you ? Why are you looking for her ? " Stella had just returned . Who the hell was calling for her at four in the morning ? Beep - beep - beep The caller said nothing else and hung up . Ethan stared at the screen , confused , then called the number back. No one picked up . +5 Free Coins 1/4 +5 Free Coins Chapter 5 Insomnia In the dark , his expression hardened . Sleep was gone . He opened WhatsApp and saw Hannah's message . His frown deepened . Had she seen him shopping with Stella ? Didn't seem likely . If she had , she would've messaged right away - not at nearly 1 a.m. Ethan had another thought and opened Twitter . Now he got it . Some paparazzi must've snapped a photo . He usually didn't follow gossip or scroll through Twitter . If anything came up , Tina would give him a summary . Why hadn't she said anything ? Maybe she hadn't seen it either ? It was too late to ask now . His mind went back to the phone call . He fiddled with the bracelet around his wrist . Had someone seen the trending post and recognized Stella , then called ? But why at four in the morning ? And why hang up after calling ? Could it have been Lucas ? Lucas had chased after Stella for three years back in the day . He could've recognized her from a profile or a blurry photo . That guy was a scumbag - two - faced , and used Hannah to stir up hype . He was no good . Stella probably still liked him . That was the real problem . Ethan couldn't let Lucas get near her again . His temple twitched . He blocked the number . He thought about replying to Hannah , but she might already be asleep . Messaging back could wake her up . So he set the phone down and went back to sleep . Stella had been curious about the late - night call , but she wasn't the type to cavesdrop . She drank some water in the living room and didn't return to her room She still couldn't sleep , so she stepped onto the second - floor balcony , propping her chin on one hand as she stared at the sky . At four in the morning , Ashford was silent - like a slumbering dragon .. The sky was a hazy gray , visibility low . Which was why she didn't see the car parked by the roadside outside the villa . Inside the car , a pair of sticky eyes were locked on her . The air was cool , tinged faintly with the scent of blood . A dull pain throbbed in a palm . But the handsome man's face was lit with excitement 2/4 P P Chapter 5 Insomnia Veins popped at his temples - not ugly , but rather hauntingly beautiful in a dangerous way . Stella was really back . This wasn't a dream . +5 Free Coins As soon as Nathan saw that side - profile photo , he'd had his assistant pull over and drove straight to Ethan's home himself . He was Ethan's investor . Getting his address wasn't difficult . The gates were locked . He couldn't see inside , which made him anxious . Logic and emotion battled inside him . Logic said he was wrong . Stella had died - eleven years ago . But his gut and his heart screamed that it was her in that photo . Ethan was her brother . Them shopping together made sense . But how ? How could someone who had been dead for eleven years just reappear ? The conflict tore him apart . He felt like he was dying inside . He wanted to confirm it , but had no good way . He couldn't just storm the villa He might scare her - or worse , be wrong again and crush himself all over again . He had mistaken other people for Stella countless times over the years . Sometimes he'd travel halfway across the country just to check . They never found a body . She could've survived - could be living anywhere . Too many disappointments . Too much heartbreak . He'd lingered outside the gates , hesitating until just now , when he found Ethan's number and called . The call confirmed it . Stella was alive . If she weren't , Ethan would've snapped and called him crazy - or said she'd been dead for years . Instead , he instinctively asked who was calling and what they wanted with Stella . That told Nathan everything , But then he looked up at the villa again- And saw a small , blurry silhouette on the second - floor balcony , His chest clenched , nearly bursting open . The face that haunted his dreams was right there . Less than fifty meters away . The overwhelming joy hit like a wave , ready to drown him . Until he took the small knife in the car and sliced his palm . The pain pulled him back . It proved it wasn't a dream . It was real . Hidden in the dark , a refined man with silver - rimmed glasses stared obsessively at the balcony . 3/4 Chapter 5 Insomnia Tracing every inch of her shape with his eyes . Even after the silhouette disappeared , he kept staring , unmoving . She might come back out . She might . A sudden thought struck him . He frowned . Could her insomnia be acting up ? Another thought surfaced . The man adjusted his glasses with one finger , lips curling into a stunning smile . +5 Free Col Cains " What's with those dark circles ? " Early that morning . Ethan nearly jumped when he saw Stella . She was sitting at the table , eating breakfast Tina had brought . Her voice was drained . " Couldn't sleep last night . I only nodded off around five , then woke up again . " That reminded Ethan of her sleep issues . He sat across from her . " Should we buy the same bed as before ? " Stella shook her head . " It won't help . It's not the bed - it's the place . Do you know who bought our old villa ? Can you contact them and see if they'll sell it back ? " " I'm not sure . It's probably changed hands a few times . " There were too many memories in that house . He hadn't dared look into it Tina chimed in , I'll check today " Stella leaned affectionately on Tina's shoulder . " Thanks , Tina ! Mwah ! " Tina's cheeks flushed pink . She'd thought the legendary school beauty and genius would be distant . She hadn't expected Stella to be so bright and lively - impossible not to like . Tina peeled an egg for her before reporting Ethan's schedule for the day .. After hearing it , Ethan asked , " Did you see what was going on with Twitter yesterday ? " Tina glanced at Stella . Stella raised a brow , expression indifferent as she looked at Ethan . " I told her to ignore it . "