Chapter 417: Chapter 417: Stella, Let Brother Shawn Love You?

Henry Stark’s gaze fell upon Freya Sterling. He softened his tone and said, "Freya Sterling, if it were you, how would you reply to these two messages?"

Freya Sterling blinked and said cautiously, "I wouldn’t reply to him."

She actually remembered those two private messages. She hadn’t replied at the time because she had only posted on Little Blue Book to vent, not to seek comfort from a stranger.

She had been upset and wasn’t in the mood to respond to comments or private messages. As for the other person’s username, she paid it even less attention.

If Rui Tucker hadn’t been in that accident, she wouldn’t have even noticed the name "Brother Shawn".

Hearing her words, Henry Stark asked, "Then would you mind if we replied in your place?"

Freya Sterling knew they were trying to lure out the killer, so she shook her head gently. "I don’t mind."

She unlocked her phone and pushed it forward.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Henry Stark picked up her phone, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "The content you’ve posted..."

Before he could finish, Freya Sterling had already answered, "You can look."

It was all just some melodramatic whining about life. Compared to finding the killer, it was nothing.

"Thank you." Henry Stark briefly scrolled through her posts before returning to the private message screen and carefully composing a few words.

[I’m in so much pain. Why can’t she think about me for once...]

He didn’t send it right away. Instead, he handed the phone to Renee Jennings and Sawyer. "What do you two think? Is this okay to send?"

Renee Jennings nodded. "It’s good."

Sawyer nodded too. "I think it’s good, too."

Having gotten the approval of the two women, Henry Stark pressed send.

He placed the phone on the table, and the conference room fell silent.

Kyle Morgan pushed open the conference room door, breaking the silence. He frowned and said, "The guy’s hiding his IP address. I can’t trace it."

This was actually what Henry Stark had expected.

He pressed his lips together, his expression calm. "All we can do now is wait for him to reply to Freya Sterling’s message."

「At the same time.」

At a university in Zenvia, a man dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, with a pair of metal-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, walked elegantly out of a lecture hall.

Passing students greeted him from time to time.

"Teacher Quinn, class is over."

"You look so handsome today, Teacher Quinn."

"Teacher Quinn..."

"Yes, class is over. Handsome? You’re not just pulling my leg, are you..." Teacher Quinn smiled, responding to each student as he walked back to his office.

He picked up the ceramic mug on his desk, removed the lid, and stood up to get some water.

A colleague in the same office saw him and teased with a smile, "Teacher Quinn, being too popular is its own kind of trouble, isn’t it? You come back parched every time."

"Popular? Not at all," Teacher Quinn said with a laugh as he walked back to his seat. "I’m just a bit long-winded."

He set the ceramic mug down, sat back in his cubicle, and took his phone out of his trouser pocket.

The screen showed a new message notification from Little Blue Book.

The corners of the man’s mouth curved up. He glanced around the room, then unlocked his phone and opened the app.

DING-DONG—

The phone screen on the conference table lit up, and all eyes turned to it.

Freya Sterling slowly reached out, unlocked the screen, and saw the message. Her eyes flickered, and she exclaimed, "He replied!"

She instinctively shoved the phone at Renee Jennings.

Brother Shawn: [Stella, your mother doesn’t understand you, but Brother Shawn understands you. Maybe Brother Shawn can help ease your pain.]

Renee Jennings was still holding the phone, having just finished reading the message, when another one came in from him.

Brother Shawn: [Stella, you might not trust a stranger like me, but I sincerely want to help you.]

She passed the phone to the others.

After reading the two messages, Henry Stark held the phone with his slender fingers and typed out a few words: [Can you... really help me?]

He pressed send.

The reply was almost instantaneous: [Of course. As long as you want me to, as long as you’re willing, Brother Shawn will always stand by your side without a second thought. Stella, it’s okay if your mother doesn’t love you. Brother Shawn will love you.]

Henry Stark typed a few words, then deleted them. Finally, he handed the phone to Sawyer. "You reply."

Sawyer took the phone like it was a hot potato, hesitated for a moment, then looked to Renee Jennings for help.

"Let me." Renee Jennings took the phone from her and quickly typed out a few words.

[But she’s my mother. Why doesn’t she love me...]

Brother Shawn: [Stella, you and your mother just aren’t fated to be close. Don’t torture yourself over her. You are wonderful. If she doesn’t love you, someone else will. Stella, let Brother Shawn love you, okay?]

Renee Jennings stared at the reply, her slender brows knitting together.

’If a hurt and heartbroken person saw messages like this, it would indeed be very easy to believe him.’

[Really? Will you really love me? No! Impossible! You’re lying to me. No one will ever love me. This world is so cruel. No one will ever love me.]

Brother Shawn: [Are you willing to give me a chance? If you’re willing, I will come and love you.]

Renee Jennings didn’t reply. She locked the phone screen and said coolly, "Let’s leave him hanging for a bit."

"Teacher Quinn? Teacher Quinn?"

Teacher Quinn was staring at his phone screen when he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He immediately flipped the phone face down, a flash of annoyance crossing his eyes before he looked up at the other person with a smile. "Mr. Hawkins, what is it?"

The middle-aged Mr. Hawkins, holding a black thermos, said, "Teacher Quinn, what are you looking at so intently? I was just going to tell you we’re all getting lunch together."

"Sounds good." Teacher Quinn raised a hand to adjust his glasses. "It’s nothing. Just looking at a student’s question."

"Teacher Quinn, you spoil those kids too much," Mr. Hawkins said as he returned to his own cubicle. "Let’s get stir-fry for lunch. I have a coupon."

Everyone agreed.

Teacher Quinn picked up his phone again, his brow furrowed, and started typing once more.

DING-DONG—

Freya Sterling’s phone screen lit up again.

After Renee Jennings had her unlock it, she saw a new message from Brother Shawn.

[Stella, what will it take to make you believe I’m sincere? Please don’t ignore me.]

Renee Jennings began to type a reply: [I don’t know... What am I supposed to do?]

Brother Shawn: [Stella, don’t worry. With Brother Shawn here, you’re not alone. There’s no need to feel lost or afraid. I’ll be with you.]

Renee Jennings thought for a moment, then replied: [Brother Shawn, can I meet you? I’m just so lost.]

Brother Shawn: [You want to meet me?]

[Can I?]

Brother Shawn: [Of course you can. Do you like the ocean? I think the sound of the waves can heal the soul. Stella, how about Brother Shawn takes you to see the ocean?]

[Okay. Can you take me now?]

Brother Shawn: [Not just yet. You have to pass a little test before Stella can meet Brother Shawn.]

Renee Jennings stared at the message for a few seconds, then handed the phone to Henry Stark. "Should I keep replying?"

The man lowered his gaze, thinking for a few seconds. His voice was cool as he said, "It’s almost time for lunch. Let’s eat first. He should be more anxious than we are."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.