Chapter 106: Chapter 106: She Pried Open Someone Else’s Door

A short while later, Stella Sterling returned, a key-like object in one hand and a bag in the other. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Basil Xavier then watched as Stella used that unknown object to easily open the door in front of him.

He realized something was off about the thing in her hand. The more he looked at it, the more familiar it seemed, looking exactly like a master lock-picking tool he had seen on the black market before!

He glanced suspiciously at the woman before him.

’Isn’t this her house?’

"Come on, let’s go inside."

Stella Sterling said to him, then took Gordon Ford back from Basil and helped him into the house.

Basil Xavier followed her. As soon as he stepped inside, his brow furrowed deeply. Everything in the room—from the decor and ornaments to the shoes by the door—indicated that this was a man’s home, definitely not the residence of the woman in front of him.

’So she just picked someone else’s lock and is letting us stay here?’

Basil Xavier’s expression turned a little strange.

He hesitated before asking, "Did you just... take over someone else’s home?"

Stella Sterling didn’t turn around. Her voice drifted back, "If you mind, you’re free to find another place."

’She just admitted it outright!’

Basil Xavier fell silent. In the past, he would never have done something like squatting in someone else’s house.

But given his and Gordon Ford’s current situation, they really needed a place.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Will the owner of this house be back? If someone lives here, then let’s forget it. There should be other empty apartments. We can pick another place."

If someone was still living in this house but had been forcibly driven out because of them, Basil Xavier’s conscience wouldn’t be able to bear it.

But if it was originally unoccupied, then even though it was still immoral, desperate times called for desperate measures. He wasn’t that rigid.

As for empty apartments, he figured there must be quite a few in the building. After all, a lot of people had just died, so their places were now available.

Hearing this, Stella Sterling turned back, a half-smile on her face as she looked at him. "Don’t worry, the owner won’t be coming back. You can stay here without any worries."

River Larkin wasn’t dead; she had found that out the very next day. But he had never appeared before her again. She guessed he didn’t dare show his face around her.

He wanted her to think he had left the residential complex, which was why he hadn’t even dared to return to his own home for so long.

So, this apartment had conveniently fallen into her lap.

However, thinking of the hastily disappearing figure she saw when she went downstairs just now, the corner of Stella Sterling’s mouth curved up.

Basil Xavier raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t quite sure what Stella Sterling meant by that.

But since she had said as much, it wouldn’t be right for a grown man like him to keep being fussy.

So he didn’t say anything more, just thanked Stella Sterling gratefully. "Thank you so much!"

"It’s nothing to thank me for. After all, Gordon Ford and I are friends. Just take good care of him. I have some medicine here. You can decide how to use it for him."

After speaking, Stella Sterling laid Gordon Ford on the sofa, placed the bag she was carrying on it as well, gave Gordon one last look, and turned to leave.

When Basil Xavier heard there was medicine, his eyes lit up, and he hurried to check the bag.

It was some basic medicine for colds and fighting off chills. They were common enough on the market normally, but in times like these, they were life-saving.

Besides those, there were also some medications for external injuries and a bit of gauze.

He hadn’t expected this woman to have such supplies. This was a huge help. Bringing Gordon Ford to find this friend of his was definitely the right move.

Basil Xavier took a pill himself, then went to give one to Gordon Ford.

After he was done, he thought of Stella Sterling, only to find she had already left at some point and had even closed the door.

’I even forgot to ask her name!’

Basil Xavier sighed. She had helped them so much, yet he didn’t even know her name.

’That group of people before seemed to have called her name a few times. What was it again?’

’My mind was a bit hazy then, and I was so focused on Gordon Ford that I didn’t hear it clearly.’

"I’ll just have to ask Gordon when he wakes up!"

He muttered, then opened the backpack he was carrying and took out a piece of bread to eat, replenishing his energy.

After slowly regaining some strength, he went to search the rooms. He was suddenly grateful that the house Stella Sterling found for them belonged to a man. He quickly found a set of clothes that fit him and changed. Then he helped Gordon Ford out of his soaked clothes and tended to his wounds.

While Basil Xavier was busy taking care of everything, Stella Sterling returned to her own apartment, wiped herself down, and slept soundly.

Knowing Gordon Ford was safe, she could finally let out the breath she’d been holding. Although he was injured and unconscious, he had made it through the worst. Now that he was safe and had medicine, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

Stella Sterling slept especially peacefully that night.

The next day, she woke up early. She stretched lazily and went to the window, pulling open the curtains to look outside. The terrifying scene hadn’t stopped; in fact, the snowflakes looked even bigger than yesterday.

The entire sky outside was covered by a constant flurry of falling snow. Whipped around by the cold wind, it billowed everywhere. A single glance was enough to make one feel oppressed.

She quickly pulled the curtains shut. In this weather, no one could go out. If you left, you might never come back.

Forget going outside; even just visiting someone in the opposite building was probably impossible.

She stopped thinking about it. Fortunately, she had enough supplies at home and didn’t need to go out to find food. All she had to do was hide in her apartment and live her days in peace.

With that in mind, she had breakfast, did her usual exercises, and then entered her space to harvest a batch of fruit.

Looking at the area where she kept her fruit, which was even more stocked than before, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

After finishing her work and exiting her space, it was almost noon. She thought for a moment, then decided to go downstairs to check on Gordon Ford.

The person who opened the door was Gordon Ford. Although his face was still pale, his spirits seemed good. Stella Sterling was taken aback for a second. "You’re awake."

When Gordon Ford saw Stella Sterling, he also froze for a moment. Realizing his current appearance, he hastily tried to fix his hair and check if his clothes were on properly, looking flustered.

He had just woken up when he heard a knock, so he went to open the door, not expecting to see Stella Sterling.

Seeing his flustered state, a flicker of a smile crossed Stella Sterling’s lips, but it vanished just as quickly.

Gordon Ford scratched his hair, then quickly stepped aside. "It’s cold outside, come in!"

Stella Sterling shook her head. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Since you seem to be fine now, I can rest easy. You should get some more rest."

Gordon Ford smiled. "I woke up once last night. Basil Xavier told me what happened. Thank you."