My Little Sunshine

Chapter 63: Stop Right There

"Stop right there young lady." Liam stopped Rachel as she was heading upstairs to her room. 

"Yes Dad?" She asked stopping in her tracks. 

"Come here. I need to talk to you about something." He asked her to which she complied.

"What was that?" He asked her when she was standing right before him.

"What---" She was interrupted by him as soon as she opened her mouth.

"Don't bother denying and lie to me sweety. I can tell when you lie to me. I saw what you were doing there earlier. My question is why. Why did you do that?" He asked her softly.

"How can she take my place?" Rachel yelled in reply. "How can she just come out of nowhere and stand next to him Dad? I have grown up with Adam. We know each other since we were kids." 

"She is not taking anyone's place. You are right that you know Adam since you guys were kids. But that's all. You guys are childhood friends. Stella is Adam's girlfriend, and he has feelings for her. I have never seen the boy this happy and so caring towards someone." Liam replied softly as he patted her head.

"She doesn't deserve Adam, only I can stand next to him and I will have that place sooner or later Dad. I have feelings for him too." She retorted back. "She was just a secretary. How did she end up being his girlfriend? I don't even know what ways she used to get to that position so that she could seduce him. That slut." 

"Stop right there." Liam interrupted her as he tried to control his anger. "She isn't like that. And you don't even know her to begin with Rachel."

"But didn't you see how Adam was ignoring me today because of her." She snapped back at him.

"He isn't a talkative fellow and you know that too." Liam replied.

"I don't know anything. I will take back what's mine." Rachel yelled stomping her foot on the ground and turned around to leave.

"Rachel! We aren't done talking. Rachel, stop..." Liam called her a couple of times only to get ignored by her.

Once she was out of his sight, he heaved out a tired sigh. He knew for a fact that she wasn't a bad person. She was a soft hearted girl who do anything to help someone. But all of it changed a few years back. Entering in the entertainment industry at a young age didn't do her any good. She gave up on her old friends and her new friend circle only consisted of those high class socialites and celebrities. Along the years, her personality changed drastically. He was worried for her but he didn't know what to do. At least Martha knew how to handle the new Rachel but after she passed away, he has been at a loss.

"I wish you were here Martha." He murmured under his breath as he headed towards his own room.

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Adam was knocking on her room's door but didn't hear anything in reply. 

Twenty minutes earlier,

After changing into some casual wear he thought about the things Liam had told him. He was feeling restless, so he made his way to the kitchen and brew two cups of coffee. Taking them he made his way back to her room. 

Now, there he was, standing before the door and knocking it with his foot as his hands were busy holding the cups. He was having a feeling that she might need his support at the moment. But to his bad luck, he didn't hear a single reply. After knocking for a minute more, he headed upstairs after getting no response. He knew that Stella wasn't a heavy sleeper and would have woken up by now because of his continuous knocking. It could only mean one thing, she wasn't in her room. Adam had a fair idea of where she might be, the rooftop.

There he saw her, standing alone in the dark, leaning over the back railings. She was looking up at the midnight sky. Since it was a cloudy night, one can not see the stars and the moon would peek out every now and then. 

He slowly walked up to her with soft steps as not to startle her. Placing the cups on the wooden table that was close to where she was standing, he made his way to her. 

"Baby?" He softly murmured wrapping his arms around her. 

Stella came out of her daze as she sensed a familiar scent around her followed by a soft mellow voice as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her.

She turned around to face him with his arms still wrapped around her. She buried her face in his chest and hugged him back tightly.