It’s Filthy!

A soft breath fled Stella's nose, and she took out the disfigured gold ring to look at it. Maybe it was good that he wasn't back yet. In the meantime, she will keep trying to find a way to fix the thing. She wasn't sure she'd have any explanation if Vincent returned to her to find her with a disfigured ring.  

She dropped the ring back into the drawer and proceeded to continue brushing her hair from where she stopped, but the sudden unfamiliar noises coming from downstairs prompted her to turn her head. Was something happening? The house was usually very quiet, as Valeric was someone who hated noises. 

Stella stood up from the stool, slipped her feet into her slippers, and began to leave the room with the brush held up defensively. She took the stairs downstairs, and upon arriving at the foyer, she was met with a man she had never seen before.