"Mr. Jones, you have to take me with you. You’re not allowed to leave me behind."

Stella clung to Maverick like a burr, glued to his side, nagging nonstop.

Maverick was beyond fed up. "Be good. If you keep this up, I’ll dump you."

"You’ll dump me? You can’t leave me! For you, I lost everything. I’m not letting you throw me away!"

Stella had already been pushed into instability by Maverick. That last line snapped whatever was left. ...