Chapter 1

On our seventh anniversary, I prepared a candlelight dinner and waited until late. Instead, I saw news flooding the internet:

Ethan Hunt spent a hundred million dollars on a drone light show for his mistress's birthday.

Under the lights, they kissed passionately.

I lost it. I rushed to confront him, clawing at him, slapping his face, calling him a heartless bastard.

What I got back was cyberbullying from every direction.

"What a psycho! No wonder Mr. Hunt found someone else!"

Even my own kids took Sophia Warren's side.

"Mom is so mean! Dad, you should divorce Mom and marry Sophia!"

That was the moment my heart died completely.

Your whole family loves Sophia Warren so much? Fine. I'll make it happen for you.

Stella's POV

Eleven at night. New York's lights were dazzling.

I sat at the long French dining table, staring at the cold dishes. Today was my seventh wedding anniversary with Ethan Hunt.

I started cooking at three in the afternoon. I cut my finger chopping vegetables. Hot oil splattered on my hand. But I was happy.

Because Ethan once said my homemade pan-seared foie gras was his favorite.

Now the food on the table was cold. Just like my heart, sinking lower by the minute.

My phone screen lit up with a push notification.

#Billionaire CEO Ethan Hunt Spends $100 Million on Drone Light Show Just to Make His First Love Smile#

I clicked on the video. In the night sky, tens of thousands of drones formed a sky full of stars, finally converging into a single sentence. "Sophia, welcome home."

In the corner of the video, Ethan wore a custom-made black suit, sheltering a delicate woman in his arms. The way he looked down at her was tender enough to melt.

I watched quietly. Suddenly, tears fell onto the screen.

Everyone in New York said Ethan Hunt spoiled me rotten.

In our seven years of marriage, he gave me the wedding of the century, unlimited black cards, and even bought me a private island.

He never let me work, publicly declaring me his queen.

But only I knew that the island was named after his mistress.

He gave me black cards because he didn't want to spend time shopping with me.

He didn't let me work because his mistress Sophia Warren once said she hated women who smelled of cooking oil. And he didn't want to smell that on me.

All his "affection" was nothing more than a gilded cage built with money, used to conceal a heart that was never mine.

The door lock clicked.

Ethan pushed through the door, bringing with him a wave of cold air and a faint scent of jasmine perfume. That was Sophia Warren's favorite scent.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" He loosened his tie without even glancing at the food on the table, his tone carrying a trace of barely concealed impatience.

"Today is our seventh wedding anniversary." My voice was soft, sounding particularly thin in the empty dining room.

Ethan's hand paused on his cufflinks, his brow furrowing slightly. "Sorry, something urgent came up at the company. I forgot. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant take you to pick out a bag, or if you see a mansion you like, just swipe the card."

Again. Always dismissing me with money.

"Company emergency?" I lifted my head, looking directly into his eyes. "You mean spending a hundred million dollars on a drone show to welcome Sophia Warren back to the country?"

Ethan's expression darkened instantly, his eyes turning icy. "You're investigating me?"

"It's all over the internet. I don't need to investigate." I stood up, my nails digging deep into my palms. "Ethan Hunt, what am I to you?"

"Sophia had a really hard time abroad. She has severe depression.

I'm just welcoming her back as an old friend to help stabilize her emotions.

"Ethan looked at me, his tone full of reproach. "Stella, when did you become so unreasonable? You're healthy, you have the status of Mrs. Hunt and unlimited money. Why do you have to compete with someone who's sick?"

I laughed bitterly. Right. I was healthy, so I deserved to be ignored.

Just then, two children's voices came from outside the door.

Six-year-old Lucas and four-year-old Emma ran in, still holding limited edition toys in their hands.

"Dad! The Transformers Sophia gave me is so cool!" Lucas waved the toy excitedly.

Emma came over too, holding up a doll. "Sophia took us for ice cream too! Sophia is the best, ten thousand times better than Mom! Mom never lets us eat ice cream at night!"

My whole body stiffened as I stared at Ethan in shock. "You took them to see Sophia Warren?"

"Sophia loves children." Ethan said flatly. "The kids like her a lot too. What's the problem?"

"I'm their biological mother!" My voice finally trembled.

"So what?" Lucas suddenly shouted at me. "All you do is make us eat vegetables and practice piano! Sophia says kids should be happy! We like Sophia. We don't want you bossing us around!"

Emma chimed in. "Yeah! You're a bad mom! We want Sophia to be our mom!"

The children's words were like knives, cutting deep into my heart. The children I gave life to. The children I stayed up countless nights caring for.

They denied all my devotion so easily.

All for a woman who just came back and bought them snacks a few times.

I looked at these three people who were supposed to be the most important in my life, and suddenly felt they were complete strangers.

I didn't try to comfort the children like I usually did, nor did I continue arguing with Ethan.

I just lowered my eyes calmly and said softly, "Alright. I understand."

Since you all think she's so wonderful, I'll make it happen for you.