Chapter 2

Stella's POV

The next morning, I didn't get up early to prepare breakfast for the family like usual.

I put on light makeup, dressed in a sharp trench coat, and went to Ethan Hunt's company. He'd left in such a hurry last night that he'd left an important cross-border acquisition document in his study.

When I reached the door to the CEO's office, it was ajar. Inside, I could hear Ethan laughing with some friends.

"Ethan, last night's welcome ceremony was really spectacular. Everyone in our circle is talking about it. You welcomed your first love back so publicly. Mrs. Hunt didn't make a scene?"

Ethan chuckled lightly, his voice casual. "What would she make a scene about? She can't leave me."

"True. Stella is so mild-mannered, like plain water. But what are you really planning to do?"

Ethan lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his tone chillingly indifferent. "Stella is suitable as a wife. She's obedient and keeps the house in order. But Sophia is different. Sophia is my soulmate. I can give Stella the title of Mrs. Hunt and endless money, but my heart can only belong to Sophia."

Standing outside the door, my breath caught sharply.

Seven years of marriage. Seven years of humiliation. In his eyes, I was nothing more than an "obedient" housekeeper.

I didn't push the door open to confront him. I just handed the documents to the secretary at the door and turned to leave. My steps were steady, my back straight. Only I knew that my heart had shattered into dust.

Back at the mansion, I began organizing my personal belongings.

I opened the safe, wanting to take out the only memento my mother left me, a gold bracelet encrusted with gemstones.

Mother had put it on my wrist on her deathbed, making me promise to pass it on to my future daughter.

But the jewelry box was empty.

My head buzzed. I immediately called for the housekeeper. "Where's the bracelet from the safe?"

The housekeeper's eyes shifted, hesitating. "Madam... yesterday when the master came back for documents, he took the bracelet with him. He said... he said..."

"What did he say?!"

"The master said Miss Warren hasn't been sleeping well lately. She likes gemstones, so the master took it for Miss Warren to wear for a few days..."

I felt dizzy, blood rushing to my head. My hands trembling, I dialed Ethan Hunt's number.

"Ethan Hunt, give me back my mother's bracelet!" The moment he answered, I practically ground out these words through clenched teeth.

On the other end, Ethan's voice was displeased. "What are you freaking out about now? It's just a bracelet. Sophia saw it in a photo last night and liked it, so I let her wear it for a few days. She's emotionally unstable right now and needs these things to calm her down."

"That's mine! It's the memento my mother left me!" My voice was hoarse with a desperate sob.

"Stella, can't you be less petty?" Ethan's tone grew increasingly impatient. "Sophia's just wearing it for a few days. It's not like she won't return it. At worst, I'll go to the auction house tomorrow and buy you ten better bracelets! Don't bother her. She can't handle stress."

With that, he hung up directly.

Listening to the dial tone, I slowly slid to the floor.

Ten better ones? Did he think money could buy everything?

He trampled on my dignity, my boundaries, my memories of my mother, all to make his "soulmate" smile.

That evening, Lucas and Emma came home from school.

Seeing me sitting in the living room in a daze, Lucas ran over and held out his hand. "Mom, Sophia said that bracelet is really pretty. Do you have any others? Sophia said she wants a matching pair."

I stared at my own biological son in shock. "Do you know that was Grandma's bracelet to me?"

"Grandma's been dead for so long, what's the point of keeping it?" Emma pouted nearby. "Sophia looks way better wearing it than you do. Dad said as long as Sophia is happy, she can have anything. Mom, you're so stingy!"

I looked at these two young but cold faces before me and suddenly laughed.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

What sin had I committed to fall in love with such a man and give birth to two such ungrateful children?