Chapter 3

Stella's POV

I didn't wait for Ethan Hunt to return the bracelet. I took a cab directly to the five-star hotel where Sophia Warren was staying.

The presidential suite door opened. Sophia Warren wore a silk robe, and on her wrist was clearly my mother's gemstone bracelet.

"Stella? What are you doing here?" Sophia feigned surprise, though a flash of provocation crossed her eyes.

"Give me back the bracelet." I extended my hand expressionlessly.

Sophia touched the bracelet on her wrist. Instantly, her eyes reddened, looking pitiful.

"Stella, I'm sorry. I didn't know this was your mother's memento. Ethan insisted on giving it to me, saying the color suited my complexion and would improve my mood... Don't be angry at Ethan. I'll return it to you right now."

As she spoke, she reached to remove the bracelet.

But just as the bracelet was about to slip off her wrist, her hand suddenly slipped.

"Crack!"

The sharp sound of shattering echoed in the quiet hallway.

The bracelet that carried all my memories of my mother's love fell onto the marble floor. The gemstones scattered everywhere.

My breathing stopped instantly. I stared at the scattered gemstones on the floor, feeling like my soul had also been shattered.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Sophia cried out, tears falling in large drops. "Stella, I really didn't mean to. My hand suddenly had no strength..."

"What are you doing?!"

The elevator doors opened. Ethan Hunt strode over, pushing me aside and pulling the gasping Sophia into his arms.

"Ethan, I broke Stella's bracelet... She must hate me now..." Sophia leaned against Ethan, trembling.

Ethan looked at me coldly, his eyes full of disgust.

"Stella, haven't you caused enough trouble? I said I'd compensate you. Did you really have to come here and bully a sick person? It's just a bracelet. You drove Sophia to this state over it?!"

I slowly crouched down, picking up the scattered gemstones one by one. I gripped them so tightly that their sharp edges cut into my palm. Blood flowed down through my fingers, dripping onto the carpet.

But I felt no pain. Because the pain in my heart had already exceeded any physical limit.

I didn't cry, nor did I have a hysterical argument. I just slowly stood up, looking at Ethan Hunt with the eyes of a stranger.

"Ethan Hunt," my voice was so calm it was frightening, "you don't need to compensate me."

I turned and walked toward the elevator, leaving that damned place.

Back at the mansion, I carefully placed the bracelet and scattered gemstones in a box. Then I went to the study, opened my computer, and typed up a divorce agreement.

I wanted nothing. Not the Hunt family assets, not that island, not even those two children who saw me as an enemy.

I only wanted freedom.

That night, when Ethan Hunt returned home, he saw the divorce agreement on the desk.

He sneered and tossed the agreement onto the table.

I saw what he did but didn't react. I turned and went to the bedroom to pack my luggage.

"Stella, what game are you playing now?" He walked to the bedroom, watching me pack, his tone mocking. "Threatening me with divorce? You think you can survive without me? What have you done these seven years besides spend my money?"

I zipped up my suitcase, turned around, and handed him a pen.

"Sign it. We'll file for divorce tomorrow."

Ethan Hunt looked into my emotionless eyes. A flash of panic crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by anger.

"Fine! Since you insist on being unreasonable, I'll give you what you want!" He snatched the pen and signed his name on the agreement with a flourish. "I'd like to see how long you can last without me! Don't come crawling back begging me to remarry!"

I collected the agreement and said flatly, "Don't worry. I'd rather die than come back."