Chapter 3

Stella's POV

The next day, I went to the downtown hospital to have my wrist checked.

The doctor looked at the scans with a grave expression.

"Stella, your wrist has severe soft tissue damage. Because it wasn't iced and treated immediately, chronic inflammation has now formed. You need at least three months of rest, or it will affect your professional career."

I listened silently, got my prescription, and left the hospital.

Passing by a luxury residential complex downtown, I stopped the car.

This was where Lucas had bought a large flat six months ago, saying it would be our future marital home.

At the time, Lucas gave me the keys and let me handle all the renovations.

I put a lot of thought into it, decorating the place in my favorite minimalist wood style.

I took the elevator upstairs and pulled out my key to open the door.

However, the lock made a "beep beep" error sound.

The password had been changed.

I froze for a moment, about to call property management, when the door opened from inside.

Serena stood inside wearing silk pajamas. Seeing me, she also froze, then revealed a triumphant smile.

"Stella? What are you doing here?"

I looked at the pink slippers by the entrance and the pink sofa and curtains that had replaced my carefully chosen furniture in the living room. Blood rushed to my head.

"Why are you here?"

I stared at her intently.

Serena blinked innocently.

"Lucas didn't tell you? My old apartment had poor security. Lucas was worried about me, so he let me stay in this place. Oh my, Stella, don't mind. I'm just staying temporarily."

Temporary? They changed the password. They replaced all my furniture. And called it temporary?

I ignored Serena and called Lucas.

"Lucas, what's going on with the Cloudwater Bay property?"

On the other end, Lucas's voice carried a hint of impatience.

"Serena is all alone in the country with no one to rely on, and something happened at her previous apartment. I let her stay at Cloudwater Bay for a few days. What's the problem?"

"That's our marital home!"

I gripped my phone tightly.

"It's just a property. Do you need to make such a big deal out of it?"

Lucas's tone was self-righteous.

"Serena has trouble sleeping and prefers warm tones, so I had the soft furnishings changed a bit. If you really don't like it, we'll just buy another place later."

Just a property.

With one casual phrase, he erased six months of my effort and completely crushed my last bit of hope for this relationship.

"Lucas, do you think that as long as it's for Serena, I should yield no matter what?"

I said calmly.

"What are you making a fuss about now? I told you, I only see her as a sister!"

Lucas impatiently cut me off.

"I have a meeting soon. I don't have time to listen to your unreasonable complaints."

The call ended.

I looked at the screen. A sense of relief washed over me.

Seven years of obsession. Gone in an instant.

I didn't spare Serena another glance and turned to enter the elevator.

Back in my car, I pulled out my phone, opened Ins, and edited a post.

"Engagement canceled. Seven years fed to the dogs. Now looking for a new fiancé. Any takers?"

I clicked send and blocked Lucas.

I thought this was just an emotional vent post that no one would take seriously.

However, just three minutes later, an unfamiliar yet familiar number called.

Griffin.

Seeing that name, I froze.

Griffin and I grew up together. We were also lifelong rivals.

We fought from kindergarten all the way through high school, until college when I gave up studying abroad at a top tennis academy to stay in Lucas's city, while Griffin went overseas. That's when we lost contact.

I'd heard he now ran the family business and had become the head of the country's largest sports conglomerate.

I answered the call. Before I could speak, a deep, magnetic male voice came through, with a hint of barely detectable nervousness.

"Stella, if you want to switch fiancés, how about me?"