Chapter 2

Stella POV

In the fifth year of keeping my relationship with Ethan Carter a secret, I thought I could finally be with him.

At eight PM, the most upscale revolving restaurant in downtown New York was reserved entirely. I wore a carefully selected black velvet gown, sitting by the window, watching the dazzling neon lights through the floor-to-ceiling glass.

In my purse was a copy of Ethan's schedule. Three days ago, as his chief secretary, I'd accidentally seen a massive transaction from his private account. It was for a pink diamond ring worth ten million dollars.

Five years of secret companionship. Five years of being on call.

At the company, I was billionaire Ethan's most capable right hand. In bed, I was his perfectly compatible lover.

We weren't public. Ethan said it was a critical period for the power transition at Carter Group, and he couldn't have any weaknesses.

I believed him and waited without complaint for five years.

Today was the fifth anniversary of us being together.

When the clock struck eight-thirty, the heavy wooden door of the private room finally opened.

I looked up with hopeful anticipation, but the smile on my lips froze completely the moment I saw who entered.

Ethan wore an impeccably tailored custom suit, his posture upright, his handsome face showing a gentle smile I'd never seen before. And on his arm was a woman in a white dress with an innocent, delicate aura.

Luna Sullivan.

Ethan's first love, the girl he couldn't forget, who'd been overseas for years.

My breathing stopped abruptly, my mind going completely blank. I stared at their intertwined arms, feeling all the blood in my body flowing backward, my fingertips instantly ice-cold.

"Ethan, is this the secretary you often mention?" Luna spoke first, her voice sweet and girlish, with a hint of innocent curiosity.

Ethan walked to the table with Luna, looking down at me from his superior position, his tone casual like he was discussing the weather. "Yeah, she's my chief secretary, Stella Forrester."

He didn't even ask me to sit down, didn't explain why he'd brought another woman on our fifth anniversary.

I forced down the violent trembling in my heart, my voice dry and tight. "Ethan, today is our..."

"Stella, you've always been reliable in your work, and your taste is good too." Ethan cut me off without mercy. He pulled out a chair for Luna to sit, then turned to look at me, his eyes cold and matter-of-fact.

"Luna just returned to New York and isn't familiar with the local environment yet. Next month's engagement party for her and me will be completely under your supervision. Don't let Luna suffer even the slightest grievance."

Word by word, like ice-cold knives, stabbing precisely into my heart.

Engagement party?

I stared at Ethan's familiar face, trying to find any trace of joking in his eyes. But there was nothing.

His eyes only held affection for Luna and the emotionless professionalism he showed toward me, his "secretary."

"You're getting engaged to her?" My voice trembled uncontrollably as I stood up abruptly, my eyes red. "Ethan, then what am I? What were these five years to us?"

Hearing this, Luna seemed startled, shrinking back and looking innocently at Ethan. "Ethan, what's wrong with Miss Forrester? You two..."

Ethan's expression instantly darkened. He glanced at me coldly, his lips curling into a mocking arc. "Stella, watch your identity. You didn't actually think that after warming my bed for a few years, you'd get to be a billionaire's wife, did you?"