Chapter 6

Stella POV

After announcing the good news, Luna smiled and walked toward the crystal piano in the center of the hall.

"Today is a special day. I'd like to play a piece dedicated to my fiancé."

The piano music began. My fingertips dug sharply into my palm, nails breaking the skin.

This piece was one I'd taught Ethan hand-by-hand three years ago on his birthday. Back then, Ethan had held my hand and said he'd only play this piece for me in the future.

Now, the same melody had become Luna's tool to declare her claim to the world.

When the piece ended, applause thundered through the hall. Luna walked toward Ethan amidst the crowd's praise. As she passed by me, she suddenly stumbled, and the wine glass in her hand tilted directly, the crimson liquid instantly spilling all over me.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Miss Forrester! I didn't mean to!" Luna cried out, her face full of panic as she apologized, her eyes instantly reddening as if she were the one wronged.

Ethan immediately strode over, pulling Luna protectively into his arms, nervously looking her up and down. "Luna, did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt anywhere?"

From start to finish, he didn't spare a single glance at me, drenched in wine and utterly disheveled.

"I'm fine, but Miss Forrester's clothes..." Luna bit her lip aggrievedly, her eyes secretly glancing at me.

Only then did Ethan turn to look at me. His gaze was cold and disgusted, as if looking at a troublemaker deliberately causing problems.

"Stella, are you blind? What are you doing standing here in the way?" Ethan scolded harshly, his voice loud enough that surrounding guests all looked over.

I looked down at my white shirt stained red. This shirt was bought for me by my mother with her first month's retirement pension. I'd been too reluctant to wear it and only put it on specially for tonight's gala. Now it was completely ruined.

"Luna bumped into me." I raised my head, looking directly into Ethan's eyes, my voice unflinching.

"You dare talk back?" Ethan's eyes grew even darker.

"Luna is so kind, how could she deliberately bump into you? You've ruined her mood. Can you afford to compensate? Hurry up and get to the restroom to change. Stop being an eyesore here!"

Mocking whispers came from the surrounding guests.

"How can this secretary have no manners at all, daring to bump into the future lady boss?"

"I heard she used to be pretty arrogant based on Mr. Carter's trust. Now that the real deal is back, she's got to take the heat, right?"

Every sentence was like a resounding slap across my face.

I watched Ethan carefully protect Luna as they walked away, and suddenly felt it was absurd.

I once thought that if I worked hard enough, was sincere enough, one day I could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. But now I understood that in front of his first love, nothing I did was right. Even breathing was wrong.

I turned and walked toward the restroom. Standing in front of the mirror, looking at that woman covered in wine stains with a pale face, I didn't shed a single tear.

When the heart is already dead, it can't feel pain anymore.

I turned on the faucet, cold water washing over my hands as I slowly cleaned the wine stains from my skin.

When the heart is dead, there's no more pain.