Chapter 2

Stella POV

The VIP ward section of the private hospital was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wearing a mask and baseball cap, I avoided the security guards and stood outside the half-open door at the end of the corridor.

Through the crack, I saw the man who said he was picking up a cake.

Ethan wore a custom suit, his posture straight and tall as he sat beside the hospital bed.

He held a bowl of chicken soup, carefully blowing on each spoonful to cool it before bringing it to the lips of the woman in the bed.

The woman in the bed was none other than Mara, the one he'd supposedly "committed to a psychiatric hospital" three years ago.

Mara's belly was already slightly swollen. She pushed the spoon away with a coy pout.

"Ethan, I don't want any more. This soup is too rich."

"The doctor said your pregnancy isn't stable. You need to eat more nutritious food."

Ethan's voice was tender enough to drip honey, the same tone I'd heard for five years.

I stood outside the door, coldly watching this scene.

My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. Even breathing tasted like blood.

"Ethan, today is your fifth anniversary with Stella, isn't it?"

Mara leaned into Ethan's embrace, her fingers playing with his tie.

"Shouldn't you go home and be with her? Won't she get suspicious?"

Ethan set down the bowl and casually smoothed Mara's hair.

"She's very obedient and trusts me completely. She won't overthink things."

"Sometimes I'm really jealous of her."

Mara pouted.

"You keep her in that golden cage, spoiling her like a princess. And me? Even though I have the marriage certificate as Mrs. Laurent, I have to hide here like some mistress in the shadows, trying to keep this baby safe."

"Mara, don't start."

Ethan's eyes darkened, his tone carrying a warning edge.

"We agreed on this three years ago. She wanted to fly to Vienna. I couldn't keep her here. You were the one who did what I couldn't bring myself to do. You crashed into her car, shattered her hand, clipped her wings so she could only depend on me."

Outside the door, my body went rigid.

"You did what I was too soft-hearted to do and took all the blame. As compensation, I gave you the title of Mrs. Laurent, gave the Lynn family unlimited wealth and status, and now I've let you carry my child."

Ethan gripped Mara's chin, his voice cold and cruel.

"But remember that the only person I love is Stella. You'd better behave yourself and not disturb her. Otherwise, everything I've given you, I can take away just as easily."

Mara's face went pale. She quickly wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I understand. I won't provoke her. As long as I can stay by your side, I'll do anything."

Inside the room, the two embraced.

Outside the room, I bit my lip so hard I tasted thick blood in my mouth.

So that was it.

There was no revenge born of twisted love. No so-called redemption.

The car accident three years ago that destroyed my life was orchestrated by Ethan himself!

He was afraid I'd go abroad, afraid I'd escape his control, so he used Mara's hands to completely destroy me!

Then he descended like a savior, caging me up, enjoying my complete dependence and adoration.

What a terrifying man.

What disgusting love.

I slowly unclenched my fists. My palms were marked with deep bloody crescents from my nails.

I didn't burst in and slap them. I didn't break down crying.

I just took one long look at the man I'd loved for five years, then turned and silently left the hospital.

The moment I walked out the hospital doors, the sunlight was so bright I couldn't open my eyes.

I pulled out my phone, saved the recording I'd just made, then uploaded it to an encrypted cloud storage.

I wouldn't cling to him. And I certainly wouldn't forgive him.

Since Ethan liked playing these games, I'd play along to the very end.

Only this time, the roles of prey and hunter would be reversed.