Chapter 3

Stella POV

At seven that evening, I returned right on time to the penthouse apartment in the city center.

The place was decorated romantically. Red roses covering the floor, flickering candlelight, and an elaborate French dinner on the table.

The lock turned and Ethan walked in carrying an elegant cake box.

Seeing me sitting on the sofa, his cold, hard features instantly softened. He strode over and pulled me tightly into his arms.

"Baby, happy fifth anniversary."

He lowered his head to find my lips, urgent and deeply infatuated.

I didn't dodge. I even tilted my head slightly, meeting his kiss.

But as I closed my eyes, my heart was ice cold.

Ethan's kiss was passionate, carrying his signature scent of cold cedar. I used to be most enchanted by this smell. Now it only made me nauseous.

Because I could detect it. Mixed with that cedar scent was the smell of hospital disinfectant and another woman's perfume.

"Why are your hands so cold?"

Ethan released me, held my hands to his lips and kissed them, his brow furrowing.

"Did you go out today?"

"Mm, I went to a flower shop."

My voice was soft.

"I wanted to buy some flowers to decorate with."

A dark gleam flashed in Ethan's eyes, but it was quickly covered by tenderness.

"From now on, let the servants do that kind of thing. Your wrist was injured. You can't let it get cold."

He brought up my wrist again.

In the past, every time he mentioned it, I felt warmth, thinking he cared about me.

Now it sounded like a poisoned blade, twisting again and again in my wound.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

I nodded obediently.

During dinner, Ethan took out a velvet box and pushed it toward me.

Inside was a pink diamond necklace worth a fortune.

"I bid on this at Sotheby's a few days ago. The moment I saw it, I knew only my Stella was worthy of it."

Ethan walked behind me and fastened it around my neck himself, his warm breath falling on my skin.

"Stella, we're going to be together forever."

I looked at our reflection in the glass window.

The man looked deeply in love. The woman was beautiful as a flower.

We looked like such a perfect couple.

"Ethan."

I suddenly spoke, my voice very soft.

"If one day I lied to you, what would you do?"

Ethan's hands froze on the necklace clasp. His eyes instantly turned dark and sinister, but he quickly masked it. He embraced me from behind, his voice low and hoarse.

"You wouldn't. But if you dared to lie to me, dared to leave me, I'd break your legs and lock you to the bed so you couldn't go anywhere."

He sounded like he was joking, but I knew he was deadly serious.

"I was just kidding."

I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling.

"I love you so much. How could I ever leave you?"

Ethan's expression completely softened. He scooped me up and strode toward the bedroom.

That night, Ethan was fierce, as if he wanted to fuse me into his bones and blood.

I cooperated with him the entire time.

When Ethan finally fell into a deep sleep, I gently pushed away the arm draped across my waist and got out of bed.

I walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and washed my body over and over with cold water until my skin turned red and raw.

After showering, I took out a backup phone and logged into a dark web account.

"I need a complete new identity with all traces of my past erased. As fast as possible."

The reply came quickly.

"Rush job will take half a month. Fee is five million."

"Money's not a problem. In fifteen days, I need the documents."

I shut off the phone and looked at the pale but determined woman in the mirror.

Fifteen days.

Ethan, your good days are numbered. Only fifteen left.