Chapter 6

Stella POV

"You think Ethan really loves you?"

Mara glared at me through gritted teeth.

"He just pities you! Your crippled hand. I had someone crash into you! Not only didn't Ethan blame me, he married me! You really think you're some kind of treasure?"

Mara thought revealing the truth would make me break down, make me go crazy.

Instead, I just looked at her quietly, even with a trace of pity.

"Mara, you're truly pathetic."

I laughed softly.

"You think you won? You used every means, took on charges of deliberate assault, all for a piece of paper. But whose bed does he sleep in every night? Who does he hold in the palm of his hand? You're carrying his child, yet you don't even have the right to stand by his side openly."

"Shut up!"

Mara lost all rationality from the provocation and raised her hand to slap my face.

I didn't dodge. I even tilted my face slightly upward.

Just as Mara's hand was about to land, the practice room door was violently kicked open.

"Stop!"

A roar rang out as Ethan charged in like an enraged lion, grabbed Mara's wrist, and flung her viciously to the floor.

"Ahh!"

Mara clutched her belly, screaming in pain.

Ethan didn't even look at her. He anxiously pulled me into his arms, checking me over.

"Stella, are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

I shook my head, my voice trembling slightly.

"Ethan, who is she? Why did she say... she's your wife? And about my hand..."

Ethan's body went rigid, panic flashing in his eyes.

He turned his head and stared at Mara on the floor with a look that could cut her into a thousand pieces.

"Ethan... my belly hurts so much..."

Mara's face was deathly pale. Blood was seeping out beneath her.

Ethan clenched his jaw and coldly ordered the bodyguards:

"Take her to the hospital. Without my permission, she's not to leave that hospital room!"

The guards quickly dragged Mara out.

Only the two of us remained in the practice room.

Ethan turned around and held me tightly, his voice shaking.

"Stella, don't listen to that crazy woman's nonsense. She's insane. She escaped from the psychiatric hospital. My only wife is you."

I leaned against him, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling nothing but deep irony.

Even now, he was still lying to me.

He thought he could control everything, playing everyone like puppets.

"Ethan, I'm so scared."

I hugged him back, burying my face in his chest, my voice muffled.

"You're all I have. You must never lie to me."

"I swear, I'll never lie to you, never leave you."

Ethan kissed the top of my head, his tone bordering on deranged.

I closed my eyes and smiled.

Yes, you'll never leave me.

Because I'm the one who's going to abandon you.

After Mara's disruption, Ethan's control reached its peak.

He took me straight home, confiscated my phone, cut off the internet, and even had the windows sealed shut.

"Stella, it's too dangerous outside. Just stay home. The recital is canceled. I'll stay with you. We won't go anywhere."

Ethan was like an obsessed madman, never leaving my side for a moment.

I didn't resist or throw tantrums.

I let him do as he pleased.

He didn't dare sleep through entire nights, staring at me fixedly, afraid I'd disappear if he blinked.

Two days left until departure.

I knew I had to make Ethan lower his guard, or I'd never be able to leave.