Chapter 6

Stella POV

"Okay. I understand."

I wiped away my tears, no longer hysterical, and turned to walk out of the emergency exit.

I didn't go back to the company. Instead, I went straight back to the Lynwood family home, took out my ledger, and filled in the auction amount for the ruby necklace.

Still short thirty thousand.

My flight to Paris was in half a month. I had to raise this money within that time. I wanted to leave Ethan's life completely, cleanly, and without any lingering ties.

Through a friend's introduction, I started working as a VIP suite attendant at an exclusive, high-end private club called "The Black Orchid Club."

Only the wealthy frequented this place. Selling a few expensive bottles of wine meant commissions and tips that could easily match a normal person's annual salary.

I changed into the club's prescribed tight uniform, put on heavy makeup, and moved like a tireless machine between the various suites. Being plied with drinks, being verbally harassed. I gritted my teeth and endured it all.

As long as I could earn money, as long as I could repay Ethan's debt.

That night, the manager handed me a bottle of Romanée-Conti worth a million.

"VIP Room 888. The wealthiest people in the New York circle are in there. Remember to be smart and keep them happy. You'll be pleased with the tips."

I carried the tray and pushed open the door to VIP Room 888.

The suite was dimly lit and smoky. Men and women were embracing, the atmosphere decadent.

I kept my head down, walked to the table, and prepared to open the wine.

"Well, well, this new attendant is quite pretty." A drunken male voice slurred, "Lift your head, let me see."

I ignored him, skillfully pulling out the cork with a corkscrew.

The man felt disrespected. He suddenly stood up, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look up.

"I told you to look up, you... God!" The man's face cleared, half-sober with shock. He instantly let go. "Stella?!"

His exclamation instantly silenced the entire suite.

The man seated in the shadows at the head of the table slowly extinguished the cigarette in his hand and leaned forward.

In the dim light, Ethan's face, dark enough to drip water, became visible. Today was his bachelor party.

He stared intently at me, dressed in a revealing uniform and heavy makeup, the rage in his eyes almost enough to set the suite ablaze.

"Ethan, isn't this... isn't this your adopted daughter? How did she end up selling drinks here?" The man who had grabbed me awkwardly tried to smooth things over.

Ethan didn't speak, the air pressure around him terrifyingly low.

Another wealthy man, who had always disliked me, sneered. "Since she's here to sell drinks, she should follow the rules. Get on your knees and fill everyone's glasses with this bottle. I'll pay for the wine today, and I'll give you a generous tip."

The suite was dead silent. Everyone looked at Ethan, waiting for his reaction.

Ethan leaned back on the sofa, looking at me coldly. "Why are you looking at me? The guest asked you to pour the wine, can't you hear him?"

My spine stiffened for a moment.

I looked at the cold cruelty and contempt in Ethan's eyes, and suddenly, I felt that ten years of love had been a complete and utter joke.

I didn't resist, didn't cry, my eyes didn't even redden.

I calmly picked up the million-dollar bottle of red wine, bent my knees, and with a soft thud, knelt directly before the hard marble table.

The glass wine glasses clinked softly. I poured the wine into each glass with practiced movements and a blank expression, then held up the first glass with both hands, extending it towards the wealthy man who had insulted me.

"Sir, your wine."

The wealthy man froze. I knew he had intended to humiliate me, but he hadn't expected me to actually kneel. He instinctively looked at Ethan.

Ethan's face had turned incredibly grim.

He suddenly stood up and kicked over the table in front of him.