Chapter 3

Stella's POV

The Blackwood Group building was still imposing. As the elevator ascended, I was still thinking about how to bring up the divorce. Passing the secretarial area, Ethan's assistant happened to walk by with documents.

"Mrs. Blackwood?" The assistant was obviously stunned. "Are you here to see Mr. Blackwood?"

"Yes." I clutched the document folder in my hand. "I need him to sign something."

The assistant's gaze lingered on my pale face for a moment. "I happen to be going in. I can take it in for you."

I hesitated, then handed him the divorce agreement. "Thank you."

The moment the door opened, my blood froze. Ethan was kneeling on one knee, tenderly massaging the ankle of Vivian who sat on the sofa. Vivian wore a short skirt, her pale legs resting on his knee, a sweet smile on her face.

"Mr. Blackwood, these documents need your signature." The assistant's voice made Ethan look up.

Busy massaging Vivian, he didn't even look at the documents, simply flipping to the last page and signing.

I stood outside the door, my nails digging deep into my skin. In my past life when I sprained my ankle playing tennis, Ethan had knelt just like this, carefully applying medicine, his brow furrowed with worry.

Soon, the assistant came out and returned the divorce agreement to me. "Mrs. Blackwood, it's signed."

I looked at Ethan's name on the divorce agreement, tears streaming down my face involuntarily. I hummed in acknowledgment, thanked him, and turned to leave.

While waiting for the elevator, Vivian's voice suddenly came from behind me. "Stella? What are you doing here?"

I whipped around to see Ethan release Vivian's hand, his face dark as he walked toward me. "Who told you to come to the company?"

He grabbed my wrist. "We have no feelings for each other. I won't bother you, so don't come bothering me!"

I forcefully pulled my hand free. "Got it. There won't be a next time."

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Vivian immediately stepped forward and took Ethan's arm, coaxing gently, "Ethan, don't be like this. Stella, Ethan and I are going to the auction house. Why don't you come with us? Consider it relaxing."

"That's not necessary." I cut her off directly.

"Stella," Ethan said coldly, "When someone tells you to go, you go. Don't waste others' good intentions."

In the end, I was still forced to go with them to the auction house. I sat in the auction hall, the enthusiastic bidding voices ringing in my ears.

"Fifty million! Mr. Blackwood bids fifty million!" the auctioneer shouted excitedly. "This pink diamond necklace goes to Mr. Blackwood!"

Vivian leaned on Ethan's shoulder, a victorious smile on her face. "Ethan, this necklace is so beautiful."

"As long as you like it." Ethan gently brushed the hair by her ear.

I gripped my bidding paddle tightly, my knuckles white. In my past life, Ethan had doted on me the same way. But now the same tenderness was given to another woman.

Just then, the big screen suddenly changed, playing an audio recording.

In the recording, Vivian's voice sounded. "What charity auction? It's just a bunch of poor people gathering. If it weren't for Ethan, I wouldn't come. And that Stella, so what if she's married to Ethan? Didn't Ethan still give me her art exhibition?"

The entire hall erupted. Vivian's face turned from red to white to finally gray.

"Turn it off! Turn it off now!" She stood up screaming, trembling all over. She whirled toward me, tears streaming down. "Stella! Do you hate me this much? You had to use AI to synthesize this recording to humiliate me? Are you trying to drive me to death?"

With that, she covered her face and rushed out.

Ethan's face was very dark, his sharp gaze sweeping across the hall. "Anyone who dares leak what happened today will bear the consequences themselves."

Finally, he looked at me, his voice ice-cold. "You just wait."