Chapter 2

I took off the bracelet and handed it to him.

"It was yours all along, so I'm just giving it back to you. Do you want me to open my suitcase too?" I asked.

I stepped back, crouched down, and just popped it open.

Simon glanced at me, a flash of surprise in his eyes at how obedient I was, but his tone turned even icier.

"No need. Just go. Don't hang around and make Valerie upset," he said.

He gave the driver a look, and the guy grabbed me and shoved me out the door. Behind me, I heard the sound of the bracelet shattering.

So, even when I did exactly what he wanted, he was still even less satisfied.

I didn't go back to the villa. Instead, after the driver left, I checked into a hotel.

As soon as I unpacked, Valerie sent me a bunch of photos.

She'd completely redecorated the master bedroom in her favorite colors and even tossed our wedding photos straight into the trash.

She texted: [I told you, one day I'd be the lady of this house.]

She'd always do this. But by the time I got back, she'd put everything back the way it was.

After that, I never slept in the master bedroom again, and Simon never said a word about it.

But Valerie becoming the lady of this house? Not in a million years.

The Lester family was all about loyalty and manners. There was no way they'd ever let her in.

But where did Simon's loyalty go?

I first met Simon when I was ten.

I was messing around, trying to catch fish, and accidentally fell into the pool. He was the one who spotted me and pulled me out.

My mom was furious and worried sick when she saw what happened. She rushed me straight to the hospital.

Luckily, it was just a scrape on my palm. It hurt, but it wasn't anything serious.

Simon looked at me with real concern in his eyes. "From now on, I'll protect you."

A nonsensical sentence made both families laugh and cheer, and they arranged our engagement on the spot. After that, he became my little shadow.

He even switched schools just to sit next to me in class, always looking out for me and treating me like his own little princess.

I really thought it would always be this way.

But once he moved overseas, nothing was the same anymore.

My dad's investments tanked, and the debt piled up so high that he was driven to take his own life by jumping off the roof.

My mother, trying to protect me, was stabbed several times.

By the time the Lester family showed up, we were both collapsed in a pool of blood. My mom was on her last breath.

Simon's mom, Nieve, took me in, tears streaming down her face. She poured all her love into me.

After that, my mom stayed at the Lester family's private hospital, and with their care and medication, she eventually pulled through.

When Simon came back, he looked at me with real tenderness and proposed. "Stella, marry me. I promise I'll never leave you again. I'll always protect you."

I married him, but after just six months, he lost interest in me and kept a mistress on the side.

Feelings could flip just like that.

I would never forget the first time I caught him cheating.

That day, I made some stew to settle his stomach, shot him a text, and headed over to his office.

He had the whole top floor all to himself.

The office door was left slightly ajar, and I saw Simon and Valerie making out right there.

Simon was totally caught up in the moment, murmuring in her ear, "I love you, I love you..."

I stood rooted to the spot, and my mind went blank. My heart just ached with pain.

If he really loved her, then what was I supposed to be?

Just as I was about to step in, I saw Valerie acting all shy and cute, lightly hitting his chest. "You're such a liar! You're already married, there's no way you love me."

"Be good. Don't mention her. You're totally killing the vibe," Simon said, sounding impatient.

She glanced toward the door, smiling even more smugly.

"Baby, getting distracted so easily? Guess I need to try harder to keep you focused on me," Simon murmured.

That only made their movements grow even more heated, Simon's ragged breaths and Valerie's sweet moans echoing through the room.

My stomach turned, and the stew slipped from my hands, splattering everywhere and getting all over me.

Hearing the commotion, Simon didn't even glance my way. He just stepped in front of Valerie and snapped, "Get out!"

Later, we had a huge fight. He said he just pitied me, but when it came to Valerie, he was powerless to resist her.

He didn't love me, but he flat-out refused to divorce me.

Whenever I tried to stand up for myself, he'd hold my mom's condition over my head, making sure I stayed in line.

Not long after, my phone dinged. A notification popped up. Money just landed in my account.

[Three million dollars, for the bracelet.]

I laughed until tears streamed down my face. Guess three years of marriage wasn't a complete waste after all.

I got paid, and finally saw Simon for the scumbag he really was.

I got up and headed to the hospital. I still had to handle my mom's funeral arrangements.

She was always a quiet person and felt she owed the Lester family too much. She'd told me, when her time came, just lay her to rest quietly, no ceremony, no drama.

I didn't bother telling anyone else.

The attending doctor saw me, his eyes filled with sympathy and a touch of sorrow. "Stella, go be with your mom for her final journey."

He sighed. "She'd been recovering so well, and then... Her heart gave out. What a shame..."

I nodded, still in a daze. It wasn't until after Mom was cremated that the truth finally sank in. From now on, I was truly on my own.

Mom was gone. Forever.