Chapter 2

Stella's POV

After more than ten hours of flying, I dragged my luggage back to the city alone.

The moment I pushed open the villa door, deafening music hit me.

The spacious living room had been transformed into a luxurious party. Champagne towers. Balloons. Streamers. A crowd of elegantly dressed guests.

At the center of the crowd, Lucas stood in a haute couture suit, holding a wine glass, looking tenderly at Serena beside him.

Serena wore a white designer gown like a proud little princess, holding a golden trophy.

It was a championship from an amateur tennis club's friendly match.

"Lucas, thank you for throwing this party for me!"

Serena smiled radiantly.

Lucas reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone indulgent.

"You deserve it."

Standing in the entryway, I watched this scene and found it utterly absurd.

For my Grand Slam final, he wouldn't even provide a medical team.

For Serena's amateur competition, he threw an extravagant party.

My appearance instantly silenced the noisy living room.

Lucas turned around. Seeing my face and the tennis bag in my hand, he instinctively frowned.

"Why did you come back early? Didn't you say you were staying in France for rehabilitation?"

His tone held no concern, only displeasure at being disturbed.

I didn't answer, just looked at him quietly.

Seeing this, Serena immediately walked over and spoke up.

"Stella, you're back! I watched your match. What a shame. you were so close. Don't be too upset. Lucas said your psychological resilience is just too weak. You'll do better next time!"

Psychological resilience too weak?

I laughed coldly.

If not for the excruciating wrist pain without medical intervention, how would I have lost?

"My business isn't yours to comment on."

I gave Serena a cold glance.

Serena's eyes immediately reddened as she shrank behind Lucas, looking aggrieved.

"Lucas, did I say something wrong and upset Stella?"

Lucas's face darkened. He pulled Serena behind him and scolded me harshly.

"Stella, why are you taking it out on Serena? You lost the match because you weren't good enough. Coming back here with that attitude. Who are you trying to impress?"

Not good enough.

Those four words coming from Lucas's mouth felt like a resounding slap across my face.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in my heart.

"Lucas, come upstairs with me."

Without waiting for a response, I headed straight to the second floor.

A few minutes later, Lucas pushed open the bedroom door. He tugged at his tie, looking somewhat impatient.

"What are you making a fuss about now? Serena finally won a championship, and you have to spoil it at this moment?"

"When are you planning to arrange our engagement?"

I looked directly into his eyes, not beating around the bush.

Lucas's movements paused. His eyes shifted away briefly before his face turned cold.

"Didn't I tell you on the phone? We'll discuss it later."

"How much later is 'later'?"

"Stella, can you be reasonable?"

Lucas's voice rose several notches.

"Serena's depression has relapsed recently. The doctor said she can't handle any stress. If we make a big deal about getting engaged right now, she won't be able to handle it. My mentor entrusted her to me before he died. I can't ignore her."

I laughed until tears nearly came.

"She can't handle stress, so I deserve to be mistreated? Deserve to have no official status?"

"It's just postponed, not canceled."

Lucas frowned, seeming to find me unreasonable.

"When did you become so calculating? What happened to the understanding Stella from before?"

Looking at this man before me, I suddenly felt he was completely unfamiliar.

That understanding Stella had been killed long ago by his repeated favoritism and coldness.

"Fine. I understand."

I looked away.

Lucas, thinking I'd yielded, nodded with satisfaction.

"Get some rest. I'm going downstairs to help Serena cut the cake."

The door closed, shutting out the laughter and joy from downstairs.

I stood in the empty room, looking down at my slightly swollen right wrist, my heart growing cold.