Chapter 1
By the time Stella Barrett set the last dish of steak on the table, the sky outside was already pitch black.
There were four dishes and a soup, all Damien Hendrix's favorites. In the center sat a six-inch cake she'd bought from a handmade shop three blocks away. Damien was picky about his desserts and only liked the cream from that place.
Today was their third dating anniversary.
Her phone screen kept lighting up and going dark. She sent many texts but received no reply. She called three times, but nobody picked up.
Stella sat at the dining table, watching the candle shrink bit by bit.
At the exact moment the candle burned out, and the last wisp of smoke faded into the air, the door lock clicked.
"Stella." Damien's voice came from the entryway, sounding a bit tired.
Stella stood up with her usual smile on her face. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed someone else standing behind him.
Anisa Conway, the one everyone always talked about. Damien's unforgettable first love.
*****
Anisa was dressed in a champagne silk dress and a pair of stilettos. One hand hovered at her waist, subtly drawing attention to the gentle curve of her belly.
She stood behind Damien, her gaze sliding past his shoulder to land on Stella, a barely-there smile tugging at her lips.
Stella's smile froze on her face.
"Stella, I need to talk to you." Damien walked over, pulled a card from his suit pocket, and placed it on the table next to the uncut cake.
He said, "There's 150 thousand dollars on this card. The house and the car are yours."
He paused, his eyes never meeting hers. "Let's break up."
Stella lowered her gaze, staring at the card. It was black, the kind of card that screamed serious money.
"Stella, we're not from the same world." Damien's voice was steady, almost like he was reciting a fact.
"I knew it from the beginning. You're an orphan who made your way to Ingbert from some small town. We were never meant to belong together."
He shifted to the side, letting Anisa come into view behind him. "Anisa's pregnant. I need to do right by her."
Anisa stepped forward, naturally linking her arm with Damien's and resting her other hand on her belly. She shot Stella a glance, her gaze flicking upward, an apologetic look on her face.
"Stella, I'm sorry. I know today's your anniversary, but—" She lowered her head, her lashes trembling.
"But the baby in my belly belongs to the Hendrix family. Damien's mom said the Hendrix bloodline can't be left outside the family."
Stella didn't say a word. Her gaze lingered on the necklace around Anisa's neck.
It was a platinum chain with a ruby pendant about the size of a fingernail, ringed with tiny diamonds. The craftsmanship was rough, the gemstone lacked clarity, and the cut was a disaster. In Stella's eyes, it was just a flawed piece.
Last month, Damien had asked her to help pick out a necklace, saying it was for someone special. It turned out Anisa was that special one.
"Stella, you won't blame me, will you?" Anisa looked up, her eyes rimmed with tears. "I know you're a good person. You wouldn't want my baby to grow up without a father, right?"
Stella finally looked away from the necklace.
She shot Anisa a look, then met Damien's eyes and said, "Are you done?"
Damien paused, caught off guard.
He'd thought Stella would break down, throw a fit, maybe even demand to know why he was doing this to her. He'd even arranged for bodyguards to wait downstairs, just in case she lost control and went after Anisa.
But all she did was ask her question, cool and collected.
Damien frowned. "That's all. You..."
Stella cut him off. "You guys can go now. The food's getting cold. I want to eat by myself."
Damien's frown deepened.
His eyes drifted to the table. There were steaks, oil-braised shrimp, steamed bass, garlic broccoli, and tomato and egg soup. Every single one was his favorite.
For a moment, he felt something he couldn't quite name twist inside him.
Anisa gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Damien..." she said softly.
Damien snapped out of it and pushed the card closer to Stella.
He said, "Take it. I owe you this."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Anisa followed him, and as they reached the door, she suddenly looked back at Stella.
There wasn't a hint of regret in her eyes anymore. Only smugness.
The door shut behind them.
The living room was quiet once more.
Stella stood there, not moving, for what felt like forever.