Chapter 2 A Disobedient Fiancé? Dump Him!

Ethan’s face changed dramatically. He stared at Stella in disbelief. Her attitude caught him off guard. Cancel the wedding? Was she… crazy? His voice was unsteady. "She’s sick. Once she recovers, she’ll leave again. When that happens, I’ll give you an even grander wedding." "Is she sick, or is she pregnant?" The moment the words left her mouth, the air went still. Ethan’s gaze darkened. "What do you know?" Stella didn’t answer. She simply said, "You and her, showing up at the hospital together. And not just anywhere—the OB-GYN department. And now you’re here talking to me about a grander wedding. Don’t you think that’s a little ridiculous?" Their wedding was only a week away. Yet he had been at the OB-GYN with Lillian. And now he was standing in front of her, talking about the scale of their ceremony? Did he really think she wouldn’t have the guts to throw him away? Ethan’s expression turned even uglier. "She’s not pregnant. She’s sick." "Oh? And her being sick means you have to take her to the hospital? What exactly is your relationship with her now?" The sharp question made Ethan’s face darken further. Stella had no interest in looking at his expression any longer. She turned and walked toward the office door. As she walked, she spoke casually. "Since she’s back, she might as well stay. After all, she still owes Rivermount quite a debt." Two years of a steady relationship. Lillian’s return had torn a hole in it. And Stella? She wasn’t the type to patch things up—she’d rip it apart completely. A relationship was supposed to be a two-way street. Why should she be the only one putting in the effort? Ethan’s voice sank. "Don’t make things difficult for her." Stella let out a cold laugh, her hand already resting on the doorknob. Ethan gritted his teeth. "Do you really think you can afford to cancel the wedding? Or do you believe the Reed family will take you back?" The Reed family. Stella’s gaze grew even colder at the mention of them. A family that didn’t even know the meaning of loyalty. She didn’t care if they weren’t an option for her. The Reed family—her blood relatives—the same people who had raised Lillian. Years ago, Lillian’s birth mother had been the Reeds’ maid. She and Stella’s mother had been pregnant at the same time. Because the maid’s gambler husband was unreliable, she wanted her child to grow up wealthy. So, after giving birth in the hospital, she swapped the babies. And this woman wasn’t even the least bit guilty about it. After taking Stella away, she didn’t raise her—she abandoned her. Meanwhile, she continued working as the Reeds’ maid, watching over her real daughter, Lillian, making sure she lived a good life. It wasn’t until three years ago, when Mrs. Reed was in a car accident, that they discovered Lillian wasn’t actually her biological daughter. The shocking truth came out, and the Reeds launched an all-out search for their real daughter. They found Stella. But despite all that effort, when it came down to it, they still favored Lillian—the daughter they had raised with their own hands. Ethan wasn’t wrong. Calling off the engagement meant she had nowhere to go. The Reed family had never truly welcomed her. Ethan stepped forward and grabbed her slender wrist. "Once she gets better, I’ll send her away again. Alright?" He kept his voice low, as if he were coaxing her. Stella looked at him, her gaze icy. Slowly, she pulled her hand free. "You—" Ethan’s face darkened even more. Stella couldn’t be bothered to say another word. She turned and walked out of the office. The sharp click of her heels echoed down the hall, carrying the same cold arrogance as the woman herself. Ethan, always the one being fawned over, felt his temples throb with anger. He refused to believe Stella would actually cancel the wedding. After all, for the past two years, everyone had seen how much she cared about him. With that thought, he didn’t chase after her. Instead, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang. The secretaries outside all heard the noise and exchanged looks. Two years ago, when everything had exploded, everyone thought Stella was the one who had stolen Ethan from Lillian. Now that Lillian was back, they were practically celebrating. One employee whispered, "Miss Lillian is finally back. Stella deserves this." "Exactly. Two years ago, she forced Miss Lillian to leave. What’s stolen always has to be returned." The moment the words left her mouth, the sound of heels clicking against the floor grew louder. Stella walked straight toward them. The two gossiping employees froze under her shadow, instantly falling silent. She reached out, grasped one of their chins, and forced her to look up. The secretary was young and quite pretty. But the second their eyes met, the woman was completely overwhelmed by the coldness in Stella’s gaze. "M-Miss Dawson…" Stella narrowed her eyes. "Having fun gossiping about me?" The secretary’s face turned pale. "N-no, I…" Pathetic. Stella let go of her chin in disgust and swept her gaze across the entire department. Everyone immediately lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe.