Chapter 7 Where Did She Get the Money to Go Shopping?

Ethan strode inside and sank onto the couch, pulling out a cigarette. Before he could even light it, Stella walked over, snatched it from his fingers, and tossed it straight into the trash. Ethan’s face darkened. “What the hell are you doing?” When had anyone ever treated him like this? Back when he was with Lillian, no matter what he did, she never said a word. Stella simply said, “I don’t like the smell of smoke.” Ethan was speechless. This woman… fine, whatever. Gritting his teeth, he held back his anger. But the two trending posts from this morning still burned in his mind. His family had been blowing up his phone all day. “The news today—Tessa posted it for you?” Was she seriously trying to cancel their wedding? Wasn’t this going too far? Stella didn’t answer. She walked over to the fridge and took out a small cake. She hadn’t eaten enough at lunch, and after shopping with Tessa for two hours, she was starving. Ethan nearly exploded at how she was ignoring him. “The wedding is between the two of us—why did you have to make it a public spectacle?” Fine, if she wanted to vent at him, he could take it. But blowing it up like this, letting the whole city watch? Ethan couldn’t forgive her for that. Stella asked, “Is it really just between the two of us?” If it were, things would be a lot simpler. She cast a cold glance at Ethan and added, “Even if I hadn’t made it public, somebody else would’ve. Better for me to get ahead of it first.” Ethan knew exactly who she meant by “somebody.” “Can you stop thinking of Lillian as some kind of villain?” Stella laughed, scooping up a bite of cake. “If she’s so innocent, why were you so eager to send her away two years ago?” Ethan had no response. If she hadn’t brought up the past, he might have been able to let it go. But now that she had, his expression turned ice-cold. “You were ruthless back then. If Lillian hadn’t left, you really would’ve thrown her in jail, wouldn’t you?” Stella took another bite and nodded. “Yes.” Ethan’s face darkened even more. Just thinking about that time filled him with frustration. If she hadn’t been so over-the-top back then, she wouldn’t be in this position with the Reed family now. Still, canceling the wedding wasn’t an option. Ethan forced his expression to relax a little. “Lillian is just sick. Once she gets better, I’ll send her away again.” Stella gave him a cold glance and said nothing. Ethan continued, “Your parents won’t let you keep acting out like this. The only one who’ll suffer is you.” He knew exactly how the Reed family handled Stella. Her credit cards were probably already frozen. His gaze flicked around the apartment. “How long did you pay the rent for this place? When’s the next payment due?” He remembered she had rented this place after moving out of the Reed family home. Kingston Heights wasn’t cheap. The unit she was in had to cost at least fourteen hundred dollars a month. Bringing it up now was a not-so-subtle reminder: she didn’t have the luxury of throwing tantrums. Stella said flatly, “You should leave.” “You—” Ethan’s face darkened even more. Just as he was about to say something else, his phone buzzed. He didn’t even bother avoiding Stella as he answered. “Lillian.” So this was how it was? She was the one being forced to beg, yet she didn’t even deserve basic respect? He claimed he didn’t want to fight with her, yet he had no problem taking a call from his mistress right in front of her? Now that Stella was retaliating, Ethan’s real colors were showing. The mask he’d worn for two years was slipping. Who knew what Lillian was saying on the other end, but Ethan immediately stood up. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.” After hanging up, he glanced at Stella. “Think carefully about what I said. No matter how much you act out, everyone’s priority right now is Lillian’s health.” His meaning was clear—nothing Stella did would change a thing. Stella ignored him and walked to the entryway, grabbing the shopping bags she had left there earlier. Luxury brand logos covered the bags. Ethan froze. “You still have money to go shopping?” Had the Reed family not punished her after all? Every time she made a scene before, they froze her cards for at least ten days to a month. He was trying to remind her—if the Reed family accepted her, she was their daughter. If they didn’t, she was nothing. Stella threw him a look. “Is it illegal for me to have money?” Ethan had no response. This woman… She really had a way of getting under his skin.