The man commanded attention, his tall frame radiating an aura of authority. His features were sharply defined, cool and composed, placing him roughly in Alexander Sterling's league.

"Mr. Mitchell..." the assistant trailing Alexander began, keeping his gaze lowered.

"Get the title right," Stella Dawson cut him off with a sharp sideways glance. "It's Miss Dawson now. Not Mrs. Sterling. Show some basic respect, why don't you?"

She let the empty glass drop to the floor with a definitive clatter, her expression going blank. "Whatever. I'm done here."

As Stella turned to leave, her steps slightly unsteady, she waved a dismissive hand. Kevin Porter fell into step immediately. "You got it, boss."

He took a few steps, then turned back to haul a dazed Rex Turner up by the arm.

"Snap out of it, man," Kevin teased, grinning. "Weren't you listening? Stella said both of us."

"Oh, right... yeah..." Rex stumbled after them in a fluster.

Stella let out a quiet sigh but didn't look back. She didn't bother correcting Kevin's fabricated narrative, letting it stand.

Frankly, her reputation wasn't worth protecting anymore.

The trio soon vanished from view.

Ethan Mitchell watched them go, a smirk playing on his lips as he turned to Alexander. "So, you're just letting your ex-wife stroll off into the sunset with her entourage?"

"That's the 'empty-headed' girl you used to complain about? She seems plenty sharp to me."

"We are divorced," Alexander bit out, his voice clipped.

He wiped the residual liquor from his face with a tissue, a quiet, bitter laugh escaping him.

He had seriously underestimated Stella, genuinely believing her to be a vapid mess.

Ethan raised his brows, clearly surprised. "You finalized it already?"

"Obviously," Alexander replied, lifting his chin defiantly.

"Didn't her grandfather pass just a few months back? And you cast aside the girl he practically gifted-wrapped for you? That's... cold, man," Ethan remarked casually.

"You want to know why?" Alexander growled. "She stormed into my office, hijacked my computer, and emailed the entire company ranting about how I... ugh, never mind!"

Ethan barely managed to stifle a snort.

He clapped a hand on Alexander's shoulder, feigning sympathy. "Okay, yeah. That's pretty brutal."

"Hey, no joke though... are you, uh... functioning alright down there?" he continued, leaning in with mock concern. "I know some specialists. Five grand a session, but for you, I'll call in a favor."

Alexander shoved his hand away with a scowl. "Piss off!"

...

"Kevin, go get me some ice cream. It's sweltering."

Stella slumped back in her chair, her tone lazily authoritative.

After leaving the Moonlight Club, she had brought Kevin and Rex to a nearby café.

The heat was oppressive. Even though night had fallen, the pavement still radiated a residual oven-like warmth.

Kevin nodded and started to rise, but Rex was quicker.

"I-I'll go," Rex muttered, glancing uncertainly at Stella. "My treat."

"Alright then, thanks." She gave a small, appreciative wink and a warm smile.

Bolstered, Rex hurried to the counter and quietly placed their order.

"Damn, Stella, that face of yours is a lethal weapon," Kevin joked, grinning. "No man is safe."

Seriously, with her looks, someone ten times more accomplished than Alexander still wouldn't be enough for her. That man must be blind.

What was his problem, anyway?

"Hey, maybe we should just pay that guy off and send him home?" Kevin gestured subtly toward the man waiting at the counter. "He doesn't exactly scream 'top-tier host.'"

Couldn't hold a conversation, was terrible at flirting, and even told customers the blunt truth-yeah, probably not cut out for this line of work.

"Don't you know what really makes a successful male escort?"

"He's... refreshingly different," Stella Dawson said, a hint of a smile touching her lips.

Just then, Rex returned carrying several cups of ice cream.

He handed one to her and one to Kevin.

The café next to the Moonlight Club was actually more famous for its desserts.

Kevin didn't hold back, taking an immediate large bite. "Good call. This hits the spot."

"So, seriously," he continued, mouth still half-full, "what made you want to get into this business? You don't seem... prepared."

"I'm feeling generous today," he added, rubbing his hands together with a teasing grin. "Maybe I can set you up with a better gig."

Stella shot him a warning look-sharp enough to make Kevin drop the smirk and straighten up. He rolled his eyes slightly before turning back to Rex with a more serious expression.

"Relax, I'm just messing with you." He slung an arm around Rex's shoulder. "Come on, let's bounce. This place has too many busybodies."

Rex hesitated, his eyes flicking between Kevin and Stella. Ultimately, he didn't shake off the arm.

Kevin had a driver waiting out front, parked curbside in a conspicuously flashy white sports car.

Rex stood silent for a moment before sliding into the backseat with them.

Meanwhile, under the shadows nearby, Alexander Sterling stood watching, his fingers lightly tracing the wooden bead on the red string around his neck. His face was an unreadable mask, but a cold intensity simmered beneath the surface.

Jack Holden stood beside him, awkwardly silent, searching for the right words.

"That woman... it was Stella Dawson?" Alexander asked suddenly, his voice low. "Surrounded by hired men? Clinging to them?"

Jack stiffened. "I... I believe so..."

"It was her," Alexander stated, cold and final.

"Y-yes... that was Ms. Dawson," Jack muttered nervously, his eyes darting away.

Alexander's face darkened further as he stared at the departing sports car.

"Don't call her that. She's irrelevant," he snapped, yanking open the Rolls-Royce door. "Let's go."

The passenger door slammed shut with a heavy thud. The car sped off, leaving Jack standing on the curb with a defeated sigh.

Man, the boss has been in a foul mood lately-best not to provoke him.

He didn't dare say another word. Simply pulled out his phone to call a cab to follow them.

.

After the long night at Moonlight Club, Stella basically hibernated for two full days.

Technically, the villa wasn't hers. But since Alexander had ceased to appear months ago, she saw no reason to leave.

Still, a trip to the Dawson residence was unavoidable-she needed to retrieve her student ID.

And something even more crucial.

She tugged the brim of her cap lower and strode into the Dawson villa, her face set in a cold, impassive mask.

One of the maids recognized her immediately. Dressed in an oversized sweatshirt and loose-fitting pants, she was a far cry from the expected high-society attire.

The maid looked startled. "Miss."

"Hey, who is it?" a haughty voice called from the top of the staircase.

A girl, dressed as if for a photoshoot, appeared on the landing, her chin lifted imperiously as she looked down and questioned the maid.

Stella flexed her fingers slightly, her expression flat but her mind buzzing with silent sarcasm.

Wow. Settled into the 'precious daughter' role pretty fast, didn't she?

"Miss Emily, this is Miss Stella." the maid said gingerly.

Emily Dawson paused. She turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Stella's bored, disinterested face.

Even with the cap pulled low, it couldn't conceal her delicate, striking features. However much Emily loathed her, she had to admit-Stella was devastatingly beautiful.

Even devoid of expression, her flawless complexion and perfect bone structure seemed almost unreal.

That very beauty only stoked the fires of Emily's seething jealousy.

Her expression contorted rapidly, a chaotic swirl of emotions-envy, rage, bitter resentment-flashing across her face.

Why does she get to look like that?

What makes her so special?

The very first thing Emily Dawson did upon her return was to purge every photograph of Stella Dawson from the house.

Big or small, she couldn't stand the sight of that interloper lingering in the Dawson home.

The Dawsons had never warmed to that rebellious girl. Discovering she wasn't their biological daughter only hardened their hearts. They had even supported Emily when she boxed up and discarded Stella's belongings.

Emily hadn't even bothered to learn what she looked like.

Now, facing her for the first time, she was finally confronted with this so-called sister's appearance.

"So you're Stella, right." Emily forced a saccharine smile and approached, arm outstretched as if for an embrace.

She tried desperately to bury her envy beneath a facade of warmth.

But Stella smoothly sidestepped her reach. "We're not on a first-name basis."

Emily froze, her smile stiffening into a grimace.

"I'm no longer a Dawson. There's no need for the lady of the house to demean herself for an outsider."

The woman before her was breathtaking, her smile polite yet utterly detached.

Emily pursed her lips, maintaining the gentle tone. "Don't be like that, Stella. The Dawsons raised you all these years."

"And you and Mr. Sterling, you're still-"

"Oh, Alexander?" Stella interjected with a light, airy laugh. "He's my ex-husband now. Officially."

She casually stepped around Emily, avoiding any contact, and headed upstairs toward her former room.

Emily stood rooted to the spot, struggling to process the revelation.

Upstairs, a bedroom door creaked open. Laura Warner rushed out.

"Who was at the door?"

She scanned the area until Emily tilted her chin pointedly in Stella's direction.

"Mom, it's just Stella."

"Did Mr. Sterling come with her?"

"He did not."

Laura clicked her tongue, her disappointment palpable. "Then what good is her coming here?"

"I just heard her say Alexander is her ex. Did they actually get divorced?"

"So soon?" Laura's eyes widened in shock.

Emily's expression said it all-she was ecstatic. "Why not? Didn't Dad check yesterday? Alexander's been buried at the company, no travel in sight! She was lying all along!"

Their hushed whispers didn't reach Stella.

She stood inside the room, now converted into a storage closet, her gaze icy as she surveyed the jumbled mess.

They really couldn't wait to erase her.

As if they never expected her to cross this threshold again.

She let out a short, derisive laugh, then crouched to sift through the pile of discarded items. Soon, she retrieved her student ID.

Next, she moved to a corner, picked up a small black box, and opened it to reveal a necklace.

It was a simple string of wooden beads on a red cord, each bead intricately carved.

Stella tucked the necklace into her pocket, student ID in hand, and strolled out as if she owned the place.

Her footsteps, light as a cat's, carried her silently toward the entrance. Just as she opened the door-

"Oof!" Laura stumbled back in panic, losing her balance and landing hard on the floor.

She and Emily had been eavesdropping and were caught off guard by Stella's sudden exit.

Emily, startled, braced herself against the wall.

Stella gave a cold chuckle and regarded them calmly. "My, my. To what do I owe this... reception?"

"For an elder to be kneeling before me... it's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Mom! Are you okay? Let me help you up-should I call a doctor?" Emily rushed over, fussing over Laura with performative concern, a stark contrast to Stella's cool detachment.

Laura instantly bristled, pointing a trembling finger at Stella Dawson. Just as she was about to unleash her fury, Emily stepped forward to block her path.

"Stella, you didn't bring Mr. Sterling?" Emily chirped, smiling brightly. "Ever since the wedding, you haven't attended a single family dinner!"

"Yeah, well, we're divorced now-that particular obligation is void," Stella replied coolly.

Leaning against the doorframe, she dusted her hands off from the storage room. "Now that you're officially installed, this placeholder should make her exit. I won't be returning, and frankly, you can drop the pretense of civility."

"Divorced?!" Laura nearly shrieked, her eyes bulging. "What did you do to mess it up?"

She and Emily were stunned, clearly not anticipating this turn.

Laura frowned, shocked. "You had a little spat and just called it quits? How could you be so rash?"

"A matter this significant, and you don't inform your parents? What about the settlement?"

"Mr. Sterling must have given you something, right? Hand it over..."

"He's fully aware of the Dawson family circus," Stella cut in, her patience clearly spent. "He knows I'm not the real granddaughter. Whatever promises the old man extracted, they weren't meant for a stand-in like me."

"We're divorced. No money, no shares-don't waste your energy scheming."

That silenced Laura for a moment. She stared at Stella and snapped, "You got nothing? Then what use are you, showing up here?"

She rolled her eyes, not even attempting to hide her contempt.

Stella chuckled softly, tilting her chin toward Emily. "Why not? Mr. Sterling is still up for grabs. I'm just returning him to sender-if you're interested, go claim him."

"Just make sure she brings her ID. They can get the marriage certificate sorted straight away..."

Emily's face lit up with barely contained excitement.

"Truly?" she asked eagerly, wringing her hands.

Stella took a step back, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the room, scribbled down Alexander's address, and handed it over.

"There you go," said Stella with a smirk. "And don't forget to get that certificate, Mrs. Sterling."

"...You'd better not be playing games with me," Emily said warily, though her hand shot out to snatch the note.

Stella crossed her arms, gave a slight, mocking pout, then spun on her heel to head downstairs. "Do I strike you as someone who'd joke about him?"

"We're talking about Mr. Sterling. You think I'd bluff using his name?"

"Oh, almost forgot-he's got a meeting this afternoon, so you'd better hustle over there."

"My part here is done. I'm leaving."

And with that, she departed, not sparing a glance for Laura and Emily's gleeful celebration.

Emily darted into her room, the precious address clutched in her hand, while Laura retreated to her bedroom. Both were giddy, already picturing the glittering future as part of the Sterling dynasty.

Emily's head spun with visions of high society as the future Mrs. Sterling, while Laura practically glowed at the thought of announcing Alexander as her son-in-law-the envy of all.

As Stella stepped out of the villa, she spotted a family of five arguing vehemently with the security guards at the gate. They'd clearly made an effort to dress up, but their tacky fashion sense betrayed them.

"Hey! I'm her real father-how dare you block me!"

"That's right! She's my biological daughter!"

They had raised Emily, after all. Now that she was back with the Dawsons, they had come for the usurper.

No one seemed to realize Stella had always been merely a pawn.

She scoffed quietly and walked right past the commotion.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Unhurried, she pulled it out and answered.

On the other end, Kevin Porter's voice rang out, teasing as ever: "Stella, you're a bloody genius! Just got the paternity results back-turns out Emily's so-called parents aren't related to you at all. Zero genetic overlap."

"Wait, what? If Emily is their biological daughter, then what does that make you, Stella?"

"There's no accidental baby swap story here, is there?"

Stella narrowed her eyes, remaining silent for a beat. Kevin, sensing the shift, gradually lowered his voice.

After a pause, she finally said, "I'm starting to think. maybe the Dawsons aren't the only players who messed up. Perhaps another family is involved. Their real daughter could be living someone else's life right now."

"Wait, are you going to dig deeper?"

"If." She trailed off, pensive.

But Kevin jumped in again, "You know what just occurred to me? What if you turn out to be the long-lost daughter of the richest man in the capital?"

She blinked, surprised, then chuckled, playing along. "Why not aim for the stars? Let's start with the capital's wealthiest. Stranger things have happened."

"Alrighty, let me check. So, guess who topped that list last year?"

"Spit it out."

"Fine, it's Alexander Sterling. Stella, are you secretly his long-lost daughter?" Kevin cackled.

Stella rolled her eyes. "Oh, piss off."

She hung up promptly and flicked open the group chat that had been blowing up.

Someone was showing off-again: "Just acquired a private jet today. This is what substantial wealth looks like. Unlike poor little Stella, still counting pennies."

Stella's eye twitched. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she replied with mock outrage: "Just you wait. This divorce will fund my new lifestyle. I'll buy TWO jets-one for travel, the other just to crash into your overinflated ego."

Her dramatic declaration instantly ignited the previously silent group chat.

"What?! Stella, since when are you divorced??"

"Oh my god, you finally dumped that iceberg?"

"Damn girl, power move!"

Then, a rarely active member suddenly dropped a message: "Send me the divorce papers. I'll unfreeze your bank card."

"Relax," Stella typed lazily, "the formal documents haven't arrived yet."

"Heh." That was his only reply.

She could practically picture his deadpan, smug face.

Feeling the need to reassure him, she added, "I'm making the call now to follow up. Give me a moment."

"Deal. The moment I see proof, the card is active. I'm practically broke waiting!"

"Haha, fine. Just hold tight."

After that, he went silent again.

The rest of the group kept buzzing with questions about the divorce details, while Stella exited the chat and called Jack Holden directly. With zero direct access to Alexander Sterling, his assistant was her only conduit.

She called Jack frequently to nag about the divorce. Her persistent badgering had undoubtedly cemented her image in Alexander's eyes. This time was no different.

Jack stared at the caller ID, frowning, his enthusiasm nonexistent. But his mind flashed back to the fierce woman at the club-was that really. Stella?

Distracted by the memory, he still answered, "Ms. Dawson."

"Hey, Jack," she said, her voice sweet. "Any progress on those divorce papers?"

Jack Holden was silent for a long moment.

He truly hadn't expected Stella Dawson's call to be solely about the divorce certificate.

"It's still processing," he muttered, his lips twitching slightly. "Things have been hectic. I haven't had a moment to chase it down."

What surprised him more was the impatience in her voice. "Jack, this is unacceptable. A divorce decree is a time-sensitive document. I need it, urgently. Can you please expedite it?"

"Urgently?" He blinked.

The woman on the other end didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."

So she was in a hurry to finalize the divorce from Mr. Sterling. Was it to marry that male model?

His mind went blank.

"You're in such a rush for. him?" Jack asked, awkwardly.

"Sharp as ever, Jack. Yes, the same one from the club."

Her tone was casual, bordering on flippant.

"Is this a serious relationship or just a. fling?"

"Serious, of course. He's young, handsome. A far cry from your Mr. Sterling-pushing thirty, practically ancient."

Her voice took on a teasing lilt. "I'm not a fool, you know. Before, I had no basis for comparison. But now that I have fresh, vibrant company, why would I glance back at a relic like him? Don't you agree?"

Jack quickly covered the phone receiver, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.

The last thing he needed was for her voice to carry.

"Jack." A cold, distinct voice cut through the air.

He jerked upright and ended the call instantly. Stiffly, he turned. "Mr. Sterling."

Alexander Sterling stood a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"This is company time," he stated coolly.

He did not appreciate his staff handling personal matters during work hours.

And Jack had clearly not been working.

"It was Miss Dawson," Jack admitted, lowering his head.

Alexander's brow furrowed. "What did she want?"

Before Jack could formulate a response, Alexander let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "Trying to change my mind? Pleading for reconciliation?"

"No," Jack shook his head. "She was inquiring about expediting the divorce paperwork."

"What?" Alexander's eyes narrowed further.

"She mentioned she needs it to marry that. model. She wants the certificate as soon as possible."

"She plans to marry a model? Has she completely lost her senses?" His voice was sharp with sheer disbelief.

"Mr. Sterling, she said. she's found someone younger."

Jack didn't dare finish, sensing it would only ignite Alexander's temper.

Still, he had to relay the message to prove the call's legitimacy-and that he wasn't slacking off with a fabricated story.

But clearly, Alexander had zeroed in on the "younger" part. His expression darkened instantly.

"She's calling me old?" he scoffed, his jaw tightening. "I'm 'ancient,' am I?"

Jack hesitated, then gritted his teeth and shook his head. "No, sir."

Internally, he was groaning.

Mr. Sterling is at least seven or eight years older than that model. So, technically. he is getting on a bit. And Miss Dawson wasn't exactly lying.

"She wants the divorce certificate that badly, does she?" Alexander's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

But before he could say more, a cloyingly sweet voice interrupted.

"Mr. Sterling." A woman, dressed as if for a gala, swayed toward them.

Jack instinctively moved to block her path, preventing her from throwing herself at Alexander. "Ma'am, maintain some decorum, please!"

While Alexander never lacked for female attention, and many women dreamed of getting close to him, such a brazen approach was still rare.

"What do you think you're doing?" Emily frowned and tried to push his arm away-unsuccessfully.

She had arrived today in a custom-made white mini dress, her makeup perfectly applied, and drenched in what was undoubtedly an expensive, overpowering perfume.

The cloying scent made Jack want to sneeze immediately. He rubbed his nose.

What an assault on the senses. And she thinks this is the way to the boss's heart? Is she trying to asphyxiate him?

"I'm here to see Alexander," Emily cooed, shooting Jack a sharp glare before flipping her hair and stepping forward with saccharine sweetness. Her eyes locked onto Alexander behind Jack. "Alexander, I came to see you. Let's go get our marriage license!"

She took another step, completely missing the way Alexander's expression iced over completely.

Jack stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. A bizarre mix of the urge to laugh and sheer disbelief churned inside him.

Where did this lunatic come from? He had genuinely never encountered someone so audaciously delusional.

"Jack," the woman following Emily spoke up, moving to the front. "This is Emily, the true heiress of the Dawson family. You wanted to marry the legitimate Dawson descendant. Well, here she is."

"She even brought her ID. Since we're all here, let's just go and make it official!"

Laura gave Alexander a look of supreme satisfaction, her tone brimming with confidence and pride.

Emily nodded eagerly. "Alexander, even though this is our first meeting, I've admired you for so long!"

"Believe me, I will be the perfect Mrs. Sterling."

She reached out affectionately, aiming to link arms with him, but Alexander casually shifted his shoulder, evading her touch.

Her hand closed on empty air. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, but quickly recovered, looking at him with a wounded expression. "It's okay... I understand you're not used to me yet."

"Once we're married, we'll have plenty of time to grow closer..." A contrived blush spread across her cheeks.

Alexander's face turned thunderous. He locked eyes with Emily, his voice glacial: "Where did you crawl out from?"

"What?" Emily's eyes widened in confusion.

"And who gave you the authority to proclaim yourself my wife?" His tone dripped with contempt.

She wasn't even in the same league as Stella-not in looks, not in intellect.

Sure, both women were shameless in their own ways, but at least Stella was aesthetically pleasing.

Emily's hands clenched the fabric of her skirt. Tears welled up in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe his words. Her voice trembled, "But. don't you want me? I mean. I'm the real Dawson daughter."

Laura reached out protectively, clasping her daughter's hand with a pained expression. "Sweetheart, let me handle this."

"Jack, how can you speak to your future wife like that?" Her gaze turned accusatory as she faced Alexander. "You."

But Alexander let out a heavy, frustrated sigh and shut his eyes briefly. "I have no further business with the Dawson family."

"I've fulfilled the old man's request. From this moment on, I owe you nothing."

"Do not appear at Sterling Group again. This is the only warning you'll receive."

His words were low, final, and carried unmistakable threat.

Laura frowned, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Jack, you call that fulfilling his wish? He wanted you to marry my daughter. Why won't you go get the marriage certificate?"

"I am married. To Stella Dawson."

"She's a fraud! She stole Emily's rightful place! Isn't that why you're divorcing her? You're supposed to marry the true Dawson lady-our Emily. How can you renege now?" Laura's voice rose in frustration.

Alexander Sterling fell silent for a moment before letting out a low, cold laugh.

"Oh? Is that what Stella Dawson told you?" he asked lazily, a flicker of sarcasm in his eyes. "Figures she'd stir the pot."

"Exactly! At least she still feels some gratitude toward the Dawsons!" Laura Warner nodded vigorously, completely missing the storm gathering in his expression. "Otherwise, that country bumpkin who was switched at birth-how could she ever be worthy of you? Right?"

"Thank heavens you divorced her. Now Emily is the one who should be Mrs. Sterling."

"My address-did she give that to you as well?" Alexander suddenly interrupted, his voice turning sharp and dangerous.

Laura finally sensed the shift in his tone and froze, hesitating to answer.

"Of course not! I'm here because I care about you-I went through great lengths to find you." Emily Dawson looked at him with pitiable eyes, like a wounded creature begging for belief.

But before she could finish, Alexander's demeanor shifted-calm on the surface, but radiating danger. A chilling smirk played on his lips as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"So you've been stalking me?"

Emily's body went rigid, frozen in place, completely unnerved by his suddenly terrifying aura.

"Get them out of here," Alexander said in a low, impatient tone, tugging at his tie as he addressed Jack.

He didn't raise his voice, but the command was clear. Jack nodded silently and turned to signal the security personnel outside.

Without a backward glance, Alexander strode away, giving them no opportunity to react further.

Emily panicked, yelling after him, "Alexander. Mr. Sterling! This is a misunderstanding!"

But the stone-faced bodyguards, caps pulled low, marched in and unceremoniously began ushering both women toward the exit.

"Ah!"

Laura stumbled backward, nearly tripping over her own feet. Both women landed hard on the ground outside the building.

The commotion instantly drew stares from passersby.

Laura clutched her wrist, wailing dramatically. Emily knelt on the pavement, shaking with fury, her fists clenched white around the hem of her dress.

That wretched Stella Dawson. That viper!

She must have said something to Alexander-why else would he react like that?

Emily scrambled to her feet, the hatred twisting her features into something truly frightening.

Meanwhile, Alexander was in no better a mood.

He sat down, jaw clenched, his expression dark. "Put the divorce certificate on hold," he ordered coldly.

"Let's see if she's truly desperate enough to come begging me for it-all for the sake of some boy toy."

His face was set in a mask of frosty amusement, but his eyes were icy. The rage simmering within him showed no signs of abating.

Jack stood to the side, swallowing hard. He didn't dare speak, simply bowing his head in silence.

Miss Dawson, you'd better brace yourself.

Once you've angered Mr. Sterling to this extent, no one can save you.

The next day-

Stella waited all morning, but there was no sign of Jack delivering the divorce papers.

Frowning, she opened her phone to follow up, only to discover-she was blocked.

"What the hell is this?" She furrowed her brows. "Don't tell me he's having second thoughts?"

Kevin Porter scratched his head, clearly confused. "Wait, Stella. if you don't have the divorce certificate, does that mean you're single or still married?"

"Don't even say it. The thought of being called his wife makes my skin crawl," Stella snapped, her tone thick with irritation.

She waited a while longer, but no matter how many times she tried, Jack wouldn't answer.

"That bastard!" she finally exploded, thrusting her hand toward Kevin. "Give me your phone."

Kevin didn't hesitate, handing it over immediately. She snatched it and quickly redialed.

This time, instead of a disconnected tone, the call connected-after a few rings.

"Hey! Jack, what the absolute hell is wrong with you?!"