Stella's head snapped up, noticing Ethan was standing in the doorway. She had no idea when he arrived.

Her heart dropped.

"Did you drug my orange juice?" Her voice trembled with anger. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

Ethan gave a cold laugh and walked over, gripping her chin roughly. "I should be the one asking you that—why did you drug Rachel?

"You decided to humiliate her in public just because she broke your mother's piece by accident?

"She's just a kid! How could you be so vicious?"

Stella stared at him in shock. "What are you talking about? I never drugged Rachel!"

Ethan shoved her away. "Stop lying! The only thing she drank today was that glass of water you gave her. Who else could it have been?"

It hit Stella then—what it meant to be completely unloved. Ethan never questioned everything Rachel said, yet he sentenced Stella on the spot.

"Unbelievable," she laughed bitterly.

She struggled to grab her phone and call an ambulance, but Ethan stopped her.

"What are you doing?!" she yelled.

Ethan looked down at her, voice ice-cold as he said, "That drug is strong. An ambulance won't help. Your only way out is to beg me."

Stella froze. "For what?"

"To help you relieve the effects, of course," sneered Ethan. "But I don't come cheap. Get on your knees and apologize to Rachel if you need help."

Stella stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend how ridiculous Ethan's request was.

Ethan kept leaning closer, pinning her in place. "Stop acting, Stella. Isn't this what you've always wanted?" His voice dropped to a low hiss. "You used the same tricks to force me into marrying you. Now I'm just asking you to pay for your sins."

Stella snapped. She shoved him away, grabbed a pair of scissors, and stared him down with a deadly calm.

"You want me to kneel and apologize to Rachel? Keep dreaming."

With that, she drove the scissors straight into her own thigh.

Ethan's expression finally changed.

"Stella? What the hell are you doing?!"

Stella ignored him and stabbed her thigh repeatedly. Her white evening gown turned crimson in seconds.

Ethan stood frozen.

Stella would rather hurt herself than let him lay a hand on her? That thought hit him hard. An indescribable feeling rose in his chest.

"Stella!" he roared, grabbing her wrist.

The scissors clattered to the floor. Pain shot through her body, but oddly, her dazed mind began to clear.

Just then, applause erupted from downstairs. The guests were waiting for the birthday girl to speak.

Stella wrenched free from Ethan's grip and walked out, clutching the banister as she made her way down the stairs.

Gasps filled the room the moment she appeared in her blood-soaked dress.

However, Stella looked calm. She held her chin high, the crimson blooming across her dress like wild roses clinging to a cliffside.

She raised her glass and smiled at the crowd.

"Happy twenty-ninth to me," she said. "May my future be bright."

With that, she collapsed.

Screams followed.

Ethan rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.

…

Stella was unconscious for a full day and night before she finally woke. She was discharged and returned home, quietly packing her bags to leave.

Ethan showed up before she could barely zip her suitcase—with Rachel beside him.

"I looked into the drugging," Ethan said stiffly. "It was a mistake. It wasn't your doing."

Stella barely reacted.

Meanwhile, Rachel began to cry.

"Aunt Stella, it was all my fault. I said things I shouldn't have. I made Uncle Ethan think it was you. I'm sorry."

She stepped forward with a soft smile, holding out a wedding gown. "To make it up to you, I designed this wedding dress just for you and Uncle Ethan. It's also my birthday gift to you."

Stella finally looked up. Her eyes locked onto the dress.

The memory from her past life surged up again.

She chuckled coldly. "You designed it without checking the size, did you? I can't fit into that."

Back in her previous life, before their wedding, Rachel had presented her 'handmade' wedding gown to Stella as a gift.

Without discussion, Ethan returned Stella's meticulously custom-made gown and forced her to wear Rachel's instead.

Rachel's gown had been so tight that Stella could barely squeeze into it.

Yet, all Ethan said was to let Stella lose some weight to fit it.

Stella had not dared eat or drink for two days. She even fainted at the altar.

She would not make the same mistake again.

Rachel paled.

"I-I'm sorry," she said in a panic. "I've imagined myself as the bride—"

Ethan's head snapped up. His eyes darkened, unreadable.

Rachel's hand flew up to her mouth. She looked like she had just realized what she said.

The air froze with awkward tension until Stella smirked.

"Well then," she said, her voice cold. "Why don't you wear it?"

Rachel froze.

Ethan's expression darkened instantly. "Stella, what the hell are you saying? I'm her uncle!"

Stella smirked.

There it was. Only the guilty react this fast.

"Or someone else will do," she said lightly. "I'm not wearing it anyway."

Ethan frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I've been very clear." Stella looked up, her voice steady and cold. "I'm not marrying you; I won't be showing up to the wedding tomorrow."

"You're just playing hard to get—"

He started to snap back, but when he met her frosty stare, his words caught in his throat.

His eyes dropped to her thigh, bandaged tight from last night's self-inflicted wounds. The memory rushed back, of how she had stabbed herself just to avoid physical contact.

Irritation crept inside Ethan's chest.

"The wedding is tomorrow. Stop acting out over a little jealousy."

Ethan had thought Stella was just sulking because he had been distant lately.

Once the tantrum passed, she would be thrilled to marry him again.

"As for the dress—" Ethan's eyes drifted toward the gown.

Stella braced herself, expecting him to force her—like last time—to squeeze into Rachel's dress no matter what.

"Wear the one you originally picked, if you like it," said Ethan.

Rachel's head snapped up as she said, "Uncle—"

Ethan patted her gently on the head and tried to comfort her, "It's okay. You can design something else next time."

Rachel's face went pale, but she nodded obediently.

Ethan led her out.

Not long after, Rachel came back.

She stood before Stella. Gone was her 'sweet' side, her voice sharp and cold.

"You saw us in the car, didn't you?"

Gone was the timid girl, her expression hardening with hostility.

Stella did not answer. She asked instead, "Did you drug yourself?"

Rachel did not deny it.

"Of course. Uncle Ethan has always loved me. I just gave him the push he needed."

In her previous life, she had never known whether Ethan's love for Rachel was one-sided or mutual.

At last, Stella finally knew.

She smiled faintly and responded, "I wish you two all the best."

She meant it, but Rachel instantly exploded.

"Cut the fake blessings, Stella! You've indeed improved. You used to be nothing but a desperate little lapdog. Now you're good at pretending to be dignified.

"You really think stabbing yourself changed anything? That Uncle Ethan will suddenly see you in a different light?

"Keep dreaming. Let me show you just who he really cares."

Before Stella could react, Rachel lunged forward, covered with a cloth soaked in something acrid over her mouth and nose.

The stench hit her like a wall.

Stella tried to fight back, but her leg was injured. She had no strength.

The maids had all left, thinking the two were having a private talk.

Stella lost consciousness.

…

She woke up to unbearable heat.

She opened her eyes and saw flames everywhere.

Rachel lay beside her.

"You set my house on fire?! Are you out of your mind?!" Stella gasped.

Rachel let out a cold laugh. "Do you think Uncle Ethan cares about you? Let me show you exactly how much he loves me."

Immediately, Ethan's frantic voice echoed from outside the room. "Rachel! Rachel, where are you?!"

Rachel's expression changed immediately; the venom in her vanished. She blinked, tears welling up as she cried out pitifully, "I'm here! Help me!"

Ethan burst into the room. He stopped when he saw Stella on the floor—but Rachel let out a scream as a piece of burning wood fell nearby, pulling his focus instantly.

"Rachel!"

He rushed to her and scooped her into his arms.

As he passed Stella, he paused for a second.

"I'll be back to get you after I take Rachel out."

Just like that, he left.