Charles had finally lost his patience. He flipped over, pinning Stella beneath him, gripping her jaw as he kissed her roughly.

His hands slid up along her waist as his breath grew heavy and erratic.

Stella was yanked out of her nightmare by an uneasy sensation.

Her eyes snapped open, staring blankly at the swaying ceiling overhead. It wasn't until her legs were forced apart that everything hit her-hard.

Fully aware of their position, she snapped. Her jaw tightened and she bit down on Charles's neck with all the fury she had.

He grunted in pain but didn't let go, gripping her waist even tighter.

His voice, low and grainy, brushed against her earlobe, full of mockery.

"Already can't handle it before I even get started?"

It wasn't the first time Stella had bit him during sex whenever things got too rough. But hearing those words now only made her feel utterly humiliated. She squirmed and fought like hell.

"Get off me. Don't touch me."

Their clothes were barely hanging on, and both of them were pressed close, skin to skin. The friction between them only made things worse. Charles' forehead pulsed with veins as he clenched her thigh tightly, eyes bloodshot.

"Stay still if you don't want me to ruin you."

Their eyes locked, and all Stella could see was the desire burning in his gaze. It made her sick.

That night six years ago, Charles took away her innocence. And after that, unless she was on her period or right after giving birth, he would torment her almost every single night.

He claimed to hate her, yet he couldn't get enough of her body.

She used to think he was just mad at her-never that he truly despised her.

Then Isabelle came back, and everything changed. Charles stopped touching her completely. Once, after she'd showered and tried to approach him, he threw her out like garbage.

"Stella, you disgust me."

Charles wasn't some sex-obsessed maniac, but his desire was intense. Since he thought she was disgusting, it could only mean one thing-he had Isabelle back now.

But Sophie was gone. Their daughter was dead. Why should she let this faithless man continue to violate her?

"Charles, if you touch me again, I'll call the cops and report you for marital rape."

Her voice was ice as she stared blankly above, no more fighting, even though his grip on her thigh only tightened.

The pain grounded her, made her sharper.

Matching his tone from past times, she gave a cold, sarcastic laugh.

"You're the one who's gross. You touch me, I want to puke. Get off."

Something about her now was unfamiliar-cold, cutting.

Charles froze.

The heated tension in the room evaporated like someone flipped a switch.

Any trace of desire disappeared.

He rolled off her with disgust, tossed the blanket at her, and stalked off to the bathroom.

His phone, tossed carelessly on the nightstand, kept lighting up.

The name "Baby Olivia" lit up the screen again and again, stabbing at Stella's eyes-and her heart.

She couldn't look at it anymore.

She got dressed and walked out without a second glance.

Sophie was still waiting for her.

When Charles came out of the shower, the bed was empty. His face turned dark with rage.

He stormed over, grabbed his phone, ready to order someone to go get both Stella and Sophie-but then he noticed the dozens of missed calls and unread messages.

It hit him.

He'd promised to stay with Olivia at the hospital before her procedure.

He changed quickly and drove straight to Rosehill Villa.

The second he stepped out of the car, Olivia came running, clinging to his legs with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Daddy, I thought you didn't want me anymore."

His heart clenched. He bent down and scooped her up, kissing her cheek gently.

"You're my princess. How could Daddy not want you?"

"But Sophie's your daughter too. Mommy said she's sick too... and if you stayed with Sophie, I wasn't allowed to bother you. But I missed you so much."

She wrapped her arms around his neck like she couldn't bear to let go.

Isabelle rushed out too, her face full of guilt and worry."Charles, it's my fault-I didn't manage her well. I'm sorry."

Compared to Stella's outbursts, Isabelle had clearly raised Olivia to be sweet and well-behaved.

That only made Charles feel even more protective of her.

"I'm the one who made you suffer all those years abroad alone. You don't need to apologize. Are your things packed? Let's head to the hospital now."

Isabelle gave him a soft nod, then suddenly caught a glimpse of a faint bite mark near the collar of his black shirt.

It flashed by quickly, but she saw it.

Clearly, he'd been with Stella just now-so caught up he even ignored Olivia's call.

Her expression instantly shifted as she forced down the jealousy in her eyes. When she looked up again, her face was all gentle and warm.

"Charles, maybe let Olivia down for now. Don't spoil her too much."

She reached out as she spoke, but her foot slipped, and she tumbled straight into his arms.

Olivia burst out laughing.

"Mommy's being shy! She wants Daddy to hug her too. Daddy kissed me earlier, now it's Mommy's turn or she'll get jealous!"

Isabelle glanced shyly at Charles, her eyes full of affection.

She was wearing a low-cut sweater dress, showing just enough pale skin to give off a soft, confident allure.

But Charles only stepped back and took his arm away, keeping Olivia in his arms as he bounced her slightly.

"You little rascal, let's see what you've packed this time."

Olivia giggled and started chattering away.

Isabelle, watching them, slowly clenched her fists behind her back.

-

After returning to her family's home, Stella scrubbed herself in the shower until her skin was red, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't scrub away the traces Charles had left behind.

She curled up on the bathroom floor, hugging her knees in silence.

Only after a long while did she drag herself up and peel off the soaked bandage on her head. Looking in the mirror, her pale face and the ugly wound on her forehead stared back. She redid the wound care herself.

She had to find out what really happened with the Johnson Group.

She had to repay everything owed to the Hart family.

And most of all, she had to make Charles pay-for Sophie's death.

She couldn't just give up like some beaten-down loser.

After charging her phone, Stella tried to recall those terrifying memories, but the faces of the thugs who came to collect debt were still a blur.

The second she turned her phone on, messages started pouring in-she hadn't even opened them when Renee Kelly called.

"What the hell's going on with you? The deadline passed three days ago! You know that's a breach of contract, right?"

That jolted Stella's memory.

Right before Sophie's last attack, she'd accepted a commission. If she didn't deliver, she'd have to pay a fifty-thousand-yuan penalty.

Even though Charles never hesitated when it came to money, Stella never wanted to be that kind of useless, good-for-nothing.

After marrying him, she'd kept at composing part-time online and even built up a bit of a reputation.

Renee, who dealt with assigning work, had never met her in person-just a straight-talking, no-nonsense pro.

"Renee, I-"

Stella didn't even know where to begin.

Luckily, after working together for so long, Renee didn't press.

"I managed to buy you some time. I've sent you the address, go handle the client face to face."

With that, she hung up.

Stella checked the address and frowned.

Rosehill Villa?

Seriously? What are the odds?

She didn't delay. After freshening up briefly, she grabbed a taxi to the location.

After signing in at the gate, she'd barely walked a few steps inside before running into Isabelle.

"Stella? You're looking for Charles? He's already taken Olivia to the hospital. Come on in and rest. I'm just grabbing some clothes for him-he was so worried about Olivia, he even forgot to pack his own underwear."

Isabelle smiled warmly, like she completely forgot how Stella had nearly strangled her at the hospital the other day.

Acting all friendly and chill, yet dropping little landmines in every sentence-each one full of teasing intimacy she made sure Stella could hear.

Stella heard Isabelle's oh-so-gracious words and felt a wave of nausea roll through her. She forced a cold, mocking smile.

"Isabelle, I didn't come here for him. You might see him as some sort of prize, but trust me-he's not worth a dime in my eyes."

Isabelle was still clutching Charles's underwear, watching Stella walk off toward the house next door. Her jaw tightened, teeth grinding with rage. The fabric crumpled in her grip, a pathetic little symbol of her so-called claim.

She couldn't stomach it. Resentment twisted in her chest, and before long, she trailed after Stella without making a sound.

When she saw Stella step into Jason's place, a crooked smile crept across Isabelle's face. She whipped out her phone, clicked a couple of times, and snapped a picture just as Stella disappeared through the door.

Not long after, Charles came home with Olivia in his arms.

Isabelle, already waiting for this moment, pretended to be half-distracted, nervously fiddling with the very same underwear still in her hand.

Charles immediately spotted it and frowned, voice full of suspicion.

"Why do you have my underwear?"

Isabelle lowered her eyes, tone soft and full of fake vulnerability.

"You left it here the last time you drank too much... I just kept it for you."

But the truth was, she'd swiped it when he passed out, stashing it just in case she needed it.

After speaking, her gaze intentionally shifted toward Jason's house, clearly uneasy-with something clearly on her mind.

Charles caught on and followed her line of sight. Wasn't that Jason's place?

Jason was his longtime friend and personal doctor. Their families had known each other forever, so his house being next door was no coincidence.

"You feeling unwell or something, keep looking at Jason's place," he asked, eyebrows slightly drawn.

Isabelle's fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her shirt. She fidgeted, a nervous wreck, looking like she was wrestling with whether or not to keep quiet.

"Um... I'm just not sure if I should say it. It might make Stella look bad."

Stella?

What now?

Charles frowned deeper, instantly annoyed.

"She went to see Jason?"

His voice was tense, slow, and sharp as a knife.

His face grew darker by the second, even without a full explanation. The temperature in the air seemed to dip.

Isabelle bit her lip. She was practically itching to spill it.

"Yeah... I saw her go into his place. Not sure what they're up to."

That was the final trigger.

Charles's expression darkened instantly, gloomy like a thundercloud.

His mind flashed back to the time when Stella had demanded a divorce. Back then, he thought she was pulling the same old stunt-playing hard to get, trying to get him to notice her.

But now... she really was off seeing other men? And not just any man-his own friend?

Then the memory hit him-six years ago, when Stella had drugged him and climbed into his bed. His whole body went cold.

Was she really up to her dirty tricks again?

Without another word, he stormed off toward Jason's house, fists clenched.

Behind him, Isabelle held Olivia tighter and smiled faintly, covering the little girl's eyes.

"Don't look, baby. Aunt Stella's doing something bad."

Bang! Charles kicked the door open.

Inside, Stella was going over a music score. She jumped at the sudden noise, staring wide-eyed at Charles's raging face, completely confused.

"Charles? Why are you here?"

He made his way to her in a few angry strides, eyes practically spitting fire.

"Why? You really wanna ask me that? Stella, do you even have any shame? Sneaking into my friend's house to seduce him?"

He sneered and added with venom, "Trying to play the same old tricks you did back then?"

Those words-"seduce" and "same old tricks"-felt like invisible blades slicing right into Stella.

Her throat tightened. "Charles, I'm just here for a job. This is my work!"

Charles let out a cold laugh and stormed over, wrapping an arm tightly around her and squeezing her waist hard.

"Your work?" he repeated, eyes darkening. "So what, I haven't touched you in a while, and now you're so desperate you're out here taking jobs like this?"

The venom in his voice stung. Stella slapped him across the face without thinking, struggling like crazy to break free.

"Get off me, Charles. I came to drop off a score. I'm not disgusting like you."

Who did he think he was to judge her?

He was all cozy and lovey-dovey with his sweetheart Isabelle, living the good life.

"I'm disgusting? Stella, you better be careful with what you're saying, or-"

Just then Jason, the client and Charles's friend, stepped in.

"Charles, you've got it all wrong. Mrs. Hart is really just here to deliver the composition."

That hit Charles like a brick. Yeah, he remembered now-he'd been too busy, so he asked Jason to find a decent composer for him.

Jason had said all the big names were tied up, but money could fix that. Still, Charles wanted someone who'd actually put their heart into making something for Olivia.

And the one Jason found... was Stella?

Stella was still breathing hard, listening to Jason's explanation.

She suddenly recalled what Renee had said when she got the assignment.

A terrible thought hit her. She felt her knees go weak.

"Mr. Bennett," she asked, voice shaking, "you said this music piece was for a little girl who was just released from the hospital. What's the girl's name?"

When she took on this project, it was because she understood the pain. She had Sophie in mind the entire time she composed that melody-wishing her little girl could be free from pain too.

"Olivia."

Jason had recognized Stella the moment she walked in, but he didn't want to meddle in drama. Now that things had escalated, he figured out what happened.

Stella froze when she heard that name.

She stared, like she couldn't process it.

Charles had planned a whole event for Olivia... had commissioned a celebratory score for his other daughter.

And her Sophie?

Her Sophie never even got to see her dad before she passed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett. I'm backing out."

Her voice cracked. She snatched up the score, but Charles was faster and stopped her.

"Stella, don't be ridiculous. You know the penalty for breaching the contract."

She scoffed. "Charles, I'd rather pay the damn fee than give you this music. You planned a party for Olivia-what about Sophie? Did she deserve to be ignored, to be forgotten?"

Her voice broke as tears welled up.

She couldn't stop thinking of those last moments with Sophie, while somewhere else Charles was planning some grand celebration for his other daughter.

Jason sighed, clearly uncomfortable.

"Mrs. Hart, Charles only wanted Olivia to smile again. This penalty... it's no small sum. Are you sure this is worth it? Can't we talk this through?"

"Mr. Bennett, thanks, but my mind's made up. I can't give you that music."

When she was writing that piece, all she thought of was Sophie.

Now Sophie was gone.

And they expected her to hand it over to Olivia? She just... couldn't.

Anyone else. Just not Olivia.

Charles's patience snapped. His tone dropped cold.

"Stella, don't push it. Do you really think you can afford to break this contract?"

Can't afford the penalty? Charles really underestimated her.

Without waiting for a response, Stella gripped the sheet music tight with both hands and tore it apart. Before he could stop her, she crouched down and ripped it into even smaller pieces, then tossed the fragments right onto his head.

"This is the score you wanted."

Her voice trembled as she spoke each word slowly. She was furious-even her chest hurt from the rage. Her head spun a little, but she forced herself to stand tall. No way was she going to fall apart in front of him.

Funny, wasn't it? She spent six years showing him every bit of her vulnerability without holding back. But he never offered an ounce of tenderness in return.

Charles was completely thrown by her sudden move. His face darkened, and he stormed forward, reaching out to grab Stella's wrist.

"Stella, are you out of your mind? Do you even know what you're doing?"

She staggered back a few steps, her body swaying, clearly struggling to stay upright.

"I'm not crazy. I've never been more clearheaded. This music? No way I'm giving it to Olivia."

Sophie, Mommy won't hand your song over to some other child. Never.

She felt dizzier by the second, a wave of nausea rising from her stomach. Pressing herself against the wall for support, her eyes still burned with defiance. She wasn't backing down one bit.

Watching her like this, Charles was reminded more and more of the reckless girl she used to be. Maybe the obedient, gentle side she showed the past six years was all fake.

He snapped out of his thoughts momentarily, his tone still cold.

"Really, Stella? So this is how tough you want to play it?"

Taking a shaky breath, she bit her lip. Her lips had gone pale from strain. "I can pay fifty thousand-that's what we agreed when I took the job."

Charles raised an eyebrow, letting out a mocking chuckle.

"Fifty thousand? Stella, you seem confused. You're three days overdue already. Based on the contract, that's ten times the original amount-five hundred thousand."

Half a million?

Stella's mind went blank. She forced a sarcastic smile through the overwhelm.

There was no way she could pull that kind of money together. But caving in? Giving up just like that? Then she wouldn't be a mother worthy of Sophie.

"Charles, are you seriously gonna be this heartless?"

He had once shared her bed, knew her better than anyone. And maybe that was exactly why he knew where to hurt her most.

He knew she couldn't afford that much. He wasn't trying to negotiate-he was trying to crush her. All because of his precious mistress's daughter, Olivia.

Yet Sophie, their daughter, never even got a shred of affection. How could someone be so outrageously biased?

Charles scowled. "You brought this on yourself. If you had just handed over the music, none of this would've happened."

Stella looked at him, suddenly feeling strangely calm. A bitter smile crept up on her lips. "Fine. Five hundred thousand it is. I'll find a way to pay you back, little by little. But don't expect me to do a damn thing for your sweetheart's daughter."

With that, she turned to leave.

Charles reacted instantly, rushing after her and grabbing her arm.

"If you walk out now, don't think you'll get away so easily. And stop dragging Sophie into this-she's not your bargaining chip."

Sophie?

Stella let out a dry laugh. Oh, so he still remembered Sophie? What a joke.

She shoved his hand off with all her remaining strength, her body swaying dangerously.

"Let me say this one last time-Sophie's gone. She died while you were throwing a birthday party for Olivia with your precious Isabelle."

Charles froze, but the storm on his face only intensified. He yanked her arm, his eyes dark with fury."Stella, you're seriously heartless. Cursing your own daughter again and again, I-"

Before Charles could finish, Stella's knees gave out and she collapsed right into his arms.

"This trick won't work on me. I'm telling you, you still have to-"

He didn't finish either. In that instant, Charles realized something was very wrong. Stella's face was colorless, and her lips were pale and dry.

"Jason!"

Jason had already rushed over by the time Charles called out. Spotting Stella passed out in his arms, his brow immediately furrowed hard.

"You really had to push her this far? That's twice now she's fainted. Her body's in terrible shape."

"I'm starting to think you're abusing her."

Charles looked grim, voice sharp. "Cut the nonsense and help her out."

Jason sighed and shrugged, then helped lay Stella on the bed.

"Last time, I told you-her condition's because of emotional stress and skipping meals. She needs real rest. And now you pissed her off again? No wonder she passed out. She probably hasn't eaten. We need to get nutrients in her, fast."

He worked quickly, giving her an IV with nutrients.

Charles stood next to the bed, quietly watching her frail, bloodless face.

Then, wordlessly, he crouched and started picking up the pieces of the shredded musical score one by one. Jason glanced over and raised his brows.

"You're trying to piece that back together?"

"Yeah. It matters."

Knowing better than to meddle, Jason said nothing more.

It wasn't clear how much time passed before Stella's eyes finally fluttered open.

She blinked at the unfamiliar room and then turned to see Charles sitting by the bed. The memory of what had happened came rushing back.

She tried to push herself up.

Seeing this, Charles instinctively moved to help her, only for her to slap his hand away abruptly.

"Don't touch me!"

Her voice was laced with disgust.

Charles's brows drew together. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but ended up silent.

At that moment, Jason stepped in and gave a little sigh of relief. "Thank god you're awake. You're still really weak-try not to move too much."

Stella looked between Jason and Charles, then let out a cold laugh.

"What, scared I'd die before I paid back your precious penalty fee?"

Charles frowned and said sternly, "Stella, stop twisting things. I want to see Sophie."

She cut him off right away, "I already told you-you're never seeing her again."

Charles didn't feel like arguing. He grabbed a tuna sandwich sitting on the side table.

"Eat this."

But Stella wasn't buying it for a second.

"Not hungry."

Seeing tension spark between them again, Jason stepped in quickly.

"Alright, enough. Miss Johnson, your health's the priority. Let's deal with the penalty stuff when you're back on your feet."

If it weren't for their ridiculous contract, she wouldn't be in this mess to begin with. Now they want to come off like the good guys?

"No need. I'll pay it. Every cent. I owe you nothing."

With that, she swung her legs off the bed, dead set on leaving.

Charles's expression darkened as he reached out to stop her again. "Look at yourself right now. Where do you think you're going? Stop pushing it."

That stubborn look in her eyes only made his jaw tighten. Without a word, he grabbed her chin, forcing her face toward him.

With his other hand, he picked up a sandwich, tore off a chunk with his fingers, and shoved it against her lips.

"Eat it," he growled.

She turned her head away, but he held her still.

"I said-eat."

But then his phone rang out of nowhere. He let go and put the sandwich back where it was.

That ringtone-he knew it well. Isabelle.

He answered with a softened voice, "Hey, what's up?"