Chapter 5

A memory surfaced unbidden: five years ago, the day Dominic proposed.

He had held my hand and said softly, “Stella, you are the smartest, kindest woman I’ve ever met. Will you marry me?”

Six months ago, I lost my first child.

He sat at my bedside for three days without closing his eyes.

He’d said, “Stella, you have to be okay. Even if I never have children, I can’t lose you.”

For five years, I had told myself, over and over, that maybe he really was the love destined for me.

Now he had destroyed everything I had for Vivian. He’d nearly killed me.

The confinement punishment of the Ashford family was extremely harsh.

For three full days, I was given nothing to eat or drink, thrown into a windowless room like a piece of trash.

My wounds became infected and festered. My fever raged until my skin was scalding to the touch, yet no one came.

I thought I would die there.

On the fourth day, the door finally opened.

I crawled out on my hands and knees.

The moment sunlight touched my face, tears streamed down my face.

Dominic, meanwhile, was busy preparing the fifth anniversary celebration.

“She cheated on you and hit the woman you love, and you’re still throwing this party for her?”

A friend of Dominic’s asked.

“A lot of eyes are on Ashford Corp right now. No matter what’s happened, we need to keep up appearances and show the world that nothing’s wrong.”

“Besides, I’ve already taught Stella her lesson. She’ll know her place from now on.”

Dominic said casually.

What he didn’t know was that at that very moment, Stella had already boarded a plane to London, battered and broken.

“Mr. Ashford, should we send someone to bring Mrs. Ashford here?” his assistant asked.

Dominic frowned, thought for a moment, and shook his head. “Just send her a message. She can get herself here. I’m done catering to her tantrums.”

He pulled out his phone and texted Stella.

“You have thirty minutes. Get here now and stop keeping everyone waiting.”

The message was sent. A red exclamation mark appeared beside it.

Dominic stared.