CHAPTER 0003

CHAPTER 3

Stella

“What are you still doing here?" my mother-in-law asked while I looked at her with confusion as we were together in the boardroom.

“Is there a problem?" I responded.

“We're having a party at the mansion and I need everything to be in place. Here's the list make sure nothing goes wrong," she said, placing it into my hands and then walking away.

The amount of frustration I felt was immeasurable. What the hell was she thinking by just placing that into my hands as if I didn't have responsibilities?

It's not like she considered me a daughter-in-law. The only difference between their staff and me was the fact that I had the Ford last name, but that didn't change anything.

I still had to figure out my way home again. I took a deep breath and then went into the lift.

“Stella, congratulations. I didn't know you presented so well," Blake said a smile on his face.

"Thank you,” I answered.

I was about to walk out, but noticed that he was leaving too, so I asked if I could get a ride. He didn't even think twice before answering that I could.

I've heard about birds of a feather, but Blake was nothing like Scario; one wouldn't even believe they were friends.

“You really impressed us in there you know," Blake started.

“I just try," I responded in a low tone.

“I wouldn't call that trying. You sounded like a mogul in there," he nodded.

Talking to him just made me smile but I'd have to be careful. Maybe Scario asked him to do all that to me.

We got to the Ford mansion and Blake left. I found everyone running around trying to make sure nothing goes wrong. I knew my mother-in-law just wanted to get me out of the company.

Everything was already done. I just went to take a walk in the garden since it was the most peaceful place and then took a seat on the bench.

“Excuse me Mrs. Ford," I heard one of the maids say before I turned around.

“Yes, what's this?" I asked before she handed me a dress my mother-in-law picked for me.

Nothing I chose was considered; only things Selma thought were best for every event kept coming my way. I took the dress and then asked one of the drivers there to take me home.

I had to get ready and also make sure nothing was wrong with Scario's outfit. The bedroom door suddenly opened and Scario walked in with a serious face.

I could tell something had happened but couldn't ask. That would upset him. I just told him where I placed his clothes and then went to continue fixing my makeup.

Time was running so fast that we now just had an hour to get to the party. I made my way downstairs, waiting for Scario, who was probably not even going to take me along.

The moment I saw him descending the stairs I jumped to my feet so I could follow him as he walked out. Just as he opened the driver's side I jumped in on the passenger’s seat too.

Without saying anything he stared at me for a minute and then started the car. For a moment, I thought he was going to compliment me or something, but that would never come.

All I did was remind him of her. I could never be her. These were the only times I would feel a little visible in his eyes when the media houses and business partners were around.

We walked into the mansion with his arm around my waist as if it belonged there but it was quite the opposite. My mother-in-law rushed to welcome us. The amount of kindness she was showing towards me just disgusted me.

“Come here dear, I need you to meet some of my friends," she said, pulling me into that crowd.

“Ladies, here's my lovely daughter-in-law. Isn't she just beautiful?" Selma asked while the women just looked at each other.

“She's beautiful but can't replace her sister," one answered and that felt rough.

“Come on now. We shouldn't hang on to the past like that. This marriage was the peace we needed."

“Selma please. I can't believe you let your son end up with the villain. That was so cruel in his love story with the innocent twin. This just isn't our piece of cake, not after the things she has done," another of the ladies said, and I knew Selma brought me there just so I could be humiliated.

“It's OK my dear. You can go back to Scario now," she freed my hand, and I turned around, trying so hard not to cry.

I got to where Scario was, and he did see the tears in my eyes, but didn't bother comforting me. Instead, he asked me to get rid of them and avoid trying to ruin his night.

“Stella Ford. May we have a little chat with you?" one of the reporters asked, and Scario told them that I was busy even before I could say anything.

“It's nothing big Sir. We just wanted to follow up on her sister. Is she OK? or—"

"Please leave!” Scario cut off the reporter.

Every time someone brought her up, he would get so mad that I would have to relive the pain that changed my entire life.

“You must be feeling great huh?" he turned to me.

“No I—"

“Sometimes I wish it were you in that car that day instead of her. I can't stand to know that I'll have to live without her.”

His words settled inside my chest like poison I had swallowed too many times before.

No matter what I did, no matter how much I endured for him, Scario would probably never see me as anything other than the woman who ruined Ella’s life.

The villain.

Maybe that was all I would ever be in his story.

“You two can't be doing this here," I heard a deep voice I could recognize even in my sleep before we both turned to my dad.

“Mr. West. It's so good to see you again. Stella has been giving me so much trouble these days maybe you could—”