CHAPTER 0005

CHAPTER 5

Stella

The silence inside the penthouse suddenly felt dangerous after Scario mentioned Detective Daniel Hayes reopening the investigation.

I stood there looking at him while my chest tightened with fear.

“What investigation?" I asked again but Scario just walked away without giving me an answer.

That was the thing about him. He enjoyed watching me suffer in confusion.

I remained downstairs for a while unable to even move properly. My mind was filled with too many thoughts at once. Daniel Hayes reopening an investigation could only mean one thing.

Something buried was slowly coming back up.

I barely slept that night. Every little sound inside the penthouse made me feel uneasy. The place was luxurious and beautiful but never once felt like home to me.

The next morning I woke up earlier than usual and headed downstairs only to realize Scario was already gone.

His untouched coffee cup still sat on the counter.

I slowly cleaned around the kitchen before my phone suddenly rang.

Selma Ford.

Just seeing her name made my stomach tighten.

I answered after the third ring.

“Get to the mansion immediately," she ordered before I could even greet her.

“What happened?" I asked quietly.

“Don't start questioning me, Stella. Just get here and make sure everything is perfect.”

The call ended immediately.

I took a deep breath before getting ready and heading to the Ford mansion.

The moment I arrived something immediately felt different.

The staff was running around nervously while fresh flowers were being carried inside. Expensive decorations covered almost every corner of the mansion. Even the chefs looked stressed.

For a second I thought an important business event was happening.

“Mrs. Ford," one of the maids greeted quickly before rushing past me.

I made my way further inside only to find Selma standing in the middle of the living room, instructing everyone as if their lives depended on it.

“Be careful with those flowers!" she snapped before finally noticing me standing there.

Her expression instantly changed.

“You're finally here," she said coldly.

“I just wanted to know why everyone seems so—"

“Because something good is finally happening in this family unlike the disaster you brought into it," she cut me off.

My fingers slowly tightened around my handbag.

Before I could respond, the front door suddenly opened behind me.

Scario walked in.

His eyes immediately landed on me before shifting toward his mother.

There was something different about him today.

Something restless.

Almost anxious.

Selma smiled widely.

“Did you tell her?" she asked excitedly.

Scario remained silent for a few seconds before finally looking directly at me.

“Ella is coming home.”

Everything inside me suddenly went numb.

For a moment I couldn't even breathe properly.

Ella.

Coming back?

After all these years?

“No…" I whispered.

Selma looked at my reaction with satisfaction written all over her face.

“Oh yes," she smiled. “My son finally gets the woman he actually wanted.”

I slowly turned toward Scario hoping for something.

Anything.

But the look in his eyes destroyed whatever little hope I had left.

For the first time in years, Scario Ford looked alive again.

And it was because of her.

One of the maids rushed to tell Selma and Scario that Ella was here and I just stood there wondering what would happen next. Before my mind could even guess, my husband bumped me into the table which luckily prevented me from falling.

Then his Mom gave me a disgusted look before she hurried behind her son. The maid who witnessed all this apologized and then asked if I needed anything but what could make the hurting go away.

“I'm fine thanks," I whispered and then made my way outside.

Before I could even reach the door, I saw how tightly Scario held Ella.

It wasn't forced.

It wasn't for appearances either.

It was gentle, desperate… real.

And for the first time since marrying him, I realized Scario Ford was actually capable of loving someone.

Just not me.

A cold tear slid down my cheek as something painfully heavy settled inside my chest.

He held her hand and then helped bring Ella inside. I was still in the hallway looking at them before she stopped when they got to where I was standing.

“Stella, what are you doing here?" she asked, looking confused.

“I should be asking you that Ella. Aren't you supposed to go home first?" I lifted my brows.

“I asked her to come here. Does anyone have a problem with that?" Scario replied, looking at me.

"Of course not son. Ella is always welcome here unlike some people,” Selma replied.

“What’s that? A ring on your finger?” Ella asked about holding my hand when I moved it away.

"Don't mind that dear. It doesn't mean anything to us. We only care about you. In fact, now that you're back, we're going to do things the right way,” Selma responded, with a nervous look on her face.

The betrayal was so real at that moment but nothing was new. These people have always made it clear that I don't belong here.

Scario walked away with Ella while his Mom asked me to get them coffee. I could see my husband's arms finding safety around the waist of another woman.

I could feel my heartbeat quickening painfully inside my chest. I couldn't afford to look weak so I made my way to the kitchen and got the coffee. Just as I was about to head out I met Ella at the door.

“You know I hate the fact that I'm your sister, right?" she asked, probably expecting me to reply the way I used to years ago.

“And what do you think I should do about that Ella?" I lifted my brows.

“Cry or beg me to stop your soon-to-be ex-husband from going ahead with the divorce, Stella," she smiled.

“What makes you think he would even listen to you, Ella?”

Ella only smiled slowly before stepping aside.

“Because he loves me, Stella.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“I want a divorce,” Scario's voice suddenly echoed from behind her.