Chapter 3

Stella's protective gesture made my breath catch. I couldn't even get a word out to defend myself.

Whispers immediately broke out around us.

"Colin Stafford? That's Stella's husband?"

"No way. Why would Stella marry a bartender? She's one of Varenne's most celebrated young artists.”

"Did he seriously accuse Landon of being the other man? We all know there's nothing going on between them. How could he slander Landon and suspect his own wife?"

"Stella really got stuck with a terrible husband. He can't help her career at all, and on top of that, he's constantly suspicious and holding her back..."

"He's way too controlling. I feel suffocated just thinking about what Stella has to endure."

I stood there in humiliation, my fists slowly clenching at my sides.

"Stella, listen to me—"

"Apologize." Stella cut me off with that single cold word.

I stared at her in disbelief. "Stella, you don't even know what happened, and you're already demanding that I apologize to him?”

She answered without hesitation, "You humiliated Landon. Apologize."

My chest tightened, followed by countless pinpricks of pain.

I took two steps back. Unwilling to say another word, I was about to turn and leave when Stella's next words stopped me in my tracks.

"If you don't want him to file a complain and get you fired, come back and apologize to Landon. Colin, this is your job!"

I froze, overwhelmed by humiliation.

Slowly, I turned back to look at Stella. She seemed a little flustered, as if she regretted what she'd just said, yet her hand remained firmly on Landon's arm.

I looked at her and said quietly, "I only work these jobs to make money for your studio. Are you sure you want me to lose one of them?"

Stella faltered, unable to say a word.

I turned and left again without the slightest hesitation.

By the time I got home and finished packing, daylight had already broken. Stella hadn't come home all night.

In the past, I would've called her as soon as midnight came. No matter where she was, I would've gone to pick her up and bring her home.

But now, I didn't care anymore.

Even so, I took the divorce agreement to her studio.

Seven years of marriage had come down to nothing more than an agreement waiting for her signature.

When I entered Stella's studio, the only person I saw was Landon, organizing the paints. Surprise flickered through his eyes when he saw me. He immediately stepped forward and blocked my path.

"Stella was exhausted last night. She just fell asleep, so don't disturb her."

I looked at Landon's wrinkled clothes and messy hair, then at the tightly closed door to Stella's office. My grip tightened around the document envelope.

“I only need her to sign something.”

Landon took the documents from me. His eyes lit up, and and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"I'll give them to her when she wakes up."

I turned and walked away. At this point, I didn't want to see Stella for even one more second.

As soon as I got home, I I booked a flight back to Alderwyn and contacted Edwin Dermott, the family butler, whom I hadn't spoken to in years, and asked him to arrange someone to pick me up at the airport.

He'd watched me grow up and practically considered me his own son. When he heard I was coming home, his voice broke with emotion.

"Colin... you're finally coming home. You have no idea how desperately your parents have been waiting for you. They've been waiting for seven years…”

At that moment, my own longing for my parents became almost unbearable.

I said softly, "I'm coming home. Tell Mom and Dad I won't leave again..."

On the way to the airport, I got a call from Stella.

After a moment's hesitation, I answered.

"I signed your paperwork. From now on, don't bring trivial things like travel insurance to the studio and make Landon handle them for you."

Stella had no idea that what she had signed was our divorce agreement. She thought it was travel insurance.

After a brief silence, she continued,

"I didn't mean what I said last night, so don't take it to heart. But you still need to make amends for hurting Landon.

"Let him have your ticket to Norhaven this time. I'll go with you another time. Don't worry—the travel insurance is valid for a year."

Dragging my suitcase behind me as I went through the boarding checkpoint, I replied, "It's fine. Give him my ticket."

The gate agent smiled as she handed my boarding pass back to me.

"Sir, your flight will be departing soon. Please board as quickly as possible."

Stella suddenly raised her voice, panic creeping into her tone.

"Colin, where are you? Why are you boarding a plane?"