Chapter 3

Stella locked herself in her room for the next few days. She refused to leave.

After her parents found out about Noel's ridiculous actions, they were grateful that they did not marry Stella to him. They insisted on going to the Chiltons, but Stella finally left her room to stop them.

She did not want to cause any trouble when the wedding date was near.

After talking her parents out of it, she fetched a design from her room.

Stella did not lock herself in the room because of Noel. He was nothing to her now.

She had stayed inside the room to design a wedding ring for Eric.

Stella knew how valuable 'Reach for a Star' was, and she wanted to return the sentiment. She wanted to repay his love for her.

She handed the drawing to the housekeeper and instructed him to find an expert to carve out her design.

However, the wedding ring never arrived, even after the expected delivery date.

Stella went to inquire and found out that Noel had been there to pick up some jewelry. He noticed the ring right away and took it with him after asking about it.

All he said after taking the ring was, "It's going to be mine anyway. You don't need to inform Stella to pick it up."

The employees knew about the marriage alliance between the Chiltons and the Judds, so they did not stop him.

Stella's heart sank.

She quickly headed to the Chiltons to see Noel. She wanted the ring back.

Stella saw Sophie seated in front of a mountain of delivery boxes the moment she stepped inside the Chiltons' house. She was speaking coquettishly.

"You bought everything in my online shopping cart without my knowledge again, Mr. Noel. How am I supposed to repay you when you're so good to me?"

"I was happy to do it. You don't need to repay me at all. Also, I've told you plenty of times before not to call me Mr. Noel."

That was when Sophie called him 'Noel' shyly.

Stella did not even blink when she saw how they were flirting with each other. She quickly entered the house.

Noel turned to look when he heard footsteps. He frowned when he saw that it was Stella.

"What are you doing here?"

"Give me back the wedding ring you took."

Noel raised an eyebrow when he saw Stella reach her arm out for it.

"It's gone."

Stella was taken aback, and her tone turned grim. "What do you mean?"

Noel was still thinking up an excuse when Sophie, who was sitting on the floor, suddenly spoke up timidly.

"Miss Judd, I read online about how easy it is to open boxes with a wedding ring, so I used it to open hundreds of these boxes. It's scratched now. Do you still want it back?"

Sophie opened up her hand to show the badly scratched ring in her palm.

How dare Noel give Sophie her wedding ring to open delivery boxes!

Stella was furious, and the anger spread to every cell in her body.

She could no longer control her emotions, and her eyes turned red. She stared at the two shameless people in front of her. "What right do you have to take something that belongs to me without asking, Noel Chilton? How dare you destroy it, Sophie Taylor! Don't you know the meaning of respect?!"

Noel's good mood was destroyed when he saw Stella break down because of the ring. His tone was filled with annoyance.

"You were going to give me the ring anyway. Why are you making a fuss over it?

"By the way, I've decided not to hold a wedding. It's pointless for you to design a wedding ring. Stop wasting your time."

Stella clenched her fists at his nonchalant arrogance. She emphasized once more, "That wedding ring wasn't meant for you, Noel Chilton!"

"Who else could it be for but me? It's time to stop your petty act, Stella. You're going overboard."

Noel replied to Stella sarcastically while throwing the ring out. He pulled Sophie out of the house.

"Let's not stoop to her level and waste our time. Didn't you say you wanted to learn to drive, Sophie? Come on, I'll give you a lesson."

Stella was furious and upset as she watched them walk out the door. She wanted to run after them, but she could not do two things at once. She crouched to the ground to search for the ring first.

It took Stella half an hour before discovering it in the flower bed.

She put it in her pocket carefully and turned to leave without hesitation. It was too late to make a new one. Stella could only get someone to restore it and hope that it would be as good as new.

As she walked out of the villa, she heard an unexpected sound.

Stella looked up to see a car speeding toward her. Her eyes widened.

There was a loud bang, and Stella flew off 30 feet away. She landed in a pool of blood.

Sophie looked scared in the driver’s seat. She was crying when she got out of the car.

"Oh no! Oh no! I just learned to drive and mistook the gas pedal for the brake. I'm in trouble now. Miss Judd is bleeding terribly. Will she be alright, Noel?"

Noel frowned as he looked at the stone steps covered in red from the blood. He comforted Sophie while holding her in his arms.

"It's going to be fine. Stella loves acting pitiful. She's just putting on an act right now. You can ignore her. She'll wake up later once she finds out there's no point acting. Don't be afraid, Sophie. Don't cry."

Stella was in a daze when she heard his words. She felt a chill all over her body and could no longer stop the tears flowing from her eyes.

She had always thought Noel cared a little for her, even though he did not love her. They had known each other for years, after all, and grew up together.

He had blatantly brushed her off to comfort Sophie.

Why did she even fall for him in her past life?

Stella struggled to call for help. She had just managed to grab her phone when she lost every ounce of strength within her.

Darkness came and completely consumed her.

When Stella opened her eyes, it was already the next day.

Not long after she woke up, the doctor walked in with her medical records. He said grimly, "Why didn't you come to the hospital right away after your accident? You shouldn't have waited until you lost so much blood before coming here. This isn't something to be taken lightly."

The memory of how she passed out returned to her. She wanted to explain things, but she could only smile bitterly as she had no idea what to say.

Was she supposed to explain that her childhood friend was too busy comforting another woman and had left her lying in a pool of blood?

The doctor did not ask further questions. He continued, "Where's your husband? He should help you with hospitalization."

Stella's anesthesia had not worn off, so she spoke without further thought.

"He's out of the country."

The door opened as she spoke.

Noel walked into the room as he stared right at her. "Who's out of the country?"