I’m Done Being Your Rock のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

When I saw the gift box on the table, I thought Stella Stafford had finally gotten the hint.Especially when I realized there was a pair of professional wrist braces inside, I was so touched I nearly cried.A week earlier, I'd gently mentioned to Stella that I wanted a pair.Years of soaking my hands in cold dishwater during the day and mixing drinks nonstop at night had left my wrists severely damaged.However, I couldn't bring myself to spend money on a doctor. All I wanted was a pair of wrist braces to ease some of the strain on my hands.Stella had frowned. "You need wrist braces for the kind of work you do?"Colin, there are still so many things we need to spend money on for the studio. If it's not necessary, we should save the money."Her words had upset me for a long time. I never imagined Stella would secretly buy me a pair for our seventh wedding anniversary.But when I opened the gift box and read the card inside, my smile froze.Only a few short lines were written o

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 w

Stella, Landon, and the others stood outside, quietly waiting for the Northern Lights to appear.Not far away, a couple stood wrapped tightly in each other's arms, looking blissfully happy.The warm, intimate sight brought Stella back to the way we used to be. For seven years, I'd always put up been tolerant of her moods and accommodated every one of her preferences.Whenever she stayed up late painting, I would quietly stayed up with her. When she felt discouraged, I would patiently kept her company and talked her through it.I'd given her all my tenderness and devotion, never once treating her feelings as an afterthought.As those memories came flooding back, a faint smile unconsciously touched her lips.Just then, the man nearby gazed earnestly at the woman beside him and said gently, "It's so beautiful here. From now on, let's come back every year to celebrate our wedding anniversary."His words seemed to suddenly remind Stella of something. Her heart lurched. She hurriedl

After that day, Stella completely fell apart. She couldn't accept that I'd left behind a divorce agreement and vanished from her life.She spent every day depressed and withdrawn, with no interest in dealing with anything at the studio.Her solo exhibition was fast approaching, and urgent work continued to pile up, but she couldn't bring herself to handle any of it.Landon took the opportunity to assume responsibility for everything, gradually taking complete control of the studio's daily operations and external affairs.Although he knew how to handle exhibition logistics and routine errands, he had no understanding of the financial, legal, or regulatory requirements involved in properly operating a studio in Varenne. Within just a few days, unresolved problems began piling up behind the scenes, throwing the entire studio into chaos.Landon couldn't understand the tax documents at all, so he simply skipped the quarterly filing deadline, leaving the studio's business taxes overdu