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###Chapter 1
May, Seattle
The clouds hung low, the weather brewing with mugginess. Just after the typhoon passed, the air carried a damp mist, accompanied by a gentle breeze blowing into the room through the window.
The clock ticked slowly, steadily pointing to eight o'clock sharp.
Just then, there was a light sound outside the door. Upon getting a response from Stella Carlson, Aurora, dressed in professional attire, entered the hotel's presidential suite.
Merbeil, where Aurora worked, was the best-known wedding planning company in the industry, specializing in high-end clientele. Of course, the services provided were also absolutely considerate and meticulous, worthy of the million-dollar fee.
Two months ago, Merbeil received a commission for a luxury wedding. After internal competition, Aurora stood out and officially won the planning for this luxury wedding.
The top-floor presidential suite at SIMO Hotel was elegantly simple in style, yet luxurious details were subtly embedded. Even the water glasses casually placed on the coffee table were custom-made by Queen-W.
Upon entering the room, Aurora saw the bride, Stella, standing silently by the window. With a polite smile, she kindly asked, "Miss Carlson, it's still early, would you like to rest first?"
Upon hearing her voice, Stella turned around. Her bright eyes were clear and charming, with a soft light akin to water. With chestnut hair and red lips, her delicate features adorned her swan-like neck and shoulders. Her skin resembled porcelain. She was draped only in a loose bathrobe, yet her beauty stunned Aurora, who was also a woman, almost rendering her unable to look away.
The beauty's gaze fixed on the clock on the wall, which was moving constantly. Then, with a faint smile, she gently asked back, "Is it still early?"
Her voice was soft, as if asking Aurora, yet also as if speaking to herself, which puzzled Aurora a bit. After all, it was just past 8 o'clock, and according to the wedding schedule, it would be another two hours before Mr. Malone arrived.
As the head wedding planner, Aurora naturally had some understanding of the groom and bride.
The Malone family was among the few prominent elites, and the groom, Aaron Malone, was the current head of the Malone family.
This well-known young man was truly the pride of heaven, born with a silver spoon, educated in prestigious schools. He successfully launched a startup while studying, which later went public, and then orchestrated the largest medical merger in the industry after inheriting the family business.
However, the wealthy bachelor, what people found most fascinating was a rumor.
Many gossip accounts speculated about the ambiguous relationship between the elite Mr. Malone and the rising starlet in the entertainment industry, Avery Fletcher. Naturally, Aurora was also curious. But after interacting with him during this period, she felt that Mr. Malone's attentive care for his fiancée, Miss Carlson, didn't seem fake.
Miss Carlson was both beautiful and graceful, not inferior to Avery, who stood out in the entertainment industry for her looks. It was heard that she entered the Radiant Arts Institute with outstanding results in liberal arts in Seattle, and later pursued further studies at the Lawton Business School, a definite academic achiever. Such an illustrious lady with outstanding credentials and a personable demeanor. After two months, Aurora had become a loyal supporter of Stella.
Avery had a solid background, and negative news about her had been wiped clean. However, Aurora still heard from her screenwriter friends that Avery tended to throw tantrums while filming.
If Mr. Malone wasn't blind, why would he ignore his fiancée, who was stunningly beautiful, and instead favor Avery, who only knew how to market her beauty like a duck trying to imitate a swan?
Aurora felt that perhaps the rumors were just hearsay, merely the online community chasing shadows.
Unaware of Aurora's thoughts, Stella glanced at her phone, closed the window, and walked over to the sofa to sit down, asking, "Aurora, I remember you're from L.A.. Do you know how long it takes to travel from L.A. to Seattle?"
"If you're taking a plane, it's less than two hours. Hmm... but today might be an exception. I have a friend who wants to come to Seattle for a visit. Originally, they had a flight booked for today, but just saw on their social media that many flights from L.A. have been canceled."
Both Seattle and L.A. were coastal cities, and this season, there were often typhoons, occasionally causing flight delays due to weather.
Just as Aurora finished speaking, her two colleagues entered, pushing a rack with wedding dresses.
Stella, in a relaxed posture, nodded casually while half-leaning on the sofa, no longer engaging in further conversation.
...
The presidential suite had a separate dressing room, where Stella went to change.
The wedding dress was a special custom design from Stella's friend Natalie Barrett's personal brand. Layers of sheer white chiffon cascaded, adorned with hundreds of pearls and diamonds, shimmering in the light. The fitted off-the-shoulder design highlighted her sexy and delicate collarbones, accentuating her graceful and enchanting figure. It had to be said, this dress and Stella were a perfect match, and everyone exclaimed at how beautiful it was.
The wedding team's executive assistant, Hannah, walked over at this moment to help with arranging the train of the dress.
The Carlson family might not be as prominent as the Malone family in recent years, but they were still considered notable figures in Seattle. Most importantly, Stella was about to marry into the Malone family and officially become Mrs. Malone.
Hannah tried to please, casually tidying the wedding dress while also complimenting, "Miss Carlson, I've worked with many clients, but this is the first time I've met such a handsome groom like Mr. Malone. Mr. Malone said you two met when you were 16. First love always holds the most sincere feelings."
While Hannah's attitude was teasingly polite, Stella remained lost in thought, politely smiling at the end without responding.
Feeling a bit awkward, Hannah was relieved when Stella's phone rang at the right moment, giving her a chance to change the subject. She smiled and said, "Mr. Malone is really considerate, calling at this moment."
Seeing Stella slightly furrow her brows, Aurora thought she might not appreciate Hannah's approach, so she spoke up, "Alright, let's not disturb Miss Carlson anymore. Let's go over the wedding itinerary again."
Although Hannah had some support behind her, she didn't dare openly defy Aurora, the executive of the wedding team, so she reluctantly bit her lip.
The three soon left the room.
The room quieted down as Stella walked to the window and answered Aaron's call.
The man's voice was gentle and calm. "I'm sorry. The flight got canceled, and I won't make it back in time."
Stella rubbed her brow as if she had expected it, her tone flat. "I know." Her voice was as gentle as ever, putting Aaron at ease on the other end of the phone.
Next, Aaron's voice became steady and firm, as if he were handling business matters. "It's still early. We can reschedule the wedding for tomorrow. I've already called Daniel. He'll inform the guests later. Don't worry."
Don't worry?
Hearing Aaron's words, Stella found it ridiculous and smiled, almost as if mocking herself.
Yesterday, when Aaron said he had to rush to L.A. for a branch matter, he used the same gentle and calm tone to assure her not to worry, that he would come back and it wouldn't affect the wedding.
"Aaron, I know Avery was admitted to the hospital last night. Are you at the hospital now?" Stella asked directly.
Aaron obviously didn't expect her to know the reason for his trip to L.A. and remained silent for a moment.
Stella's eyes dimmed slightly, a touch of self-deprecation coloring her gaze as she spoke knowingly, "So you're at Avery's apartment."
There was a pause on the other end, and he spoke softly, "I'm sorry, Stella, for not telling you yesterday. I was afraid you'd misunderstand."
"Misunderstand? But look, even though you knew I might misunderstand, you still went there." Her tone betrayed no emotion, adding a hint of irony.
Aaron's tone grew somewhat indifferent, "I know you have some bias against Avery, but she's your cousin. She's injured, and neither you nor I can turn a blind eye."
The man's obvious defense of Avery caused Stella's hand to tremble slightly. She sighed deeply, quietly lowering her gaze. "Yes, Avery is my cousin."
She was also Aaron's ex-girlfriend, and more importantly, his childhood sweetheart.
The Carlson and Malone families were close, and Avery moved in at the age of six with her mother, becoming Aaron's true childhood friend. Earlier, when Hannah tried to make light of the situation, Stella remained silent because Aaron's childhood affection didn't belong to her.
"How is she now?" she asked.
The two had argued too much over Avery, so Aaron didn't want to dwell on it now. He simply replied, "She's been discharged from the hospital, nothing serious."
"Oh, I see." Though she had anticipated it, Stella still felt a bit relieved. If Avery had really been seriously injured, Stella's grandfather, Thomas Carlson, who had been in poor health in recent years, probably wouldn't be able to handle it. However, when Stella received those photos just now, she already understood that Avery probably wasn't really in trouble.
"Stella," Aaron softened his tone, "My decision to come to L.A. before the wedding was not well thought out, but for now, we need to make sure tomorrow's wedding is properly arranged, okay?"
Because Avery was injured, he had to cancel last minute, so he wanted to postpone the wedding.
Stella was acutely aware, from the moment Aaron proposed to her, that the significance of this wedding in their hearts was different.
She remained calm, silently gazing out the window.
The city bustled with activity, towering skyscrapers dominating the skyline.
Perhaps the air conditioning indoors was too strong. With one arm wrapped around herself, she stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the flowing traffic below, yet feeling no sense of reality. It was as if she had returned to the year she turned 16.
After a long pause, she spoke again, "Aaron, do you remember when I first came back to the Carlson family, I lost the jade Buddha the dean gave me? I searched for it for a long time but couldn't find it. I hid in the attic and cried alone. Then you found me in the attic, didn't tell anyone, and secretly helped me find the jade Buddha."
Her voice was ethereal and soft, causing Aaron to be drawn into reminiscence, softening his heart. Later, he chuckled softly, "At that time, I wondered why you would hide and cry just because you lost something. But seeing how sincerely you cried, I had to help you find it."
Stella smiled.
Actually, she knew Aaron hadn't found that jade Buddha. It was just his gentlemanly upbringing that compelled him to not ignore a crying girl and so he bought a similar-looking one.
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?" Aaron asked.
"I just suddenly felt that losing that jade Buddha wasn't really worth being sad about." With that said, most of the emotions in her heart dissipated.
Initially, her tears were more about the overwhelming scrutiny she faced when she first returned to the Carlson family, suppressing too many emotions. Later, when she got into the Radiant Arts Institute, she heard plenty of flattery and praise from outsiders. The jade Buddha Aaron bought for her was also lost, but she seemed to feel nothing about it.
Time ultimately heals all wounds, and nothing is immutable. So what had she been holding onto all these years?
It was as if she had pondered one thing for too long and finally made a decision in this moment.
"Let's put an end to this wedding," she said. "Let's break up."
###Chapter 2
The sudden words hit like a heavy stone thrown into calm waters. Both of them fell into a tense yet tumultuous silence, the atmosphere gradually becoming stifling.
After a moment of silence, the man's deep voice carried a thinly veiled trace of anger that couldn't be concealed, "I admit that I shouldn't have missed the wedding. You misunderstood, and I'll explain when I get back. But don't throw around words like canceling the wedding and breaking up, you're crossing a line."
Aaron's words carried a hint of reproach, leaving Stella speechless for a moment.
They had known each other for eight years and dated for three. In her memory, Aaron had always been gentle and polite.
When they were at school, he treated her well, and at that time, she also believed they could make it to the end. Even during the few arguments after returning to the city, he had never lost his temper like this.
However, at this moment, Aaron, the groom whose ex-girlfriend had run away, blamed her for making a fuss about canceling the wedding and breaking up?
Stella felt it was absurd, but she knew she wasn't joking at all.
She hadn't denied Aaron opportunities, nor had she denied him trust, but she had accumulated too much disappointment from his repeated lies and favoritism towards another woman. Perhaps Aaron loved her too, but he couldn't let go of his feelings for another woman.
Stella couldn't maintain her dignity in this relationship anymore. It was too exhausting. She let him go, and she let herself go too.
But it was understandable that Aaron didn't believe her; after all, she had liked him for eight years, always following him closely. Even during the difficult two years when he had strained relations with the Malone family, she had been by his side. Anyone could see how much she liked Aaron, so suddenly giving up at the last moment was truly hard to believe.
Stella was about to say something when a sweet voice on the other end of the phone abruptly interrupted her. "Aaron, can you pass me the water glass?"
The woman's familiar voice, dripping with intimacy, momentarily embarrassed Stella, who then hung up the phone with a cold laugh. She knew Avery had intentionally spoken up, but she didn't want to engage in endless arguments anymore. Recalling her decision just now, she even felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation.
Lost in thought, Stella heard a knock on the door, and Aurora hesitantly walked in, asking, "Miss Carlson, Mr. Malone's assistant called me and said the wedding is going to be postponed until tomorrow. Right?"
Aaron was busy with work and didn't show up often. These days, Aurora had been communicating with the groom's side through this assistant.
Before she could finish speaking, a tall woman suddenly appeared behind her. The woman's high heels clicked loudly as she stormed into the room, anger evident on her face.
"What does Aaron mean by this?!" Natalie stood with one hand on her hip, her brow furrowed, her cheeks flushed with anger.
She placed her phone in front of Stella.
The headline on the screen was sensational— "New Rising Star Avery Suspected of Slitting Wrist Late at Night, Rumored Boyfriend Accompanying"
In the photo, a man wore a well-tailored dark suit. His tie was crisp, giving him an air of elegance and sophistication. His refined profile, with furrowed brows and a straight nose, was complemented by the gold-rimmed glasses reflecting the light. He stood tall and broad, holding the petite woman in his arms, slightly leaning to the side as if gently comforting her. The woman's lovely face showed a hint of shyness and vulnerability, but her complexion was pale and weak.
It was indeed a striking scene.
But no matter how Stella looked at it, Avery's pale complexion seemed to be covered with too much makeup.
The media, mindful of the Malone family's reputation, didn't show Aaron's face, but those familiar with him could easily recognize him.
The watch on the man's wrist was the one Stella had given him for his birthday last year. The side of the dial was engraved with their initials. He had liked it very much when he received it, and with warmth in his eyes, he smiled as he pulled her into his arms and asked her to remove the watch his mother, Claire Malone, had given him when he came of age, and replace it with the one she had given him.
And he never took it off again.
The warmth of that moment was vivid in Stella's mind. Now, seeing the man carefully escorting another woman out of the hospital, even though she had already made up her mind to let go, she still felt a pang of pain spreading.
When emotions become a habit, it really takes time to forget.
She tightly clenched her fists, trying to suppress the sourness, and glanced at the comments under the post.
"A is Avery's name, right? LOL!"
"Avery explained on X that she cut her hand while cooking for a friend, but those clickbait media outlets sensationalized it as wrist-cutting."
"Cooking late at night? Just friends? Whatever, these two are already an open secret in the entertainment industry."
"I heard from a friend who graduated from the Radiant Arts Institute that Avery and the male lead were passionately in love back then. When they broke up, the male lead was devastated for a long time before ."
"Impressive, after all, he's a straight male in the entertainment industry."
Avery entered the entertainment industry after graduating and has since become a highly sought-after female star.
Under the Malone family's banner, there was an entertainment company whose general manager was Aaron's childhood friend, Aiden Wood, who had a good relationship with Avery. Earlier this year, Avery terminated her contract with her previous company and signed a ten-year management contract directly with the Malone family.
The Carlson and Malone families had a long-standing relationship, and with the entertainment industry being as complex as it was, asking Aaron to look after her seemed reasonable, at least according to Aaron and his group of friends.
After signing the contract, Avery often bypassed Aiden for various reasons and called Aaron for help.
During auditions, directors made advances, investors at cast gatherings hinted at unspoken rules, and senior actors deliberately suppressed her on set.
With endless excuses, the result was that Avery rose to fame with Aaron's support. Not only could no negative news be found about her, but her ambiguous relationship with Aaron also became an open "secret" in the entertainment industry.
And now, the two of them had once again hit the hot search list. Most likely orchestrated by Avery herself, but the most insoluble conflict between them was not Aaron, but that the Fletcher family did not want Stella to marry into the Malone family.
The marriage between the Malone family and Carlson family was shattered when the groom ran away with his ex-girlfriend on the wedding day. Even if the wedding were postponed, it would only have been seen as a "compromise" under pressure by outsiders.
Stella could imagine the kind of gossip the Carlson family would face after today. She couldn't bear to see the Carlson family's reputation tarnished, especially with her grandfather's failing health!
With that in mind, she looked at Aurora and said, "The wedding won't be postponed, continue with the preparations."
Her temper was good, and she rarely got angry in recent years. But with her grandfather's health deteriorating, and the Fletcher family showing no concern for him, she was truly angered.
Stella's voice was calm, and Aurora got the message, quickly nodded, and left. It was Hannah who followed, but the look in her eyes towards Stella was no longer the deliberate attempt to please, but rather a mixture of disdain and a sense of watching a good show.
"Avery was admitted to the hospital last night, and Aaron rushed to L.A. overnight. I just received these photos, probably released by Avery." Stella then explained the matter of the photos to her friend.
Upon hearing this, Natalie was so enraged that she clutched her chest and said, "Is Avery sick? She and Aaron broke up ages ago. What's the point of pulling this stunt before your wedding?"
"Dean doesn't want me to marry into the Malone family. Thomas gave me shares back then, and Avery has held a grudge since then. By doing this, maybe it's Dean's idea, or maybe Avery just wants to embarrass me and make me a laughingstock."
Although Stella and Avery were blood relatives, they were not close cousins. In Avery's mind, Stella was an intruder in her life. And in Stella's view, the actions of the Fletcher family and Avery had destined their estrangement.
Stella couldn't repay hatred with kindness, and the Fletcher family didn't deserve her forgiveness.
Natalie looked up at her, "Aren't you angry?"
"Angry?" Stella had a moment of silence, then chuckled lightly, "Just before you barged in, I told Aaron that we're calling off the engagement."
Natalie was momentarily speechless, her face full of disbelief. She knew better than anyone else about Stella's feelings for Aaron. But she also understood that when Stella made up her mind, it was almost impossible to change it.
After a while, she sighed and shook her head. "This time, Aaron really brought it upon himself."
As a friend of over twenty years, she still couldn't help but feel sorry for Stella's emotional investment in Aaron.
Avery and Aaron had a relationship back then, but they broke up shortly after, initiated by Avery. Later, the heartbroken Aaron left the city, and it was the school Stella applied to that he went to.
In the second year of Stella's study, she accepted Aaron's pursuit. Natalie knew that their relationship was good when they were at school, even when Aaron and the Malone family fell out, Stella tirelessly accompanied him.
Aaron's company went from founding to listing, and Stella had no idea how much effort she put in.
She turned down her mentor's recommendation to continue her studies and chose not to return to her hometown, instead giving all her savings to Aaron, enduring the toughest days with him.
The once proud Aaron, when he initially sought investors, encountered countless setbacks. His unwillingness to bow his head and his unyielding pride were all smoothed over by Stella's tireless efforts behind the scenes.
During the company's downturn, everyone thought Aaron had failed in his gamble with the Malone family, but Stella continued to support and accompany him.
Natalie also thought they would go on, remembering Stella's bright eyes during a New Year's Day video call. "Natalie, Aaron proposed to me. He said we'll get married when we return to thecity."
Natalie understood why Stella was so happy. Aaron didn't propose because of their engagement; he proposed because he truly cared for her and wanted to marry her. For Stella, it was like the home she had longed for.
Since the two returned to the city earlier this year, Avery had repeatedly taken advantage of their childhood friendship, and Aaron's actions had even become unbearable for Natalie.
Stella, on the other hand, just watched quietly. It seemed like she had a considerate and accommodating temperament, but once she made up her mind, she wouldn't turn back.
"Natalie, nobody's heart dies suddenly. You don't have to worry about me. Although I can't say my heart is as calm as still water, I'm not as sad as you might imagine," Stella said as she smiled reassuringly at Natalie.
She didn't regret her decision. Letting go of this relationship, amidst melancholy, felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.
Natalie breathed a sigh of relief. "Since you've made up your mind, then why did you say just now..."
She didn't doubt Stella's decision to cancel the engagement, but Stella had just said that the wedding wouldn't be postponed.
"The wedding indeed cannot be postponed. My grandfather's health can't withstand any shocks. I wanted to cancel, but since Avery is determined to embarrass me—" Stella suddenly paused, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "Then I'll just have to find a new groom."
###Chapter 3
Hollywood is renowned as a filming location for movies and TV shows, with many production crews gathered there. Avery often came for filming but didn't like staying in hotels. After all, with so many production crews there, all eyeing the rooms in those few five-star hotels, sometimes the crew couldn't book executive suites, and she didn't want to settle for just a standard room.
Luckily, there was a new development from the Malone family nearby, and Avery knew that Aaron had reserved three apartments there. Apart from the penthouse he kept for himself, there were two left, one given to his younger sister, Kate, and the other set of keys ended up in her hands. However, what Avery didn't expect was that Kate's apartment had already been transferred, while the one she was living in had only given her a set of keys so far.
She had known Aaron for almost twenty years, and their relationship had gone beyond just friendship. The Aaron of the past would never have shown favoritism between her and Kate.
Avery put down her glass and leaned back on the sofa, her bright eyes slightly sleepy, her delicate and fair face pure and lovely. The burgundy silk pajamas smoothly clung to her body, accentuating her porcelain-like white skin and graceful curves. She watched the man standing alone by the window, his posture straight and his demeanor aloof.
Aaron had always been the most outstanding among his peers. With the illustrious status of the Malone family and his position as the heir apparent, he excelled in looks, academics, and talents like basketball and piano, effortlessly mastering everything he touched. His youth and excellent upbringing had earned him praise from all teachers and elders. Over the years, the awkwardness of youth had faded away, and he had become more mature and decisive, exuding a charm from within.
Avery used to feel that Aaron was very close to her, but since they had returned to the city, he seemed to have become somewhat distant, a change she had been unwilling to accept. After deliberating for a while, she got up and walked over to Aaron's side.
The uninjured right hand clasped onto the man's arm, her head leaning closer, the neckline of her pajamas slowly lowering, teasingly revealing yet concealing, captivating. But she seemed oblivious, speaking up, "Aaron, did my cousin misunderstand again? Do you want me to help explain?" Her voice was clear, sweet, and tinged with self-blame.
Aaron had become somewhat reticent over the years, but he was still relatively gentle with Avery. He pocketed his phone and walked aside, sitting down alone, rubbing his brow and speaking warmly, "It's okay, let's just cooperate with the police to handle yesterday's matter first."
After all, he had broken his promise first, and he could understand Stella's speaking out of anger right now. He would explain properly to her when he got back. After experiencing so much together, he understood her feelings for him and had made up his mind to marry her. Even though there had been a few minor disagreements caused by Avery since they returned, Stella would never leave him. He was very sure about this. But he couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed.
"Avery is just deliberately causing trouble. Even after you said the wedding was just postponed, she still talked nonsense about canceling it, not afraid of messing things up." Aiden yawned as he walked out of the guest room, his words filled with nonchalant banter.
The main business of the Carlson family was mostly in the hands of Dean Fletcher, and marrying into the Malone family meant having the capital to vie for power with Dean. Aiden didn't believe Stella would really cancel the wedding, let alone break up with Aaron. As he finished speaking, he felt a piercing gaze coming his way.
Aiden glanced back, "Why are you staring at me? Avery really got slashed by that lunatic. When I called you, weren't you worried too? You didn't even ask how serious it was."
Avery's right forearm was wrapped in thick gauze, looking serious, but it was just a superficial injury. But both he and Avery knew the tricks of the entertainment industry and wouldn't miss this chance to trend.
"Aiden, Stella is my wife. Even for my sake, you should show her some respect," Aaron's lips tightened, a subtle warning in his words.
Aiden spoke freely, but Stella had a good temper and usually didn't argue with him, so Aaron didn't pay much attention. But thinking back to her attitude just now, he suddenly felt that maybe she did mind. She just didn't say anything because of Aiden's relationship with him.
Hearing Aaron's address, Avery's expression suddenly stiffened, but she quickly covered it up.
Aiden sneered inwardly, thinking, "they haven't even gotten married yet, right?" But he nodded perfunctorily, "Got it."
He didn't like Stella, not just because of Avery, but also because of Avery's cousin, Jack Fletcher. Jack had pursued Stella in high school, but later, for some reason, he became afraid of her. And as soon as Stella returned to the Carlson family, she ruthlessly drove Jack out, and he always felt that the woman's meekness in front of Aaron was just an act. He and Aaron, Avery grew up together since childhood, were real childhood friends. Aaron had just broken up with Avery before leaving, but less than a year after leaving, he was with Stella, and it was Aaron who actively pursued her. Aiden's mood was indeed somewhat unhappy.
Everyone knew that Aaron originally left because Avery initiated the breakup. Aiden also hoped that the two of them could reconcile, so when Aaron later told them about his relationship with Stella, he was somewhat angry.
There are many fleeting romances in the world of the wealthy, but Avery was different from those women, and Aaron had remained faithful over the years. Since he deeply loved Avery, how could he turn around and be with someone else? Even though he claimed that he pursued her, Aiden still felt that Stella deliberately seduced him. She had always had a fox-like appearance, and even in high school, she managed to attract many boys without even trying. She had an arranged engagement with Aaron from their elders, and back in high school, she always stuck close to him because of this relationship. At the time, she seemed relatively well-behaved, but later, when she started dating Aaron, Aiden felt that she was scheming and pretending.
On the other hand, Avery openly and generously congratulated them, which made Aiden feel a little sorry for her. Yesterday, when Avery was accidentally injured, Aiden deliberately exaggerated the severity of the injury and called Aaron. When he asked Avery beforehand, she didn't want to affect Aaron's wedding and politely declined. But with just one look, Aiden knew that she hadn't really let go of Aaron.
Stella might have wanted to marry into the Malone family, and Aiden might not have been able to stop her, but he wouldn't let her waltz in there triumphantly. A groom fleeing the wedding, the postponement of the wedding, everyone's sympathy and ridicule, must have been quite stimulating.
Since Stella wanted to be Mrs. Malone, then she had to bear Avery's grievances for a lifetime. Aiden took out his phone and glanced at the hot search topics. He was a little curious about how embarrassed Stella must have been feeling right now.
...
Stella hesitated for a moment as she looked at the name in her contacts, then finally dialed the number.
The dial tone dragged on, echoing repeatedly. The wait seemed unusually long, and just as Stella was about to give up, the call finally connected on the other end. In that instant, the words she had prepared got stuck in her throat.
Both of them remained silent, a strange silence lingering for ten seconds, before the phone was ruthlessly hung up by the other end.
Having no other choice, Stella exhaled and composed herself, dialing the number again. This time, the call was answered much more quickly. She hesitated slightly and said, "Ethan, it's me."
"Well, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Miss Carlson, how come you have time to call me when you're about to be a bride?" The man's lazy voice mixed with a hint of huskiness, still carrying the same nonchalant tone from their youth.
It wasn't surprising that Ethan Powers was caught off guard; he and Stella rarely contacted each other privately. If it weren't for necessary business interactions, based on their last encounter during the bidding in North City, they might have even blocked each other.
Stella wasn't surprised by Ethan's arrogant attitude, but at this moment, she couldn't help but sense a hint of sarcasm in it. She furrowed her brows lightly, her voice cold, "Are you making fun of me?"
"I wouldn't dare," he chuckled lightly, his tone casual and concise. "What do you want?"
Ignoring the sound of glass clinking from the other end, Stella gently bit her lip and got straight to the point. "I remember you were quite interested in the North City project."
Earlier in the year, the Seattle government planned to build a theme park resort area in North City. After multiple bids, the project was ultimately awarded to the Carlson family, solidifying Stella's position within the family.
Ethan's family had significant business interests, and he had put in a lot of effort for the North City project, only to return empty-handed in the end. At the conclusion of the bidding process, he had even come to "chat" with her, an old classmate with whom he had a strained relationship.
Bringing up this topic seemed to pique his interest. "What? Are you willing to give up now? Will the Fletcher family agree?"
Stella's parents had passed away, and although the Carlson family was still technically named Carlson, in reality, power had gradually shifted into the hands of Dean, her uncle by marriage.
Stella paused for a moment, then said slowly, "There's a way to make Dean have no choice but to agree."
His voice over the phone took on a playful tone. "Oh, what's the method?"
"Ethan," she said after a brief pause, her voice slightly solemn as she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Come marry me now, divorce me a year later, and the North City project is yours."
As soon as the words fell, there was a muffled sound from the other end. The call was abruptly disconnected once again.
Stella was speechless. What did he mean by this? Could it be that he was scared off by her? Even if their relationship was strained, their old classmate bond was fraigile, but she wouldn't bite. Was it really necessary for him to avoid her like this?
Stella glanced at the call log on the screen, furrowing her brow slightly, then sighing inwardly. Oh well, anyone would find being forced into marriage all of a sudden unacceptable.
"With Aaron as a reference, the standards are too high. If you want to consider the Carlson family's reputation, Ethan is the best choice," that's what Natalie said just now.
So even though Stella knew Ethan was her mortal enemy, she still chose to discuss the deal, but she couldn't force him. Although Ethan was the best choice, he wasn't the only option. Since that was the case, she could only continue to consider the backup options 2 and 3 that Natalie had listed for her.
Just as she was thinking, the screen suddenly lit up. Stella raised her eyebrows in surprise and answered the call.
"Well, sorry. I just found out that Miss Carlson's groom ran away," the same indifferent, lazy voice came out from the other end.
Ethan, who seemed to be in a good mood, left Stella momentarily speechless. She asked, "Are you happy?"
Although Ethan was arrogantly aloof and their relationship was tense in high school, Stella also felt that he wasn't the type to kick her when she was down. But now, that belief was shattered. Her groom ran away, yet he seemed pleased? Wasn't that kicking her when she was down?
"No, you misunderstood," Ethan denied, then chuckled casually. "I just think your taste is lacking a bit. But Aaron really fell into a big pit."
Stella had forgotten that Ethan and Aaron didn't get along well in high school. In the past, she might have argued with him for a few words. But now, considering that Aaron was already an ex in her heart, she didn't want to ruin their cooperation.
"Stella."
"Yes?" She responded.
"Just wait, I'll come to marry you," the other end continued immediately. His casual tone caught her off guard.
Stella hadn't expected Ethan to agree so readily. She had even prepared herself for some bargaining. But his nonchalant agreement left her momentarily bewildered about the promised benefits.
Ethan didn't seem to mind her silence and continued, "Oh, by the way."
Stella suddenly snapped back to attention, thinking he was finally going to negotiate. But what he said next puzzled her.
"Is there a mirror in the room?" Ethan asked.
"Yes."
"Then go over there now," the voice was neither cold nor indifferent, but rather relaxed.
Stella walked into the dressing room, where on the left side of the wardrobe stood a full-length mirror over two meters tall. She stared at the young woman in the mirror, dressed in a pristine wedding gown, feeling dazed for a moment.
Then, coming back to her senses, she patiently asked, "And then?"
"What do you see?"
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Stella was almost out of patience.
On the other end, Ethan deliberately dragged his tone, chuckling softly, "Stella, don't shed any tears. I vaguely remember, the way you cry, it's just like my...plucked quail."
Stella suddenly choked up, "Ethan!"
She was actually played by him.
Ethan still had that ability. While she had been emotionally steady for years, she found herself laughing out of frustration at this moment. But thanks to him, the slight sadness she felt earlier was suddenly gone. Only a lingering bit of anger remained.