Rebirth of a Runaway Bride

"Miss Tanner, are you absolutely sure you want to proceed with the targeted neural therapy? Given your specific condition, there is a ninety percent chance it will result in permanent memory loss." Stella Tanner nodded without a sliver of hesitation. "Yes. I want to lose my memory. I want to forget everything from my past, and most importantly, I want to forget..." She wanted to forget Jace Simpson, the man who supposedly loved her more than life itself. The doctor on the other end of the line sounded slightly taken aback but quickly gave a professional reply. "Understood. I'll book an appointment with our top specialist in Narazal. The entire process should be finalized within half a month." Hanging up the phone, Stella let the tears stream freely down her face. Just an hour ago, she had tearfully accepted Jace's marriage proposal, and moments later, she was pinned beneath him, completely enjoying the wild s*x with him. The backseat of the Bentley was spacious enough. He had gripped her waist, pulling her onto his lap. His deep eyes were clouded with naked lust. "Baby, you're driving me f*****g crazy. I'm so in love with you it hurts." The words barely left his mouth before his lips crashed onto hers. With practiced ease, he worshipped every sensitive spot on her body. It wasn't until her black tights were ripped and discarded on the floorboards, and her soft moans pierced the quiet night, that their wild s*x finally came to an end. Jace slowly and methodically buckled his belt, cupped her flushed face, and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. "Be a good girl and head back to rest. I'm gonna go grab a drink with the boys." "Okay," Stella replied and nodded as obediently as ever. Even after Jace stepped out of the car, she remained in a daze. Once again, he hadn't even been able to wait until they got home. Just minutes prior, on the terrace of the sky garden, he had dropped to one knee. Holding a dazzling diamond ring, with tears streaming down his face, he vowed to give her a home. The moment she said yes, the usually aloof and arrogant heir sobbed like a child. And when he pinned her to the leather seats, his loss of control had been utterly absolute. Layer upon layer of touching moments had filled her heart to the absolute brim. Just as she was thinking that no one in this world could ever love her more than Jace did, her phone buzzed beside her. It was an incoming call from Jace. "Hey, Jace. Miss me already when we just parted ways..." Before Stella could finish her sentence, a chaotic burst of noise from the other end cut her off. "Damn, Jace! We all saw the Bentley rocking out there. You made quite a scene! First, you proposed and promised a wedding in two weeks, and then you banged her in the car. What, are you seriously planning to marry her?" It was glaringly obvious that Jace had shoved his phone into his pocket and accidentally butt-dialed her. But what the hell did his friend mean by that question? Stella frowned, her confusion spiking, right before Jace's lazy, arrogant drawl filtered through the speaker. "f**k no. I haven't forgotten that I only went after Stella to get back at Spencer Byrd. The proposal is just a front. I'm gonna make Spencer watch his beloved woman become the biggest joke in all of Arlingson. That's what he gets for stealing Chloe away from me!" A chorus of uproarious laughter erupted from the guys. "Hell yeah! That's why you're our undisputed king of hearts, bro. Did you specifically pick tonight to propose to Stella just to provoke Chloe Miller since her flight just landed?" "Obviously," Jace scoffed lightly. "Years ago, I staged two life-or-death heroic rescues just to win Stella over. Now, using a little reverse psychology on Chloe will definitely make her come running back. Though, I gotta admit, they both have their unique charms. Don't you think?" After a brief pause, Jace's cold, calculating voice rang out from the earpiece again. "Of course, Chloe is pure and shy, perfect for making love to. Stella? She's pure but completely filthy in bed, perfect for just fucking." When Stella heard the brutal truth, the blood drained from her face. Her mind went entirely blank. She never imagined that the profound, devoted love she experienced over the past three years was nothing but a sickening scam. And she was nothing more than a stepping stone in Jace's twisted game to win back his true love. Spencer was her first love. Back then, after catching Spencer in bed with another woman, she dumped him on the spot. During those dark days, when her world turned completely gray, Stella stopped believing in love until she met Jace on that fateful night. Under a bright moon, Stella had just finished her part-time shift and was walking home when she was cornered by a group of street thugs. Just as they were about to assault her, Jace appeared like an angel backlit by the streetlamps, fighting off ten guys single-handedly to save her. A sudden beam of light in the darkest night is far more intoxicating than any daytime salvation. Not only did he save her, but he also launched a relentless, obsessive pursuit of her. From extravagant sports cars and fireworks to the meticulous, thoughtful delivery of painkillers when she had her period, he handled every tiny detail just for her. At first, Stella remained unmoved. That was until a horrific car accident, where Jace threw himself over her, literally using his own life to pry open the doors to her heart. Covered in blood, Jace had gripped her hand, pressing it tightly against his chest. His voice was incredibly weak but fiercely sincere. "Stella, the heavens and the earth are witnesses to my true heart. Let me spend the rest of my life protecting you." From that exact second, the heavily guarded gates of Stella's heart completely shattered. The very first moment Jace woke up in the hospital, she accepted his confession. After they got together, his treatment of her was undeniably flawless. He tolerated her temper tantrums, memorized her quirks, and never let an argument last overnight. He was always the first to swallow his pride and apologize, taking care of her in every conceivable way. Like a real-life Cinderella, she genuinely believed she had found her Prince Charming. But now, the truth was so unbearably filthy. For so many days and nights, she hadn't detected a single flaw in his performance. How utterly pathetic. For the longest time, the torment of severe anxiety often gave her splitting headaches. Previously, she had refused the targeted neural therapy because she was terrified of the memory-loss side effect. She had been too afraid of forgetting Jace. But now, this therapy seemed like the ultimate lifeline, a chance to erase this repulsive nightmare and sprint toward a brand-new life. Stella opened her eyes and aggressively wiped away her tears. Biting her lower lip, she unlocked her phone, glanced at the 90-second recording the app had automatically captured, and, without a shred of hesitation, booked a one-way flight to Narazal for half a month from now. She couldn't wait to see exactly who would become the biggest joke in Arlingson at the wedding in two weeks.