Chapter 2
1300 Words
So that was it.
Five years ago, she'd approached him under the fake name Yvonna, set him up, and forced him to call off their engagement himself. That way, she could escape the marriage without ever becoming his fiancée.
Ethan tore the name badge off Stella's blazer and crushed it in his fist.
When Stella looked up, the fury on his face sent a chill down her spine.
The two stood frozen in a tense standoff until another staff member rushed over and handed Stella a ring.
"Ms. Hayes, thank you so much for lending us your ring. The best man misplaced the wedding band right before the ceremony. Here, you should put it back on. It's a gift from Mr. Carter, isn't it?"
Stella quietly took the ring.
She'd bought it herself with her year-end bonus to celebrate her first work anniversary at Ever Wedding Company.
"Mr. Carter..."
Ethan repeated the name slowly, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at his lips.
Stella had never thought of herself as timid. Yet beneath his piercing gaze, she couldn't stop trembling.
One of her coworkers finally stepped forward.
"Sir, if you're here for the wedding, please head inside. If not, please leave, or we'll have to call hotel security."
"No need." Ethan's voice was calm. "I've already gotten exactly what I came for."
He opened his hand. The mangled name badge hit the floor with a metallic clink.
"Goodbye for now, Ms. Hayes. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again."
He turned and walked away.
Silence settled over the check-in desk. Only then did Stella realize her back was drenched in cold sweat.
Her coworker hurried over and caught her arm.
"Ms. Hayes, are you okay? Let me take you upstairs."
*****
Back in her hotel room, Stella stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection.
He kept calling her Yvonna. Had he mistaken her for someone else?
She was certain she'd never met him before. So why had her body reacted so violently?
It wasn't fear. It felt more like some buried memory was clawing its way back to the surface.
She'd been working nonstop for days.
After taking a hot shower, she collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
Unfortunately, sleep offered no escape.
Even in her dream, Ethan found her.
She couldn't see his face clearly.
She could only hear his ragged breathing and feel his hands gripping her wrists.
"No... I don't know you! I'm not Yvonna! Let me go! Stay away from me!"
She desperately tried to run. Her feet refused to move.
"No!"
Stella jerked awake with a gasp. Her hand was pressed tightly against her chest. No wonder she'd had such a suffocating nightmare.
A sliver of sunlight slipped through the curtains. She picked up her phone. It was already after 9 a.m.
After getting ready, she packed her suitcase and headed for the airport, planning to fly back to Northwood.
Just as she reached the boarding gate, an airport staff member stopped her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. There's an issue with your ticket. Please come with me."
Although confused, Stella followed him.
Instead of heading toward the gate, they walked back into the main terminal.
The moment she looked up, she froze.
Ethan. And his assistant, Noah.
"Mr. Reid, she's here," the staff member said.
"You were planning to disappear again before we settled this?" Ethan looked at her coldly.
"I don't even know you! You're violating my rights. I'm calling the police."
"The police?" He stepped closer, his voice almost gentle. "Go ahead. I canceled your flight myself. Who do you think they'll believe?"
He pulled a plain envelope from inside his jacket and held it in front of her. "You nearly destroyed me with these photos 5 years ago. Did you really think you could just run away?"
Stella stared at the envelope.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably.
"I don't know anything about any photos. You've got the wrong person."
"Really?"
He slipped the envelope back into his pocket and gestured toward a black luxury sedan waiting outside.
"Get in. Take all the time you need to jog your memory."
"I'm not going."
"Suit yourself." His tone remained perfectly calm. "You can stay at the airport if you like. But your ticket has already been canceled, and there seems to be a problem with your ID as well."
A long silence followed.
Finally, Stella gave in.
If he was able to cancel her flight, he could easily make things much worse.
She gripped the handle of her suitcase until her knuckles turned white, then slowly released it.
Dragging her feet, she climbed into the car.
Ethan got in after her without touching her.
The car pulled smoothly onto the highway.
Ever since she'd been stopped at the airport, she'd been running on adrenaline. Now the tension came crashing down. A pounding headache spread through her skull.
Her vision blurred.
She slumped sideways, too weak to hold herself up.
The last thing she felt before losing consciousness was a steady hand gently supporting the back of her head.
*****
When Stella finally woke again, her head felt like it was splitting apart.
She had no idea how much time had passed.
The room was dark.
Heavy curtains blocked every trace of daylight, making it impossible to tell whether it was day or night.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
Her voice echoed through the silence.
The bedroom door opened.
Ethan walked in, fresh from the shower.
"You're awake sooner than I expected."
"You can't keep me here. This is k********g. If you don't believe me, ask a lawyer." Her voice shook with anger.
Without responding, Ethan tossed his towel aside, opened a drawer, took out the same envelope, and threw it onto the bed.
"Five years ago, you ruined my reputation just to force off our engagement. You even managed to keep the Hayes family from taking any of the blame. Clever. A win-win for you."
Stella stared at him in disbelief before grabbing the envelope.
Inside was a thick stack of photographs. Every photo showed the same man.
Judging from the background, they had all been taken in a hotel room.
After only a few pictures, she recognized him.
It was Ethan. He was asleep on the bed.
"What?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Enjoying your handiwork?"
Stella put the photos down and looked straight at him.
"I didn't do this. Don't you dare frame me."
She could never have done something like this.
It was absurd.
"You've still got the nerve to deny it." His expression turned icy.
He remained at the foot of the bed, towering over her without taking another step.
Even from several feet away, the pressure he radiated was overwhelming.
Stella clenched the sheets beneath her fists until her knuckles turned white.
She refused to look away.
"I'm telling the truth, believe it or not. Investigate all you want. If you can prove I did this, I'll accept the consequences."
Ethan watched her in silence.
5 full seconds passed.
He saw fear in her eyes. But it wasn't the guilty panic of someone caught in a lie. It was pure confusion.
Five years ago, whenever Stella lied, she'd unconsciously glance down to the lower left and fidget with the hem of her skirt.
This woman did neither.
She met his eyes without flinching.
For the first time, a c***k appeared in the wall of hatred he'd built over the past 5 years.
He buried it immediately.
"You're wrong." His voice was cold. "You are Yvonna. The same Yvonna who played me for a fool."
He turned toward the window with his back to her.
Taking out his phone, he made a call.
The moment it connected, he said flatly, "Look into a man named Ryan Carter."
- Writer
