Chapter 5
1070 Words
They arrived at the Hayes residence, a modest villa in the heart of the city. Though the exterior showed its age, the property sat in a prime location with excellent access to downtown.
Ethan had the driver pull up in front of the gate before getting out first.
After taking a few steps, he realized Stella hadn't followed. He turned around.
"I'm not known for my patience. Don't test what's left of it."
Just then, a young woman hurried out of the house.
"Mr. Reid?"
Her voice was full of surprise.
She was Chloe Hayes, Vivian's daughter from her first marriage. She was only a few months younger than Stella. After Vivian married Victor, Chloe took the Hayes family name as well.
"Ms. Hayes."
Ethan greeted her with a polite nod.
When Chloe noticed a woman sitting in the back seat, alarm flashed across her eyes. She quickly hid it behind a bright smile. If marrying Ethan meant becoming the future Mrs. Reid, forcing herself to smile was a small price to pay.
"Honey," Ethan called deliberately, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Come on out."
Stella had no choice but to get out of the car.
The moment Chloe saw her face, she froze.
"You... What are you doing here?"
Stella had no memory of the young woman before her. Even so, she instinctively disliked her.
"I'm bringing my wife home to visit her family. We're family now." Ethan casually held up their marriage license. A faint smile played on his lips.
Vivian, who had been doing yoga upstairs, hurried downstairs the moment she heard Ethan had arrived.
"Mr. Reid, what a wonderful surprise! Chloe's home too. You two..."
Her words stopped abruptly. She stared at Stella in disbelief.
Stella?
She'd disappeared for 5 years.
Even Victor had long since stopped looking for her.
Stella quietly studied Vivian in return.
She wasn't a young trophy wife. She was about the same age as Victor—and anyone who became Mrs. Hayes wasn't to be taken lightly.
Vivian regained her calm almost instantly. She walked over with a warm smile and gently took Stella's hand. "It's so wonderful to have you home. Your father has been worried sick these past few years. He could barely eat or sleep. Promise me you'll never disappear like that again. You terrified everyone."
Her words sounded affectionate. Her meaning was anything but innocent—she was accusing Stella of abandoning her family.
Stella squeezed Vivian's hand before calmly pulling her own away.
"I can tell Dad hasn't been taking care of himself. But you look even younger than before. I guess expensive skincare really works."
Vivian's smile stiffened.
"You're married?" She finally lost her composure. Snatching the marriage license from Ethan's hand, she read it over again and again.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
In just a few days, she had planned to invite Ethan over, bring up the old marriage agreement, and arrange for Chloe to marry into the Reid family.
Everything had been within reach.
"I came here today to make one thing clear. There won't be a wedding, and there won't be any engagement gifts. That said, I know the Hayes family has fallen on hard times. Since we're family now, I won't turn a blind eye to it."
Ethan's calm voice cut through the silence.
Victor immediately spoke up, "Marriage isn't a small thing. If there's no ceremony, both our families won't look good, right?"
"My family answers to me."
Ethan turned toward Stella.
"Do you have any objections?"
He deliberately threw the question back at her.
Stella let out a cold laugh.
"Do I even get a vote?"
"Good."
He smiled politely. Only she understood the warning hidden beneath it. Don't forget who's in control.
Before anyone else could speak, Chloe finally exploded. Her eyes were red with tears as she glared at Stella.
"Why did you have to come back?"
Stella looked at her for a moment. Then everything became perfectly clear. So that was it. Vivian and Chloe had planned to revive the old agreement and replace her as Ethan's bride.
What an irony. They'd done everything they could to marry him. She'd done everything she could to escape him. Yet somehow, she was the one who ended up as his wife.
"This is the Hayes family home."
Stella met Chloe's eyes.
"My last name is Hayes. Why shouldn't I come back?"
For years, Chloe had been treated as the only daughter of the Hayes family.
Now everything she believed belonged to her was slipping away.
Blinded by anger, Chloe raised her hand and swung at Stella.
"I wouldn't do that." Ethan caught her wrist before the slap could land.
Stella glanced at him without a trace of gratitude.
Victor and Vivian immediately rushed over to shield Chloe.
At that moment, Stella finally understood why no one had searched for her after she disappeared.
It wasn't because they couldn't find her. They simply didn't want to.
She took one step forward.
Without warning. Slap!
Then another. Slap!
The sound echoed through the room.
If they had never treated her like family, she saw no reason to spare their feelings.
When she finished, she glanced at Ethan.
For the briefest moment, the corner of his mouth lifted.
The smile vanished almost instantly, replaced by his usual cold expression.
But she'd seen it.
This house didn't feel like home. It offered no warmth. Only coldness. Only strangers.
For the first time, Stella felt grateful she'd lost her memories.
At least she didn't remember growing up with these people.
She finally understood why Ryan had told her she was an orphan.
With a family like this...
Maybe she was.
Without another word, Stella pulled open the car door and climbed inside.
Ethan followed a moment later.
Hurting her had been his goal all along.
"Just drive."
Stella fastened her seat belt and closed her eyes.
"And don't ever bring me back here again. I don't want to see any of them."
The engine started.
The car slowly pulled away from the Hayes residence.
A few minutes later, Ethan's phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and answered.
"Yeah?"
A woman's voice came through the speaker. After listening for a moment, he replied with a quiet, "Got it."
Then he asked the driver to change the route.
He was on his way to meet the woman who had just called.
- Writer
