Chased by My Ex-Fiancé

Stella Hayes had just finished adjusting the bride's veil when her phone rang. It was Ryan Carter. "Stella, have you made up your mind about our engagement?" Holding the phone to her ear, Stella let out a quiet sigh. Just a week ago, Ryan had proposed to her. She'd buried herself in work ever since, avoiding the question. They'd known each other for 5 years, yet she still couldn't bring herself to say yes. Five years earlier, she'd been in a devastating car accident that left her with a severe head injury. She'd been in a coma for almost two weeks. When she finally woke up, her mind had locked away every memory from before the accident. It wasn't just one person or one event she'd forgotten. She'd lost almost all of the first 19 years of her life. Ryan had told her she was an orphan with no family left. She'd never questioned him. Those missing memories were locked behind an impenetrable fog. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp a single clear fragment. In the end, she stopped trying. Over the past 5 years, she'd built a brand-new life from the ground up. She started as an intern at Ever Wedding Company and worked her way up to become one of its top wedding planners. No one knew anything about her past, and she'd never felt the need to explain it. Everything she'd earned belonged to her alone, and nothing gave her a greater sense of security. Ryan had always treated her well. Five years ago, he'd saved her life, helped her conceal her identity, got her first job, and stayed by her side ever since. But surviving death and rebuilding your life would change you. No matter how kind someone was, she couldn't hand over the rest of her life simply out of gratitude. Deep down inside, a quiet voice kept telling her that the person she was truly meant to be with was still out there. She had no idea who that person was. Yet every time someone showed romantic interest in her over the past 5 years, that voice always returned. "I've got to go. The ceremony's about to start, and I still need to do one last walkthrough." Using work as an excuse once again, she hung up. She looked around the venue. Towering Roman columns wrapped in imported roses framed the ballroom. Warm crystal lighting bathed the stage in a golden glow, filling every corner with timeless elegance. A satisfied smile curved across Stella's lips. A flower girl skipped past in a fluffy white tulle dress, carrying a basket of rose petals with a bright, carefree smile. Stella's eyes instinctively followed the little girl. Without realizing it, she gently rested a hand on her lower abdomen. The motion was so natural that she didn't even realize she'd done it. She quickly withdrew her hand and continued inspecting the venue. As one of Ever Wedding Company's senior wedding planners, witnessing two people begin a new chapter together always filled her with quiet happiness. Once the ceremony began, she quietly stepped outside the ballroom. The dessert table near the entrance overflowed with sweets: a seven-tier fondant cake, handmade chocolates, sandwich cookies, silky puddings, cream puffs, colorful macarons, glazed doughnuts, and more. Fresh flowers and elegant candleholders completed the display, while the sweet aroma of butter and sugar drifted through the air. It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. Stella picked up a glass of cherry champagne and raised it to her lips. Behind her, a receptionist asked, "Sir, the ceremony has already started. Do you have an invitation?" "I'm not attending. Please pass this gift to the groom." The man's voice was deep and velvety, rich enough to send a shiver down her spine. Stella had always been a sucker for a deep, smooth voice. Before she realized it, she'd already turned toward him, champagne still in hand. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a perfectly tailored bespoke suit that accentuated his commanding presence. Beside him, his assistant was carrying an exquisitely wrapped gift box. Seamill City really did deserve its reputation for being full of billionaires. Although Stella had worked for Ever Wedding Company for years, this was her first business trip to Seamill. For the past several years, she'd been living and working in Northwood, a city thousands of miles away. The receptionist immediately handed the man the guest book and a pen. He signed his name with a few effortless strokes before returning both. "Ethan Reid..." The receptionist read the signature aloud before looking up to confirm. "That's right." His deep voice carried quiet authority. The moment Stella heard his name, something inside her stirred. She was certain she'd never met him before. So why did his name sound so strangely familiar? Just then, Ethan turned to leave. The instant he glanced back, his eyes met Stella's. His heart froze. For 5 years, he'd searched for her. For 5 years, he'd hated her. Yet the moment he saw her alive, only one thought crossed his mind. 'She's alive. She's safe.' A heartbeat later, that fleeting relief was swallowed by 5 years of resentment. He composed himself and strode straight toward her. Stella instinctively sensed danger. She turned to leave. "What are you doing here?" His furious voice rang out as his hand closed around her wrist. The grip wasn't painful, but it was impossibly firm. She stumbled. The champagne splashed across the front of his suit. "Sir, let go of me!" She struggled to regain her balance, unable to free herself. "What did you just call me, Yvonna?" Ethan let out a cold, humorless laugh. His lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were ice. Relieved that he'd mistaken her for someone else, Stella hurried to explain. "My name isn't Yvonna. I don't know you. I'm a wedding planner, and the couple inside are my clients. My coworkers and I came here from Northwood for the wedding." Since he appeared to know the bride and groom, she didn't want to make an enemy of him. "You think I'd believe another word that comes out of your mouth?" He suddenly leaned in. His warm breath brushed against her face. Before she could retreat, her back hit the wall. There was nowhere to go. Her eyes widened. She couldn't say a word. Ethan studied her expression before saying coldly, "After all these years, you've only gotten better at lying." Everything had happened so quickly that her coworkers nearby were still frozen in shock. Without warning, Ethan released her wrist. "When you took those fishy photos and nearly ruined my life, did you ever think this day would come?" A mocking smile flickered across his lips. Stella stared at him in confusion. "I don't know who you are, and I don't know who this 'Yvonna' is. But if you touch me again, I'm calling the police, and I'll press charges." Ethan narrowed his eyes without answering. Towering over her, he looked down with an unmistakable air of authority. She could tell he didn't believe a single word she'd said. Then his gaze shifted downward. It looked as though he were staring directly at her chest. Stella stiffened and immediately folded her arms across herself. "What the hell are you looking at?" But Ethan wasn't looking where she thought. His eyes were fixed on the name badge pinned to her blazer. "Stella Hayes... So you're my fiancée."