Chased by My Ex-Fiancé

Ryan: Stella, have you made up your mind about our engagement? The message made Stella Hayes instinctively want to avoid the subject. They had known each other for 5 years, but she still couldn't bring herself to say yes to Ryan Carter. He had always treated her well. He'd saved her life in the car accident 5 years earlier, helped her get a job, and shielded her from every hardship after she lost her memory. Ryan had told her she was an orphan with no family left. She'd never questioned him. It was as if her mind had sealed away her long-term memories from before the accident for self-protection, leaving them hidden behind an impenetrable fog. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp a single clear fragment. Eventually, 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. 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. I still need to do one last walkthrough." Using work as an excuse once again, she hung up. 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. 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?" Hearing the commotion at the check-in desk, Stella headed over to see what was going on. She was in charge of the wedding, after all. "I'm not attending. Please pass this gift to the groom." The man's voice was deep and velvety. 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." Since he appeared to know the bride and groom, she didn't want to make an enemy of him. "Still pretending? You think just because you changed your name, I wouldn't recognize you?" 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. There was something strangely familiar about his features. Ethan studied her expression before saying coldly, "After all these years, you've gotten even better at pretending." Everything had happened so quickly that her coworkers nearby were still frozen in shock. Without warning, Ethan released her wrist. "When you took those compromising photos, you nearly ruined me. I lost my fiancée, and both my reputation and career took a hit. 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 moved past her shoulder and settled on the name badge pinned to her chest. Stella stiffened and instinctively guarded herself. "Stella Hayes..." Ethan said her name softly, but her heart sank. Then he looked straight into her eyes, as if confirming a suspicion or passing judgment. "Stella Hayes, 5 years ago, you were my fiancée." Stella's breath caught. "What...?" Ethan's jaw tightened, his voice low and intimidating. "Just how completely have you forgotten what we were to each other?"