hapter 17
After hanging up, Alexander massaged his temples.
“Stella!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the long corridar lined with Persian carpets, startling white doves resting on the windowsill. Their feathers fluttered down onto a gold–plated photo frame.]
Inside was their “family portrait” taken last month, now seeming particularly ironic]
Stella was still angry about the previous night’s events and was in Evan’s room
Cartoon stickers covered the pink walls, and Lego blocks were scattered across the floor. Evan looked up at her: “Mommy, Daddy’s calling you. If you ignore him, he’ll get angry again“]
As he spoke, the boy even shrank his neck in fear. He was terrified of his bad–tempered father]
Stella kissed her son’s forehead: “Daddy did something wrong. Mommy should be the angry one.”
In Stella’s view, Alexander had definitely been in the wrong last night. Going to a club with other women, then kissing some random tramp he just ghet–and she caught him red handed.
Though not worth making a huge scene over, she felt she should express her disapproval. Because Stella knew perfectly well that in her relationship with Alexander, she was at a disadvantage
But sometimes, showing jealousy was necessary to maintain a man’s interest
She sat in the room, waiting for Alexander to come apologize.
Alexander entered with a dark expression
Stella glanced at him, noticing his truly unpleasant mood, and didn’t dare act too proud. She began: “About last night, you need to explain.”
Before she could finish, a resounding slap cut through the air.]]
The atmosphere instantly froze, Stella staggered backward, her hair falling messily across her face.
She was completely stunned by the slap
Six months of pampered living had made her forget the inherent cruelty in this man.]
She screamed and lunged at him, her carefully manicured nails scratching three bloody lines across Alexander’s face: “You bastard! Last night you ran off to find some slut, I caught you, and now you dare hit me
Alexander, caught off guard, received several scratches on his neck
The stinging pain enraged him further. He grabbed Stella’s throat, veins bulging on his forearm, clearly using real force.
Stella’s hands feebly batted at his arm, yet unable to break free. Suffocation and terror filled her eyes with tears
Evan, seeing his mother being hurt, ran over crying and bit Alexander’s leg hard
Alexander felt a sharp pain in his thigh, kicked Evan away, and immediately released his grip on Stella
Stella collapsed to the floor, tears instantly covering her face
Evan rushed into her arms, sobbing “Mommy Mommy Let’s leave! Let’s get away from here! I hate Daddy!
Stella coughed violently for a long time before looking up at the cold, heartless man before her
“Alexander, how could you treat me this way?” she asked brokenly
Once, watching lum treat Bailey cruelly, she had thought it proof of his love for her
But now she realized he could be just as brutal to her as he had heen to Bailey
When in love, he didn’t necessarily cherish; when out of love, he could truly discard someone like garbage ]
“Stella, you’re tridy becoming tiresome,” he frowned, looking at the mother and child with deep annoyance.
Stella sat on the floor, looking up at him]
“1… make you…….. tired?” Stella suddenly erupted in shrill laughter, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face: “Alexander. can you say that with a clear conscience? I’ve been with you for years, left everything behind for you, raised our child alone in a foreign country! When I returned, you promised to take care of me and Evan forever! You promised met
Her accusations were cut short by Alexander’s icy stare.]]
Alexander suddenly crouched down, his knuckles gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze: “You also told me you returned because Evan was sick. You said once you cured him, you’d take him and leave, never disturbing my life again.”
Stella stared at him in disbelief
“You want me to leave?” She suddenly laughed shrilly, pulling her child into her arms “What about Evan? Do you want him to remain illegitimate forever, never acknowledged? Or do you want him to grow up like you did, returning to his father’s household only to face contempt and suffering?”
Her questions cut like a knife
Alexander leaned against the doorframe. He looked at the child huddled in Stella’s arms, a flash of distinct disgust crossing his eyes]
Once, when he first learned of Evan’s existence, he had been overjoyed. Because this was the child his once–beloved woman had borne alone in a foreign country. And Evan shared an almost identical background with him, so he couldn’t bear to let Evan suffer the hardships he had endured as a child.]
During that time, he had been almost obsessed, willing to do anything for Evan. He had even been willing to sacrifice Bailey’s child for Evan’s health. But…until Bailey lost her haby and then disappeared in the fire did he realize he had been wrong
He had projected himself onto Evan, treating Bailey and her unborn child as his father’s wife and child.
He had been desperate for his father to favor him, so he compensated for his childhood emptiness by hurting Bailey and her child.
But he had been mistaken
“Stella, do you really think I’m a complete fool? He crouched down, lifting a strand of her disheveled hair with such force that she winced Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the fury rolling in his eyes.
Stella stared at him intensely
“Evan was never sick. From the moment you returned, everything you did was premeditated, wasn’t it?”
Instantly, Stella’s pupils contracted, her eyes reflecting shock and undisguised fear.
“When did you…” her voice was barely audible, trembling involuntarily
Alcxander released her, walking to the window with his back to her, his lips twisting into a smile devoid of humor: “The day of the fire.”
The rain suddenly intensified, pounding against the glass
Stella stared at the man’s broad back, suddenly recalling how in the days after Bailey’s disappearance, he had looked at her with the same gloomy, scrutinizing gaze
Shoumcunsciously touched the finger marks on her neck, still warın fi
So he had known all along
from his grip yet cold enough to make her sluver
