Chapter 3 You're More Suited Than Her to Be Mrs. Howard

When Richard pushed open the hospital room door, he saw Stella getting out of bed.

However, after lying in bed for five whole years, her leg muscles had long since atrophied and had no strength left.

The moment her toes touched the ground, her knees buckled, and she instantly lost balance, falling straight forward.

"Ah!" Stella instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for impact.

But the expected pain never came.

A strong arm reached out just in time, firmly catching her waist, stopping her fall and guiding her back to the bedside.

"What are you trying to prove?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Stella's eyes flew open.

The moment she saw Richard, her body stiffened, and she instinctively pushed him away.

This push made her lose support instantly, and she fell onto the bed.

Watching her avoid him like that, Richard's face darkened immediately. He snorted coldly, "What's with the act?"

Stella didn't answer him. She just struggled to prop herself up with her hands and slowly sat upright.

"Did you read the divorce papers?" Stella raised her head, her expression calm. "If there's no problem, sign them as soon as possible."

Hearing Stella say this so calmly, Richard felt a tightness in his chest, and an inexplicable irritation surged up. "Stella, do you really think I won't agree?"

He suddenly leaned down, trapping her between the bed and himself. "I'm just curious—back then you did everything you could to get into my bed, then used pregnancy to force me to marry you. Now just because I said a few things to you, you want a divorce?"

He stared at her, trying to find any trace of pretense on her face.

"Stella, I can grant you the divorce, but Zane—don't even think about taking him."

Richard thought bringing up their child would control Stella.

But Stella just pulled her lips into a faint smile. "Zane, I don't want him. It's written clearly in the agreement."

Richard froze.

She didn't even want Zane anymore?

She really wanted a divorce?

This realization made Richard's heart ache briefly.

But the feeling passed in an instant.

He moved closer, his tall figure looming over her. "Stella, have you made enough of a scene? Do you think you can marry me when you want and divorce me when you want?"

Stella looked up at him. "Our divorce would let you be with Lillian. Isn't that good?"

"No."

Hearing Richard's answer without hesitation, Stella's heartbeat actually skipped.

A hope she didn't dare believe in quietly rose.

However, Richard's next words completely extinguished her expectations.

He said, "Lillian is too innocent. She's not suitable to be Mrs. Howard."

In that instant, Stella clearly heard her heart shatter completely.

Just then, Richard's phone rang.

Seeing Lillian's call, Richard answered, "What's wrong?"

"Daddy, I want to eat at that restaurant from last time. Lillian and I are waiting for you in the parking lot. When will you be ready?"

"I'll come down right now."

Hanging up, Richard glanced coldly at Stella. "Don't say I didn't warn you—drop whatever ideas you have. As for Zane..."

"Lillian has been taking care of him these five years, so he's naturally distant from you. I'll find time to talk to him and help him accept you soon."

"Oh, and next week is the Howard Group's anniversary celebration. You need to attend. I'll arrange a physical therapist to help you recover these few days. Don't slack off and embarrass the Howard Group."

With that, Richard left without looking back.

Watching Richard's figure disappear behind the door, Stella's long lashes lowered, hiding all her turbulent emotions.

Over the next few days, Stella gradually adapted to walking through intense training.

When the physical therapist told Richard this news, he just nodded indifferently.

As if it were all expected.

After all, this marriage was something Stella had worked so hard to get—how could she bear to divorce?

This was just another new trick to get his attention.

So he had no idea that Stella was working so hard because she wanted to leave him as soon as possible.

On the fifth day of recovery, Stella could finally be discharged.

She quietly packed up her few personal belongings and was about to call a car.

Just then, she unexpectedly saw that familiar car parked at the hospital entrance.

The rear window rolled down halfway, revealing Richard's hard-lined profile.

In the past, Stella would probably have felt happy that he came to pick her up himself.

But now, her heart was dead calm, without even a ripple.

"Get in." Richard didn't look up, his tone carrying its usual impatience.

Stella looked away and didn't make a fuss. After all, she was penniless now.

Seeing no one in the passenger seat, she got in without hesitation.

Right now, she didn't want to be near him at all.

Not getting the figure he expected, Richard suddenly looked up, anger surging in his heart.

He had pushed back his morning meeting and made time specifically to pick her up, and she had the nerve to give him attitude.

So spoiled!

Richard's expression darkened instantly, his fingers gripping his phone tightening slightly.

This woman—after waking up from her coma, she was getting more and more ungrateful.

He pressed his thin lips together, the pressure around him frighteningly low, but in the end he just silently raised the partition between the front and back seats.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Seeing Richard raise the partition, Stella let out a long breath.

Before long, a ringtone faintly sounded from behind the partition.

Stella vaguely heard some scattered words.

The next second, the partition rose.

Richard coldly threw a sentence at Stella, "Get out."