Chapter 4 Apologizing to Lillian

Stella froze for a moment. Before she could speak, that commanding voice came again, "Lillian needs me for something. You can take a cab home yourself."

Stella's fingers curled slightly. In the end, she chose to get out of the car.

Watching the car speed away, Stella felt a chill deep in her heart.

This was the edge of the newly developed suburban area.

There wasn't a soul around.

Stella walked for a long time without being able to hail a cab.

Although she'd gone through short-term rehabilitation, her stamina was far from recovered.

By now, she was gasping for breath, her vision going dark in waves. She had to lean against a streetlight pole for a brief rest.

Looking at the endless road ahead, Stella smiled.

This walk would be the final steps to completely end this ridiculous marriage of hers.

She didn't know how long she'd been walking when the sky gradually took on the colors of dusk.

Her feet had developed blisters, and every step brought piercing pain.

But at least she managed to get a cab.

When she returned to the Howard family home, it was completely dark outside.

The moment she stepped through the door, she heard Zane's excited voice from the living room, "Lillian, I drew this sign! Does it look good?"

"Of course it looks good. Zane is the best."

Stella looked over at the sound.

In the center of the living room hung a banner with crooked writing that said "Welcome Home, Mom."

"Dad, don't just sit there. Come help Lillian."

Zane pulled Richard over to Lillian's side.

The three of them looked so happy together—anyone who didn't know better would think they were the real family.

Looking at the scene before her, Stella really wanted to ignore it, but the dense, throbbing pain in her heart made her frown.

She walked straight past them, wanting to go upstairs.

That's when Zane saw her.

His previously smiling face immediately fell. "Why are you only getting back now?"

He rushed up to Stella, looking up at her accusingly. "Dad went to pick you up, didn't he? Did you throw another tantrum and refuse to get in the car?"

Faced with Zane's accusations, Stella instinctively looked at Richard.

She saw him frowning as he scolded, "Didn't I tell you to take a cab back? Are you doing this on purpose?"

Hearing Richard's rebuke, Stella laughed bitterly.

How could he have the nerve to say such things?

Stella didn't want to deal with him at all.

Right now, she just wanted to rest properly.

Stella looked away and started heading upstairs.

Seeing her silence, Zane got even angrier. He reached out and grabbed her clothes. "Hey! Dad and I are talking to you. Can't you hear us?"

"Do you know how long Lillian spent preparing to welcome you home? You should at least say thank you!"

"Thank you?" Stella's voice was extremely hoarse. "Thank her for teaching my son to harm his own mother? Or thank her for taking everything that's mine and acting like she deserves it?"

She looked at Lillian and sneered. "Lillian, isn't this what you wanted—to have them? I'm giving them to you. Please, just stop disgusting me, okay?"

The color drained completely from Lillian's face, and her eyes instantly reddened. "Stella, how can you say that? I just wanted you to feel the warmth of home. I don't have any other intentions. If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I'll leave right now."

Lillian turned to leave. Suddenly, Zane, like an enraged little beast, shoved Stella hard.

Already weak, Stella staggered backward from his push, her waist slamming hard into the sharp corner of the entryway cabinet. She immediately let out a muffled groan of pain.

"You bad woman! Why do you always bully Lillian? I hate you the most!" Zane reached out and grabbed Lillian's arm. "Lillian, don't go."

"Zane, don't do this."

Lillian pulled her hand away from Zane's. Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. "Now that your real mother is back, I should go..."

"No! She's not my mother!"

For a moment, crying filled the air.

Zane and Lillian hugged each other, as if Stella had bullied them.

"Everyone shut up!" Richard strode over, pulled Lillian up, and protectively held her by his side.

He raised his head and said coldly, "Stella, why do you have to turn this house upside down the moment you come back? Apologize to Lillian."

Stella slowly straightened up. The sharp pain in her waist made her vision go dark, but it was nothing compared to the bone-chilling cold his words brought.

She looked at this man she had loved throughout her youth.

All the grievances and heartbreak.

In this moment, suddenly condensed into an almost numb calm.

She suddenly found herself ridiculous.

To think she once had hopes for a man like this.

"What are you smiling at? I told you to apologize to Lillian."

"Richard, forget it." Lillian shook her head, looking so pitiful that anyone would feel sorry for her.

Stella stared straight at Richard and said word by word, "Richard, the person who should apologize has never been me."

For some reason, after Stella said this, Richard felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.

"You all think I'm in the way, so I'll move out as soon as possible. The divorce papers—please sign them quickly."

With that, she didn't look at anyone else. Enduring the sharp pain from her waist and feet, she walked upstairs step by step.

"Stop right there!"

Richard shouted sternly.

But this time, Stella didn't listen to him anymore.