Beyond the Divorce

Stella laughed recklessly but soon understood that her attitude was inappropriate. She quickly restrained herself and nodded. She said, "That's right, you're returning home."

I noticed a deepening mockery on Celine's face. I met her gaze unabashedly and asked, "Oh... by the way, shouldn't you reintroduce this Miss Stella to me, Celine?"

I passed the ball to Celine, who was standing beside Atlas.

When I saw Celine stifle a laugh, I said, "You've always treated her as your adopted daughter, and she even introduced herself as Stella, Rory's daughter. I've been meaning to ask you, Celine, if she's Stella, then... who am I? I didn't know my father had two daughters." As soon as I said that, everyone turned to look at Celine.

Atlas's hand had been around my waist all this time. When he saw me questioning Celine, he looked at her with apparent interest as he waited for her response.

My question may have been too sudden. I had slapped Celine in the face with that question, and no one in the room had anticipated me saying that so directly.

The people here were "old friends" of the Pierce family. Most of them probably knew who I was. They were all just pretending to be ignorant.

These "old friends" probably followed Celine's lead not to acknowledge my existence. They treated me as nothing more than a woman Atlas doted on.

briefly mentioned me. She hadn't even

her that question, it immediately

all, I

considered that name to be

normal. She looked calmly at the fake Stella before asking,

approved. She was calculating. I had seen bitchy women before, but I had never seen a high-level bitch like her. I had to admire her for her inner quality; she was good. What a

silently

but say nothing, she immediately added, "Do you have a connection

waist tightened, and I swallowed the words I

as she said, "What happened that year was simply too chaotic. Although decades have passed, we're still dealing with the aftermath, and many versions of the story keep

hear those different versions of the story." I remained calm

deep as dark currents surging beneath a calm surface.

been on the run ever since, with several major families pursuing him. I had to adopt a daughter to maintain the

immediately resonated around the room, and