Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 01

Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 01 Ready for Divorce

Stella Sutton had barely cleared the airport doors when a pack of reporters closed in around her.

“Is the man who was seen with Cynthia Evans at her prenatal appointment really your husband?”

“Mrs. Hawthorne, Mr. Hawthorne cleared his schedule to be with family, yet no one has seen him with you. Has he been spending all his time with Cynthia?”

“Is it true that your marriage is already over in everything but name?”

Every time Stella tried to sidestep them, they cut her off.

At last, she stopped and pulled off her mask. Not a trace of anger crossed her face, only a faint smile no one could quite read.

“Calling it a marriage in name only is putting it mildly,” Stella said. “Ethan Hawthorne and I are getting divorced. Whoever he takes to prenatal appointments is none of my business.”

The reporters went wide-eyed. None of them had expected Stella to drop a bombshell that big.

Stella smiled. “What? You wanted answers. Is this too much to process? Then why ask? Move. I’m going home.”

The crowd parted at once, and this time no one dared stop her or ask another question.

Outside the airport, Stella drew a deep breath. Winter in Seaview City was always gloomy and sunless. She hated the bleak weather.

She hailed a cab and headed back to Crown Point Manor.

Ethan did not call until the following afternoon. “You’re back? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Stella held the phone without answering.

He did not say much. He only said, “We’re having dinner at the Hawthorne estate tonight. I have another meeting, so Lucas will pick you up shortly.”

Ethan had vanished for a week without coming home. Stella only learned from yesterday’s news that he had been with Cynthia.

She finally heard from him that day, but only after he had gone to the office.

Ethan’s priorities were clear. Work came before Stella, and Cynthia came before work.

A hollow laugh escaped Stella before she ended the call.

This was the fourth year of their marriage.

Everyone said Stella had hit the jackpot. A former butler’s daughter had somehow married the heir of the wealthy family

her father once served.

They also said the Evans family would have killed her long ago if Ethan had not married her.

After all, Jason Evans, the Evans family’s only son, had died saving her.

In everyone’s eyes, that supposedly justified anything Ethan did to compensate Cynthia, no matter how far he went.

Stella was forbidden to complain, feel jealous, or object. Every kindness Ethan showed Cynthia was treated as payment on Stella’s debt to the Evans family.

Stella was expected to spend the rest of her life repaying what she supposedly owed Cynthia and the Evans family.

Sela sat blankly on the couch while a mindless variety show played. The guests roared with laughter, but to her, it was nothing but noise.

Still, she left the television on. It was the only sound in the enormous, empty house.

Some time later, Lucas pulled up outside and knocked. “Ma’am, Mr. Hawthorne asked me to take you to the Hawthorne estate for dinner.”

Stella wanted to refuse, but she picked up her purse and followed Lucas to the car.

Lucas was driving Ethan’s car. A faint rose fragrance lingered inside, and it always made Stella nauseous.

Roses were Cynthia’s favorite.

Stella lowered the window and drew in the cold air.

By the time they reached the Hawthorne estate, the icy wind had left Stella’s face almost numb.

She had barely stepped inside when a slap struck her across the face.

The force whipped her head to the side, yet pain barely registered.

For once, the bitter cold had done her a favor. Her cheek was numb.

Cynthia approached, one hand supporting her belly. She took Ethan’s mother Victoria White’s hand and rubbed it. “Please don’t hit her. Does your hand hurt?”

Victoria glared at Stella. “Are you out of your mind? The Hawthornes have pampered you for years. Has all that luxury rotted your brain? What nonsense did you tell the reporters about getting divorced?

“What a joke. If you ever found the nerve to divorce him, I’d celebrate. I’ve dreamed of it for years. I’ve stayed alive just to see Ethan throw out a jinx like you.”

Victoria raised her hand again.

Stella did not dodge.

“Please don’t hit her,” Cynthia cried, making no attempt to intervene.

Before the second slap could land, Lucas stepped in and blocked it.

The first slap had caught Lucas off guard. This time, he was prepared.

Victoria glared at him. “Are you loyal to the Hawthornes or to this woman?”

Lucas replied, “Ma’am, Mr. Hawthorne will be upset if he learns you hit Stella.”

Victoria lowered her hand and sneered. “Ethan only married her because of their past. Does she really think he cares that

much?”

With that, Victoria glared at Stella and returned to the living room.

Cynthia remained beside Stella. “Don’t be mad at Aunt Victoria, Stella. Ethan was about to sleep when he heard your announcement. He rushed back to the office and worked all night to contain it.”

Victoria added, “Cynthia went with Ethan because she was worried and nearly put the baby at risk from lack of rest. If anything happens, will the Evans family lose another life because of you?”

Cynthia and Victoria were fixated on Stella’s divorce announcement.

Ha focused on one thing. Ethan and Cynthia had spent the entire night together.

Even so, she was not allowed to be angry.

Whenever anyone mentioned Jason or the Evans family, Stella was put on trial all over again.

No matter how much anger and hurt she carried, she was never allowed to defend herself.

Jason had died saving her. That was an undisputed fact.

The Evans family had once demanded her life in return. Without Ethan standing between them, she would never have eft their home.

Back then, she had believed Ethan had given her a second chance at life.

Only later did she learn that being alive could sometimes hurt even more.

Before Stella could speak, Cynthia looked past her and said, “Ethan, you’re here already? Are you finished at the office?”

She sounded every bit like a wife fussing over her overworked husband.

With her back to Ethan, Stella did not turn around.

Ethan rested a hand on her shoulder and said. “Why are you standing here? Change your shoes and come inside.”

“The hell she is. No one here wants her. She can leave,” Victoria snapped.

“Fine,” Stella said. “Then I’ll leave.”

She turned to Ethan. Dark circles shadowed his eyes after a sleepless night, but Stella could not summon an ounce of sympathy.

After all, he had enjoyed plenty of company.

Stella said, “You asked me to come, and I did. Now I’m leaving.”

The car Ethan had driven caught Stella’s eye. It was Cynthia’s pink Mesarati.

Stella gave a humorless smile. “Lucas, would you please take me home?”

Lucas looked toward Ethan. “What about Mr. Hawthorne?”

Before Ethan answered, Stella said, “He has a car. Besides, he’ll surely take Cynthia home first.”

Ethan studied her profile, noting the stubborn set of her jaw. His lips tightened.

After a long pause, Ethan told Lucas, “Take my wife home first.”

He caught Stella’s wrist. “If you don’t feel well, go rest. I’ll come home after dinner.”

Stella smiled again, pulled free of his grasp, and climbed into the car without another word.

Lucas drove off, leaving Ethan behind.

As the engine faded into the distance, Ethan turned and walked back inside.

Victoria fumed. “Why is she acting like a spoiled princess? She cannot come and go whenever she pleases.”

Ethan frowned. “Mom, this is Stella’s home too. Of course she can come and go whenever she wants.”

Victoria scoffed. “This is the Hawthorne estate. Is she even a Hawthorne?”

Ethan replied, “Neither are you, yet you live here.”

Victoria’s face reddened. “Ethan Hawthorne, is that any way to speak to your mom?” she snapped.

Exhausted after a sleepless night and Stella’s coldness, Ethan sat down and rubbed his brow. When he spoke, he sounded tired.

“Mom, stop making things difficult for Stella. She is my wife. You need not love her, but you cannot bully her. You ordered her out, then got angry when she left. What would satisfy you?” he said.

Victoria shot back, “I’ll be happy when she divorces you.”

That single word hit Ethan’s rawest nerve.

His face darkened, his jaw locked, and a sudden chill settled over the room.

He stood and looked at his mother. “Mom,” he said evenly, his voice cold. “Divorce is a private joke between Stella and me. No one else gets to say it.”

That included Victoria.

Both Victoria and Cynthia looked displeased.

Richard Hawthorne, who had been silent until then, spoke. “Enough. Your mother meant nothing by it. Stella has a temper, and you have spoiled her. Talk to her. If this is your private joke, do not air it in front of reporters.”

Ethan lowered his gaze. Work had consumed him lately, and he had neglected Stella. He understood why she was angry, though he had not expected her to announce a divorce to reporters.

Ethan let out a weary sigh and made no move to sit again. “I’m heading home now.”

Cynthia stepped forward. “You’re not staying for dinner, Ethan?”

turned to her. “Were you at my office last night?”

Cynthia froze. “No, I wasn’t”

He frowned. “Then why did Mom say you went there with me because you were worried?”