Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 03

Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 03

She was only the former butler’s daughter. Ethan had rejected wealthy heiresses to marry her, so it was no surprise that his parents were unhappy.

Jason had died saving her, so the Evans family’s hostility also seemed understandable.

Everyone said she was lucky, blind to her blessings, and should be grateful.

No matter how hard she tried, gratitude never came.

People treated her like Ethan’s possession. No one but Victoria openly disrespected her, yet no one truly respected her either. At her name, they exchanged knowing smiles.

So Stella wanted less and less to attend those dinners, cocktail parties, and birthday celebrations. She never fit into any of those circles.

Most days, she stayed home alone while Ethan worked. Variety shows filled the silence and reminded her that she was a person, not an object.

Ethan searched her face carefully. “Does your cheek still hurt now?” he asked.

Ethan’s warm palm brushed Stella’s cheek, which still felt hot from the ointment.

Stella shook her head. “It stopped hurting a while ago.”

Ethan studied her, then removed a jewelry box from his briefcase. Inside was a beautiful pink diamond ring.

Pink diamonds were rare and expensive. With a stone that large and beautifully made, the ring had to be worth a fortune.

Stella had thrown away her wedding ring during an argument last month. This was Ethan’s replacement.

A smile touched his lips. “Do you like it? How does wearing three million dollars feel? Don’t throw this one away during our next argument,” he asked.

He knew she had a weakness for expensive things.

Studying the diamond, Stella suddenly asked, “Does Cynthia have one?”

Ethan blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question. “What did you just ask me?”

Stella looked up at him, her eyes bright. “Does Cynthia have this exact same ring too?” she repeated.

Ever since Jason’s death, Cynthia had received a matching version of every gift Stella was given.

Victoria said it was because the Hawthornes and Stella owed Cynthia.

Jason had adored his sister. According to Victoria, if he were alive, he would have bought Cynthia anything Stella received.

After Jason’s death, the Hawthornes had faithfully continued that strange, painful tradition on his behalf.

From purses and jewelry to houses and cars.

Two years earlier, Ethan had given Stella a private island for their anniversary.

Days later, Cynthia invited Stella to another island to celebrate her own anniversary with Sean.

Only then did Stella learn that Ethan had given Cynthia and Sean an island too.

After a while, Ethan flicked Stella’s forehead, pulling her from her thoughts.

said, “Stella, have those shows rotted your brain? This is your wedding ring. Why would I give her one? I’m not her husband.”

Stella lowered her gaze. At last, the first genuine smile of the day softened her face. She put on the ring and held out her hand to look at it.

The pink diamond looked beautiful against her long, pale fingers, regal and dreamy, like something a princess would wear.

Giddy with delight, Stella snapped a rare photo and shared it on her social feed.

Within five minutes, likes and comments poured in. Her best friend, Cindy Carter, wrote, [Sleep with one eye open. I might sneak in and steal that diamond.]

Laughing, Stella refreshed her feed and saw that Cynthia had posted one minute earlier.

The pink diamond necklace was so large that she could see it without opening the full-size photo.

The grin dropped clean off Stella’s face.

She enlarged Cynthia’s picture. The necklace matched her ring perfectly in color and design. They belonged to the same collection.

Cynthia wrote, [I chose the necklace over the ring. It looks grander and costs more. Thank you, my love, for always thinking of me. I am incredibly lucky.]

Stella’s mind went blank with a sudden buzz.