Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 07

Too Late to Beg, Ex-Husband Chapter 07 Envying Cynthia

Aer Ava left, Stella ate lunch alone and cried between bites, tasting the salt of her tears mixed with the food she could barely swallow.

By the time she met Cindy that afternoon, one glance at Stella’s swollen eyes was enough to make Cindy’s expression turn serious.

“What happened?” Cindy demanded. “Cynthia isn’t worth this. If you’re still angry, I’ll go with you and tear that necklace apart myself.”

Stella smiled despite her red, swollen eyes.

“This isn’t about her. My housekeeper is leaving,” Stella said, sniffling. “Her food is wonderful, and soon I’ll never get to eat if again.”

Cindy studied Stella for a long time.

There were so many painful reasons for Stella to cry, each heavier than a departing housekeeper.

Ethan’s favoritism toward Cynthia.

The hurt the Hawthorne and Evans families had caused Stella.

Her unhappiness, day after day, year after year.

Yet such a small thing had made her cry this hard.

Cindy sat across from her. “Stella, did you ever contact the therapist I recommended?” she asked.

Stella avoided her gaze. “I’m not sick, so why would I need a doctor?”

Cindy watched her worriedly. “You don’t need to be sick. If something hurts and you have no one to tell, a therapist can simply listen.”

“No, thanks. The moment I see a doctor, every problem mysteriously disappears.” Stella remained stubbornly unwilling to go.

She had always been this way, disliking hospitals and doctors since childhood.

One glimpse of a needle could convince Stella she was perfectly healthy and ready to challenge a heavyweight champion.

Realizing Stella would not budge, Cindy changed topics. “You’re visiting your father tomorrow, right? Is Ethan going with

| you?”

Stella nodded, shook her head, then finally admitted, “Honestly, I don’t know.”

He used to go with her every time. But twice, he had gone with Cynthia instead.

Stella had lost her temper.

Ethan had promised it would not happen again, but Stella was no longer sure he could keep that promise.

Hoping to distract her, Cindy said, “Let’s buy your father some sweaters. The temperature dropped, and he has always hated cold weather.”

Stella agreed. She had barely stepped outside the café with Cindy when they unexpectedly ran into someone.

Sean smiled. “Stella, what a coincidence.”

Ha had not expected to see him there. After her initial surprise, she asked, “You’re back already?”

Sean said, “I returned last night and stopped at the Hawthorne estate to take Cynthia home.”

So Ethan had not driven Cynthia home the night before.

Sean seemed to read her thoughts. “Stella, I owe you an apology,” he said.

Stella blinked at him and asked, “An apology for what?”

Sean explained, “I asked Ethan to take Cynthia to her prenatal appointment. I should have told you first, especially since it caused a misunderstanding between you two.”

Sean sounded so sincere that Stella felt unexpectedly awkward and unsure how to respond.

She had countless reasons for arguing with Ethan, but his accompanying Cynthia to one appointment was only the surface of the problem.

She could not explain exactly what it was.

After a long pause, she forced a casual tone. “It’s fine. Ethan and I were only fooling around.”

Sean gave her a gentle smile. “Good. I’m glad you aren’t seriously angry with him.”

Stella said, “Everything’s fine. Cindy and I should get going now.””

Sean stepped aside politely. “Of course. Take care, and I’ll see you another time,” he said.

Stella pulled Cindy away.

Cindy glanced back at Sean.

He was tall and lean without appearing frail, with refined features and neat bangs that gave him the polished appearance of a television actor.

Cindy turned back and complained to Stella in a low voice. “Cynthia has no idea how fortunate she is. She has a husband like Sean and still obsesses over someone else’s. Sean deserves an award for patience,” she said.

Sean had also known Stella and Cynthia since childhood. The Walkers were less powerful than the Hawthornes or Evans, but still belonged to Seaview City’s elite.

He had adored Cynthia since childhood and followed her everywhere, while she complained that he clung to her like an annoying shadow.

Sean did not get angry and kept following her.

Cindy met Stella in high school and naturally came to know Ethan, Cynthia, and Sean, often witnessing Cynthia scold Sean whenever he visited.

At the time, Stella never imagined Cynthia would eventually agree to marry Sean.

Cindy had once defended Sean, pointing out that he was kind, dependable, and attractive enough that Cynthia should stop treating him badly.

Cynthia had scoffed. “Wouldn’t you find someone annoying if he followed you everywhere, no matter how often you drove him away? Where is his pride?”

Cindy replied helplessly. “He keeps coming back because he genuinely likes you.”

That was what liking someone did. It made people shameless.

Back then, Cindy and Cynthia were still friendly. Until their drama club session, when everyone was asked to pick a stage name. Both of them chose Phoenix.

Because Cindy was slightly older and taller, the others started calling her Big Phoenix and Cynthia Little Phoenix.

Cynthia complained privately that she was prettier and wealthier, while someone as old-fashioned and foolish as Cindy did not deserve to share her name.

The classmate who heard Cynthia’s complaint repeated it, and the insult eventually reached Cindy.

Cindy and Cynthia had a fierce argument. Stella tried to mediate and asked Cynthia to apologize.

Cynthia refused, accused Stella of taking sides, and ran away in tears to find Jason.

Jason later brought Cynthia to apologize in person. He gave Cindy a gift and admitted that his own constant indulgence had spoiled his sister.

Afterward, Cindy told Stella, “Cynthia is unbelievably lucky. Most people spend a lifetime searching for one person who protects them. She has two, including her brother.”

Many years later, Stella finally understood how true those words were.

It was true.

It was the kind of good fortune Stella could never hope to have.

At some point, Stella had resigned herself to always looking up to Cynthia and envying her.