Born into betrayal, Stella is abandoned by her family's manipulative nanny who covets a better life for her own daughter. After eighteen years, she's found and returned to her family, only to face her fiancé's deception and constant favoritism showered upon the nanny's daughter. Undaunted, Stella wages a relentless battle against her enemies. As they intensify their efforts to force her surrender, Stella unearths a dormant, secret weapon: the hidden black card. The following day, a foreign underground boss sets foot in Portis City. He causes an uproar among the city's elite. Stella's fiancé, hungry for a long-coveted project, rushes to initiate contact with this powerful figure. Much to his shock, he finds Stella trembling in the boss's arms, gasping for breath as she cries, "They have all bullied me." Wearing an indulgent and protective expression, the man reassures her, "Don't cry, my tigress. Together, we'll let them feel the fury of our combined wrath"

Chapter 1"It's breathtaking!"Stella Quinn was clad in a wedding dress; her slender waist accentuated by the dress's voluminous skirt, she looked every bit the princess in a fairy tale.Even without makeup, her face looked exquisitely stunning, earning her praises from the shop manager adjusting her dress.“Why didn’t Mr. Yorick Quarry come with you to check it out? Men and women see things differently, you know.”Stella’s lips curled into a polite smile, “Work’s got him tied up. He couldn’t make it.”As if on cue, her phone buzzed. Glancing at the caller ID, she answered, “Susie.”“Star, I just saw Ursula and Yorick together!”The originally joy on Stella’s face slowly faded away at the news, her gaze turning icy as well.Yorick Quarry, her fiancé, and they were planning to marry in a week. While Ursula Larkin, just the mention of her name stirred a sense of distaste in Stella.Stella signaled the shop manager, who was fetching the dress. The latter nodded in comprehension. With a wave of her hand, all the staff immediately went away with the manager.Left alone, Stella gazed at her well-manicured nails and asked nonchalantly, “Where did you see them?”Susanna replied, “At the hospital, the gynaecology and obstetrics.”Stella laughed, raising an eyebrow, “Interesting choice of location, indeed.”Men and women visiting a gynaecology and obstetrics together usually hinted at certain implications.Susanna continued, “That Ursula is nothing but a siren, and Yorick’s no better. You should call off the wedding!”Susanna had got irked before Stella did.Stella took a sip from her water glass, “Every time she makes a move, I’m the one who suffers. Why are you getting worked up?”Two years back, Ursula hoped to be forgiven by her before leaving. Now she was back, getting entangled with Yorick. Did she think Stella was too kind, too generous?Susanna snapped, “Choosing to stir things up right before your wedding, she’s clearly up to no good.”Stella’s gaze hardened, “Gotta go.”Susanna asked, “Where are you going?”“If someone’s stirring the pot, might as well see it for myself,” Stella quipped before hanging up.Staring at her reflection in the wedding dress, she reached for the bodice and tore the dress apart, leaving the broken attire scattered on the floor.Upon seeing the scene, the staff nearby turned in shock. Yet, none dared to approach her, given the stern look on her face.Stella changed back into her own clothes, her phone vibrating again. She took a glance. It was Yorick!Once the call was connected, the man’s stern voice came over the phone, “Come to the office once you’re done with the dress.”It’d been two years. During the past two years, Yorick had been nothing but kind and attentive. Now, it seemed things were changing, likely due to Ursula’s return.A trace of sarcasm flashed across Stella’s eyes. Not bothering to give him a reply, she hung up without hesitation.…Half an hour later, Stella entered Yorick’s office to find him making a call near the floor-to-ceiling window.Bathed in sunlight, he looked refreshingly striking, especially his flawless profile. He was expressly lucky to have the looks considered as one-of-the-kind in Portis City.Noticing Stella, he quickly said to someone at the other end of the phone, “Have the lunch without me. Bye.”Grabbing his phone, Yorick went to the sofa and sat down, his previous warmth during the call disappeared, instead coldness creeping in his gaze.He looked over at Stella, “Come here.”Meeting his icy gaze, Stella, instead of sitting beside him as usual, chose a seat across from him. Yorick’s expression grew colder at her aloofness.The click of a lighter filled the room, followed by the scent of gasoline.Stella, disliking the smell, stretched out and waved her hand, but Yorick didn’t seem to care about her feelings, lighting a cigarette.“Ursula’s back,” as he spoke, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes. Even though it still couldn’t stop him from continuing with “We need to postpone the wedding.”After receiving Susanna’s phone call, Stella had already anticipated this.“What do you mean?”Ursula was back, so they needed to postpone their wedding?“She’s sick, very serious,” Yorick explained, handing her a document. He kept on, “Here’s your acceptance letter to St. Pete's University. You should go study first.”His tone was condescending, as if offering her a way out or, more accurately, making space for Ursula.Stella looked at the document in his hand but didn’t take it, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Sending me abroad to clear the way for her?”Yorick’s face darkened, “Isn’t it the school you always wanted to attend? Now…”“Yorick!” Stella cut him off sharply. She snatched the envelope from his hand and tore it to shreds, the fragments scattering across the office. The last piece clung to her finger before she flicked it towards Yorick’s face.At the sight of her defiance, Yorick’s last bit of warmth vanished.Stella didn’t hold back either, declaring, “No need to postpone. Just cancel the wedding.”Why delay? Cancelling it would save everyone the hassle!Yorick's face turned drastically. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from Stella. Her stance took him by surprise.Call off the wedding? Had she...lost her mind?Yorick's voice wavered with emotion, "She's sick, once she recovers, she'll leave again, and then I’ll give you the grander wedding you deserve.""Is it sickness, or is she pregnant?"The moment those words were uttered, the air around them seemed to still.Yorick stared at her, his eyes cold, "What have you found out?"Stella didn’t respond directly; instead, she said, "You and her, showing up unashamed at the hospital, at the gynaecology and obstetrics of all places. Talking about giving me a grander wedding, don’t you find it ironic?"Their wedding was just a week away. He and Ursula were seen at a gynaecology and obstetrics, and another second he was here to talk about the scale of their wedding?Did he really think she wouldn’t have the guts to leave him if he was playing both sides?As Yorick heard her words, his expression grew even more grim, "She's not pregnant, she's ill.""Ill enough to need you accompanying her to the hospital? What exactly is your relationship with her now?"Her sharp counter-question made Yorick’s face darken further.Stella didn’t want to see his face anymore, standing up to walk towards the office door.As she walked, she said, "Since she's back, she might as well stay. After all, she won’t be able to repay her debts to Portis City overnight."Two years of calm and now, turmoil. Yorick, because of Ursula, had torn a rift, and Stella, following suit, had made it irreparable.Relationships, after all, were about mutual effort, not one person striving alone.Yorick’s face darkened, "Don’t make it hard for her!"Stella let out a cold laugh, her hand already on the doorknob.Yorick clenched his teeth, "The wedding, do you think you can just call it off? Or do you think you have a way out with the Larkin family?"The Larkin family, the mention made Stella’s gaze grow colder, a family that couldn’t differentiate between their own.No way out, so be it.She didn’t care.The Larkin family, her blood relatives, who also raised Ursula. Years ago, Ursula’s biological mother, a maid of the Larkins, was pregnant at the same time as Stella’s mother. Desperate for her girl to grow up in affluence due to her unreliable, gambler husband, Ursula’s mother switched the babies at the hospital after the delivery.Ursula’s mother wasn’t exactly conscience-stricken; after taking Stella, she didn’t raise her herself but abandoned her.She continued working as a maid for the Larkins, watching her biological daughter enjoy a better life and staying constantly by her side.It wasn’t until Mrs. Larkin’s car accident three years ago that it was revealed Ursula wasn’t her biological child.A shocking secret unveiled.What followed was a dramatic search for the real daughter.Sadly, even after finding Stella, the family always favored Ursula, the one they had raised.Yorick was right…Calling off the wedding, she had no way out, as the Larkin family had no place for her.Yorick stepped forward, grabbing her delicate wrist, "Once she recovers, I’ll send her away, okay?"He tried to lower his voice, as if to soothe her.Stella glanced at him, her eyes icy, slowly pulling her hand away."You…" Yorick’s expression darkened further.Stella couldn’t bother with another word, turning to leave the office.The sound of her heels clicked away, proud and aloof, just like her!Yorick, always adored and sought after, was left fuming, unbelieving that Stella would actually call off their wedding.After all, everyone had seen her devotion to him over the past two years.With that thought, Yorick didn’t chase after her, instead slamming the door behind him with a loud ‘bang’....The secretarial department, having heard the commotion, all harbored their own thoughts.The dramatic events from two years ago had everyone thinking Stella was trying to steal Yorick from Ursula. So now, with Ursula’s return, they relished in the drama.Whispers among the employees went like, "Ursula has finally come back, serves Stella right!""Exactly, Ursula was forced to leave because of her two years ago. What’s stolen will eventually have to be returned."Overhearing the chatter, Stella, heels clicking, walked directly towards them.The two gossiping assistants were suddenly overshadowed, hurriedly silencing themselves.Stella reached out, forcefully tilting one of their chins up, the assistant was quite beautiful up close.As their eyes met, the assistant was visibly shaken by the fierceness in Stella’s gaze, "Ms. Quinn!"Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Enjoying the gossip about me?"The assistant went pale, "No, I wasn’t...I..."Seeing the fear, Stella released her with disgust, her gaze sweeping across the secretarial department with intimidating sharpness.Everyone quickly looked away, too scared to even breathe too loudly.Stella has just left the office when she spotted Ursula stepping out of a car.Yorick's assistant, Orion, was at the ready, holding the door open for her as she handed him a few shopping bags.“Distribute these among the secretaries, will you?”Her demeanor screamed of a lady of the manor.Orion, ever respectful, took the bags, “Thank you, Ms. Larkin.”Ursula offered a soft nod in acknowledgment and turned, her gaze meeting Stella's across the distance.Stella's eyes narrowed slightly.Ursula paused for a second before she approached Stella with a tone as soft as an elder sister's, “Star.”When the Larkins had brought her back, they mentioned Ursula was older by just an hour.Her tender voice was for Orion's benefit. But her eyes, locked on Stella, were full of challenge.As she drew closer, Ursula's voice dropped to a whisper, “You're his fiancée, yet he has me come to his company. What does that tell you about your place?”Stella's expression turned ice cold. She scoffed, “As long as I wish, I can have any position within his family. But what about you? Aside from visiting him here, can you even step foot in any Quarry property?”Ursula's face faltered. Her gaze, fixing on Stella, suddenly dripped with malice. Obviously, she couldn’t; those old coots in the Quarry family wouldn’t approve.Stella found Ursula’s reaction deeply satisfying.Ursula glared back venomously, “Don't get too comfortable. As long as I'm around, your wedding to him will never happen.”Stella's lips curved into a smirk, her demeanor nonchalant.“There are plenty of fish in the sea. I'm not fixated on marrying him.”The notion of breaking off the wedding as soon as possible with a man that still harbored certain feelings for his first love seemed less of a loss and more of a relief.Ursula stiffened, “What do you mean?”She gazed at Stella in disbelief.Was Stella not madly in love with Yorick? Stella's indifference seemed like a facade, given the drastic scene caused two years ago.Stella replied, “Isn't it clear? Without Yorick, I can find someone else. But you? He's the only man willing to marry you, yet you can't even have a proper wedding.”Ursula, already pale, turned livid at Stella's words.Stella felt utterly pleased at the sight of the warmth on Ursula’s face falling. The latter’s disrespect seemed to Stella that she must have forgotten how she was dealt with two years ago.Not wanting to waste any time with Ursula, she turned to leave, when Ursula, attempting to play the victim, suddenly reached out and gripped her wrist, “Star, I just came back for a check-up. I don't want to ruin things between you and Yorick. Please, don't misunderstand, okay?”Stella snapped, “Let go.”Disgusted by Ursula's touch, she attempted to pull away, but then Ursula dramatically fell to the ground.The impact sounded like a toad fell to the ground from high above, seemingly quite serious.Before Stella could react, Yorick's furious voice soon echoed from not far, “Stella!”So, Ursula was staging another scene, and her audience had arrived.Gazing down, Stella watched the “actress” Ursula as well as a fountain nearby, her lips curling into a smile. Stepping forward, she grabbed Ursula by the hair.Ursula screeched in pain, “Ah...”Her head was submerged into the icy water; suffocation invading in her, she struggled violently. However, Stella gripped her fiercely, reckoning since Ursula’s acting was to wrong her, Stella might as well satisfy her.“Help, Ah!” Ursula pleaded the moment Stella pulled her out, while she was plunged back into the water after few seconds.Upon witnessing the scene, Yorick, who was not far away, howled furiously as he rushed over, “Stella, stop!”Ursula was choked as if her chest was about to burst open, her hands flapping crazily.Yorick came, thrusting Stella away. He pulled Ursula to safety.Ursula was all drenched, while Yorick looked expressly concerned, “How do you feel?”“I...” Ursula gazed at Yorick, her eyes welling up. Because of the pain in the lung, she couldn’t even utter a complete word.Yorick looked at Stella callously, while Stella walked over and stepped on Ursula's wrist, eliciting another scream.“Ah!’Yorick's anger flared, “Stella!”He thrust her away, while she responded by tossing her purse at him, striking him on the head.Yorick was caught off guard by the strike, the fury in his gaze deepened.This woman...Stella didn't wait for his reaction, instead kicking Ursula once more for good measure.The confrontation left Ursula gasping for air and nursing a swollen leg.Chapter 2"It's breathtaking!"Stella Quinn was clad in a wedding dress; her slender waist accentuated by the dress's voluminous skirt, she looked every bit the princess in a fairy tale.Even without makeup, her face looked exquisitely stunning, earning her praises from the shop manager adjusting her dress.“Why didn’t Mr. Yorick Quarry come with you to check it out? Men and women see things differently, you know.”Stella’s lips curled into a polite smile, “Work’s got him tied up. He couldn’t make it.”As if on cue, her phone buzzed. Glancing at the caller ID, she answered, “Susie.”“Star, I just saw Ursula and Yorick together!”The originally joy on Stella’s face slowly faded away at the news, her gaze turning icy as well.Yorick Quarry, her fiancé, and they were planning to marry in a week. While Ursula Larkin, just the mention of her name stirred a sense of distaste in Stella.Stella signaled the shop manager, who was fetching the dress. The latter nodded in comprehension. With a wave of her hand, all the staff immediately went away with the manager.Left alone, Stella gazed at her well-manicured nails and asked nonchalantly, “Where did you see them?”Susanna replied, “At the hospital, the gynaecology and obstetrics.”Stella laughed, raising an eyebrow, “Interesting choice of location, indeed.”Men and women visiting a gynaecology and obstetrics together usually hinted at certain implications.Susanna continued, “That Ursula is nothing but a siren, and Yorick’s no better. You should call off the wedding!”Susanna had got irked before Stella did.Stella took a sip from her water glass, “Every time she makes a move, I’m the one who suffers. Why are you getting worked up?”Two years back, Ursula hoped to be forgiven by her before leaving. Now she was back, getting entangled with Yorick. Did she think Stella was too kind, too generous?Susanna snapped, “Choosing to stir things up right before your wedding, she’s clearly up to no good.”Stella’s gaze hardened, “Gotta go.”Susanna asked, “Where are you going?”“If someone’s stirring the pot, might as well see it for myself,” Stella quipped before hanging up.Staring at her reflection in the wedding dress, she reached for the bodice and tore the dress apart, leaving the broken attire scattered on the floor.Upon seeing the scene, the staff nearby turned in shock. Yet, none dared to approach her, given the stern look on her face.Stella changed back into her own clothes, her phone vibrating again. She took a glance. It was Yorick!Once the call was connected, the man’s stern voice came over the phone, “Come to the office once you’re done with the dress.”It’d been two years. During the past two years, Yorick had been nothing but kind and attentive. Now, it seemed things were changing, likely due to Ursula’s return.A trace of sarcasm flashed across Stella’s eyes. Not bothering to give him a reply, she hung up without hesitation.…Half an hour later, Stella entered Yorick’s office to find him making a call near the floor-to-ceiling window.Bathed in sunlight, he looked refreshingly striking, especially his flawless profile. He was expressly lucky to have the looks considered as one-of-the-kind in Portis City.Noticing Stella, he quickly said to someone at the other end of the phone, “Have the lunch without me. Bye.”Grabbing his phone, Yorick went to the sofa and sat down, his previous warmth during the call disappeared, instead coldness creeping in his gaze.He looked over at Stella, “Come here.”Meeting his icy gaze, Stella, instead of sitting beside him as usual, chose a seat across from him. Yorick’s expression grew colder at her aloofness.The click of a lighter filled the room, followed by the scent of gasoline.Stella, disliking the smell, stretched out and waved her hand, but Yorick didn’t seem to care about her feelings, lighting a cigarette.“Ursula’s back,” as he spoke, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes. Even though it still couldn’t stop him from continuing with “We need to postpone the wedding.”After receiving Susanna’s phone call, Stella had already anticipated this.“What do you mean?”Ursula was back, so they needed to postpone their wedding?“She’s sick, very serious,” Yorick explained, handing her a document. He kept on, “Here’s your acceptance letter to St. Pete's University. You should go study first.”His tone was condescending, as if offering her a way out or, more accurately, making space for Ursula.Stella looked at the document in his hand but didn’t take it, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Sending me abroad to clear the way for her?”Yorick’s face darkened, “Isn’t it the school you always wanted to attend? Now…”“Yorick!” Stella cut him off sharply. She snatched the envelope from his hand and tore it to shreds, the fragments scattering across the office. The last piece clung to her finger before she flicked it towards Yorick’s face.At the sight of her defiance, Yorick’s last bit of warmth vanished.Stella didn’t hold back either, declaring, “No need to postpone. Just cancel the wedding.”Why delay? Cancelling it would save everyone the hassle!Yorick's face turned drastically. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from Stella. Her stance took him by surprise.Call off the wedding? Had she...lost her mind?Yorick's voice wavered with emotion, "She's sick, once she recovers, she'll leave again, and then I’ll give you the grander wedding you deserve.""Is it sickness, or is she pregnant?"The moment those words were uttered, the air around them seemed to still.Yorick stared at her, his eyes cold, "What have you found out?"Stella didn’t respond directly; instead, she said, "You and her, showing up unashamed at the hospital, at the gynaecology and obstetrics of all places. Talking about giving me a grander wedding, don’t you find it ironic?"Their wedding was just a week away. He and Ursula were seen at a gynaecology and obstetrics, and another second he was here to talk about the scale of their wedding?Did he really think she wouldn’t have the guts to leave him if he was playing both sides?As Yorick heard her words, his expression grew even more grim, "She's not pregnant, she's ill.""Ill enough to need you accompanying her to the hospital? What exactly is your relationship with her now?"Her sharp counter-question made Yorick’s face darken further.Stella didn’t want to see his face anymore, standing up to walk towards the office door.As she walked, she said, "Since she's back, she might as well stay. After all, she won’t be able to repay her debts to Portis City overnight."Two years of calm and now, turmoil. Yorick, because of Ursula, had torn a rift, and Stella, following suit, had made it irreparable.Relationships, after all, were about mutual effort, not one person striving alone.Yorick’s face darkened, "Don’t make it hard for her!"Stella let out a cold laugh, her hand already on the doorknob.Yorick clenched his teeth, "The wedding, do you think you can just call it off? Or do you think you have a way out with the Larkin family?"The Larkin family, the mention made Stella’s gaze grow colder, a family that couldn’t differentiate between their own.No way out, so be it.She didn’t care.The Larkin family, her blood relatives, who also raised Ursula. Years ago, Ursula’s biological mother, a maid of the Larkins, was pregnant at the same time as Stella’s mother. Desperate for her girl to grow up in affluence due to her unreliable, gambler husband, Ursula’s mother switched the babies at the hospital after the delivery.Ursula’s mother wasn’t exactly conscience-stricken; after taking Stella, she didn’t raise her herself but abandoned her.She continued working as a maid for the Larkins, watching her biological daughter enjoy a better life and staying constantly by her side.It wasn’t until Mrs. Larkin’s car accident three years ago that it was revealed Ursula wasn’t her biological child.A shocking secret unveiled.What followed was a dramatic search for the real daughter.Sadly, even after finding Stella, the family always favored Ursula, the one they had raised.Yorick was right…Calling off the wedding, she had no way out, as the Larkin family had no place for her.Yorick stepped forward, grabbing her delicate wrist, "Once she recovers, I’ll send her away, okay?"He tried to lower his voice, as if to soothe her.Stella glanced at him, her eyes icy, slowly pulling her hand away."You…" Yorick’s expression darkened further.Stella couldn’t bother with another word, turning to leave the office.The sound of her heels clicked away, proud and aloof, just like her!Yorick, always adored and sought after, was left fuming, unbelieving that Stella would actually call off their wedding.After all, everyone had seen her devotion to him over the past two years.With that thought, Yorick didn’t chase after her, instead slamming the door behind him with a loud ‘bang’....The secretarial department, having heard the commotion, all harbored their own thoughts.The dramatic events from two years ago had everyone thinking Stella was trying to steal Yorick from Ursula. So now, with Ursula’s return, they relished in the drama.Whispers among the employees went like, "Ursula has finally come back, serves Stella right!""Exactly, Ursula was forced to leave because of her two years ago. What’s stolen will eventually have to be returned."Overhearing the chatter, Stella, heels clicking, walked directly towards them.The two gossiping assistants were suddenly overshadowed, hurriedly silencing themselves.Stella reached out, forcefully tilting one of their chins up, the assistant was quite beautiful up close.As their eyes met, the assistant was visibly shaken by the fierceness in Stella’s gaze, "Ms. Quinn!"Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Enjoying the gossip about me?"The assistant went pale, "No, I wasn’t...I..."Seeing the fear, Stella released her with disgust, her gaze sweeping across the secretarial department with intimidating sharpness.Everyone quickly looked away, too scared to even breathe too loudly.Stella has just left the office when she spotted Ursula stepping out of a car.Yorick's assistant, Orion, was at the ready, holding the door open for her as she handed him a few shopping bags.“Distribute these among the secretaries, will you?”Her demeanor screamed of a lady of the manor.Orion, ever respectful, took the bags, “Thank you, Ms. Larkin.”Ursula offered a soft nod in acknowledgment and turned, her gaze meeting Stella's across the distance.Stella's eyes narrowed slightly.Ursula paused for a second before she approached Stella with a tone as soft as an elder sister's, “Star.”When the Larkins had brought her back, they mentioned Ursula was older by just an hour.Her tender voice was for Orion's benefit. But her eyes, locked on Stella, were full of challenge.As she drew closer, Ursula's voice dropped to a whisper, “You're his fiancée, yet he has me come to his company. What does that tell you about your place?”Stella's expression turned ice cold. She scoffed, “As long as I wish, I can have any position within his family. But what about you? Aside from visiting him here, can you even step foot in any Quarry property?”Ursula's face faltered. Her gaze, fixing on Stella, suddenly dripped with malice. Obviously, she couldn’t; those old coots in the Quarry family wouldn’t approve.Stella found Ursula’s reaction deeply satisfying.Ursula glared back venomously, “Don't get too comfortable. As long as I'm around, your wedding to him will never happen.”Stella's lips curved into a smirk, her demeanor nonchalant.“There are plenty of fish in the sea. I'm not fixated on marrying him.”The notion of breaking off the wedding as soon as possible with a man that still harbored certain feelings for his first love seemed less of a loss and more of a relief.Ursula stiffened, “What do you mean?”She gazed at Stella in disbelief.Was Stella not madly in love with Yorick? Stella's indifference seemed like a facade, given the drastic scene caused two years ago.Stella replied, “Isn't it clear? Without Yorick, I can find someone else. But you? He's the only man willing to marry you, yet you can't even have a proper wedding.”Ursula, already pale, turned livid at Stella's words.Stella felt utterly pleased at the sight of the warmth on Ursula’s face falling. The latter’s disrespect seemed to Stella that she must have forgotten how she was dealt with two years ago.Not wanting to waste any time with Ursula, she turned to leave, when Ursula, attempting to play the victim, suddenly reached out and gripped her wrist, “Star, I just came back for a check-up. I don't want to ruin things between you and Yorick. Please, don't misunderstand, okay?”Stella snapped, “Let go.”Disgusted by Ursula's touch, she attempted to pull away, but then Ursula dramatically fell to the ground.The impact sounded like a toad fell to the ground from high above, seemingly quite serious.Before Stella could react, Yorick's furious voice soon echoed from not far, “Stella!”So, Ursula was staging another scene, and her audience had arrived.Gazing down, Stella watched the “actress” Ursula as well as a fountain nearby, her lips curling into a smile. Stepping forward, she grabbed Ursula by the hair.Ursula screeched in pain, “Ah...”Her head was submerged into the icy water; suffocation invading in her, she struggled violently. However, Stella gripped her fiercely, reckoning since Ursula’s acting was to wrong her, Stella might as well satisfy her.“Help, Ah!” Ursula pleaded the moment Stella pulled her out, while she was plunged back into the water after few seconds.Upon witnessing the scene, Yorick, who was not far away, howled furiously as he rushed over, “Stella, stop!”Ursula was choked as if her chest was about to burst open, her hands flapping crazily.Yorick came, thrusting Stella away. He pulled Ursula to safety.Ursula was all drenched, while Yorick looked expressly concerned, “How do you feel?”“I...” Ursula gazed at Yorick, her eyes welling up. Because of the pain in the lung, she couldn’t even utter a complete word.Yorick looked at Stella callously, while Stella walked over and stepped on Ursula's wrist, eliciting another scream.“Ah!’Yorick's anger flared, “Stella!”He thrust her away, while she responded by tossing her purse at him, striking him on the head.Yorick was caught off guard by the strike, the fury in his gaze deepened.This woman...Stella didn't wait for his reaction, instead kicking Ursula once more for good measure.The confrontation left Ursula gasping for air and nursing a swollen leg.Chapter 3"It's breathtaking!"Stella Quinn was clad in a wedding dress; her slender waist accentuated by the dress's voluminous skirt, she looked every bit the princess in a fairy tale.Even without makeup, her face looked exquisitely stunning, earning her praises from the shop manager adjusting her dress.“Why didn’t Mr. Yorick Quarry come with you to check it out? Men and women see things differently, you know.”Stella’s lips curled into a polite smile, “Work’s got him tied up. He couldn’t make it.”As if on cue, her phone buzzed. Glancing at the caller ID, she answered, “Susie.”“Star, I just saw Ursula and Yorick together!”The originally joy on Stella’s face slowly faded away at the news, her gaze turning icy as well.Yorick Quarry, her fiancé, and they were planning to marry in a week. While Ursula Larkin, just the mention of her name stirred a sense of distaste in Stella.Stella signaled the shop manager, who was fetching the dress. The latter nodded in comprehension. With a wave of her hand, all the staff immediately went away with the manager.Left alone, Stella gazed at her well-manicured nails and asked nonchalantly, “Where did you see them?”Susanna replied, “At the hospital, the gynaecology and obstetrics.”Stella laughed, raising an eyebrow, “Interesting choice of location, indeed.”Men and women visiting a gynaecology and obstetrics together usually hinted at certain implications.Susanna continued, “That Ursula is nothing but a siren, and Yorick’s no better. You should call off the wedding!”Susanna had got irked before Stella did.Stella took a sip from her water glass, “Every time she makes a move, I’m the one who suffers. Why are you getting worked up?”Two years back, Ursula hoped to be forgiven by her before leaving. Now she was back, getting entangled with Yorick. Did she think Stella was too kind, too generous?Susanna snapped, “Choosing to stir things up right before your wedding, she’s clearly up to no good.”Stella’s gaze hardened, “Gotta go.”Susanna asked, “Where are you going?”“If someone’s stirring the pot, might as well see it for myself,” Stella quipped before hanging up.Staring at her reflection in the wedding dress, she reached for the bodice and tore the dress apart, leaving the broken attire scattered on the floor.Upon seeing the scene, the staff nearby turned in shock. Yet, none dared to approach her, given the stern look on her face.Stella changed back into her own clothes, her phone vibrating again. She took a glance. It was Yorick!Once the call was connected, the man’s stern voice came over the phone, “Come to the office once you’re done with the dress.”It’d been two years. During the past two years, Yorick had been nothing but kind and attentive. Now, it seemed things were changing, likely due to Ursula’s return.A trace of sarcasm flashed across Stella’s eyes. Not bothering to give him a reply, she hung up without hesitation.…Half an hour later, Stella entered Yorick’s office to find him making a call near the floor-to-ceiling window.Bathed in sunlight, he looked refreshingly striking, especially his flawless profile. He was expressly lucky to have the looks considered as one-of-the-kind in Portis City.Noticing Stella, he quickly said to someone at the other end of the phone, “Have the lunch without me. Bye.”Grabbing his phone, Yorick went to the sofa and sat down, his previous warmth during the call disappeared, instead coldness creeping in his gaze.He looked over at Stella, “Come here.”Meeting his icy gaze, Stella, instead of sitting beside him as usual, chose a seat across from him. Yorick’s expression grew colder at her aloofness.The click of a lighter filled the room, followed by the scent of gasoline.Stella, disliking the smell, stretched out and waved her hand, but Yorick didn’t seem to care about her feelings, lighting a cigarette.“Ursula’s back,” as he spoke, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes. Even though it still couldn’t stop him from continuing with “We need to postpone the wedding.”After receiving Susanna’s phone call, Stella had already anticipated this.“What do you mean?”Ursula was back, so they needed to postpone their wedding?“She’s sick, very serious,” Yorick explained, handing her a document. He kept on, “Here’s your acceptance letter to St. Pete's University. You should go study first.”His tone was condescending, as if offering her a way out or, more accurately, making space for Ursula.Stella looked at the document in his hand but didn’t take it, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Sending me abroad to clear the way for her?”Yorick’s face darkened, “Isn’t it the school you always wanted to attend? Now…”“Yorick!” Stella cut him off sharply. She snatched the envelope from his hand and tore it to shreds, the fragments scattering across the office. The last piece clung to her finger before she flicked it towards Yorick’s face.At the sight of her defiance, Yorick’s last bit of warmth vanished.Stella didn’t hold back either, declaring, “No need to postpone. Just cancel the wedding.”Why delay? Cancelling it would save everyone the hassle!Yorick's face turned drastically. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from Stella. Her stance took him by surprise.Call off the wedding? Had she...lost her mind?Yorick's voice wavered with emotion, "She's sick, once she recovers, she'll leave again, and then I’ll give you the grander wedding you deserve.""Is it sickness, or is she pregnant?"The moment those words were uttered, the air around them seemed to still.Yorick stared at her, his eyes cold, "What have you found out?"Stella didn’t respond directly; instead, she said, "You and her, showing up unashamed at the hospital, at the gynaecology and obstetrics of all places. Talking about giving me a grander wedding, don’t you find it ironic?"Their wedding was just a week away. He and Ursula were seen at a gynaecology and obstetrics, and another second he was here to talk about the scale of their wedding?Did he really think she wouldn’t have the guts to leave him if he was playing both sides?As Yorick heard her words, his expression grew even more grim, "She's not pregnant, she's ill.""Ill enough to need you accompanying her to the hospital? What exactly is your relationship with her now?"Her sharp counter-question made Yorick’s face darken further.Stella didn’t want to see his face anymore, standing up to walk towards the office door.As she walked, she said, "Since she's back, she might as well stay. After all, she won’t be able to repay her debts to Portis City overnight."Two years of calm and now, turmoil. Yorick, because of Ursula, had torn a rift, and Stella, following suit, had made it irreparable.Relationships, after all, were about mutual effort, not one person striving alone.Yorick’s face darkened, "Don’t make it hard for her!"Stella let out a cold laugh, her hand already on the doorknob.Yorick clenched his teeth, "The wedding, do you think you can just call it off? Or do you think you have a way out with the Larkin family?"The Larkin family, the mention made Stella’s gaze grow colder, a family that couldn’t differentiate between their own.No way out, so be it.She didn’t care.The Larkin family, her blood relatives, who also raised Ursula. Years ago, Ursula’s biological mother, a maid of the Larkins, was pregnant at the same time as Stella’s mother. Desperate for her girl to grow up in affluence due to her unreliable, gambler husband, Ursula’s mother switched the babies at the hospital after the delivery.Ursula’s mother wasn’t exactly conscience-stricken; after taking Stella, she didn’t raise her herself but abandoned her.She continued working as a maid for the Larkins, watching her biological daughter enjoy a better life and staying constantly by her side.It wasn’t until Mrs. Larkin’s car accident three years ago that it was revealed Ursula wasn’t her biological child.A shocking secret unveiled.What followed was a dramatic search for the real daughter.Sadly, even after finding Stella, the family always favored Ursula, the one they had raised.Yorick was right…Calling off the wedding, she had no way out, as the Larkin family had no place for her.Yorick stepped forward, grabbing her delicate wrist, "Once she recovers, I’ll send her away, okay?"He tried to lower his voice, as if to soothe her.Stella glanced at him, her eyes icy, slowly pulling her hand away."You…" Yorick’s expression darkened further.Stella couldn’t bother with another word, turning to leave the office.The sound of her heels clicked away, proud and aloof, just like her!Yorick, always adored and sought after, was left fuming, unbelieving that Stella would actually call off their wedding.After all, everyone had seen her devotion to him over the past two years.With that thought, Yorick didn’t chase after her, instead slamming the door behind him with a loud ‘bang’....The secretarial department, having heard the commotion, all harbored their own thoughts.The dramatic events from two years ago had everyone thinking Stella was trying to steal Yorick from Ursula. So now, with Ursula’s return, they relished in the drama.Whispers among the employees went like, "Ursula has finally come back, serves Stella right!""Exactly, Ursula was forced to leave because of her two years ago. What’s stolen will eventually have to be returned."Overhearing the chatter, Stella, heels clicking, walked directly towards them.The two gossiping assistants were suddenly overshadowed, hurriedly silencing themselves.Stella reached out, forcefully tilting one of their chins up, the assistant was quite beautiful up close.As their eyes met, the assistant was visibly shaken by the fierceness in Stella’s gaze, "Ms. Quinn!"Stella’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Enjoying the gossip about me?"The assistant went pale, "No, I wasn’t...I..."Seeing the fear, Stella released her with disgust, her gaze sweeping across the secretarial department with intimidating sharpness.Everyone quickly looked away, too scared to even breathe too loudly.Stella has just left the office when she spotted Ursula stepping out of a car.Yorick's assistant, Orion, was at the ready, holding the door open for her as she handed him a few shopping bags.“Distribute these among the secretaries, will you?”Her demeanor screamed of a lady of the manor.Orion, ever respectful, took the bags, “Thank you, Ms. Larkin.”Ursula offered a soft nod in acknowledgment and turned, her gaze meeting Stella's across the distance.Stella's eyes narrowed slightly.Ursula paused for a second before she approached Stella with a tone as soft as an elder sister's, “Star.”When the Larkins had brought her back, they mentioned Ursula was older by just an hour.Her tender voice was for Orion's benefit. But her eyes, locked on Stella, were full of challenge.As she drew closer, Ursula's voice dropped to a whisper, “You're his fiancée, yet he has me come to his company. What does that tell you about your place?”Stella's expression turned ice cold. She scoffed, “As long as I wish, I can have any position within his family. But what about you? Aside from visiting him here, can you even step foot in any Quarry property?”Ursula's face faltered. Her gaze, fixing on Stella, suddenly dripped with malice. Obviously, she couldn’t; those old coots in the Quarry family wouldn’t approve.Stella found Ursula’s reaction deeply satisfying.Ursula glared back venomously, “Don't get too comfortable. As long as I'm around, your wedding to him will never happen.”Stella's lips curved into a smirk, her demeanor nonchalant.“There are plenty of fish in the sea. I'm not fixated on marrying him.”The notion of breaking off the wedding as soon as possible with a man that still harbored certain feelings for his first love seemed less of a loss and more of a relief.Ursula stiffened, “What do you mean?”She gazed at Stella in disbelief.Was Stella not madly in love with Yorick? Stella's indifference seemed like a facade, given the drastic scene caused two years ago.Stella replied, “Isn't it clear? Without Yorick, I can find someone else. But you? He's the only man willing to marry you, yet you can't even have a proper wedding.”Ursula, already pale, turned livid at Stella's words.Stella felt utterly pleased at the sight of the warmth on Ursula’s face falling. The latter’s disrespect seemed to Stella that she must have forgotten how she was dealt with two years ago.Not wanting to waste any time with Ursula, she turned to leave, when Ursula, attempting to play the victim, suddenly reached out and gripped her wrist, “Star, I just came back for a check-up. I don't want to ruin things between you and Yorick. Please, don't misunderstand, okay?”Stella snapped, “Let go.”Disgusted by Ursula's touch, she attempted to pull away, but then Ursula dramatically fell to the ground.The impact sounded like a toad fell to the ground from high above, seemingly quite serious.Before Stella could react, Yorick's furious voice soon echoed from not far, “Stella!”So, Ursula was staging another scene, and her audience had arrived.Gazing down, Stella watched the “actress” Ursula as well as a fountain nearby, her lips curling into a smile. Stepping forward, she grabbed Ursula by the hair.Ursula screeched in pain, “Ah...”Her head was submerged into the icy water; suffocation invading in her, she struggled violently. However, Stella gripped her fiercely, reckoning since Ursula’s acting was to wrong her, Stella might as well satisfy her.“Help, Ah!” Ursula pleaded the moment Stella pulled her out, while she was plunged back into the water after few seconds.Upon witnessing the scene, Yorick, who was not far away, howled furiously as he rushed over, “Stella, stop!”Ursula was choked as if her chest was about to burst open, her hands flapping crazily.Yorick came, thrusting Stella away. He pulled Ursula to safety.Ursula was all drenched, while Yorick looked expressly concerned, “How do you feel?”“I...” Ursula gazed at Yorick, her eyes welling up. Because of the pain in the lung, she couldn’t even utter a complete word.Yorick looked at Stella callously, while Stella walked over and stepped on Ursula's wrist, eliciting another scream.“Ah!’Yorick's anger flared, “Stella!”He thrust her away, while she responded by tossing her purse at him, striking him on the head.Yorick was caught off guard by the strike, the fury in his gaze deepened.This woman...Stella didn't wait for his reaction, instead kicking Ursula once more for good measure.The confrontation left Ursula gasping for air and nursing a swollen leg.