Chapter 3

Ethan wasted no time.

Early the next morning, he moved Chloe into the Sterling mansion.

I stood on the third-floor balcony, leaning against the railing. I watched the servants carry suitcase after suitcase into the second-floor rooms.

My heart was strangely calm. Just as I was about to turn around and go back to my room, my eyes caught the wedding photo hanging on the wall.

It was Ethan’s favorite picture, the one we used to welcome guests at our wedding.

I calmly called over a nearby maid.

"Take down the wedding photo."

"Now that Miss Bennett has moved in, keeping this up is just awkward, don't you think?"

The maid froze. "But Ma'am... last time Miss Bennett just accidentally brushed against it, and you threw a massive fit..."

Seeing her hesitate, I said softly, "Like you said, that was before. Now, I just don't want to look at it anymore."

The maid took the photo down.

I returned to my room.

Not long after I lay down, my bedroom door was pushed open.

Chloe walked in, carrying a cup of hot tea.

This was the first time I had actually faced her since arriving in this future.

She wore a simple white dress. With her delicate features and fragile frame, she easily triggered a man’s instinct to protect her.

Chloe smiled as she approached, placing the tea on the nightstand.

"Well, Stella, it seems your little drama didn't work out."

"You fought so hard for so many years, but in the end, you still had to let me move in through the front door."

I looked at her calmly.

"Women like you are dime a dozen in the Sterling family. No matter how much Ethan favors you, you still need the wife's permission to live in this house."

"If you're really that capable, kick me out and take my place as the official Mrs. Sterling."

Chloe’s face twisted in anger. "What do you have to brag about?"

"I am the woman Ethan loves most now!"

"He chased you for three years, and loved you for three years after marriage. That's only six years in total."

"But he and I have been together for seven years now!"

Seven years.

Those words felt like a knife driving deep into my chest.

The pain made me turn pale, my lips trembling. I couldn't utter a single word.

Just as I was about to kick her out, a flash of malice crossed Chloe's eyes. She suddenly grabbed the cup of hot tea and poured it directly onto her own arm without a second thought!

"Ah!" A piercing scream echoed through the room.

Almost instantly, the bedroom door was kicked open.

Chloe's eyes welled with tears, her voice shaking. "Ethan, don't blame Stella... I just wanted to show her respect by serving her tea. She probably found me eyesore and got angry..."

Before she could finish, her tears fell.

Ethan rushed over and looked at me, his eyes burning with fury.

"You should know the rules of this house, Stella. Now that Chloe is here, she has the same rights and status as you. You have no right to bully her!"

I propped myself up. "I didn't touch her. She poured it on herself."

"Still lying?" Ethan turned to the bodyguards standing at the door.

"Go. Bring up ten cups of boiling tea."

Two heavy-handed bodyguards immediately pinned my shoulders down.

Ethan gripped Chloe's hand, guiding her to pick up the first cup of boiling tea.

The moment the hot liquid splashed onto my skin, a searing, unbearable pain exploded across my arm.

The second cup.

The third cup.

The scalding water kept pouring down. My arm quickly turned bright red, and painful blisters began to bubble up.

I bit my lip so hard it bled. My mind flashed back to many years ago.

Back then, I had only nicked my finger on a broken piece of porcelain, and Ethan had rushed me to the hospital, his eyes red with worry as he said, “Stella, I can’t bear to see you in pain.”

But now, as ten cups of boiling tea scalded my flesh, he didn't even blink.

When the last cup was poured, I was trembling so hard I could barely sit up.

Ethan coldly let go of my hand.

"Remember, this is your first warning."

"Do it again, and it won't just be tea."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Chloe and walked out.

The door slammed shut.

I collapsed onto the floor, the pain so intense I almost blacked out.