Chapter 6

Stella's POV

I forced my eyes open, looking at the respectful housekeeper of the Sterlings. My dry, cracked lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

"Please don't move." The housekeeper gently opened the medical kit and retrieved a bottle. "This is a rare ointment from the Sterling family's collection. It works wonders for whip wounds and swelling. Mr. Sterling instructed us that under no circumstances should you be forced to marry with injuries—he would be heartbroken."

Heartbroken.

The word hit my shattered heart like a sudden wave of warmth. The Sterling patriarch—rumored to be a violent, disfigured, and blind monster—was actually the only person in this world who had shown me any kindness. My eyes grew hot, and I squeezed out a response with effort: "Thank you."

After helping me apply the medicine, the housekeeper respectfully withdrew. The ointment was indeed miraculous; the moment it was applied, a cool sensation washed over me, instantly easing most of the burning pain and significantly reducing the swelling on my face.

I forced my body upright, clutching the remaining ointment tightly in my hand as if it were a lifeline.

*Bang!*

The door of the utility room was kicked open with brute force. Julian Vance stood in the doorway against the light, his tall frame exuding an intense, overbearing pressure. His gaze locked onto the delicate white bottle in my hand, and his face instantly darkened.

"Where did you get that medicine?" Julian strode over, glaring down at me.

I stared back at him coldly and tucked the ointment into my shirt, my voice as flat as if I were speaking to a total stranger. "That is none of your business."

"You—" stung by my cold indifference, Julian grabbed my chin, forcing my head up. He insulted me with an even harsher tone. "Stella Mercer, stop acting so righteous in front of me! It's only natural to be punished for stealing!"

I whipped my head to the side, breaking free of his grip. "Get out."

Julian scoffed in sheer anger. "Fine. Very well. Let's see who else can protect you!" He turned around and stormed off.

That evening, I dragged my battered body toward the kitchen to get some water. As I rounded a corner in the hallway, I overheard a conversation between Julian and his assistant.

"Go find out! Find out who delivered that medicine to Stella Mercer today!" Julian's voice was cold and ruthless. "Once you find them, blacklist them immediately. Make sure they can no longer survive in New York!"

The assistant hesitated, trying to reason with him in a low voice. "Mr. Vance, isn't this a bit too harsh? Ms. Stella Mercer's injuries are indeed very severe. If they aren't treated, I'm afraid she might..."

"She must be punished!" Julian interrupted without a second thought, his voice dripping with malice. "She is always bullying Gemma; her heart is wicked. I am only doing this to teach her a lesson!"

Around the corner, I stood silently, my breathing perfectly steady. My heart was already dead, and the dead do not feel pain.

In the hallway, the assistant watched as Julian irritably lit a cigarette. He couldn't help but ask the question weighing on his mind, "Mr. Vance, there is one thing I don't quite understand. Why do you... love Ms. Gemma Mercer so deeply? To the point that you would ruthlessly target Ms. Stella Mercer like this without even a basic investigation?"

Julian exhaled a cloud of smoke. Through the swirling haze, his gaze grew distant and tender.

"You don't understand," Julian's voice softened as he drifted into his memories. "Three years ago, I survived an avalanche on a snowy mountain. I suffered a severe head injury, and the internal bleeding pressed against my optic nerve, causing me to go blind. She was the one who saved me."

"For days, we could barely move in that frozen wasteland. She fed me the last of her dry rations. She even cut her own wrist to feed me her blood. She held me close, using her own body heat to keep me warm. Although I couldn't see her face, I remembered her voice, and I remembered her scent."

Julian paused, a flash of heartache crossing his eyes. "In that snowy mountain, she wept as she told me that she had a miserable life at the Mercer house. She said no one loved her, that she was constantly bullied, and lived worse than a servant. Assistant, think about it. Stella Mercer is the real heiress who was just brought back. The Mercer parents feel guilty toward her, so they naturally dote on her. In that case, who else could be the one suffering and getting bullied in that household besides Gemma, the fake heiress who lost everything the moment the real heiress returned?"

The assistant opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words.

Julian crushed his cigarette butt, his tone unwavering. "She risked her life to save me. I swore that in this lifetime, I would lay the best of everything in the world at her feet. Anyone who dares to hurt her will pay with their life!"

I didn't listen any further. Turning around, I silently went back to my room.

My heart was completely dead to him now.