Chapter 2

Stella’s POV

Julian climbed into bed later that night, sliding behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist.

I shifted away slightly. "I'm not feeling well tonight."

His hand hovered in midair for a beat before drawing back. He didn't force it. He simply gathered me into his arms from behind, resting his chin against my collarbone. Soon, his breathing steadied into deep sleep.

I didn't close my eyes all night.

Listening to his steady breathing, I reviewed everything I needed to do the next day. My essentials were already packed. My documents were hidden at the back of the drawer. The balance in my personal checking account was enough to keep me afloat in New York for several months. I walked through every step in my head like rehearsing a play where no mistakes were allowed.

A few times in his sleep, Julian tightened his grip, pulling me closer against his chest. I didn't resist. I let him hold me, feeling the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my spine—calm and untouched, as if nothing had changed.

Only when dawn broke did I manage to drift into a shallow, fitful sleep.

Early the next morning, Julian left for the corporate office. I walked downstairs to find Jenkins, the butler.

He was currently briefing the kitchen staff on breakfast preparations. When he saw me approach, he gave a polite nod.

"Jenkins," I said calmly. "I'm moving out. I'm heading back to New York."

Jenkins froze, the leather-bound menu in his hands tightening. "Miss Ward... a matter like this... I need to confirm with Mr. Sterling first."

"Go ahead and ask him," I said. "I'll be in my room waiting."

Jenkins watched me walk away. He opened his mouth, but swallowed his words, letting out a quiet sigh before pulling out his phone to text Julian.

I turned to head upstairs, pausing right at the landing.

Down in the foyer, Julian had somehow returned. He was standing right in front of Camilla, holding a beige cashmere coat and gently draping it over her shoulders. Camilla tilted her head up, laughing softly as she said something. Julian smiled warmly, reaching out to straighten her collar.

Then he picked up a cup of hot black tea from the console and handed it to her with an effortless intimacy, as if he had done it thousands of times before.

I stood on the landing, watching them for two silent seconds.

I didn't make a sound. I turned around and walked away.

Back in my room, I sat by the window, staring down at the garden. About ten minutes later, a sharp clatter echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering.

Then came Camilla's soft, panicked cry.

I didn't move. I already knew what had happened. Camilla had knocked over her tea and scalded her hand. Julian would be beside himself with worry.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Jenkins knocked on my door.

"Miss Ward," Jenkins began, his expression uneasy. "Mr. Sterling said... you may do whatever you please."

I looked up. "Did he say those exact words?"

Jenkins gave a stiff nod. "Miss Frost scalded her hand. Mr. Sterling carried her to the private clinic himself. He said it on his way out the door."

A faint smile touched my lips. "Understood."

Jenkins lingered by the doorway, looking like he wanted to offer some comfort, but in the end, he just sighed and walked away.

I started doing a final inventory of my things.

I didn't own much. Everything I truly cared about fit into a single carry-on suitcase. The designer clothes Julian had bought me over the years would stay right where they were; I had no intention of taking any of them. The books I brought from New York numbered only three. I didn't touch the jewelry box.

Once I finished, I walked downstairs.

The foyer was empty now. Stains from the shattered cup lingered on the marble table, and a dark brown puddle of tea soaked into the edge of the rug. The maids were scrubbing it out, and when they saw me coming down, they instantly froze.

I didn't look at them. I kept walking toward the front door.

As I passed the open kitchen, hushed whispers drifted out.

"Mr. Sterling truly dotes on Miss Frost. When he rushed her to the clinic just now, one of his shoes came right off."

"Ever since Miss Frost came back, he's like a completely different person. He never treated Miss Ward with that kind of urgency."

"Miss Ward is out of the picture now, isn't she? I heard she told Jenkins this morning that she's moving out, and Mr. Sterling didn't even care."

"Poor thing. She lived here all these years, and when she leaves, nobody even bothers to ask her to stay."

"Shh! Keep it down!"

Standing outside the kitchen, I listened to their pity and smiled faintly.

I didn't bother to correct them, nor did I stop walking.

I pushed open the heavy front doors. The morning sunlight was a little blinding. I squinted slightly and stepped out into the warmth.

The estate security guard greeted me, asking if I was heading out. I nodded, telling him I had a few errands to run.

My suitcase remained upstairs in my room, and for now, so did I. There were still loose ends in San Francisco that needed tying up before I could leave for good.