Divorced, I Became His Untouchable Star

On our seventh anniversary, I prepared a candlelight dinner and waited until late. Instead, I saw news flooding the internet:

Ethan Hunt spent a hundred million dollars on a drone light show for his mistress's birthday.

Under the lights, they kissed passionately.

I lost it. I rushed to confront him, clawing at him, slapping his face, calling him a heartless bastard.

What I got back was cyberbullying from every direction.

"What a psycho! No wonder Mr. Hunt found someone else!"

Even my own kids took Sophia Warren's side.

"Mom is so mean! Dad, you should divorce Mom and marry Sophia!"

That was the moment my heart died completely.

Your whole family loves Sophia Warren so much? Fine. I'll make it happen for you.

Stella's POV

Eleven at night. New York's lights were dazzling.

I sat at the long French dining table, staring at the cold dishes. Today was my seventh wedding anniversary with Ethan Hunt.

I started cooking at three in the afternoon. I cut my finger chopping vegetables. Hot oil splattered on my hand. But I was happy.

Because Ethan once said my homemade pan-seared foie gras was his favorite.

Now the food on the table was cold. Just like my heart, sinking lower by the minute.

My phone screen lit up with a push notification.

#Billionaire CEO Ethan Hunt Spends 0-000 Million on Drone Light Show Just to Make His First Love Smile#

I clicked on the video. In the night sky, tens of thousands of drones formed a sky full of stars, finally converging into a single sentence. "Sophia, welcome home."

In the corner of the video, Ethan wore a custom-made black suit, sheltering a delicate woman in his arms. The way he looked down at her was tender enough to melt.

I watched quietly. Suddenly, tears fell onto the screen.

Everyone in New York said Ethan Hunt spoiled me rotten.

In our seven years of marriage, he gave me the wedding of the century, unlimited black cards, and even bought me a private island.

He never let me work, publicly declaring me his queen.

But only I knew that the island was named after his mistress.

He gave me black cards because he didn't want to spend time shopping with me.

He didn't let me work because his mistress Sophia Warren once said she hated women who smelled of cooking oil. And he didn't want to smell that on me.

All his "affection" was nothing more than a gilded cage built with money, used to conceal a heart that was never mine.

The door lock clicked.

Ethan pushed through the door, bringing with him a wave of cold air and a faint scent of jasmine perfume. That was Sophia Warren's favorite scent.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" He loosened his tie without even glancing at the food on the table, his tone carrying a trace of barely concealed impatience.

"Today is our seventh wedding anniversary." My voice was soft, sounding particularly thin in the empty dining room.

Ethan's hand paused on his cufflinks, his brow furrowing slightly. "Sorry, something urgent came up at the company. I forgot. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant take you to pick out a bag, or if you see a mansion you like, just swipe the card."

Again. Always dismissing me with money.

"Company emergency?" I lifted my head, looking directly into his eyes. "You mean spending a hundred million dollars on a drone show to welcome Sophia Warren back to the country?"

Ethan's expression darkened instantly, his eyes turning icy. "You're investigating me?"

"It's all over the internet. I don't need to investigate." I stood up, my nails digging deep into my palms. "Ethan Hunt, what am I to you?"

"Sophia had a really hard time abroad. She has severe depression.

I'm just welcoming her back as an old friend to help stabilize her emotions.

"Ethan looked at me, his tone full of reproach. "Stella, when did you become so unreasonable? You're healthy, you have the status of Mrs. Hunt and unlimited money. Why do you have to compete with someone who's sick?"

I laughed bitterly. Right. I was healthy, so I deserved to be ignored.

Just then, two children's voices came from outside the door.

Six-year-old Lucas and four-year-old Emma ran in, still holding limited edition toys in their hands.

"Dad! The Transformers Sophia gave me is so cool!" Lucas waved the toy excitedly.

Emma came over too, holding up a doll. "Sophia took us for ice cream too! Sophia is the best, ten thousand times better than Mom! Mom never lets us eat ice cream at night!"

My whole body stiffened as I stared at Ethan in shock. "You took them to see Sophia Warren?"

"Sophia loves children." Ethan said flatly. "The kids like her a lot too. What's the problem?"

"I'm their biological mother!" My voice finally trembled.

"So what?" Lucas suddenly shouted at me. "All you do is make us eat vegetables and practice piano! Sophia says kids should be happy! We like Sophia. We don't want you bossing us around!"

Emma chimed in. "Yeah! You're a bad mom! We want Sophia to be our mom!"

The children's words were like knives, cutting deep into my heart. The children I gave life to. The children I stayed up countless nights caring for.

They denied all my devotion so easily.

All for a woman who just came back and bought them snacks a few times.

I looked at these three people who were supposed to be the most important in my life, and suddenly felt they were complete strangers.

I didn't try to comfort the children like I usually did, nor did I continue arguing with Ethan.

I just lowered my eyes calmly and said softly, "Alright. I understand."

Since you all think she's so wonderful, I'll make it happen for you.

Stella's POV

The next morning, I didn't get up early to prepare breakfast for the family like usual.

I put on light makeup, dressed in a sharp trench coat, and went to Ethan Hunt's company. He'd left in such a hurry last night that he'd left an important cross-border acquisition document in his study.

When I reached the door to the CEO's office, it was ajar. Inside, I could hear Ethan laughing with some friends.

"Ethan, last night's welcome ceremony was really spectacular. Everyone in our circle is talking about it. You welcomed your first love back so publicly. Mrs. Hunt didn't make a scene?"

Ethan chuckled lightly, his voice casual. "What would she make a scene about? She can't leave me."

"True. Stella is so mild-mannered, like plain water. But what are you really planning to do?"

Ethan lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his tone chillingly indifferent. "Stella is suitable as a wife. She's obedient and keeps the house in order. But Sophia is different. Sophia is my soulmate. I can give Stella the title of Mrs. Hunt and endless money, but my heart can only belong to Sophia."

Standing outside the door, my breath caught sharply.

Seven years of marriage. Seven years of humiliation. In his eyes, I was nothing more than an "obedient" housekeeper.

I didn't push the door open to confront him. I just handed the documents to the secretary at the door and turned to leave. My steps were steady, my back straight. Only I knew that my heart had shattered into dust.

Back at the mansion, I began organizing my personal belongings.

I opened the safe, wanting to take out the only memento my mother left me, a gold bracelet encrusted with gemstones.

Mother had put it on my wrist on her deathbed, making me promise to pass it on to my future daughter.

But the jewelry box was empty.

My head buzzed. I immediately called for the housekeeper. "Where's the bracelet from the safe?"

The housekeeper's eyes shifted, hesitating. "Madam... yesterday when the master came back for documents, he took the bracelet with him. He said... he said..."

"What did he say?!"

"The master said Miss Warren hasn't been sleeping well lately. She likes gemstones, so the master took it for Miss Warren to wear for a few days..."

I felt dizzy, blood rushing to my head. My hands trembling, I dialed Ethan Hunt's number.

"Ethan Hunt, give me back my mother's bracelet!" The moment he answered, I practically ground out these words through clenched teeth.

On the other end, Ethan's voice was displeased. "What are you freaking out about now? It's just a bracelet. Sophia saw it in a photo last night and liked it, so I let her wear it for a few days. She's emotionally unstable right now and needs these things to calm her down."

"That's mine! It's the memento my mother left me!" My voice was hoarse with a desperate sob.

"Stella, can't you be less petty?" Ethan's tone grew increasingly impatient. "Sophia's just wearing it for a few days. It's not like she won't return it. At worst, I'll go to the auction house tomorrow and buy you ten better bracelets! Don't bother her. She can't handle stress."

With that, he hung up directly.

Listening to the dial tone, I slowly slid to the floor.

Ten better ones? Did he think money could buy everything?

He trampled on my dignity, my boundaries, my memories of my mother, all to make his "soulmate" smile.

That evening, Lucas and Emma came home from school.

Seeing me sitting in the living room in a daze, Lucas ran over and held out his hand. "Mom, Sophia said that bracelet is really pretty. Do you have any others? Sophia said she wants a matching pair."

I stared at my own biological son in shock. "Do you know that was Grandma's bracelet to me?"

"Grandma's been dead for so long, what's the point of keeping it?" Emma pouted nearby. "Sophia looks way better wearing it than you do. Dad said as long as Sophia is happy, she can have anything. Mom, you're so stingy!"

I looked at these two young but cold faces before me and suddenly laughed.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

What sin had I committed to fall in love with such a man and give birth to two such ungrateful children?

Stella's POV

I didn't wait for Ethan Hunt to return the bracelet. I took a cab directly to the five-star hotel where Sophia Warren was staying.

The presidential suite door opened. Sophia Warren wore a silk robe, and on her wrist was clearly my mother's gemstone bracelet.

"Stella? What are you doing here?" Sophia feigned surprise, though a flash of provocation crossed her eyes.

"Give me back the bracelet." I extended my hand expressionlessly.

Sophia touched the bracelet on her wrist. Instantly, her eyes reddened, looking pitiful.

"Stella, I'm sorry. I didn't know this was your mother's memento. Ethan insisted on giving it to me, saying the color suited my complexion and would improve my mood... Don't be angry at Ethan. I'll return it to you right now."

As she spoke, she reached to remove the bracelet.

But just as the bracelet was about to slip off her wrist, her hand suddenly slipped.

"Crack!"

The sharp sound of shattering echoed in the quiet hallway.

The bracelet that carried all my memories of my mother's love fell onto the marble floor. The gemstones scattered everywhere.

My breathing stopped instantly. I stared at the scattered gemstones on the floor, feeling like my soul had also been shattered.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Sophia cried out, tears falling in large drops. "Stella, I really didn't mean to. My hand suddenly had no strength..."

"What are you doing?!"

The elevator doors opened. Ethan Hunt strode over, pushing me aside and pulling the gasping Sophia into his arms.

"Ethan, I broke Stella's bracelet... She must hate me now..." Sophia leaned against Ethan, trembling.

Ethan looked at me coldly, his eyes full of disgust.

"Stella, haven't you caused enough trouble? I said I'd compensate you. Did you really have to come here and bully a sick person? It's just a bracelet. You drove Sophia to this state over it?!"

I slowly crouched down, picking up the scattered gemstones one by one. I gripped them so tightly that their sharp edges cut into my palm. Blood flowed down through my fingers, dripping onto the carpet.

But I felt no pain. Because the pain in my heart had already exceeded any physical limit.

I didn't cry, nor did I have a hysterical argument. I just slowly stood up, looking at Ethan Hunt with the eyes of a stranger.

"Ethan Hunt," my voice was so calm it was frightening, "you don't need to compensate me."

I turned and walked toward the elevator, leaving that damned place.

Back at the mansion, I carefully placed the bracelet and scattered gemstones in a box. Then I went to the study, opened my computer, and typed up a divorce agreement.

I wanted nothing. Not the Hunt family assets, not that island, not even those two children who saw me as an enemy.

I only wanted freedom.

That night, when Ethan Hunt returned home, he saw the divorce agreement on the desk.

He sneered and tossed the agreement onto the table.

I saw what he did but didn't react. I turned and went to the bedroom to pack my luggage.

"Stella, what game are you playing now?" He walked to the bedroom, watching me pack, his tone mocking. "Threatening me with divorce? You think you can survive without me? What have you done these seven years besides spend my money?"

I zipped up my suitcase, turned around, and handed him a pen.

"Sign it. We'll file for divorce tomorrow."

Ethan Hunt looked into my emotionless eyes. A flash of panic crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by anger.

"Fine! Since you insist on being unreasonable, I'll give you what you want!" He snatched the pen and signed his name on the agreement with a flourish. "I'd like to see how long you can last without me! Don't come crawling back begging me to remarry!"

I collected the agreement and said flatly, "Don't worry. I'd rather die than come back."

Ethan Hunt's POV

On the first day after the divorce, I heard Stella had moved out of the Hunt mansion and into a small apartment she'd bought before our marriage.

She left decisively, taking none of the designer clothes or jewelry I'd bought her.

At the Hunt mansion, no one felt anything was wrong at first.

I thought she was just throwing a tantrum and would obediently return within three days. Lucas and Emma were even happy, thinking they'd finally gotten rid of the "bad mom" who was always controlling them.

That same afternoon, Sophia Warren moved into my house under the pretense of "taking care of the children."

"Ethan, these living room curtains are too dark. They're depressing. Can we change them to cream?" Sophia leaned against me, speaking delicately.

"Sure, whatever you want." I affectionately tapped her nose.

And so, the blackout curtains Stella had personally selected to protect my sensitive sleep were thrown in the trash. The roses she'd planted in the garden were uprooted and replaced with Sophia's favorite bellflowers. Every trace of her in this house was being rapidly erased.

Lucas and Emma became Sophia's little shadows.

"Sophia, I don't want to do homework. I want to play games!" I watched Lucas tug on Sophia's sleeve, acting cute.

"Of course! Kids should be happy. You can do your homework tomorrow." Sophia gently patted his head, then immediately added ten thousand dollars to his game account.

Emma refused to eat dinner, demanding fried chicken and fries. Sophia immediately had the servants buy some and even joined her in drinking ice-cold soda.

"Sophia is the best! We never want Mom to come back!" The two children ate the greasy food, laughing happily.

Watching this scene, I felt very pleased. This was the family atmosphere I wanted, relaxed and happy, without Stella's suffocating rules and boring routine.

But what I didn't expect was that a week later, the Hunt household became chaotic.

My stomach condition flared up. I was used to drinking the yogurt she made for me every morning. Now when the servants made it, it was either too thick or too thin. I took one sip and spat it out. When I came home from business dinners at night, without that perfectly-temperatured hangover soup, my headaches kept me up all night.

Lucas got called in by his teacher for not turning in homework for a week straight and getting into a fight with a classmate.

Emma developed acute gastroenteritis from eating fried chicken and drinking cold beverages every day.

When the teacher called, I was in the middle of an international conference call.

"I'm very sorry, teacher. I'll have someone from home handle it right away. I have some urgent matters here, but I'll notify the family shortly." I hastily placated the teacher and hung up.

The butler also called to inform me of the children's situations. The house was in chaos. When I got home, Emma was crying miserably in bed while Lucas was throwing things in a tantrum nearby.

"Where's Sophia?" I asked, suppressing my stomach pain.

"Miss Warren... went to get a beauty treatment." The butler answered nervously.

Looking at the mess everywhere, Stella's image suddenly flashed through my mind. When she was here, this house was always clean and tidy, the children were always well-behaved and healthy, and my stomach never hurt like this.

I couldn't help but take out my phone and dial Stella's number.

"Hello?" Her cool voice came through.

"Emma's sick, and Lucas got in trouble at school." My tone carried a trace of barely perceptible apology. "Haven't you caused enough trouble? If you're done, get back here and take care of your children!"

She laughed softly on the other end, her voice cold as ice. "Mr. Hunt, we're already divorced. They're your children now, and Sophia Warren's children. They have nothing to do with me. Don't call to harass me again."

With that, she hung up without hesitation.

Stella's POV

In my small apartment, I picked up my paintbrush again.

Before marriage, I had been a highly talented jewelry designer in the industry. For Ethan Hunt's single phrase "I'll take care of you," I gave up my career to become a housewife. Now, I needed to find myself again.

I no longer woke at five in the morning to prepare his breakfast, no longer made hangover soup in the middle of the night, no longer worried about the children's education and nutrition.

I devoted all my time to myself.

After hanging up, my hands trembled slightly.

To say I didn't care about the children at all would be a lie. They were my children, after all.

But when I remembered Lucas saying "we don't want you bossing us around," when I recalled Emma saying "you're a bad mom," my heart turned to stone.

I couldn't keep pining for them, couldn't let them use family ties to manipulate me, only to end up in a pathetic state.

However, fate always seemed to love playing jokes on me.

A few days later, while pulling an all-nighter at my studio working on design drafts, I caught a severe cold that triggered a high fever.

My temperature spiked to 103 degrees. My whole body ached, and I didn't even have the strength to stand. The apartment was empty. I tried to pour myself water, but my legs gave out and I fell heavily to the floor.

My phone was nearby. I struggled to crawl toward it. Through blurred vision, I accidentally pressed Ethan Hunt's number.

The phone rang for a long time before someone answered, but it was Lucas's voice.

"Hello? Why are you calling?" Lucas's voice was impatient.

"Lucas..." My voice was so weak it was barely audible. "Mom has a fever. I can't get up... Can you let Dad answer the phone and call an ambulance for Mom..."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Emma's voice came through. "Brother, Sophia said that woman is always faking illness to trick Dad! We shouldn't pay attention to her!"

Lucas immediately said, "Stop pretending! Sophia took us to the amusement park today, and Dad's here too. We're having so much fun! Don't think you can use this excuse to trick Dad away!"

The call was hung up mercilessly.

I lay on the cold floor, tears silently falling.

A family of four.

So in their hearts, Sophia Warren was the real mom. And I was just some bad woman who faked illness to deceive people.

The high fever made my head spin in waves, and breathing became increasingly difficult. I knew if I didn't save myself, I might die here.

With my last bit of survival instinct, I bit through my lip, using the pain to keep myself conscious, and tremblingly dialed emergency services.

When the ambulance arrived, I'd already fallen into semi-consciousness.

In the hospital emergency room, the doctor hooked me up to fever-reducing medication. The cold liquid flowed into my veins, yet it couldn't match the chill in my heart.

The TV in the hospital room was on, playing an entertainment news segment.

"Today, netizens spotted Hunt Corporation CEO Ethan Hunt at a major amusement park. Mr. Hunt was accompanied by his first love Sophia Warren and a pair of children, all four wearing matching Mickey Mouse headbands and smiling sweetly like a happy family. It seems the rumors of Mr. Hunt's marital problems with his wife are not just rumors..."

On the screen, Ethan held Emma with one arm while his other hand held Sophia's. Sophia held Lucas's hand. All four were laughing so brilliantly in front of a carousel.

In Ethan's eyes was a relaxed affection I'd never seen before.

I watched the screen quietly. I didn't cry or make a scene.

I just felt tired. A weariness that went deep into my bones.

I reached out and pulled the IV needle from the back of my hand. Blood gushed out, but I didn't even furrow my brow.

A nurse rushed over in alarm. "What are you doing! You still have a fever!"

"I'm fine now." I pressed a cotton swab to the needle mark, my voice calm. "I want to be discharged."

From this moment on, my last thread of attachment and hope for Ethan Hunt and those two children completely vanished.

Stella's POV

Day twenty after the divorce.

Today was Lucas and Emma's kindergarten graduation performance.

Half a month ago, before I'd moved out of the Hunt household, I'd stayed up several nights to personally sew performance costumes for the two children. They were two exquisite little prince and princess outfits, every stitch infused with all my love.

Though I'd decided to let go completely, since the clothes were finished, I decided to deliver them anyway. I'd treat it as drawing a final line under this mother-child relationship.

Carrying the paper bag with the clothes, I arrived at the kindergarten's backstage dressing room.

The dressing room was noisy. I immediately spotted Ethan Hunt and Sophia Warren surrounded by people in the center.

Sophia was holding two sparkly outfits covered in rhinestones, comparing them against the two children.

"Wow! The clothes Sophia bought are so pretty! All shiny diamonds!" Emma spun around excitedly.

"Of course! Auntie specially had these air-shipped from a Paris haute couture workshop. Our Emma and Lucas have to be the most dazzling ones there!" Sophia smiled warmly.

I stood in the doorway, looking at the plain paper bag in my hands, suddenly feeling rather ridiculous.

I walked forward and placed the paper bag on the table, my tone flat. "I finished the clothes and brought them over. You can wear them if you want."

When they saw me, the atmosphere in the dressing room instantly cooled.

Emma glanced at the fabric peeking out of the paper bag and wrinkled her nose in disgust. "These ugly clothes? I'm not wearing them! They're not shiny at all! Like something a beggar would wear!"

With that, she grabbed the little princess dress I'd stayed up with red eyes to sew and threw it hard on the floor, then stomped on it several times.

"Yeah! So ugly! We only want what Sophia bought!" Lucas chimed in.

Black shoe prints instantly appeared on the white hem.

My heart spasmed sharply, but my facial expression remained unchanged.

Ethan Hunt looked at the clothes on the floor, his brow furrowing, his eyes carrying a trace of reproach as he looked at me. "Stella, can you stop forcing your cheap aesthetic on the children? Today is their important day. Do you really have to bring these rags to embarrass them?"

Cheap aesthetic. Rags.

Looking at Ethan Hunt's face, I suddenly felt like the past seven years had been a joke.

I bent down and picked up the dress that had been stepped on, brushing off the dust.

"You're right." I straightened up, looking at Ethan Hunt, the corner of my mouth lifting in a mocking arc. "I was the one disturbing you. You really don't deserve to wear clothes I made."

With that, in front of everyone, I walked to the trash can in the corner and without hesitation threw in those two outfits I'd poured countless hours of effort into.

"Stella! What the hell is wrong with you!" Ethan Hunt was enraged by my actions, feeling I'd trampled on his dignity in front of everyone.

"Trash belongs in the trash can." I dusted off my hands, my eyes coldly sweeping over Ethan Hunt and those two children. "I hope you all enjoy the performance. I won't disturb you two anymore."

I turned and strode out of the dressing room, my back straight, without a trace of attachment.

I left quickly, leaving those trashy people and things far behind me.

Stella's POV

Day twenty-eight after the divorce.

New York's annual top-tier charity gala was being held at a five-star hotel.

As the CEO's wife of Hunt Corporation, before the divorce proceedings were officially finalized, I had to attend to maintain the Hunt family's dignity.

Ethan Hunt's special assistant had personally called to notify me, his tone brooking no refusal.

I agreed. Because tonight was also my first public appearance as the independent jewelry designer "Star" domestically.

When I appeared in the banquet hall wearing a perfectly tailored black velvet backless evening gown, adorned with a ruby necklace from my own "Phoenix" collection, all eyes were drawn to me.

I was no longer that Mrs. Hunt who always wore plain suits with downcast eyes and a submissive manner. Tonight's version of me was radiant, coolly elegant, and beautiful enough that people couldn't look away.

Ethan Hunt stood in the center of the crowd watching me. I noticed his gaze pause for an instant.

However, the next second, his brow furrowed. Because I didn't even glance at him, instead walking directly toward several business elites to chat with them.

Sophia Warren stood beside Ethan Hunt, wearing a pure white lace gown. I didn't miss the flash of jealous hatred in Sophia's eyes.

Halfway through the gala came the free networking time.

I was standing by the buffet table, discussing design philosophy with a famous fashion editor.

Sophia Warren walked over on Ethan Hunt's arm.

"Stella, you look beautiful today. Did you buy this necklace yourself? Ethan doesn't seem to have ever given you such expensive jewelry." Sophia's voice was clear, just loud enough for those around us to hear, as if implying I wasn't favored.

I didn't even give her a glance, just said flatly to the editor, "Excuse me, I need to step away for a moment."

I turned to leave, but a server carrying hot soup rushed by. His feet slipped, and the entire pot of scalding soup splashed directly toward Sophia and me.

"Ah!" Sophia screamed.

In that critical instant, Ethan Hunt didn't hesitate for a second. He pulled Sophia into his arms, using his broad back to shield her.

And I, thrown off balance by Ethan's motion of pulling Sophia, tilted forward.

Splash.

More than half the pot of scalding soup poured onto my fair arms and shoulders.

I sucked in a sharp breath. Intense burning pain instantly swept through my entire body. My fair skin visibly reddened and blistered.

Exclamations rang out around us.Ethan Hunt heard the commotion and turned around. Seeing me pale-faced and clutching my arm, his pupils constricted sharply.

He instinctively wanted to let go of Sophia to check my injuries, but the woman in his arms suddenly rolled her eyes back and fainted limply.

"Sophia! Sophia, what's wrong!" Ethan panicked instantly, scooping Sophia up into his arms.

He turned to look at me, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes, but ultimately he gritted his teeth and said, "Go take care of yourself. Sophia fainted. I have to take her to the hospital immediately!"

With that, he carried Sophia and rushed out of the banquet hall without looking back.

I stood there. The blisters on my arm had already burst. The pain was excruciating.

The people around me whispered to each other, their eyes full of pity and mockery.

Stella's POV

"Mr. Hunt is so heartless. His wife got burned so badly and he doesn't care, just runs off with his mistress."

"Who doesn't know Mrs. Hunt is just for show? Sophia Warren is his true love."

Listening to these comments, the corners of my mouth curved into a smile of relief.

I didn't cry, nor did I ask for help. I straightened my back and, step by step in my high heels, walked out of the banquet hall with grace and determination.

In the restroom, I rinsed my wounds with cold water. Looking at the woman in the mirror with a pale face but determined eyes, I knew this seven-year torment was finally coming to an end.

One month after the divorce.

At nine in the morning, I arrived at the Hunt family mansion.

Due to busy affairs and the fact that divorce proceedings did take some time, I hadn't returned recently to get the divorce certificate. Today I happened to be free, so I came to the Hunt mansion to pick up the divorce papers.

I wore a simple white shirt and jeans, my arm still wrapped in gauze. I arrived early and waited in the living room, my expression as calm as if I were waiting for a cup of coffee.

At nine-thirty, Ethan Hunt finally showed up.

He wore a custom-made suit, his brow furrowed, with faint dark circles under his eyes. I heard that Sophia Warren had been emotionally unstable at the hospital all last night, and he'd barely slept.

Seeing the gauze on my arm, his eyes flickered and his tone was somewhat stiff. "Your hand... is it better?"

"I won't die." My tone was indifferent as I reached out directly to ask for the divorce certificate. "Please hurry. I'm in a rush."

"Stella, have you really thought this through?" Ethan gritted his teeth, lowering his voice. "After you get the divorce certificate, you won't be Mrs. Hunt anymore. You left with nothing. You won't get a single penny! What will you live on?"

"None of your concern." I didn't even glance at him. "Just give it to me."

Anger showed on Ethan's face as he said with implicit sarcasm, "Stella, don't regret this!"

I took the divorce certificate without even looking at it and stuffed it directly into my bag.

"Ethan Hunt, goodbye forever."

I turned and left the Hunt mansion. Sunlight fell on me, as if coating me in a layer of new life's radiance.

I hoped Ethan Hunt would realize something. The Stella who only had eyes for him, who always waited for him at home, who would cook for him. She had truly disappeared completely.

Outside the Hunt mansion gates, a black Maybach slowly stopped in front of me.

The car door opened. A man in a silver-gray suit with a cool and distinguished air stepped out. He was New York's top attorney and also my former college classmate, Adrian Cross.

"Congratulations on your rebirth, Stella." Adrian's lips curved in a gentle smile as he opened the car door for me.

"Thank you." I responded with a brilliant smile, one I'd never shown during my seven years with Ethan Hunt.

Ethan Hunt chased out the door. He happened to see me getting into Adrian's car.

"Stella!" I heard him calling me, but I just closed the car door, leaving him with a merciless view of my back.

We sat in New York's most exclusive revolving restaurant.

I raised my wine glass and clinked it lightly with Adrian's across from me.

"Celebrating designer Stella's happy divorce and rebirth." Adrian's eyes were gentle, reflecting the lights outside the window.

"Thank you." I drained it in one gulp, my red lips parting slightly, my smile radiant and flamboyant.

Without the shackles of being Mrs. Hunt, even the air I breathed felt sweet.

As for Ethan Hunt's life or death, it had nothing to do with me anymore.