Chapter 37

"Ugh!" Marc bent over as a wave of nausea swept through him, his gut twisting from the stench clinging to his soaked clothes.

The cleaning lady jumped back in alarm, her apologies tumbling out in a flustered rush.

Marc clenched his jaw, knowing that exploding at her here would only make him look even more pathetic.

He stood there shivering, the icy,foul-smelling water seeping through every layer and sticking to his skin.

Still, when his gaze drifted toward the restroom, his pride refused to let him retreat. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he shook off the cleaning lady's hand and snapped, "Enough! Just go-don't bother me!"

The cleaning lady blinked in surprise at his outburst.Taking in his pitiful state and stubborn refusal to leave,she silently concluded he really was a stalker.

At least that poor woman had managed to get away from him.

Having fulfilled her end of the deal, the cleaning lady hurried off, eager to put the bizarre scene behind her.

Marc, left standing in a puddle of humiliation,

awkwardly dabbed at his ruined shirt, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Still, he stubbornly refused to budge.

Did Stella really think a cheap stunt like that would get rid of him? Not a chance.

There was no way he'd believe Stella would actually hole up in a restroom all day just to avoid him.

Stepping out of the bustling mall, Stella finally breathed easier.

She hadn't witnessed Marc's humiliation herself,but the mere thought of his uptight, obsessive self splattered with dirty water was more than enough to lift her mood.

Marc, of all people, loathed mess. The idea of him reeking and sticky, frantically scrubbing himself clean,almost made her laugh out loud.

She headed for the curb, hand half-raised to flag down a taxi,when her phone buzzed deep in her purse.Pulling it out, Stella hesitated-an unfamiliar number flashed across the screen, but something about it made her skin prickle with recognition.

She answered warily."Hello?"

A honeyed but sharp voice immediately cut in, all

. .

going to keep pestering Marc? He's finished with you.Why don't you have a little dignity and let go?"

Haley's words dripped with mockery, her supposed language barrier nowhere to be found. The performance was so ridiculous, Stella almost snorted.

A steely glint flickered in Stella's eyes as she answeed,her tone icy and unhurried, "Maybe you need a reminder-Marc and I are still married, whether or not love is involved. The law's on my side. So tell me-who said you could call me up and start hurling accusations?"

Haley's lips parted, but nothing came out. For several seconds, she stood frozen, speechless. "I'm not here to fight with you. Why don't you come over so we can talk face-to-face? It's simple-the one who isn't loved is always the third wheel. Take my advice and know your place."

A cold laugh slipped from Stella, mocking and sharp."Haley,is this really what the Smith family taught you?To meddle in other people's marriages and play the mistress? I guess when you're completely shameless,there's nothing left to lose. It's almost admirable,how you can spout this nonsense without a single scrap of dignity or self-awareness."

Haley's face twisted with fury. "You'd better watch your mouth!"

Stella arched an evehrow thorouahlv uinimnressed

Did Haley honestly think she could intimidate her?

"I've got better things to do than play along with your bullshit. Maybe try focusing on the Walsh Group's plummeting profits instead of pestering me."

Stella's finger hovered over the screen, ready to end the call, when a cold, familiar voice cut in from the other end of the line, "Stella, how could you speak to Haley like that?"

It was Jazlyn-Marc's mother.

A thin smile curled on Stella's lips. No wonder Haley sounded so bold. Clearly, she had Jazlyn backing her,ready to swoop in at a moment's notice.

Jazlyn had never bothered to hide her disdain for Stella. From the beginning, she'd seen Stella as a nobody, someone with no useful connections, no value to offer the Walsh family.

Now, with Haley in the picture, Jazlyn acted like a shameless flatterer, siding with anyone she thought could benefit her precious son.

"You'd better show up right now," Jazlyn snapped,her voice laced with threat. "Let me make this clear, Stella -clinging to my son will get you nowhere. You're nothing but a burden to our family. If you have any sense left, you'll come to the Voyage Hotel immediately. If not, you can face the consequences."

Stella hadn't planned on indulging their drama, but at those words, her expression tightened. After a beat of hesitation, she set her jaw and changed course.