Chapter 4

Everyone was stunned. "The news about Mr. Thorne lighting up the sky for that bracelet was everywhere! That bracelet looks just like the one Stella is wearing!"

"So… Stella really is Mr. Thorne's wife?"

Scarlett froze when she saw the bracelet on my wrist. A flicker of jealousy and malice flashed in her eyes.

The next second, she unexpectedly snatched my watch, saying in a snide, passive-aggressive tone, "Stella, how dare you try to fool people with a fake watch! How could you impersonate Mr. Thorne's wife?"

"Don't get me wrong, this fake is pretty good, but a fake is still a fake, it can never be real."

"Liam is about to collaborate with Mr. Thorne. Are you trying to ruin Liam by impersonating Mr. Thorne's wife at a time like this?"

I glared at her coldly. "Who told you this watch is fake? This watch is genuine, now give it back!"

But Scarlett refused to return it, even deliberately tucking the watch into her clothes.

I stepped forward, trying to snatch it back, but she stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground, her eyes red as she looked at me.

"Stella, I can't believe you hate me so much. Not only did you deliberately push me, but to target me, you're dragging Liam down with you. Fine, I'll take Leo and leave, so I don't bother you anymore…"

Scarlett cried and made a scene, threatening to leave. Two years, and she was still pulling the same tricks. And Liam, as always, fell for it. This time too, he protected her, yelling at me.

"That's enough, Stella! Scarlett is a patient, are you trying to kill her?! You're the one who was in the wrong first, impersonating Mr. Thorne's wife! Are you trying to ruin our company's collaboration? Two years apart, and you've become so malicious!"

Meeting Scarlett's defiant gaze, I scoffed inwardly. She wasn't sick at all. Her terminal illness was fake, and her medical records were forged.

I had told Liam this before, but he didn't believe me, accusing me of making baseless accusations instead. Even now, he still didn't believe me.

I was too lazy to argue, assuming Liam would continue to harass me as he had in the past. But he sighed helplessly instead.

"Fine, I see Scarlett likes this watch. Just give it to her as an apology. Let's drop this, I'll pretend I didn't hear anything that just happened."

That watch was a special gift from Julian. Was he seriously expecting me to just give it away? No way.

I snatched the watch back, saying coldly, "This is a gift from my husband. You have no right to touch it!"

The sharp diamond edge cut Liam's finger. Seeing me refuse to back down, he pursed his lips tightly.

"Stella, it's just a cheap bracelet. If I wasn't trying to give you an out, do you really think we'd even care?"

"Scarlett, it's just a watch, right? I'll buy you an even more expensive and better one. Let *some people* regret it!"

I couldn't be bothered to argue further and turned to leave the room. Afterward, I went back to the hotel where I was staying to rest. In the evening, I quickly got ready and headed to the business gala.

Before I left, Julian sent me a message, telling me that the water park show had just ended, and he was bringing Finn over. He told me to go in first and wait for them.

Knowing my husband and son loved cake, I took a plate with a small slice of cake, planning to find a seat and wait for them.

The moment I turned, I ran into Liam and Scarlett, both dressed to the nines. Seeing it was me, Liam's eyes flashed with disdain.

"What are *you* doing here? What, did you come here specifically to get back together with me?"

"You were so tough earlier, but now you look pathetic!"

Seeing the cake in my hand, Scarlett scoffed mockingly, "Stella, could you be a server here? I heard the servers here only make four thousand. That's not even as fast as taking care of our Leo!"

Liam's face was full of arrogance. "Stella, if you beg me, I might, for old times' sake, make an exception and let you take care of Leo."

I replied calmly, "Don't misunderstand. I'm not a server. I'm here waiting for my husband and child."

Scarlett, however, looked like she'd heard the funniest joke.

"Stella, Mr. Thorne is the only one bringing his child to this gala today. You're not still going to claim you're Mr. Thorne's wife, are you?"

"I am, actually."

Hearing me say this, Scarlett crossed her arms and sneered.

"Stella, you're addicted to lying! How dare you talk nonsense and claim such connections at such an important event, and still wear that fake watch!"

"If Mr. Thorne and his wife found out, we'd all be in deep trouble!"

Before I could react, Scarlett rushed forward, snatched the bracelet from my wrist, and smashed it fiercely onto the ground. The sharp diamond cut a gash on my wrist, drawing crimson blood.

Before I could even cry out in pain, Scarlett shoved me to the ground, then grabbed a nearby cake plate and threw it at my face, snarling, "I'll teach you a lesson for trying to impersonate Mr. Thorne's wife!"

Cake smeared all over my face. The sticky cream clogged my nostrils, nearly suffocating me.

I reached up to wipe the cream away, but Scarlett pressed her sharp stiletto heel down hard on my hand, grinding it repeatedly.

Excruciating pain shot through my entire body; I could almost hear my bones cracking.

When the people in the hall realized I was an imposter, they all laughed at my misfortune. Liam simply watched, his expression cold.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "Mr. Thorne is here!" Everyone immediately looked towards the entrance. I waved my arms wildly, trying to get Julian's attention.

But Liam grabbed my hand, whispering, "Stella, behave! I know you came here specifically because you're jealous."

"As long as you don't make a scene, I can consider remarrying you after the gala, and we can even have another child…"

He tried to pull me up, but I snatched my hand back in disgust. Julian had noticed me. He walked towards me, holding Finn, his voice dangerously cold. "What's going on?"

Scarlett's face was full of flattery. "Mr. Thorne, this woman is an imposter trying to pretend to be your wife! I've already taught her a good lesson for you!"

Liam chimed in, "That's right, Mr. Thorne, you don't need to bother with someone like her."

The next second, Finn let go of Julian's hand and ran towards me, tears streaming down his face. "Mommy, why is your face covered in cream, and your hand, it's bleeding…"

Suddenly, everyone present was stunned. "What? Did I hear that right? Mr. Thorne's son just called that imposter 'Mommy'?"

"So… that means the person on the ground isn't an imposter, but the real deal?"