Chapter 3

Stella POV

Three days later, at the "StarGlow" International Jewelry Design Competition awards gala.

As Lucas's wife in name, I was forced to attend.

I wore a high-necked, long-sleeved black evening gown that covered me completely. I wore this dress solely to hide the scars on my back and the dense needle marks covering my arms.

I sat quietly in a corner, watching Serena shine brilliantly at center stage.

Serena wore a haute couture white dress with my heart and soul around her neck. "Tears of the Deep."

It was a necklace with a rare blue diamond as the centerpiece, surrounded by smaller diamonds, like the desperate tears of a mermaid in the deep sea. Breathtakingly beautiful.

"The winner of this year's 'StarGlow' Competition Gold Award is... Miss Serena! Her piece 'Tears of the Deep,' with its unique emotional expression and stunning cutting technique, has conquered all the judges!"

The spotlight fell on Serena. She covered her mouth excitedly, her eyes filled with tears as she looked down at Lucas in the audience.

Lucas sat in the front row VIP section, gazing tenderly at the woman on stage, leading the applause.

Thunderous applause filled the room. I lifted the wine glass in front of me and drained it in one gulp.

The bitter liquid slid down my throat into my stomach, but it couldn't match even one ten-thousandth of the bitterness in my heart.

After the awards ceremony came the media interview segment.

Serena held Lucas's arm, radiant and dazzling, accepting the media's flashbulb baptism.

"Miss Marlowe, we heard that due to your hand injury, you haven't produced any new work in recent years. This 'Tears of the Deep' marks your return to the peak. What was your inspiration?"

Serena glanced shyly at Lucas beside her and said softly, "This piece was designed to thank someone who has silently protected me and given me light in my darkest moments. It represents undying love."

The crowd erupted in envious exclamations.

Just then, a sharp voice suddenly cut in.

"Mrs. Thornfield, we heard you were also a somewhat famous talented designer in the industry. Why haven't you published a single piece in the three years since you married Mr. Thornfield? Has your talent run out, so you can only coast on the Thornfield family's influence?"

All the cameras instantly turned toward me in the corner.

Malicious, mocking, and gleeful gazes pierced me like blades, pinning me in place.

I lifted my head and looked at Lucas.

I wanted to see what my husband would do at this moment.

Lucas's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then he spoke coldly.

"Stella indeed has no design talent. The only thing she can do well is hold the empty title of Mrs. Thornfield. Everyone, there's no need to waste time on a worthless person. Tonight's star is Serena."

Something in my head seemed to explode completely.

A worthless person.

My ten years of youth, the talent I took such pride in, the half-life I'd destroyed to save him. In his eyes, it was all dismissed as "worthless."

Suppressed laughter rippled through the crowd.

"So she's just useless. I thought she was something special."

"And she dares occupy the position of Mrs. Thornfield. How shameless. Mr. Thornfield clearly loves Miss Marlowe."

I didn't cry. I didn't even feel angry.

I simply stood up slowly and, under everyone's contemptuous gazes, lifted my dress and walked step by step toward the banquet hall exit.

My spine remained perfectly straight.

Lucas caught my wrist at a hallway corner and slammed me hard against the wall.

"Why are you running? Embarrassed?"

Lucas ground his teeth as he stared at my face.

"Wasn't I telling the truth? Besides scheming to force me to marry you, what else can you do?"

I didn't struggle. I just quietly looked at this face so close to mine.

The face I'd once loved to the bone.

"Lucas."

"You're right. I really am a worthless piece of trash."

Lucas suddenly leaned down, rough and venting his anger through force.

"Stella, what kind of playing-hard-to-get game are you trying now?!"

The taste of blood spread between our lips and teeth.

I didn't respond. I didn't resist.

Just then, a shocked cry came from the end of the hallway.

"Lucas..."

Serena stood in the distance, her eyes red, looking at us tangled together as if she might collapse at any moment.