Stella was speechless. The clerk clearly didn’t deal with situations like this very often. She glanced at the photo on the document, then looked back at Stella. “You…”
“I’m not dead. Do you remember who reported me as dead?” Stella asked.
This was just too bizarre. The clerk thought for a moment. “I think it was your family.”
“So, how do I get this fixed?” Stella asked.
The clerk hesitated,” Alright, I understand.” Stella didn’t bother waiting for her to finish. She walked out and called Jordan right
away!
On the phone, Stella kept her voice steady, but Jordan could hear the pain beneath her calm. She was hurting more than words could say.
Stella thought bitterly, ‘If someone were alive and well, but his own family goes and declares him dead. How would that make him feel? I guess this is what it means to feel truly numb inside.
“I’ll take care of this for you. You should have a new, independent household registration by this afternoon,” Jordan said.
“Thanks,” Stella replied. She didn’t get into the car right away. She kept walking, feeling more devastated. She never would have dreamed that her family would erase her existence. ‘Do they really wish I were dead that much? Stella thought bitterly.
Just as Jordan had promised, Stella received her new household registration that afternoon. It was in her name alone, and the registered address was now the place she lived with Jordan. With some time to spare, she decided to apply for a passport.
The day before her birthday, Max came to see her. He was clearly in worse shape than before, like he still hadn’t fully recovered from the beating she’d given him, or maybe he was just trying to hide it in front of her.
to the 50
same
“Stella, tomorrow is yours and Anna’s birthday. When you are home, we always celebrate together every year. Let’s do this year. Come back and celebrate with us,” Max said.
Stella stared at him. She’d beaten him up, yet he didn’t seem upset at all. Instead, he was sincerely begging her to come home. Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all just some kind of setup.
“If Jordan doesn’t want you to come, I’ll talk to him. Or you two can work something out. Anna can even come cel that’s better,” Max added.
with you if
“No.” Stella’s voice was icy. “You always focused on Anna at my birthday parties, giving me thoughtless gifts. Those parties were meaningless to me. Now that I’m married, I’ll go wherever my husband wants me to.”
“Just think of it as your last birthday with us, okay? Stella, once Anna gets married too, you two won’t have many chances to celebrate together anymore.
“If you hadn’t gotten married this year, we would’ve celebrated your birthday together like always. Even though you haven’t been home these past three years, we never forgot your birthday.”
“Do you really think I’d believe that?” Stella didn’t bother to spare his feelings.
“You really have the wrong idea about us. I know no matter what I say, you won’t trust us, but Mom, Dad, and I truly want to celebrate your birthday together with you and Anna,” Max said.
1/3
Chapter 81
Stella didn’t directly call him out; after all, that would ruin the fun. “Max, I think you should just give up on this.” She turned around and left.
Just as Stella was about to head home, Jordan called and asked, “Where are you right now?” She told him her location, trying to keep her voice steady.
“There’s an auction tonight. I heard there are some really great pieces. Want to go check it out?” Jordan asked.
Stella felt a rare spark of excitement. “You want to take me with you?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
“You don’t want to go with me?” Jordan asked, sounding a little surprised
“No, that’s not it. I’m just worried I might embarrass you if I go with you,” Stella replied, her tone a bit sheepish
As soon as she said that, she could almost feel the chill coming from his end of the line. She quickly stuck out her tongue and said playfully, “Just kidding. So, where should I wait for you?”
“I’ll have the driver take you somewhere first. You can change there,” Jordan replied.
Stella nodded. “Okay.”
Even though it was an auction, people liked to dress to impress. Stella’s outfit wasn’t really appropriate for the occasion, so she went to change.
When Jordan saw her, she was wearing a long white dress with long sleeves and a full–length skirt that perfectly covered the scars. The dress seemed tailor–made for her, as if no one else could wear it quite the same way.
Her hair had grown out a bit, but it still wasn’t quite presentable enough to go out without a wig, so she had to put one on.
Today, when Stella looked at herself in the mirror, she genuinely loved what she saw. For once, it felt like everything in her life was finally moving in a better direction.
But when Jordan looked at her, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. “Do I look okay?” she asked, fidgeting slightly.
“You look amazing. Graceful, elegant, and absolutely beautiful,” Jordan said, his eyes shining with admiration.
The staff at the styling studio couldn’t help but stare at Jordan in surprise. They weren’t the team he usually booked, but they were still among the best in the business.
Jordan’s name was always associated with words like “cold” and “heartless.” No one had ever seen him treat a woman so well–or even bring one along with him.
‘She’s clearly been through hell. So what is it about her that got to Jordan? Never seen him act so tender before they wondered.
The moment Jordan showed up, all eyes were instantly on him. The auction that night had drawn attention from every industry, and the media was out in full force.
Jordan was the kind of man everyone wanted to interview, but no one dared to approach. He was devilishly handsome. But the powerful aura he exuded made people instinctively keep their distance.
He was always seen alone, so when everyone saw him step out of the car with a woman–her arm naturally hooked through his- they were left completely stunned. “Jordan’s got a girlfriend now?” People whispered in shock.
Looking closer, someone gasped. ‘Wait, it was Stella from the Hayes family? Didn’t Jordan mention throwing a birthday party for
Chapter 81
someone recently? Could it be for her? What’s the deal between those two, anyway?’ everyone wondered.
Jordan didn’t leave everyone hanging. He stepped right up and faced the reporters himself. Everyone immediately pushed their microphones forward, eager to get his statement. “Let me introduce you all–this is my wife, Stella,” Jordan said, his tone calm and
assured.
Everyone was stunned. “Newlywed wife? She’s actually his newlywed wife?”
“Mr. Erwin, when did you two start dating?” one reporter shouted.
“Mr. Erwin, can you tell us when you first met?” Another reporter quickly followed up.
“When did you two get your marriage certificate? And when are you planning to hold the wedding?” another reporter asked.
“Wasn’t Stella supposed to marry Mr. Bass before?” Someone else blurted out.
Jordan had been planning to ignore the questions, but when he heard that last one, he felt Stella tense up beside him.
Just as Stella was about to turn her head, Jordan gently patted her hand with his other hand. Then he turned, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present. Everyone instinctively took a step back.
“If you want answers, you should really go ask the Hayes family why they tried to marry off my wife to Mr. Bass,” Jordan said coldly. He pulled Stella tightly into his arms, his eyes full of tenderness as he looked at her.
But his gaze quickly shifted to the Hayes family, who had just shown up. In a commanding tone, he asked, “Care to explain, Mr. Hayes?”
