Stella's POV

I ended my call with Simon, then turned to Bryan with an impassive expression. "It's nothing. Someone has been causing trouble for me. If he crosses me three more times, I'll bankrupt him for good."

Bryan came over. He couldn't resist pinching my cheek as he remarked, "As expected of you, the Ludlow family heiress. You always speak with such imposing authority. If I were in his shoes, I'd be begging for mercy right about now."

Startled, I looked at him. "Is that so? But he doesn't seem the least bit inclined to beg for mercy."

"Then you should let him suffer for a bit. He'll fall in line then."

Bryan was right about that. People only behaved themselves after they were made to suffer.

Meanwhile, Bryan changed the subject by bringing out a gift box.

Before even opening it, I already knew what was inside. Back when he was pursuing me, he loved giving me jewelry. Since I was in the habit of collecting jewelry, even when he had no money, he would still do everything he could to buy the best jewelry he could afford.

Even though the jewelry pieces he gave me were the cheapest ones in my entire collection, I still placed them in the center—simply because they were tokens of his love.

I took the gift box and slowly untied the ribbon. However, my gaze soon froze. The box did contain a piece of jewelry, but it was so crudely made that it was barely even wearable.

With just a single glance, I recognized it. It was the complimentary gift that came with the necklace Roxy wore earlier this evening.

When Bryan saw me stilling, he asked, "What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"

I slammed the box shut and reined in my temper as I replied, "Nope. It's fine."

Bryan remained silent for a moment before snatching the box out of my hands. "Stop pretending. I know you're unsatisfied with it. You've always had high standards for everything. Since I made you unhappy by giving you something you don't like, let's just cancel it out with a free pass, okay?"

That floored me. Did the free passes mean so little to him?

I couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you want to use one?"

Bryan nodded without thinking much of it. "I've got plenty left anyway. Using one won't hurt."

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his tone becoming a lot more suggestive as he said, "After all, it's our wedding anniversary tonight. I don't want you to be unhappy."

For a moment, I truly wanted to inform him that he only had three more free passes left. And since he just used one for the gift, he only had two chances to go.

But in the end, I said nothing. Since he wanted to use it, so be it. I wasn't the one losing out on anything.

Seeing that I was smiling again, Bryan kissed my cheek and turned me around to start undressing me, but I soon grabbed his hand to stop him.

"I'm pretty exhausted tonight. We can do it tomorrow instead."

Bryan froze before saying in a somewhat grumbling tone, "But today's a special occasion! You're seriously ruining the mood, Stella. Well, since you're tired. I won't force you. You should go to bed then."

He took off this shirt and stepped into the bathroom.

I bent down and picked up his shirt. When I saw the lipstick mark on the inside of his shirt, my gaze dimmed.

Just then, Bryan's phone started ringing. Roxy's name flashed on the screen.

I took the call, and her coy voice immediately rang out. "Why did you leave in such a rush, Mr. Sable? I wanted to go for another round. It's such a thrill to make love to you on your wedding anniversary, and while wearing your wife's gown, too.

"Don't forget what you promised me, okay? The next time she leaves for the office, we'll do it in her bed! Mr. Sable? Are you there? Why aren't you saying anything?"

I ended the call. All the color had drained from my face.

When Bryan, wrapped in a towel, came out of the bathroom, he saw me sitting by the window with a document in hand.

"Stella? What's that?" he asked.

I didn't turn around. Looking out at the high-rise buildings in the distance, I said coolly, "Bryan, I want Star Tower, the building located in the city center."

Bryan froze, not quite understanding what I was talking about—until I held out the purchase agreement and asked quietly, "Are you willing to give it to me?"

When he saw the astronomical sum listed in the contract, his eyes flashed with hesitation.

"What's the matter? You don't want to?" I withdrew my hand, pretending to be disappointed. "You used to be so generous with me…"

"Who said I didn't want to?" Bryan snatched the document and signed his name to it.

When he handed it back to me, he bent down, his gaze serious as he looked at me. "Stella, from the moment we made our vows at our wedding ceremony, everything of mine became yours."

Smiling, I hugged him. Since my face was behind him, he couldn't see the tears clinging to the corners of my eyes.

What Bryan just said was a lie. His heart started belonging to someone else long ago.

Since that was the case, at the very least, everything else should be mine.

Stella's POV

Early the next morning, I was woken up by Roxy's arrival. She stood on the doorstep, having brought with her the evening gown she wore yesterday. In a timid voice, she said, "I had the gown dry-cleaned, Mrs. Sable. I'm returning it to you now."

Before I could respond, Bryan took the gown and tossed it over to Edgar. "It's just a gown. You didn't need to come by just for that. But since you're already here, join us for lunch."

He draped his arm across Roxy's shoulders and escorted her in without a pause, as if I weren't standing right there—as if I didn't exist at all.

My hand tightened around the doorknob, and my gaze turned icy.

At the dining table, Bryan and Roxy kept talking about work, seemingly behaving perfectly appropriately.

I didn't know if Roxy did it on purpose, but under the table, her heel kept brushing against my calf. All of a sudden, she raised her wine glass in my direction, but Bryan quickly pressed her hand down.

"You had more than enough to drink last night. Don't drink anymore today. It's bad for your health."

The atmosphere became a little tense.

Bryan swiftly served me a crab leg. "You seem to have lost some weight lately, Stella. You should eat more."

I stared at the crab leg for a moment before eyeing him coldly. "Bryan, have you forgotten that I'm allergic to seafood?"

I saw the way he froze. Evidently, he'd forgotten all about it. Meanwhile, back when he'd been pursuing me, he'd dedicated an entire notebook to jotting down all of my likes and dislikes.

With a remorseful and shifty gaze, Bryan said to me, "Oh, come now. Don't be mad. Why not use a free pass to cancel out my mistake this time?"

That made me scoff, but before I could speak, Roxy piped up, "It's just a crab leg. Would Mrs. Sable get mad over something like that?"

Chuckling helplessly, Bryan replied, "She's the Ludlow family heiress, after all. It's normal for her to be a little spoiled and quick-tempered. She's nothing like you. You had to rely on your own efforts to achieve everything you have, enduring all manner of hardships."

With every word that came out of his mouth, my expression turned a little frostier.

That wasn't the attitude Bryan took before I married him. He would carry me all the way home when my feet hurt from wearing heels. When I couldn't get used to staying in cheap hotels, he would willingly borrow the money if he had to, just to get me a room in a five-star hotel.

Back then, he promised he would never let me suffer in any way… but now? He was calling me spoiled?

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my chest and looked at him. Enunciating each word clearly, I asked, "Are you sure you want to use a free pass?"

If he used one now, he would only have one chance left.

Bryan froze, perhaps because my tone had been unexpectedly grave. But his reaction only lasted for a second before he brushed it off indifferently. "It's just a free pass. Why act like it's such a big deal?"

Withdrawing my gaze, I let out a quiet laugh. "Alright. Since you want to use one, so be it."

I set down my cutlery and went upstairs.

Roxy's voice rang out behind me. "Is Mrs. Sable upset? Maybe you should talk to her and try to placate her."

"It's fine," Bryan calmly replied. "Since I've already used one of the free passes, she won't be upset."

My footsteps faltered. I thought my heart had grown numb by now, but those words still made my eyes tear up.

At first, Bryan was very cautious about using the free passes. It was only when my tears started falling that he finally had to use them to appease me.

However, over time, he stopped caring as much. He would use a free pass whenever he was late, forgot to get me a gift, or chose to spend time with Roxy instead.

And now, the free pass was reduced to being worth as much as a crab leg.

When I gave Bryan the free passes, it was with the intention of giving him a chance to make it up to me if he ever made a mistake. But in the end, he used the free passes as tools that allowed him to forgo putting in any effort at all.

He made it seem like as long as he used one of the passes, I didn't even have the right to be upset anymore.

…

When I arrived at the office, I threw myself into my work in an attempt to numb my emotions. It was already nighttime when I finally decided to go home.

But as soon as I stood up, I collapsed on the floor. I was hypoglycemic, and since I hadn't eaten all day, my blood sugar level had dropped dangerously low.

I couldn't find my medication in my handbag.

In the past, Bryan would remind me daily to check whether I'd brought my medication with me. I'd grown used to relying on him for that reminder.

With barely any strength left, I pulled out my phone and called him. "Bryan, my blood sugar dropped. Bring me my medication…"

He immediately grew anxious, his tone a little frantic as he told me, "Wait for me. I'll be right there."

I hummed in acknowledgment before adding, "If you don't show up, it'll cost you a free pass."

It was the last free pass.

This was the last chance I was giving Bryan.

He agreed at once. "Don't worry. I'll be there in no time."

I let out another hum, and my phone slipped out of my hand, falling onto the cold floor. My vision kept getting hazier, but I could hear my watch ticking away, marking every second that passed.

Yet, even when what seemed like ages had passed, Bryan was still nowhere to be found.

I was about to lose consciousness when the door was suddenly kicked open—but it wasn't Bryan who came in.

In the ambulance to the hospital, the emergency responder gave me a piece of candy to suck on after seeing how pale my face was.

Lying weakly on the stretcher, I had to wait until the sugar hit my system before I finally had the strength to pick up my phone. Only then did I realize that, not too long ago, I'd received a notification from the security camera in the bedroom.

With a trembling finger, I clicked on the app to check the feed.

I was instantly greeted by the sight of Roxy bouncing on top of Bryan. She was wearing my lingerie.

"You're still not going yet, Mr. Sable? Aren't you worried that something might happen to Stella?"

"It's just low blood sugar. Nothing's going to happen. Even if I get there too late, I'll just use another free pass to cancel it out."

He would just use another free pass to cancel it out, huh?

I'd heard that before.

I turned off the screen wearily. I'd never felt more tired than I did now.

I'd already arrived at the hospital when Bryan called me, his voice urgent. "I'm here at the office. Where are you? Why aren't you here?"

"I'm already at the hospital."

Bryan kept quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry. There was traffic on the way."

I chuckled. "It's fine. You can use a free pass to cancel it out."

Bryan exhaled in relief, only to hear me continue saying, "This means you've used up all 99 free passes now, Bryan, so let's get a divorce."