Julian didn't hear that sentence, for he had already gotten up in a hurry to chase after Ariana once he was done hinting at Stella.

Stella's words dissipated in the breeze. No one knew what she'd said.

Besides, it wasn't as if her words meant anything to Julian at all. She was just a sex doll who provided him with carnal pleasure. Ariana was his actual lover, after all.

Stella didn't rest much. A day later, she returned to the company once again. By then, the ordeal she had suffered from was already spread across the company in several variants.

Someone even claimed that Stella seduced the male employees purposefully because she wanted to host an orgy. Ariana had stumbled upon it and stopped the debauchery from happening just in time.

Stella's way of dealing with it was to purposefully lead Julian past the corner where the gossipmongers were speaking among each other.

Having overheard everything, the enraged Julian fired the gossipmongers on the spot. His actions ended up intimidating the rest of the employees. That was how the rumors were cut off at their source.

Meanwhile, Ariana rejected all the documents Stella had worked on. After the latter stayed up all night pulling overnight shifts just to edit the documents more than a dozen times, Ariana chose to go along with the first edition in the end.

Because of that, Stella was unable to get a good night's rest. Julian wasn't given a chance to ask for her sexual services as well.

Stella suddenly smelled a pine scent drifting from behind her. Julian hugged her from behind the next moment, and his hands began to roam around her body.

But Stella continued to type away on her keyboard, as though she didn't pick up on Julian's existence.

Irritated, Julian gripped her wrist. "Why are you pulling another overnight shift? I've been keeping my urges at bay for far too long!"

Stella replied coolly, "Ms. Fairwood isn't satisfied with this document. She asked me to rework it."

An awkward pause later, Julian chose to be nonchalant. "I'll stop her from checking your documents. Here, I'll give you 100 thousand dollars. Tonight, let's—"

"I'm on my period, Mr. Chapman."

Stella's cold voice successfully put out Julian's flames of lust. He gazed into her eyes seriously, only to see the steel-like resolve in her eyes.

So, he could only release his hold on her and leave the office angrily, but not before slamming the door shut on his way out.

For some reason, Julian kept having a feeling that Stella wasn't being herself lately. Without Stella's services, he felt that sex with Ariana was lacking, for he could never satisfy his urges whenever he was with her.

Then again, so what if Stella was acting weird? There was no way that she'd reject him! She had already signed the contract, not to mention that she had slept with him for three years!

After all, Ethan was already dead!

Julian refused to believe that Stella was capable of leaving him.

…

That night, Julian's company, Chapman Group, threw their end-of-the-year gala in the fanciest hotel in the entire city. As soon as Stella wrapped up her work, she was urged by Julian, who had been waiting for a long time, to get her ass to the hotel as soon as possible.

Once she entered the ballroom, Ariana, who was decked out in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, welcomed her immediately. She took Stella's hands in a friendly manner.

"You're finally here, Ms. Atkinson. This is my gift to you. Think of it as a reward for being an outstanding employee. If you refuse to accept this gift, this means you refuse to forgive me for my transgressions."

Stella looked down to see a diamond bracelet. Clearly, it looked pretty expensive.

Since many eyes were on her at the moment, she felt it unwise to reject Ariana's gift. So, she nodded before sliding the bracelet onto her wrist. Ariana just smiled the whole time.

This gala was the grandest gala Chapman Group had ever hosted since its establishment. Julian gave everyone bonuses and gifts on Ariana's behalf.

The gifts locked behind the lucky draw were even more expensive. Because of that, everyone sang praises about Ariana, their latest vice CEO, who had gotten promoted out of nowhere.

With the elegant music serving as the ambience, Ariana and Julian toasted to each other and drank to their relationship while holding hands amid the cheers of the employees.

The event was starting to look like their engagement banquet rather than a company's gala at this moment. That was Stella's exact thought as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes.

"Coming up next is a dance party. Everyone, please find your dance partners and dance the night away."

After Ariana announced the start of the dance party, everyone got up from their seats and began looking for their dance partners.

Stella wanted to use this opportunity to slip out of the venue, but she was stopped by Harold Jenkins, the finance manager, with the excuse of wanting to dance with her.

Since Harold was in charge of distributing the employees' salaries, Stella had no choice but to accept his invitation.

Harold was a single man in his 30s. Rumors had it that he had sexual relations with multiple female employees.

When Stella was dancing, she kept her guard up the whole time. But for some reason, her breathing grew labored, and her body began heating up. Strength started to drain from her limbs as well.

Thinking that something was wrong with herself, Stella tried to come up with an excuse to leave. But Harold had already dragged her limp body away from the dance floor and toward the exit of the ballroom.

Soon, Harold used the keycard to unlock the door to a hotel room that he had already reserved in advance. A lecherous smile was plastered on his face as he threw Stella onto the bed. Then, he turned on the camera, which was already set up in the room.

The desperate Stella begged, "Don't do this! Please! I can give you money!"

Harold merely huffed coldly in return before taking off his shirt. His beer belly was instantly exposed.

As he caressed Stella's cheek with a finger while noting the way she trembled in fright, he replied, "Money? Are you richer than Ms. Fairwood? Don't worry, I'll make sure to get all of your good angles so that you'll become a superstar!"

Distress and agony engulfed Stella whole. She could only cry helplessly on the bed.

Harold took off his belt impatiently, only to hear the door being opened the next moment.

When Julian saw the pair in their state of undress, he saw red instantly. Harold was attempting to pull up his pants in a fit of panic when Julian had already stopped before him and punched him in the face. That punch landed Harold on the floor instantly.

Then, Julian's hand snaked around Harold's throat and began strangling him. At the same time, he roared furiously, "How dare you touch her!"

Harold's chubby figure quivered like jelly out of fear. In a trembling voice, he let loose of everything that he knew.

"Ms. Fairwood was the one instructing me to do this. She told me that she'd give me a promotion and a raise after this…"

Upon hearing that Ariana was behind this plan, some of Julian's anger was instantly doused.

Ariana? That woman was still willful and childish as ever!

But what else could he do about her? He was madly in love with her, after all.

So, Julian could only unleash his rage on Harold. After kicking Harold a few times in a row, he roared, "Get out! From now on, you're no longer employed at Chapman Group!"

Not only did Harold fail to assault Stella, but he also lost his job. But he had no choice but to pick up his clothes and leave like the total loser he was out of fear of Julian's authority.

The room door was quickly shut. That was when Julian's darkened gaze landed on Stella, who was still lying on the bed.

Judging from the way the drugs had tormented her, she had already lost her sanity. By then, she had stripped off her clothes. Her cheeks now aflame, she did her best to suppress her breathy moans.

Never had Julian witnessed Stella looking this depraved in the past three years. The enticing scene was quick to light a fire in his loins.

Julian couldn't restrain himself any longer. He tugged off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt deftly. Soon, he pinned the half-conscious Stella down.

He captured her lips in a rough kiss, spreading his flames of lust to the rest of Stella's body uncontrollably. Of course, she reciprocated the kiss hungrily.

They made out until they could barely breathe before Julian broke the kiss. He began to take off his belt impatiently.

At that moment, a hint of clarity was restored in Stella's eyes. She found herself staring into Julian's deep ones.

Yes, the very same eyes that harbored Ethan's corneas now.

It felt as though a bolt of thunder had struck Stella on the spot, jolting the drugs' effects out of her instantly. Now sober and aware, she quickly wrapped the covers around her out of shock and horror before recoiling from him.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed in alarm.

Julian was stunned at first, but he quickly comforted Stella in low tones. "Don't be scared. It's me."

Just as he was about to take her hand, he heard Stella's icy voice ringing out again. "I know that you're Julian. You can't touch me."

Julian didn't expect that Stella would turn him down. He was momentarily shell-shocked before he explained again, "Stella, I'm not the one who drugged you! I'm here to save you!"

"I don't care! You can't touch me, and that's final! I've already qu—"

Before Stella could finish speaking, Julian—who was furious by her rejection—pinned her down forcibly and sealed her lips with his own. His kiss turned hungry and domineering—as though he wanted to devour Stella on the spot.

How dare she! How dare she resist him!

Julian was her savior! Did she seriously have no idea how nice he was being to her?

She had already provided him with three years' worth of services! Yet, now she kept rejecting him! What was she putting up the chastity preservation act for?

Argh!

Julian released Stella instantly. When he tasted blood in his mouth, he sneered at her.

This was her first time biting down on his lip so hard that she drew blood.

"Stella Atkinson, I've already fucked you way too many times! That made you mine a long time ago! Ethan's already dead! Now, I'm the only one you—"

"Yes, you've fucked me that many times. And yet you still belong to Ariana, don't you?"

Julian was in the midst of going on a rampage when he heard Stella's cold words. Almost immediately, he clamped up and fell silent.

So, that meant Stella only had her eyes for Ethan after all this time, huh?

This was supposed to be a logical counterargument, but for some reason, Julian didn't feel an ounce of satisfaction at all.

Frustration and irritation surged through his chest. The fact that he was mad at a dead man made him feel so helpless because there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

"I'll give you 200 thousand dollars. Can we have sex now?"

Stella didn't expect Julian to say such things after his long bout of silence. She just gazed at him mockingly, thinking that he was quite pathetic.

Did he seriously think that she was still the same woman who'd give him her body in exchange for money?

Hell! No!

"I already called the cops and the ambulance. If you don't leave right now, I'll tell the cops you're an accomplice as well."

Stella's and Julian's gazes clashed with each other, with darkness brimming in the latter's eyes. Finally, Julian left the hotel room with a stormy expression. He did make sure to slam the door behind him before leaving, though.

Just how bold was Stella anyway for her to keep rejecting him?

Stella finally heaved a sigh of relief. After that, she withstood the discomfort surging through her fatigued body until she reached the hospital. Only then did she let consciousness fade away.

She ended up spending almost two days recuperating in the hospital before returning to the hospital to pack her things.

It was at that moment that Stella finally noticed that she had forgotten to take Ethan's personal effects with her. After all, she had left Chapman Manor in a hurry that night.

It was a rose that Ethan had personally carved out of a slab of rose quartz. That rose represented his love for her.

When Stella rushed back into her old room in Chapman Manor, she saw Ariana playing with the crystal rose with interest gleaming in her eyes.

Stella exclaimed nervously, "That's mine! Give it back to me!"

She could only watch anxiously as Ariana dangled the rose before her eyes with a smile on her face, as though she was toying with a pet.

"Give it back!"

Stella tried to snatch the rose back, but her nerves instantly went taut the moment Ariana pretended to break it by hurling it to the floor. She dared not approach Ariana after that.

Knowing that she had leverage over Stella, Ariana finally spoke up casually. "What's with the anxiety? I'm not going to keep this thing away from you. As long as you obey my orders and bear witness to my and Jules' engagement ceremony tomorrow, I'll return it to you."

"Fine. I'll agree to your conditions."

Although Stella had no idea what Ariana was up to, she was willing to do anything just to get the rose back.

Meanwhile, Ariana wanted to test Stella's obedience and get petty revenge on her because she saw Julian's split lip after he returned from the hotel that night. She picked up a small blade before gripping Stella's chin tightly and carving a big "X" on her lips.

The sight of the pallid Stella trembling from the pain satisfied Ariana to no end. She laughed merrily while increasing the force of the blade.

Tears began rolling down Stella's cheeks. Still, she gritted her teeth and endured the pain, her gaze forever pinned on the rose.

"Time's almost up, Ethan," she thought. "Tomorrow, I'll be able to retrieve your rose. Tomorrow, I'll be able to leave Chapman Group for good and take care of Anthony for you. Tomorrow, I'll be able to hear your heartbeat again."

…

The next day, Chapman Group announced that they'd give all the employees the day off so that they could attend Ariana and Julian's engagement banquet.

Everyone attended the banquet excitedly. Not only was the cuisine loaded with fancy ingredients that regular people would never see in their daily lives, but the gifts that were distributed to everyone were also products from luxury brands.

Because of this, everyone began looking forward to Julian and Ariana's actual wedding. They were certain that the wedding would be grander and more lavish than the engagement banquet.

When Stella showed up at the venue with a mask on her face, everyone just shot her odd looks.

"So, that's Mr. Chapman's secretary, huh? Her figure sure is smoking hot… Hehe!"

"That's just a slut who can't marry into the Chapman family. How can she be compared to Ms. Fairwood? Honestly, just how shameless is she to attend the engagement banquet?"

"I heard that she has a dead ex-lover. The moment that her ex died, she eagerly climbed into Mr. Chapman's bed. That sort of woman has no shame whatsoever!"

Rumors about Stella kept circulating among the crowd. Malicious gazes lingered on her form at the same time. But Stella no longer cared about them.

She just wanted to get the engagement banquet over with while hoping that her offboarding process would end as soon as possible. That way, she'd be able to leave this place.

It didn't matter what the others said about her—she would never care about them.

After that, Stella was forced to ascend the stage under everyone's gaze. She filled the couple's glasses with champagne and even delivered a speech to seal their engagement.

Julian kept staring at her the whole time, as though he wanted to see the truth hidden behind her mask.

"Now, I announce that Mr. Julian Chapman and Ms. Ariana Fairwood are officially engaged."

Suddenly, everyone's phones began ringing nonstop. Of course, the trio's phones did the same thing, too, while they remained on the stage.

A curious guest turned on his phone. After checking the latest notification out, his face cycled through various expressions. But he was quick to urge his friends to check their phones out.

Whatever the news was, it spread faster than one could ever imagine. Stella felt that everyone was acting pretty weird. Just as she was about to check her own phone, she heard a woman shrieking desperately.

"No! That's not me! I'm not the one in the video!"

Ariana was trembling violently as she stared at her phone. After screaming into the microphone randomly, she turned on her heel and fled toward the rooftop.

"Aria!" Julian chased after her instantly. In fact, everyone did the same thing.

Only then did Stella have time to turn on her phone. To her horror, she found out that her account actually posted a video on the group chat featuring everyone in the company.

"For 9 dollars and 90 cents, you can get your hands on this sex tape featuring Julian Chapman and the mystery woman!"

No! She wasn't the one behind this!

Stella was on the stage just now, and she didn't touch her phone the whole time! Someone had hacked into her account!

With trembling hands, Stella tapped on the video that was supposedly going to be sold to the employees in the group chat. All color was drained from her face instantly. She could feel her limbs going cold.

Julian's broad back and handsome side profile could be seen in the video. The face of the woman beneath him was censored, but one could tell that she had a nice figure.

Obviously, this wasn't Stella. She didn't have two moles on her chest.

Only Ariana had those moles.