Stella went to the hospital to take care of her wound after leaving the bar.

When she returned home, she gathered everything related to Noel and sealed them in a box.

Her parents returned home just in time to see this and were taken aback.

"Stella, have you really let go of your feelings for Noel? Are you sure you don't like him anymore?"

Her parents felt relieved to see her nod without hesitation. They said with a smile, "That's good to know. Eric is busy working overseas. We and the Chiltons got on a video call with him to discuss the marriage.

"Eric is much more mature and dignified than Noel. He suits you better, but he has a reputation for having very high standards, which is why we never considered him. We thought he wouldn't agree to it, but he said yes very quickly."

Stella's eyes turned red immediately.

She knew Eric would agree to the marriage when she first made the decision.

Most of the younger generation were afraid of him due to the generational gap, and Stella was no exception. She rarely talked to him and only saw him at banquets.

The only thing Stella knew about him was his passion for work. He had founded a commercial empire that was at the top of all the business charts. He remained a bachelor.

When he was thirty-five, he committed suicide. A stack of love letters was found in his room when his family went through the things he left behind.

Every letter was penned to someone he called 'My Star'. No Chilton knew who this person was.

Stella was the only one who knew. Stars had filled the sky on the day she was born, and she was named Stella after the stars. She even went by the nickname 'Star' with her close family elders.

She had no idea that this cold, aloof man who always looked distant and unreachable had secretly loved her his entire life.

If God was willing to give her another chance at life, she was willing to give both of them a chance.

While she was in a daze, her parents took out a gift box and handed it to Stella. They sounded happy when they spoke to her.

"It's your birthday tomorrow, Stella, but Eric won't be able to make it back. He got his assistant to bring you this present from his study. Do you like it?"

Stella opened the gift to see a brilliant ring.

It was the most expensive ring auction ever held by Sotheby's in fifty years. The ring was called 'Reach for a Star'.

Stella was lucky enough to have seen it once before, and she never forgot about it.

She did not expect Eric to give her such a valuable gift. It filled her heart with warmth.

Noel had stopped giving her gifts in their last life right after news of their marriage alliance got out.

She had forgotten what it felt like to receive a gift from the man she loved.

Stella's birthday party the next day was held at 7 PM sharp in the most luxurious hotel in the city.

All the guests went up to her to wish her a happy birthday. Stella was also smiling as a huge burden had been taken off her shoulders after settling her marriage affairs.

That was until a commotion came from the crowd halfway through the party. Everyone turned to look toward the entrance.

Stella turned to look as well. Noel had come to her party along with Sophie.

That was not the worst humiliation of the night. The most humiliating moment was Noel's buddies coming toward her while carrying a large plaque.

The words on the plaque stood out like a sore thumb.

"A Wretch Demanding Respect"

For: Stella Judd.

The guests crowded forward to see what was happening. They whispered to each other and gossiped about the situation.

Stella turned pale.

She clenched her hands and stared at the troublemakers. She spoke to them coldly.

"What’s the meaning of this?"

Noel's buddies sniggered as they looked at her. They deliberately spoke louder.

"Shouldn't you ask yourself that question? Didn't you claim Noel wouldn't be your groom? Why did he return home to discover his family preparing for a wedding? Stop playing hard to get. No one plays a better game than you, Miss Judd. These words are perfect for you."

"I told you she was just putting up a stubborn act. She's been running after Noel for years. Everyone knows how she grovels at Noel’s feet. It's so bad that she’s lost all her dignity, yet she claims she doesn't like him anymore and won't marry him? She’s just using a stalling tactic. Who else could she marry when Noel is the only one in Chilton family in the same generation as her?"

Laughter filled the hall.

Noel looked at her coldly as well. "Stop doing useless things like this, Stella. Don't even think about getting my attention. The only thing I can give you after we get married is allowing you to use the name of Mrs. Chilton and nothing else."

He had told Stella the same thing in her past life.

Noel did not lie about that.

He gave her nothing else in their seven years of marriage besides the name of Mrs. Chilton.

Everyone began talking about this when they heard Noel's words. Stella turned pale instantly and took a deep breath. She raised her voice.

"I don't need you to give me anything, Noel Chilton! Listen up. You're not the one I'm marrying, and I'm not marrying someone from our generation. I'm marrying…"

Before she announced the name of her groom, Stella was interrupted.

Sophie suddenly covered her mouth and nose. Small rashes began appearing on her face, and she fell into Noel's arms with tears in her eyes. "Mr. Noel, I'm itching everywhere. Why are there so many hyacinths here? I'm allergic to them!"

Hyacinths were Stella's favorite flower, which was why every corner of the hall was decorated with them.

Noel looked anxious as the woman in his arms began to breathe with increasing difficulty. He kept calling out to Sophie and hoisted her up by the waist to carry her in his arms.

He left behind two sentences before he left.

The first sentence was for Stella. "You're not allowed to plant or display hyacinths anywhere after we get married, Stella Judd!"

His next sentence was for his buddies. "Tear this place apart after I leave!"

"Alright, Noel! We'll get the job done!"

They went to work right away as they flipped tables and chairs over like a bunch of hooligans. They wrecked everything in sight.

Stella's birthday cake was all over the floor while pieces of wine glasses and plates flew everywhere in the air. The fresh flowers were stamped into a pulp by the guests who were trying to avoid the sudden attack.

"Stop! You have no right to wreck my birthday party! Stop it!"

"You'll be marrying Noel soon. You should put your husband's words above all else and do whatever Noel tells you to. Hahahah!"

Stella yelled until her voice was hoarse, but she was unable to stop the violence. All she received in return was endless laughter in her face.

All her guests left as her birthday ended in shambles.

Stella locked herself in her room for the next few days. She refused to leave.

After her parents found out about Noel's ridiculous actions, they were grateful that they did not marry Stella to him. They insisted on going to the Chiltons, but Stella finally left her room to stop them.

She did not want to cause any trouble when the wedding date was near.

After talking her parents out of it, she fetched a design from her room.

Stella did not lock herself in the room because of Noel. He was nothing to her now.

She had stayed inside the room to design a wedding ring for Eric.

Stella knew how valuable 'Reach for a Star' was, and she wanted to return the sentiment. She wanted to repay his love for her.

She handed the drawing to the housekeeper and instructed him to find an expert to carve out her design.

However, the wedding ring never arrived, even after the expected delivery date.

Stella went to inquire and found out that Noel had been there to pick up some jewelry. He noticed the ring right away and took it with him after asking about it.

All he said after taking the ring was, "It's going to be mine anyway. You don't need to inform Stella to pick it up."

The employees knew about the marriage alliance between the Chiltons and the Judds, so they did not stop him.

Stella's heart sank.

She quickly headed to the Chiltons to see Noel. She wanted the ring back.

Stella saw Sophie seated in front of a mountain of delivery boxes the moment she stepped inside the Chiltons' house. She was speaking coquettishly.

"You bought everything in my online shopping cart without my knowledge again, Mr. Noel. How am I supposed to repay you when you're so good to me?"

"I was happy to do it. You don't need to repay me at all. Also, I've told you plenty of times before not to call me Mr. Noel."

That was when Sophie called him 'Noel' shyly.

Stella did not even blink when she saw how they were flirting with each other. She quickly entered the house.

Noel turned to look when he heard footsteps. He frowned when he saw that it was Stella.

"What are you doing here?"

"Give me back the wedding ring you took."

Noel raised an eyebrow when he saw Stella reach her arm out for it.

"It's gone."

Stella was taken aback, and her tone turned grim. "What do you mean?"

Noel was still thinking up an excuse when Sophie, who was sitting on the floor, suddenly spoke up timidly.

"Miss Judd, I read online about how easy it is to open boxes with a wedding ring, so I used it to open hundreds of these boxes. It's scratched now. Do you still want it back?"

Sophie opened up her hand to show the badly scratched ring in her palm.

How dare Noel give Sophie her wedding ring to open delivery boxes!

Stella was furious, and the anger spread to every cell in her body.

She could no longer control her emotions, and her eyes turned red. She stared at the two shameless people in front of her. "What right do you have to take something that belongs to me without asking, Noel Chilton? How dare you destroy it, Sophie Taylor! Don't you know the meaning of respect?!"

Noel's good mood was destroyed when he saw Stella break down because of the ring. His tone was filled with annoyance.

"You were going to give me the ring anyway. Why are you making a fuss over it?

"By the way, I've decided not to hold a wedding. It's pointless for you to design a wedding ring. Stop wasting your time."

Stella clenched her fists at his nonchalant arrogance. She emphasized once more, "That wedding ring wasn't meant for you, Noel Chilton!"

"Who else could it be for but me? It's time to stop your petty act, Stella. You're going overboard."

Noel replied to Stella sarcastically while throwing the ring out. He pulled Sophie out of the house.

"Let's not stoop to her level and waste our time. Didn't you say you wanted to learn to drive, Sophie? Come on, I'll give you a lesson."

Stella was furious and upset as she watched them walk out the door. She wanted to run after them, but she could not do two things at once. She crouched to the ground to search for the ring first.

It took Stella half an hour before discovering it in the flower bed.

She put it in her pocket carefully and turned to leave without hesitation. It was too late to make a new one. Stella could only get someone to restore it and hope that it would be as good as new.

As she walked out of the villa, she heard an unexpected sound.

Stella looked up to see a car speeding toward her. Her eyes widened.

There was a loud bang, and Stella flew off 30 feet away. She landed in a pool of blood.

Sophie looked scared in the driver’s seat. She was crying when she got out of the car.

"Oh no! Oh no! I just learned to drive and mistook the gas pedal for the brake. I'm in trouble now. Miss Judd is bleeding terribly. Will she be alright, Noel?"

Noel frowned as he looked at the stone steps covered in red from the blood. He comforted Sophie while holding her in his arms.

"It's going to be fine. Stella loves acting pitiful. She's just putting on an act right now. You can ignore her. She'll wake up later once she finds out there's no point acting. Don't be afraid, Sophie. Don't cry."

Stella was in a daze when she heard his words. She felt a chill all over her body and could no longer stop the tears flowing from her eyes.

She had always thought Noel cared a little for her, even though he did not love her. They had known each other for years, after all, and grew up together.

He had blatantly brushed her off to comfort Sophie.

Why did she even fall for him in her past life?

Stella struggled to call for help. She had just managed to grab her phone when she lost every ounce of strength within her.

Darkness came and completely consumed her.

When Stella opened her eyes, it was already the next day.

Not long after she woke up, the doctor walked in with her medical records. He said grimly, "Why didn't you come to the hospital right away after your accident? You shouldn't have waited until you lost so much blood before coming here. This isn't something to be taken lightly."

The memory of how she passed out returned to her. She wanted to explain things, but she could only smile bitterly as she had no idea what to say.

Was she supposed to explain that her childhood friend was too busy comforting another woman and had left her lying in a pool of blood?

The doctor did not ask further questions. He continued, "Where's your husband? He should help you with hospitalization."

Stella's anesthesia had not worn off, so she spoke without further thought.

"He's out of the country."

The door opened as she spoke.

Noel walked into the room as he stared right at her. "Who's out of the country?"

"Isn't he right there? He signed your surgical consent letter.

I guess you’re her husband. Didn't I tell you before that you need to watch her constantly while she's unconscious? Where did you go? Count yourself lucky that nothing happened to her. You should get the admission procedures done."

The doctor tore off a hospital form and passed it to Noel before leaving the ward.

"He's not my husband!"

Stella was still trying to explain long after the doctor left. For some reason, Noel felt a little unsettled about this.

"That's enough. I've already taken you to the hospital, haven’t I? Are you still playing hard to get? It's about time you stopped this game."

He placed a bag on the table. His tone softened when he saw the gauze on Stella’s head.

"It's still hot. Have a bite."

Stella was taken aback to see the familiar logo.

Every time she was sick, Stella would get all princessy and refuse to eat anything. Noel would go dozens of miles away and get into a long queue to buy this strawberry tart to cheer her up.

However, he stopped pampering her this way after finding out about the marriage alliance in her past life, and it was the same in this life as well.

Stella looked at the piping hot pie but did nothing. She closed her eyes softly.

The next second, she heard Noel's hesitant voice.

"Sophie didn't do it on purpose. Don't give her any trouble over what happened."

So, he was doing this because of Sophie.

Stella opened her eyes and laughed until she cried. "Noel, what she did was intentional injury. I'm reporting this to the police. She deserves to be punished."

Noel's expression froze. He got exasperated.

"I bought you something and apologized on her behalf. Don't push this any further, Stella."

Stella smiled when Noel failed to keep up the pretense. She looked at him with reddened eyes. It was a silent stand-off.

Noel soon rubbed his temples. He knew how stubborn Stella was. He sighed heavily.

"Let's come to a compromise. You're just losing your temper because you want me to marry you. I'll give you a wedding. Our families are preparing that wedding you've always wanted. Are you happy now?"

Stella lowered her eyes when she saw Noel trying to reason with her. She could not help remembering the past.

Noel did not show up for their wedding in her past life.

He was disgusted with her and the wedding. Now, he was relenting because of Sophie's sake.

Even though he did not like Stella, he ended up marrying her in the end. It was probably because his family had threatened him.

Sophie was his only weakness and the daughter of a maid. It was easy to force him to marry the heiress.

Noel would definitely give in.

However, Stella was not going to repeat that mistake in this life.

She decided to make things clear.

"I don't need you for the wedding. You're not the groom. It won't affect anything even if you don't show up."

Noel was enraged. He was about to lose his temper when his phone rang.

When he saw Sophie's name, he turned to leave without a care.

Stella watched the door close slowly and picked up her phone to call the police.

After explaining the situation, she found out something unexpected.

"I'm sorry, Miss Judd. We were informed that the car accident was unintentional. Your fiance signed off on the settlement. You can't make an official report now."

Stella could hardly breathe when she heard the reply.

Exhaling and inhaling became extremely difficult.

Stella flung her phone onto the wall. She felt the pain from her limbs extend into her heart. In the end, she could no longer take it, and her sobs echoed in the empty ward.

Noel would visit her almost every day with fruits and soup. He even got several doctors to work together to tend to her injuries.

Stella's emotions had stabilized, and she ignored Noel throughout.

Noel got slightly anxious when he saw how cold she was to him. He had no idea why she was being difficult.

However, he tolerated it because she was still recovering.

Stella refused to get into his car on the day she was discharged. He could no longer take it and started to threaten her.

"When are you going to stop throwing a tantrum when I've already given in to you? Aren't you afraid I'll refuse to marry you if you continue this?"

Stella knew there was no use explaining things when he did not believe anything. She lowered her head and pretended not to hear him.

Noel thought she was finally relenting, and his mood improved. He even started to speak in a nicer tone.

"Don't lose your temper like that again. I'm taking you back for a family dinner because my Uncle Eric is back today. He's the head of the Chiltons and will be announcing our marriage alliance to everyone in the family tonight. You have to be there since I've agreed to the marriage. I'll give you a grand wedding. Happy now?"