Chapter 4

Verena stayed in the hospital for three days. After she was discharged, she began sorting through her belongings.

She packed what she needed into a suitcase to take with her. The rest she planned to give away or simply discard.

There were still some of Stefan's things at her place. She put all of them into a large cardboard box.

Her movements were swift and decisive without hesitation.

Once she finished, she sent Stefan a message on WhatsApp. "I've packed up your things. Are you coming to pick them up, or should I send them over?"

Stefan quickly replied, "I'll come over this evening."

That evening, as Verena was about to have dinner, the electronic lock on the door beeped in alarm.

Soon after, the doorbell rang urgently.

Verena opened the door to find Stefan standing outside. He was unsightly.

"Why couldn't I open the door with the code? Did you change it?" Stefan asked.

"We're no longer in a relationship, so it's not right for you to still have access to my place," Verena replied.

She then pointed to the large box by the door and continued, "You don't need to come in. All your things are here. You can just take them."

Before Stefan could respond, Noreen peeked her head out from behind him. "I heard you and Stefan had a quarrel. I guess you must have misunderstood him and me, so I came to clarify. We really have nothing going on. Stefan just feels sorry for me. I'm a divorced woman. How could I possibly be worthy of him?"

Noreen's words were pitiful, and she seemed to have suffered a great injustice.

Verena looked at her coldly and felt sick.

Over the years, Noreen had repeatedly used her fragile appearance to gain Stefan's sympathy. She had consistently undermined Verena's relationship with Stefan.

Verena said icily, "Noreen, stop acting like the innocent woman in front of me. I'm not falling for it. This is my place, and you're not welcome here."

"What kind of attitude is that, Verena?" Stefan frowned. "Noreen came out of kindness to clear up the misunderstanding. Do you have to be so harsh? You know that she married a loser and that she's already suffering. Why do you have to bring up her painful past and rub salt in her wounds?"

Verena sneered, "Stefan, I knew you were blind. Are you deaf now? When did I mention her marriage? She brought it up herself, didn't she? It happens every time. As long as there's a conflict between Noreen and me, I always make mistakes. I don't want to see either of you anymore. Take your things and leave."

Stefan's face darkened. "Verena, I'm very disappointed in you. I'm going to punish you this time. Give me back the jar of red beans. Until I've calmed down, I won't be adding any more beans to it. I won't let you sneak any in either."

Stefan seemed to think that the jar was his last bargaining chip with Verena.

He believed she would comply with whatever demands he made to keep it.

But he was wrong this time.

Verena pointed at the carton box on the floor and said, "It's already packed. As I said, everything of yours is in the box."

Stefan found the jar, only to discover it was empty.

He looked up sharply at Verena, disbelief in his eyes. "Where are the red beans that were in here?"

Verena said emotionlessly, "They've been turned into some red bean soup, which I ate." She seemed to discuss something trivial.

Stefan was stunned. "How could you? Do you know what those red beans mean?"

Verena said word by word, "I don't want to marry you anymore, so they hold no meaning."

Stefan's chest heaved with anger. He was clearly provoked by Verena's words.

He glared at Verena and said through clenched teeth, "You'll regret this. Verena, you have to know that no one will ever treat you as well as I do."

"Really?" Verena raised her eyebrows, and her gaze was full of relief. "Then let me see if I can live better without you."

Stefan was left speechless. He glared at her before picking up the box and leaving.

Noreen followed him out. As she passed Verena, her previously innocent and fragile facade dropped. Instead, she gave a smug and malicious smile.

She was like a peacock strutting after a win and reveling in her triumph.

Verena couldn't be bothered to look at Noreen's petty satisfaction and slammed the door shut.