Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Unshackled

"We should get a divorce." His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

Stella Dawson lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of his shirt. "Alexander, I love you. Please, don't do this."

Alexander Sterling turned away without a second glance, strode to the coffee table, and tossed a document in front of her.

"The divorce agreement. Look it over. Make sure I didn't forget anything."

Stella froze for a heartbeat, then a sardonic twist of her lips preceded her reaching for the papers with trembling hands.

"Alexander," she whispered, her voice laced with a pleading note he knew was false, "is there really no other way? Am I that easy to discard?"

But Alexander's expression remained unmoved, a mask of growing impatience.

"Stop wasting my time," he stated bluntly. "This is what you wanted, wasn't it? The money? Two million. Just sign."

"I married you because of my grandfather's wish. I've held up my end of the bargain."

"I've kept my word. There's no reason for you to cling to this farce any longer."

The air grew still, thick with unspoken words. Only their uneven breathing punctuated the heavy silence.

Stella bit her lower lip, her knuckles white where she gripped the paper.

"But I don't want to let you go..."

She watched him from under her lashes.

Sure enough, Alexander's face hardened into an icy mask.

He looked down at her, his voice dangerously calm. "If you won't sign voluntarily, we'll settle this in court."

Her eyes welled up, glistening with unshed tears. "Alexander, do you really despise me this much?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone as if ready to call his lawyer that very instant.

"I'm not playing games. You know how this ends if you refuse."

Finally, as if utterly defeated, Stella lowered her gaze and scrawled her name across the document.

Silence descended once more.

After a moment, Alexander retrieved the signed agreement and stared at her for a long second.

"Keep this quiet. No one is to know. The finalized papers will be sent to you."

His tone wasn't just cold-it was glacial.

Stella's face paled, her hands clenched into tight fists, looking fragile enough to shatter.

"You'll regret this, Alexander Sterling," she murmured under her breath.

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing. He simply turned and walked out.

The spacious living room was tomb-silent.

Stella looked at the copy of the agreement on the table, traced her signature with a fingertip, and suddenly, a slow smile spread across her lips.

Honestly...

This felt incredible.

She'd never felt so light, so unburdened.

If her stepsister Emily hadn't been so obsessively in love with Alexander, Stella would never have agreed to this sham marriage in the first place.

After months of waiting, the divorce papers were finally here. Stella sank back into the plush couch, a visible wave of relief washing over her.

She lazily picked up her phone and dialed Kevin Porter.

"Kevin, be a darling and arrange a two-million-dollar donation for me, will you?"

"Huh? Stella, what's going on?"

"Don't ask questions. Let's just say I'm tired of being a bored rich wife. Oh, and book out a VIP section at a club tonight-find me some eye candy; I'm celebrating my official return to singlehood."

"Uh. You got it! Congrats on ditching the dead weight! Just text me the details later!"

Stella chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief and glee.

"What do you think I should wear to the club tonight?"

"Go for the little black dress. Killer look! I'm on it. See you tonight!"

With that, the call ended. Kevin was already off to fulfill her requests.

Stella Dawson raised a perfectly sculpted brow, pulling a slinky black mini dress from the closet and tossing it casually over the chair.

Liberation was intoxicating.

She had just finished changing when Kevin Porter sent a burst of photos.

A lineup of male models stood under the flashy lights of the Moonlight Club-all tall, chiseled, and undeniably handsome.

"Stella, check out the selection. If none of these do it for you, I'll get a fresh batch."

"Kevin, your taste is impeccable," she replied, a playful lilt in her voice.

After a quick touch-up, Stella grabbed her purse and headed out. The rideshare she'd booked was already waiting in the driveway.

The villa was in the suburbs, so she'd had the foresight to book a car in advance.

Settling into the backseat, she fished a candy from her bag and popped it into her mouth.

Her phone buzzed-Emily Dawson. The so-called beloved daughter of the Dawson family, who had only recently returned.

"Stella, are you coming home for dinner this weekend? Dad wants to speak with Alexander," a sickly-sweet voice cooed from the other end.

Stella let out a quiet, derisive snort. Of course. That was the real reason for the call.

"What a shame," she drawled, crunching the candy between her teeth. "My husband's schedule is packed lately."

Emily hesitated, then pressed, "Do you know when he might be free?"

"Hard to say. Alexander and I are leaving for our honeymoon soon. No idea when we'll be back."

"What?! A honeymoon?!" Emily's voice shot up an octave.

Stella held the phone away from her ear, smirking. "Of course. He hasn't taken me on a proper trip in ages. You know how demanding his work is. But this time, he's cleared his entire schedule for a European tour. Maybe I'll bring you back a souvenir... if I remember."

Emily was silent for a beat before trying again, "Could you maybe stop by with him before you leave? Dad really needs to see him."

"Tell Dad to call Alexander's office directly. I'm not his secretary."

With that, Stella ended the call.

She knew exactly how Emily felt about Alexander. That little performance? Purely to twist the knife.

Back at the Dawson residence, Emily sat weeping on the couch as if her world had ended.

"Mom, Stella says she's going to Europe with Alexander! You said he didn't love her, that he was going to dump her. What about our plan? What do we do with all the things we prepared?!"

Laura Warner sat beside her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Sweetheart, don't upset yourself. Alexander would never fall for a girl like her. She's just trying to get under your skin."

"That marriage was just a performance for the old Sterling man. You are the one who should be Mrs. Sterling-the true heir of the Dawson family. She's nothing but a stand-in."

Across the room, Nicholas Dawson stubbed out his cigarette, his expression firm as he sat down.

"Your mother's right. I'll find out Alexander's travel plans. If they match what she said. you'll be on that flight too."

Hearing the conviction in her father's voice, Emily nodded, dabbing at her tears.

Her fingers curled into tight fists, her expression a volatile mix of vindication and bitter resentment.

If only she had returned to the family sooner, none of this would have happened-Stella wouldn't have stolen what was rightfully hers.

Alexander Sterling-the Sterling Group heir, the most coveted bachelor. How did a nobody like Stella end up with him?

That life was meant to be hers. And she was done watching from the wings.