Chapter 6

Stella visited her family's aquafarm the next day after finding out Eric enjoyed fish. She wanted to catch a few fish to practice cooking them for Eric in the future.

She had just picked a fish she liked when she turned to see Sophie walking toward her. Stella had no idea how Sophie had managed to get inside.

Sophie was wringing her fingers while looking pitiful.

"Miss Judd, are you angry because you found out that Noel got hurt from a fight while trying to protect me? This is entirely my fault. Blame me if you must. I know you're his fiancée. I'm just the daughter of a maid and not worth any of his time…"

Stella frowned when she heard Sophie's tone, which was not as innocent as it sounded. She turned to leave.

Sophie grabbed her hand. Stella was bewildered until she saw a taunting smile on Sophie's face.

Before Stella realized the reason behind Sophie's change of expression, she saw Sophie raise her hand to slap herself hard several times. She wept uncontrollably after that.

"You can yell at me and hit me as much as you like, Miss Judd. I won't blame you for it. All I ask is for you to stop being mad at Mr. Noel. I'll let you do anything you want to me if you agree to visit Mr. Noel. I promise I won't resist."

Stella's eyes twitched when she saw Sophie's abnormal reaction. She realized something was wrong.

She was about to pull her away and leave when she saw Noel barging in with a group of people angrily. They surrounded Stella and Sophie.

"Why did you hit Sophie, Stella? I've already promised you a wedding. Stop pushing things too far!"

Stella looked at him coldly. "I didn't hit her. There's a security camera over there. You can check the footage for yourself."

She wanted to leave after that, but Noel was filled with rage and glared at her without listening to her explanation. His voice was cold.

"I used to think that you were just pampered and spoiled because of the way you were brought up. It now seems like you're just rotten to the core!”

He got his buddies to hold Stella down while he held up Sophie's hand.

"I won't allow you to suffer any humiliation, Sophie. Hit her back!"

Sophie initially sobbed and claimed she did not dare to do it. However, once everyone around her encouraged her and declared their support, she stopped pretending and slapped Stella hard with everything she had.

Stella's cheek became swollen following the loud echo of the slap. Her forehead, which had not completely healed, began bleeding.

She felt a burning sting from her cheek that hurt tremendously, and her ears started to ring.

While no one was paying attention, Sophie took the opportunity to push Stella, who was still reeling from the pain, into the water. After that, she pretended to look worried while insisting on saving Stella.

Noel watched all of this coldly and left with his men.

"Ignore her. The water isn't deep. She won't drown."

Stella struggled in the water for a long time. She was about to be exhausted when someone finally noticed her and pulled her out of the water.

She ran a high fever that night after returning home. It did not die down by the next day.

Stella dreamt a lot about her past that night and kept muttering nonsense with tears in her eyes.

"I feel horrible, Noel. Didn't you leave to get me strawberry tarts? Why aren't you back yet?

"It's my fault. I'm sorry, Noel. I promise I won't ever hide the love letters other girls give you again."

Noel happened to walk in and was taken aback when he heard her muttering. He was reminded of how Stella used to follow him everywhere and how he was happy to let her do so while pampering her. The memory softened his heart.

"How did things end up this way for no good reason? If you didn't insist on marrying me, I would have treated you as my sister forever."

Stella heard him while in a daze and woke up.

When she opened her eyes, Noel was back to his arrogant self and growled, "Grandpa said you were sick, so he made me come over to visit you. Don't read too much into this. I was forced to come here. Otherwise, I would never have stopped by."

Sophie walked in timidly the next second and began to apologize in a fluster.

"It was my fault for everything that happened yesterday, Miss Judd. Please forgive me."

Stella had been slapped for no reason and pushed into the water. She had only just managed to get herself together and had lost the strength to argue.

She tried her best to sit up and kick them out, but then she saw Sophie staring intently at her neck.

Stella touched her neck. She was wearing a necklace Noel had gifted her as a coming-of-age present.

Noel noticed it as well. He knew how important the necklace was to Stella, and his eyes lowered slightly. "I'll custom make another necklace for you when I get back, Sophie…"

However, he stopped talking halfway.

Stella pulled the necklace off and flung it away. She forced herself up and picked up a box she had previously packed. She took the box and necklace over to Noel.

A chill ran through Noel's heart when he noticed the coldness of her actions.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Stella pushed the box into his hands and said softly, "I'm getting married soon. My future husband might misunderstand if he sees the things you gave to me before. I'm returning them to you, Noel Chilton. From now on, there's nothing between us."

Noel knew she was trying to be difficult again. He tossed the box aside, and everything fell out. He looked at her grimly.

"You were the one who hit Sophie first, yet you're acting up now? Aren't I your future husband? What do you mean there's nothing between us? Let's see how you continue this act on the wedding day!"

He vented angrily and let out everything that was bothering him before leaving in a huff with Sophie in tow.

Stella smiled at the mess on the ground and softly called for somebody.

"Clean up this mess, and toss everything into the garbage can."