Chapter 13

Stella switched off the hair dryer and began combing her long, half-dried hair. She teased, "You shouldn't have learned screenwriting. Becoming a performer suits you best."

Felicity carefully touched the bag and clenched her teeth. "I'm sleeping with it tonight. I want to dream of becoming a wealthy woman!"

"Feel free to do that. But, before you sleep, help me take a few good pictures of it," Stella requested.

Felicity turned her head, puzzled. "Why do you want to take photos of it? Do you want to post it on social media and make those rich women jealous?"

"No," Stella replied, taking a seat. "I want to sell it."

"What?" Felicity exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm getting the paperwork done with Keegan tomorrow. I want to buy a home after I divorce him. It'd be best if it is near the Rotona Pinnacle Hospital, fully furnished, and move-in ready, " Stella explained, "That way, it'll be easy for me to look after my mother. I went house hunting in that area before this. The ones that met my requirements are quite expensive, and buying a property will leave me with very little money.

"Also, today, the person in charge from the Honor of the Deities told me that I didn't pass the audition. So, I'll be short of money after the divorce. It's better for me to sell this bag and get some cash."

"You didn't pass the audition?" Felicity couldn't believe it. "Didn't they say that you got the job before this? Just that the contract wasn't ready yet, right? And they wanted you to go over and sign the contract two days later. What happened?"

"I asked them why they suddenly said I wasn't suitable for the job. They told me their boss didn't quite like my voice, maybe because I sound too mature."

"Bullshit! It must be some jerk pulling the strings! Why else would they suddenly change their decision? Do you know who they were going to sign the contract with? I'll give them a piece of my mind!"

"Forget about it. I didn't sign the contract, and I don't have a sound recording of the verbal agreement. Let's just chalk it up to bad luck."

Felicity was still upset. After venting about the person who "pulled the strings," she then complained about Keegan. "You're too soft-hearted. I'm going to find evidence of him cheating on you. Even if it can't make him lose everything, I want you to be able to get his assets!"

"It doesn't matter how the assets get divided," Stella said, lowering her eyes. "I don't care about it anymore."

The words Keegan had said today and how he left her by the road had made her think more realistically. Now, she just wanted a quick divorce to end this relationship completely.

Felicity didn't know how to comfort her, so she hugged her tightly and said, "I know a lot of rich, handsome men. I'll find the best one for you and make Keegan jealous!"

Stella chuckled, "First, I want to make money. After that, I'll choose someone I like. I don't want to feel like I'm just settling for someone who chose me."

The next morning, Stella woke up quite late and felt a bit drowsy. Perhaps it was because she got caught in the rain yesterday.

When she saw herself in the mirror, she remembered that today was her divorce day. She started getting dressed.

Back then, when Stella and Keegan got their marriage license, they were in a hurry. It happened a week before she finished her oral exam, and she stayed up all night working on her thesis. After just two hours of sleep, Keegan's unexpected phone call woke her up.

Before that day, Stella had only met Keegan three times. His sudden call surprised her, and she wasn't ready for it. Her half-asleep roommate grumbled about the call, and Stella quickly went to the bathroom to answer it.

"Are you free?" Keegan's voice sounded cold, but Stella thought it was beautiful because she really liked him.

She whispered, "Yes, I'm free."

"I'll come to pick you up."

Her heart raced as she stammered, "W-Where are we going?"

She could hear the sound of the car engine in the background, which meant Keegan was driving. He replied, "To get the marriage license."

That day, Stella felt a bit spaced out. She wore a white blouse and skipped makeup, doing exactly as he had instructed, afraid he might change his mind.

They just went to get their marriage license casually. After that, they took a photo to remember the moment. But Keegan didn't even smile. Only Stella was happy like crazy.

'The marriage was a hasty decision. But I can't just end it the same way. I want to look really good,' she thought.

She stood in front of the mirror. The red shade on her lips made her look dazzling. She told herself, 'Let's do this properly so we can end this relationship for good.'

She stood in front of the mirror. The vermilion shade on her lips made her look dazzling. She told herself, 'Let's do this properly so we can put a full stop to this relationship.'

At two-thirty in the afternoon, Stella was on her way to the lawyer firm when she received a sudden call from the Rotona Pinnacle Hospital, informing her that her mother had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Stella immediately turned around and rushed to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the emergency room, her mother was still being treated. The medical staff handed her an informed consent form, which she signed with trembling hands.

Having signed many informed consent forms over the years whenever her mother was in critical condition, each time felt suffocating, not knowing when it would be the last.

After she signed it, she felt faint. She only thought about calling Albert after a long while.

"Dad, mom isn't doing so well. Please come to the hospital." Her voice was shaking.

"I'm having a very important meeting. I can't leave right now," Albert's voice came through, the background noisy.

"The doctor said it's likely that she might not make it. This might be the last time we'd be seeing her."

"The doctor had been saying that for six years. But you refused to let her go! Do you think her current state is considered living?" Albert retorted.

Stella's eyes became teary. "So, what are you trying to say?"

Albert brushed her off, "I'll call you after I'm done with my work," and quickly ended the call.

Feeling disenchanted, she squatted on the floor and gazed at the operating room, where unexpected tears began to flow.

Her phone rang again, this time from Keegan.

In a state of desperation, she grabbed her phone and pressed the accept button. "Keegan, my mom... She might pass away soon."

"Stella, are you toying with me? Aren't we supposed to start the divorce proceedings? Where are you?"