Chapter 24

"Don't worry, I'll return the ring to Grandpa Ramon. I forgot he was the one who gave it to me," said Stella.

Charles started to speak but hesitated, his pride getting the better of him.

Stella added, "Maybe you're waiting for the ring to propose to Elizabeth."

"I can marry her without that ring!"

Stella noticed the intensity in his voice and the tension in his clenched jaw. She wondered why he was so upset.

"Okay, so I don't need to feel guilty if you're not married yet. You can take the jewelry if you don't want it to end up with Marimar. But let her keep the clothes, bags, and shoes."

Charles felt more frustrated as Stella seemed to diminish the importance of these items, signaling that nothing linked to him mattered to her anymore.

"If you're set, I'll go get the ring from the room." Without waiting for his reply, she headed toward her old room.

"Fuck!" Charles kicked the wall in frustration, unable to accept that he didn't matter to Stella anymore.

Driven by anger, he fol