Chapter 2

Keegan's warm breath tickled Stella's ear, causing her ears to turn red. Her lips, in contrast, had paled due to the pain from a bruise on her abdomen. However, with the lights off, Keegan could not see the bruise. Stella lifted her head and kissed his Adam's apple. Keegan's breathing was ragged, and his gaze became much deeper. He leaned in to nibble her neck. Suddenly, he heard her casually say, "I think my ovulation period is due today." Keegan froze, and the lust in his eyes immediately dispersed. He looked disappointed and sounded a bit angry. "Is this all you're thinking about?" Stella gazed at the ceiling, feeling her ears cool down. "Your mom wants us to have a baby. I can't do it on my own. Otherwise, I might consider artificial insemination. Is that alright?" Keegan mocked her. "Did she push you to do this, or are you just afraid of losing the title of Mrs. Kane, so you want to have a bargaining chip?" Stella's heart tightened, but she didn't show it on her face. She chuckled lightly and replied, "Well, yes, I'm afraid you might not want me anymore, and I wish to maintain a connection with you." As Keegan buttoned up his shirt, he shot her an annoyed look. "Don't bother with such a scheme. I don't want a child." Stella's smile faded. As he was about to leave, she called out to him, "Keegan Kane, do you not want a child at all, or do you just not want one with me?" Keegan paused for a moment. "Is there a difference?" he said coldly. Stella clenched her hands tightly. "If there's no difference, then what's the point of this marriage? Let's get a divorce!" "Suit yourself!" Keegan muttered before storming out and slamming the door behind him. Inside the room, Stella's eyes welled up with tears as she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the door in frustration. The following day, Keegan returned from his morning run and sat at the dining table to read the mail. Breakfast had been served earlier, but he showed no interest in eating. Maya, the housekeeper, asked, "Mr. Kane, would you like me to reheat your breakfast?" Glancing at the time, Keegan furrowed his brow and replied, "Call her down for breakfast." Maya went upstairs. Not long after, she ran down in a hurry, "Mr. Kane, Mrs. Kane is gone, and she left... this." "What?" Keegan accepted the papers from Maya, and the words "Divorce Settlement" immediately grabbed his attention. As he read through the contents, his expression darkened. He couldn't help but scoff at Stella's attempt to seek an equal division of real estate, cars, and shares. "She's got some nerve!" When Keegan came across the reason for the divorce stated on one of the pages, he could not laugh anymore. There was only one sentence written: "Due to the male partner's infertility and failure to engage in a normal couple lifestyle, the relationship is severed." With a somber expression on his face, Keegan pulled out his cell phone to call Stella. "Hello?" Stella's cold tone came from the phone. It sounded pretty revolting to him. He asked through gritted teeth, "What is the meaning of this?" "I mean exactly what it says," Stella said casually. "Let me know when you're done signing. After this, we won't have anything to do with each other." Keegan's forehead veins bulged. "I'm asking why you want a divorce!" Stella kept quiet for a while before replying, "Do you think it's normal for us to be like this? Keegan, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while. You should see a doctor sometime. Your mother has been giving me all sorts of herbal remedies every day. What's the point of me drinking them? The one with the problem is you." "Stella Jewell! You—" Without giving him a chance to finish his sentence, Stella hung up the phone. Keegan's expression was grave. Maya was so scared that she did not dare to make a sound. She wondered, 'Mrs. Kane used to be obedient and gentle. Why would she suddenly want a divorce? And what did she say to make Mr. Kane so angry?' Stella, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief after saying her piece. She realized how much she had suppressed herself in the Kane family over the years. But that sense of relief was short-lived. Later that night, there was a knock on her door, and the hotel manager subtly hinted that she couldn't stay in the luxurious suite any longer. The suite she had been staying was reserved exclusively for Kane family members, and now that she was no longer Mrs. Kane, she had no right to use it. Stella was speechless. The manager, trying to be accommodating, said, "No problem, the issue is that your room card won't work anymore. But you can continue your stay by paying directly. We welcome this option. Would you like to extend your stay, ma'am?" In the business world, turning down money wasn't something they did. Stella pressed her lips together, thinking that Keegan was seeking revenge on purpose. He had blocked her card right after their morning phone call. She thought, "What a vengeful guy! Can't believe I used to like him." "I'll pay directly," Stella replied. "Alright, how long will you be staying?" the manager asked. "For a month," Stella answered. "Sure, that will be a total of 1.16 million. If you leave before the full 30 days, there'll be a 30 percent cancellation fee for the remaining days. The rest of the fees will be sent to your bank account during checkout. Now, please go downstairs to settle the room fees. Thank you for your cooperation." Once again, Stella was left speechless. Stella ran her fingers through her hair and flashed a mesmerizing smile. "Sorry, can you repeat the first question?" The manager was taken aback by her smile. When Stella didn't smile, she seemed cold, but when she did, her beauty was captivating. Shaking off his daze, the manager asked, "Would you like to extend your stay, ma'am?" With a slightly restrained smile, Stella replied, "Thanks, but no need. I'll check out, please." The manager was at a loss for words. She could have switched to a cheaper room and still paid a few tens of thousands per month. However, upon further consideration, she decided it might be better to let it go. Since Keegan had already locked her room card, there was a high chance he would also lock her credit card. Stella's claim for an equal share of the property was driven by spite. Since she hadn't contributed financially to the car and house before their marriage, it was unrealistic for her to expect any ownership in them. Moreover, she had no idea about the exact value of the property acquired during their marriage. She was well aware that receiving an equal share was highly unlikely. Despite hoping that Keegan would acknowledge the effort she put into their three-year relationship and offer her a substantial amount, she acknowledged the possibility of him leaving her with nothing. Nevertheless, she recognized the need to plan for her future as transitioning from extravagance to frugality presented its challenges.