Chapter 6

The sunlight streamed brightly through the hospital room. Eric lay back against the bed, while Ruby—the woman he’d just been linked to in rumors—nestled affectionately in his arms, kissing his chin with a tilt of her head. Stella pushed open the door and froze at the sight. She stood rooted to the spot, her fingers gripping the door handle tightly. Hearing the door creak, Eric looked up, his gaze deep and unreadable, like an ocean. Ruby quickly sat up, turning toward Stella with a smile. Her voice was sweet, though there was an edge to it as she said, “Oh, Luna, I’m so sorry. I didn’t hear you knock before coming in. I didn’t know you were here.” Her words were polite, but each one felt like a jab, striking at Stella’s heart. Stella’s fingers tightened around the door handle, her knuckles turning white. Her voice was hoarse as she forced out, “Sorry to disturb you.” Eric’s brow twitched, his eyes narrowing slightly. A flicker of displeasure passed across his features. Ruby quickly stood up, her smile unshaken. “No trouble at all. Luna, why are you just standing there? Come in. Would you like some water? I’ll pour you a glass.” She called Stella "Luna," but her actions made it clear she saw herself as the mistress of the room. Stella’s chest tightened. Her teeth clenched as she bit out, “No, thank you.” With that, she slammed the door shut behind her. She must have lost her mind—how else could she have thought Eric cared for her? But the truth was, no matter how he had saved her—bruised and battered—the night before, his heart was still full of other women. And she, Stella, was nothing but one of many. The one he disliked the most. Stella raised her hand to rub her eyes, wiping away the tears threatening to spill. She turned and walked back to her own room. She shut the door with a forceful bang, then slumped against the wall as she slid down to the floor, exhausted. Breaking the bond... The thought suddenly surfaced in her mind. Maybe this twisted connection with him should end. After all, he didn’t love her. To him, this marriage was probably just a burden. So, why not end it? Meanwhile, in Eric’s room, Ruby stared at the closed door where Stella had just exited. She blinked, then turned to Eric with a smile. “Looks like she’s really upset…” Eric’s face darkened slightly, his gaze drifting toward the window. His lips were pressed tight in silence. He had risked his life to save her the night before, thinking that, at the very least, she would show some care or concern. But just now, when she saw Ruby kiss him, she remained as calm as ever, even saying she’d interrupted them. Didn’t she realize she was his wife? No jealousy, no resentment. Not even the slightest sign that she cared about him. Even if he had saved her... so what? Ruby glanced at Eric’s grim expression, a flicker of calculation in her eyes. She poured a glass of hot water and moved toward him with light, deliberate steps. “Eric, I think there might be some misunderstanding between you two. How about I try probing her feelings again?” she offered softly, her voice dripping with the sincerity of a so-called friend. She’d known Eric for years, both as classmates and neighbors, and their bond had deepened over time. For years, Ruby had secretly harbored feelings for him, but Eric had never once looked at her the same way. Five years ago, fueled by alcohol, she confessed her feelings to him, asking him to be with her. But instead of reciprocating, Eric cruelly added her to his blacklist, disregarding their years of friendship without a second thought. Heartbroken, Ruby walked away from him. Five years after leaving the pack, Stella had met countless handsome men, but none compared to Eric. So, she returned, this time as a friend of his. The five years of separation had made her realize that winning Eric over couldn’t be rushed—it had to be slow and steady, step by step, until she finally got him into her bed. One day, he would be hers, no matter what it took. Eric was still gazing out the window, shaking his head. His voice was cold as he said, “No need.” Over the years, he had tested that woman enough, bringing other women into his home. But what was her response? She remained indifferent, always acting like she didn’t care. When had she ever shown concern? What’s worse, she had even planned to break their bond. At the thought of this, Eric’s face darkened, his expression growing colder and more menacing. Ruby’s gaze shifted, and she dropped the subject, quickly changing the topic. “What would you like for lunch today? Should I ask the housekeeper to make you some blood-enriching soup?” Eric didn’t react much, nor did he refuse. Ruby took that as a sign of consent, rambling on with a few more words before leaving. As she walked down the hall, she paused in front of Stella’s room, a smug smile curling on her lips. She knocked on the door. Stella had just held back her tears, her eyes still red, her face pale and exhausted. Ruby, savoring the sight of Stella's disarray, smiled graciously, like a proud princess. "Stella, you don’t look well… Shall I call the doctor for you?" Stella looked at her coldly. "No need." Whether intentional or not, the tone and expression with which Stella said those words were strikingly similar to Eric’s just moments ago. Ruby’s face darkened, unwilling to admit how much these two seemed to understand and influence each other. Her expression froze for a moment, but she quickly smiled even sweeter. “Eric just told me he wanted some of my lotus pig’s feet soup. If you need it, I can bring you a portion too.” Stella’s fingers tightened in her sleeve, her face still distant. "No, thank you. I need to rest now. Please leave." She was done with Ruby and wanted her gone. But Ruby didn’t leave. Instead, she shut the door behind her and took a few deliberate steps toward Stella. “Miss Stella,” Ruby said with a hint of arrogance and mockery. “There’s something you might not know. Eric and I are childhood sweethearts. Five years ago, after we broke up because of my studies, I left, hurting him. In retaliation, he married you. But now, I’m back, and I hope you understand the situation. You should step aside and break the bond with him.” Childhood sweethearts... So, Eric and Ruby had once been lovers... Stella turned her face slightly, trying to avoid Ruby’s smug, sharp gaze. Ruby closed in, lowering her voice intentionally, as if to make her words sting even more. “He just told me how disgusting it was when you barged in on him earlier,” Ruby casually lied, watching Stella’s face blanch. She knew she’d struck a nerve and pressed on, “He also said that mating with you two years ago was the biggest regret of his life. How did he end up marrying such a repulsive woman like you...?” Ruby straightened up and ran her fingers through her hair with an elegant, haughty gesture, her gaze half-closed in condescension. “After all, compared to me, your qualities really fall short.” Stella’s heart clenched with pain, but she lifted her head sharply, her eyes reddening, filled with defiance and fury, like a small beast cornered in anger. “Yes, I’m not as good as Miss Ruby, but in the end, I’m his legitimate wife, and you… You’re just a homewrecker!” Stella sneered, her lips curling coldly. “I wonder, if your fans knew you were trying to seduce another woman’s husband, would they still idolize you, or call you shameless?”