Chapter 9 66 Vouchers Stella felt a rush of fluster and an unexpected pang of guilt . But when she noticed Sylvia standing beside Ernest , she couldn't help but scoff at herself . ' It's not like I'm the one having an affair . What right does he have to look at me like that ? " Stella ? " Jeremy noticed her whitened knuckles . " If you're not feeling well , you can head out early . He had brought her mainly to see the work of these new designers . Now that she'd seen them , she was free to leave whenever she wished . Stella shook her head slightly , her gaze still fixed on Sylvia in the distance . " I'm alright , Jeremy . But seeing my own design worn by someone else like a trophy leaves a bitter taste in my mouth ." Then she looked away , offering Jeremy a faint smile . " It's okay , really . Weren't you planning to meet some of the designers ? Please , don't let me keep you ." Jeremy gave her a long , thoughtful look , then nodded . " Alright , " he said gently . " I won't be long . " Then he turned and made his way into the crowd . After he left , Stella viewed a few more pieces before slowly making her way to the terrace . The evening breeze carried a slight chill , cooling much of the restlessness in her heart . Suddenly , footsteps sounded behind her . She turned warily , only to meet Ernest's intense gaze . " Who said you could follow me here ? " he demanded . Caught off guard by his accusation , Stella froze . Through the terrace's sheer curtains , she could just make out Sylvia chatting with other designers nearby . Then Ernest abruptly stepped in front of her , blocking the view . " Keep your little games to yourself , Stella , " Ernest said , his tone sharp and clear . He was convinced she had come to the gathering for no reason other than to follow him . She had to admit that she had really done something that foolish before . And unsurprisingly , all she got was Ernest's icy stare . But now that she had decided to divorce him , she would never stoop to that again . Still , since they had run into each other , she figured she might as well ask how the divorce was coming along and when they could finally get the certificate . Unfortunately , Ernest didn't give her a chance to speak . " Listen carefully , Stella ," he said coldly . " This design competition is extremely important to Sylvia . If you dare cause any trouble , I will make sure you regret it . " Without another word , he turned and walked away . Stella stood frozen , her tightly clenched fists trembling slightly , nails digging deep into her palms . As she walked back from the terrace , she was met by a group of company bosses , who were apparently drawn by Ernest's presence and eager to win Lloyd Group's favor . As the group drew closer , Ernest's low , warning voice carried back to her . " If you dare say anything that harms Sylvia's reputation , you can forget about remaining Mrs. Lloyd ." Without waiting for a reply , he strode toward Sylvia . Stella let out a bitter laugh . ' In Ernest's eyes , I'd do anything to keep the title of Mrs. Lloyd . He's so sure of it that he doesn't even realize I don't want it anymore . ' " Hey , see that ? That's the Lloyd Group CEO's girlfriend . Word is this whole event was thrown just for her , " said a woman in a shimmering dress . Another woman , dressed in sleek black , chuckled softly . " Really ? And here I thought marrying rich was all about compromise , but he clearly adores her . " " Of course , " the first woman replied with admiration . " I heard she's a designer herself , plus from a wealthy family , gorgeous , 1/3 3:24 pm p p p p Chapter 9 classy , and seriously talented . " " Look , the minute those bosses came in , Mr. Lloyd rushed right over . He really doesn't want her to feel uncomfortable . Seriously , where can I find a guy like that ? " the woman in black nodded toward the couple . Stella listened to the admiring whispers around her as she watched her husband rush to another woman's side . Even though she had known about their affair for some time , a dull ache still spread through her chest . Those bosses , who had all built successful businesses , knew exactly who to pay attention to . The moment they entered the room , their words were full of praise for Ernest and eager compliments for Sylvia . " You're all too kind ," Sylvia said , linking her arm through Ernest's . " But Ernest is the one leading Lloyd Group . I'm just a designer . I don't have much influence . " She acted as if she were Ernest's true wife . No one in the room gave one glance in Stella's direction . To all who were watching , Ernest and Sylvia were already a couple . It was profoundly ironic . Sylvia's mother had been the mistress who destroyed Stella's family , and now Sylvia was following in her mother's footsteps . As a child , Stella had often wondered why she carried her mother's surname while other kids had their fathers . It wasn't until later that she learned her father had always intended to throw her and her mother out with nothing . Even though the Jansen family's wealth had been built on the backing of Stella's maternal grandparents , that didn't stop them from being thrown out when she was just ten . The very next day , Sylvia and her mother moved in . But that wasn't all . The Jansens had even tried to sabotage their partnership with the Spencers . Furious , her uncle cut all ties , even paying a heavy price to end the deal . In a world that kisses up to the powerful , Spencer Group soon struggled , while the Jansens climbed higher than ever . She had heard the Jansens poured everything into their daughter's upbringing , teaching her all kinds of talents . Everyone knew the Jansen family had a treasured daughter , but few realized that the daughter had been changed from Stella to Sylvia . Although Sylvia had been openly involved with Ernest for years , the two women had never actually met until now . Seeing Sylvia's commanding presence , Stella had to admit the Jansen family's investment had clearly succeeded . ' Who would have thought that this rising designer , carrying herself like a wealthy heiress , was actually an illegitimate child and now following her mother's path as a mistress ? ' Stella thought with bitter sarcasm . With the arrival of those social climbers , the designers ' gathering had completely lost its original purpose . It was now filled with nothing but flattery . Stella had no desire to stay any longer . She took out her phone , texted Jeremy that she would start her work on Monday as agreed , and got ready to leave . But Jeremy's text said he was stuck upstairs with some bosses and asked her to wait for him in his car . As the CEO of Lumière Group , it was natural for people to seek him out for business talks , though very few knew his alcohol tolerance was surprisingly low . Stella sat in the car , going through some materials she had found online . Suddenly , a familiar voice sounded nearby . She turned her head instinctively and saw a little girl hop cheerfully out of a car . ' Is that Irene ? ' 3:24 pm P PPP Chapter 10