The Invisible Wife Turned Savage Free Preview

"Estella, has the document not arrived yet?"

The man's voice over the phone grew increasingly impatient.

"Almost there."

There was still a mile to Hartwell Group, but due to road construction ahead, traffic had come to a complete standstill.

Estella Hayes looked at the torrential rain outside, gritted her teeth, and handed over the fare before hopping out of the car.

She took off her coat, wrapped it around the folder, and ran forward.

Rain soaked her thin clothes.

But she no longer cared about her appearance. She just wanted to reach Hartwell Group as soon as possible.

When she finally arrived, the security guard refused to let her in. She was drenched, and they didn't want her to wet the floors.

She had no choice but to stand at the entrance and ask the receptionist on the first floor to deliver the document upstairs.

Then, she sent a message on WhatsApp to Nathaniel Hartwell and his assistant, informing them that the document had been delivered.

But there was no reply.

One of the receptionists, seeing her simple attire, mistook her for a courier. She sighed at how difficult the job must be and handed her a cup of warm water.

Estella thanked her, drank the water, and prepared to leave Hartwell Group.

At that moment, the elevator doors in the center of the lobby slid open, and a tall figure stepped out.

It was Nathaniel Hartwell, the president of Hartwell Group, also her husband.

Seeing him walk toward the entrance, she instinctively took a step back.

"Mr. Hartwell, Ms. Isabelle's car broke down on the road. A driver has already been sent to pick her up, so you don't have to worry."

Nathaniel frowned at his phone. "Isabelle's phone isn't going through. Contact the assistant."

"Yes, sir."

Standing in the corner, Estella stiffened when she heard the name Isabelle Monroe.

So Isabelle's back.

She watched as the man hurried into his car, the corners of her lips curling into a mocking smile.

The same man who had just claimed he had an urgent meeting and had frantically rushed her to deliver the document, had now abandoned that meeting without a second thought to go see his first love.

Meanwhile, she stood here, looking like a fool, soaked and pathetic, yet he hadn't even noticed.

Wiping the rain from her face, she felt utterly foolish.

Back at the villa, she changed out of her soaked clothes, drank a cup of warm water, and called Nathaniel's mother, Madeline Reed.

"Mom."

Madeline's voice was gentle. "What is it, Stella? You don't sound right. Are you coming down with something?"

"No." Estella gripped the phone, took a deep breath, and finally spoke the words she had been holding in. "I want to divorce Nathaniel..."

Silence fell on the other end.

Estella pressed on. "The contract I signed with you was for three years. That time is up. And now, Isabelle is back."

Madeline sighed. "Alright, Stella, I understand. I'll have the lawyers draft the divorce papers. As for the compensation I promised you, the Javerton's villa, I'll have it transferred to you as soon as possible."

Estella didn't refuse the financial compensation. "Okay."

Three years ago, she had just graduated from university, ready to sign with an orchestra and chase her dream of becoming a musician.

But then, her family's company went bankrupt overnight. Her father took his own life, and her mother, unable to bear the shock, suffered a mental breakdown.

She couldn't afford the exorbitant cost of her mother's care and was desperate when Madeline appeared.

Madeline, one of the orchestra's investors, had learned of her situation and offered to pay for her mother's treatment, but on one condition.

Her son, Nathaniel, heir to Hartwell Group, had been in a car accident. His legs were injured, leaving him unable to walk. To make matters worse, his first love had left him and moved abroad. Heartbroken, he had shut himself away, drowning in despair.

Madeline wanted Estella to marry Nathaniel in a contractual arrangement, to help him recover and pull him out of his misery.

She had needed the money, so she agreed.

At that time, she asked Madeline why she had chosen her.

Madeline said it was because she bore some resemblance to Nathaniel's first love, Isabelle, and, like Isabelle, she also played the piano.

Estella accepted the job as a stand-in.

She quit her job, registered her marriage with Nathaniel, and stayed home to take care of him.

Like a nanny, she endured his bad temper, tended to his daily needs, and accompanied him through his rehabilitation training.

Six months ago, Nathaniel finally regained full mobility.

The first thing he did after stepping out of the house was buy a plane ticket to Edinland to see Isabelle.

After that, he traveled to Edinland once a month.

Nathaniel's sister, Naomi Hartwell, was also in Edinland.

Estella followed her on social media.

She often saw photos of the three of them together on Naomi's posts.

Nathaniel was always stern and reserved in front of her, but with Isabelle, there was a faint smile on his lips.

Every time she saw Isabelle holding a bouquet of champagne roses in those photos, her eyes stung.

Every Valentine's Day, Nathaniel had his assistant send her champagne roses as well.

At first, she had been touched but also puzzled as to why he sent her champagne roses.

It wasn't until she saw the photos that she realized it was because Isabelle liked them. The person he truly wanted to give them to was Isabelle.

She was nothing but a lowly stand-in.

Now that Isabelle had returned, her role was no longer needed.

Estella made a call to her former senior, Selene Harper.

After graduating from university, Selene had become a teacher at a music institution.

She was now a partner at the institution.

For the past three years, Selene had been inviting her to join.

But Estella had refused, choosing instead to care for Nathaniel.

Now that she was leaving Nathaniel, she needed a job.

Hearing her words, Selene was thrilled. "That's great, Estella! I've been hoping you'd join us. When you got married so young and became a full-time housewife, I always thought it was such a waste of your talent."

Three years without working, yet Selene was still willing to take her in. Estella's eyes warmed. "Thank you, Selene. I'll treat you to a meal later."

"Sounds good! I'll be waiting."

After hanging up, Estella began organizing her documents.

She found her marriage certificate. Seeing the photo of her and Nathaniel, she felt dazed for a moment.

Back then, Madeline had introduced her to the Hartwell family to take care of Nathaniel.

Nathaniel had resisted her, let alone considered marrying her.

Later, he attempted suicide multiple times, and she stopped him each time.

During countless sleepless nights, she stayed by his side, preparing calming aromatherapy and music for him.

No matter how he hit or cursed at her, she never left.

Finally, one day, he agreed to marry her.

During their early days as newlyweds, Nathaniel had been gentle with her.

Back then, she liked him a little.

She thought, if Nathaniel could always treat her that well, she would stay by his side, even if he had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

But later, she learned from Naomi that Nathaniel had only married her because Isabelle had started dating someone new, which had provoked him.

At that moment, she found her feelings for Nathaniel utterly ridiculous.

Now that the contract had ended, it was time for her to leave.

He had never belonged to her. Their marriage had always been a contract.

Letting go meant letting go.

Spending three years of her youth in exchange for a villa in downtown Javerton wasn't a total loss.

Nathaniel did not return all night. However, Estella knew where he was.

On Naomi's social media, a live stream was showing a party celebrating Isabelle's return.

Nathaniel had booked the largest hotel in Javerton and had fireworks set off all night.

Beautiful champagne roses filled every corner of the banquet hall.

His friends gathered around to celebrate Isabelle, and everyone was in high spirits.

It was a social circle Estella had never been a part of.

Because to Nathaniel, she was just a nanny. He never introduced her to his friends or acknowledged her presence in public.

After breakfast, she received the divorce papers Madeline had sent over.

She signed her name and placed the documents on the dining table.

Then, she got up and went out to buy groceries.

The contract was clear。 During their marriage, she was responsible for taking care of Nathaniel.

So even if he didn't come home, she still had to prepare dinner and wait for him.

At eight o'clock that night, Nathaniel returned.

His suit was still crisp, suggesting he had changed at the office.

Estella was about to reheat the food when Nathaniel said, "Don't bother. I'm heading out later."

He didn't spare her a glance and hurried upstairs.

Estella followed and saw him enter the bathroom.

So, she prepared a clean set of clothes and placed them on the cabinet outside the door.

Then, she went downstairs and sat at the dining table, waiting for him to finish showering so they could talk about the divorce.

Nathaniel came down while fastening his watch and said casually, "I'm going on a business trip to Kingston for three days. I'll leave tomorrow night. Pack my things."

Estella hummed in acknowledgment and picked up the documents from the table. "Take a look at this..."

Nathaniel seemed impatient.

Without bothering to check, he asked, "Is it another application for your mom's medical expenses?"

Every month, she had to draft a contract to request money from him, listing all expenses in detail.

The biggest cost was always her mother's nursing care.

He was used to it. Without a second glance, he signed the last page.

"Alright, don't forget to pack my luggage."

Then, he opened the door and left.

Estella watched his retreating figure and smiled blankly.

In truth, her mother's condition had improved significantly. She hadn't requested medical expenses for half a year. But he had never noticed.

She called a local courier and sent the documents to Madeline.

With Madeline's means, the divorce certificate could be processed without even going to city hall.

However, the mandatory cooling-off period was one month.

She still had to wait another month before she could leave.

When she checked her phone, she saw Naomi's latest social media post.

Naomi had posted a picture of a plane ticket, saying she was tagging along with her brother and sister-in-law to Kingston for a concert.

So, his so-called business trip to Kingston is really just an excuse to accompany Isabelle to a concert.

...

While Nathaniel was on his so-called business trip, Estella didn't stay idle.

She contacted an agent, looked at apartments, and settled on a one-bedroom unit for rent.

The villa Madeline had given her was nice, but it was too far from her workplace, and the maintenance fees were high.

She planned to sell it once the property was transferred to her name, ensuring her financial stability.

Besides, her mother's health had improved, and she no longer needed as much money for treatment.

Then, she went home and continued packing.

When she glanced at the wardrobe, she realized all her clothes were the ones she had brought before marriage. Nathaniel had never bought her a single piece of clothing.

And he never wore the clothes she had bought for him. They still had their tags attached.

Over the years, Nathaniel only wore two specific brands.

She had learned from Naomi that Isabelle was the one who recommended those brands.

Since he never wore the clothes she bought, keeping them was a waste. She packed them all up and listed them for sale online at a low price.

For three days, she busied herself packing. Everything that belonged to her was sent to her new place.

She didn't have much. Even if Nathaniel returned, he wouldn't notice anything missing.

Because he had never cared about what was in the house or where things were placed.

Before Nathaniel returned to Javerton, he called her. "Estella, get ready. Tomorrow, we're going to Mr. Liam's place for the funeral."

The Bowen family and the Hartwell family had close ties.

Estella had previously accompanied Nathaniel to a Bowen family banquet. Naturally, she had to attend their funeral with him as well.

In truth, Estella disliked such occasions.

There weren't many people in his circle who thought highly of her. The way they looked at her made her uncomfortable.

Her personality didn't allow her to be effortlessly sociable or likable. But she had no right to refuse.

Fortunately, they would be divorced soon. After that, she wouldn't have to accompany him to such events anymore.

When Nathaniel returned, he indeed didn't notice any changes in the house.

Since Estella had packed his belongings, he naturally wouldn't realize that half of the walk-in closet was empty.

"The outfit you wore last time was inappropriate. You'd better ask Mom for advice." He reminded her while replying to messages on his phone.

Estella responded with a simple "okay."

He never cared about what she wore.

Only on important occasions would he offer suggestions.

But that was just to save himself from embarrassment, not because he actually cared.

She called Madeline.

Madeline had someone send over an outfit directly.

After trying it on and confirming it fit, she put it away.

The next day, she wore the outfit, got into Nathaniel's car, and accompanied him to the Bowen family's funeral.

Sitting in the passenger seat, she felt slightly uncomfortable.

She reached out and touched something small wedged in the seat crevice. It was a black hair clip.

She already knew whose it was.

It seemed Isabelle had been in the passenger seat quite often.

She let out a faint, mocking smile.

Luckily, they were already going through the divorce. Otherwise, she would have been absolutely disgusted.

At the funeral, Isabelle was there too.

This was the first time Estella saw Isabelle in real life.

She was slender, clad in a black dress similar to Estella's. Her light makeup accentuated her fragility, making her look even more delicate and innocent, like the perfect embodiment of demure grace.

Isabelle walked up to Nathaniel and softly called, "Nate."

She probably wanted to take his arm but refrained because Estella was there.

Nathaniel gave her a faint smile and greeted, "Belle."

Then, he introduced Estella. "This is Estella."

Estella caught on immediately.

He called her Belle, but called her by her full name.

She didn't care anymore, but it was still laughable.

Not wanting to interrupt their affectionate exchange, she simply said she was going to see Madeline and walked away.

Nathaniel watched her leave, his expression subtly displeased.

Isabelle noticed the way he looked at Estella, and a hint of unease crept into her heart.

Nate doesn't care about Estella, does he? But the way he looks at her doesn't seem entirely indifferent either.

She quickly pushed the thought aside.

She and Nathaniel had grown up together. They were each other's first love. She didn't believe she would lose.

Madeline had been talking with the members of the Bowen family, but she couldn't get a word in, so she went to the garden for some air.

The Bowen family was also a well-known elite family in Javerton, and their garden was enormous.

She walked until she felt a bit tired. Spotting a swing set, she sat down.

Suddenly, she noticed a line of small words carved into the fence beside the swing: "Nathaniel and Isabelle, together forever."

The handwriting was childish. It must have been carved by kids.

She thought of how Nathaniel and Isabelle had grown up together. They must have played at the Bowen family's house often as children, so it wasn't surprising to find a mark like this.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard Nathaniel and Isabelle's voices coming from ahead.

"Nate, my place is getting renovated, and I don't want to go home and listen to my parents nagging. Can I stay at your place for a while?"

Nathaniel's voice was gentle. "Of course, no problem. I've always kept your room ready."

Estella couldn't help but tighten her grip on the swing's ropes.

In the villa she shared with Nathaniel, there was a large, bright guest room.

The housekeeper cleaned it every day, and the bedding was changed every few days.

At first, she had wondered why a vacant room needed to be kept spotless.

Now she finally understood. That room had always been meant for Isabelle.

...

After the funeral, Estella walked behind Nathaniel.

He stared at his phone in silence, making no effort to speak to her.

Estella had no interest in forcing a conversation. She was only by his side because of the contract.

Isabelle caught up from behind and naturally took Nathaniel's arm.

"Nate, let's go to my place to grab my luggage first, okay?"

Nathaniel nodded, as if only then remembering to inform Estella.

"Estella, Isabelle will be staying with us for a while. Since you have nothing to do, take care of her."

He spoke in a commanding tone, not as a request.

She knew that, to him, she was no different from a nanny.

Since they were getting divorced soon, she had no interest in arguing over whether this was reasonable.

Her expression was calm as she simply said, "Okay."

Maybe because she agreed too easily, Nathaniel found it strange and glanced up at her.

He had never hidden his meetings with Isabelle.

Every time he returned from Edinland, he could sense her mood sinking.

But now, her expression showed no change at all.

For some reason, that irritated him.

At the parking lot, Nathaniel opened the passenger door for Isabelle.

Estella got into the backseat and was about to open the trunk when she suddenly heard Nathaniel say, "I'll drop Belle off first. It's not on the way. You can take a cab home."

The Bowen family's villa was on a mountain, making it nearly impossible to find a cab.

But Nathaniel acted as if he didn't know that, driving away with Isabelle without a second thought.

Estella stood in the cold mountain air for over an hour before finally finding a driver who accepted the fare that was thirty dollars more than usual, to take her home.

By the time she got back, she was starving and exhausted.

But at the dining table, the atmosphere was warm and lively.

Nathaniel, Isabelle, and Naomi were all there, enjoying broth fondue.

Naomi looked displeased. "Estella, where did you go? Why are you only getting back now? No one was home to cook, so we had no choice but to eat broth fondue."

Nathaniel placed a piece of cooked beef into Isabelle's bowl before turning to Estella.

"The sauce Zelda made doesn't taste right. Go to the kitchen and fix it."

Zelda gave her an apologetic look.

Zelda was originally the cook, but since Nathaniel never liked her food, she had been relegated to housekeeping.

With Estella gone, Zelda hadn't known Nathaniel's preferences, so the meal didn't suit his taste. In the end, he decided to settle for broth fondue instead.

Zelda treated Estella well, so Estella didn't want to make things difficult for her and went inside to prepare the sauce.

Just as she set the sauce down, Naomi continued giving orders. "Estella, make some meatballs for us. The ones they sell outside taste awful, all artificial."

Estella was exhausted and starving. She had no energy to make meatballs.

She simply sat down and dumped the boiled potatoes and all the meatballs from the pot into her own bowl.

Seeing that Estella wasn't going to the kitchen and had even taken all the cooked meatballs for herself, Naomi snapped, "Estella, what's wrong with you? Can't you understand what I'm saying?"

Estella calmly ate a meatball before replying slowly, "These are all artificial. I'm doing you a favor by eating them first. As for the handmade meatballs you want, that won't happen today. We don't have enough ingredients. Why don't you go buy some?"

Naomi was so angry she choked on her words and turned to Nathaniel, ready to complain.

But Nathaniel cut her off. "If you don't want to eat, order takeout yourself."

Usually, whenever Estella and Naomi clashed, Nathaniel would side with Naomi.

But today, because Estella had agreed to let Isabelle move in, Nathaniel saw it as a sign of maturity and didn't plan to defend his sister.

Naomi sulked and angrily bit into her beef.

Estella didn't believe Nathaniel was suddenly speaking up for her. As expected, the next second, he said, "Isabelle likes sweet potato and milk oatmeal. It's a hassle, so wake up early tomorrow to make it for her."

Estella's grip on her fork tightened, her expression turning colder.

To him, Isabelle was clearly more important than Naomi.

She could refuse to serve Naomi, but she couldn't refuse to serve Isabelle.

Estella smiled faintly. "Sure."

She could agree. But whether it tasted good or not, she wouldn't guarantee.

Isabelle gave her a sweet smile. "Then I'll be counting on you, Estella."

Estella didn't respond, just continued eating her meatballs.

Since Estella had taken all the meatballs, Naomi didn't get a single one and was fuming.

Seeing Estella stand up, Naomi seized the moment and deliberately nudged the scalding pot with her fork.

Boiling soup splashed toward Estella.

She dodged to the side, but her arm was still burned. A sharp pain instantly spread through her entire body.

Her face turned pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Yet Nathaniel didn't even look at her. Instead, he anxiously turned to Isabelle.

A few drops of soup had splashed onto the back of Isabelle's hand, leaving a faint red mark.

"I'll take you to the hospital!" He immediately picked Isabelle up and rushed outside.

Naomi shot Estella a smug glance and followed them out.

Zelda hurried over to support Estella.

When she rolled up Estella's sleeve, the sight of the dense blisters made Zelda's eyes turn red with distress.

"Mrs. Hartwell..."

Estella gasped in pain. "I'm fine, Zelda. Don't worry."

In the end, it was Zelda who called a cab and took Estella to a private hospital owned by Hartwell Group.

The doctor treated her burns and had a nurse set up an IV drip.

Knowing that Zelda had to go home later to look after her grandson, Estella told her to leave first.

She dozed off in the chair, only waking when a nurse came to inform her the IV was finished.

As she picked up her bag to leave, she overheard two nurses talking nearby.

"I heard Mr. Hartwell reserved the entire VIP floor upstairs just so Ms. Isabelle could have a quiet place to rest tonight."

"It's just a minor burn. If she hadn't come so quickly, the mark would've faded on its own. Was that really worth reserving an entire floor?"

Estella's footsteps paused.

She looked down at her own injured arm and found it laughable.

Taking a cab back to the villa, she washed up and went to sleep.

The next morning, Nathaniel woke her up.

Drowsily opening her eyes, she looked at him in confusion. "What is it?"

Nathaniel's face was cold, his entire presence radiating displeasure. "Didn't I tell you to wake up early and make sweet potato and milk oatmeal? Where's the oatmeal?"

Estella's expression was just as cold. She pulled up her sleeve, revealing her arm wrapped in gauze, and said flatly, "I'm injured. I can't cook."

The reprimand Nathaniel had been about to deliver got stuck in his throat.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Estella let out a self-mocking chuckle. Would it make a difference?

For the past three years, whenever she was sick or injured, he never cared.

She still remembered the last time she had appendicitis. Zelda and the driver weren't around, so she called him, asking him to take her to the hospital.

But Nathaniel was about to board a flight to Edinland and told her to figure it out herself.

She had no choice but to call an ambulance.

After the surgery, she hired a nurse from the hospital to take care of her. He never once visited.

After accumulating so much disappointment, she no longer had any expectations of him. Fortunately, their relationship was almost over.

Nathaniel's phone rang, breaking the silence between them.

He glanced at the screen and walked out onto the balcony.

Estella watched his back as he left. Faintly, she could hear his gentle voice calling someone "Belle."

A gust of wind blew in from the balcony. Feeling a chill, she grabbed a coat and went downstairs.

At dawn, Zelda had texted, asking for the day off because her grandson was unwell.

Estella told her not to worry. She could handle things herself.

She took some oats from the pantry, scooped a spoonful into a cup, then grabbed an egg from the fridge, cracked it over the oats, pierced the yolk, added hot water, covered it, and put it in the microwave.

Three minutes later, breakfast was ready.

She carried the cup out of the kitchen, poured in some skim milk, and sprinkled a few nuts on top.

Just as she was about to eat, Nathaniel came downstairs.

Seeing that she had only made breakfast for one, his expression darkened slightly.

But considering that she was injured, he refrained from saying anything harsh.

He stepped forward to see what she was eating. When he saw the simple oatmeal, he frowned. "That's all you're having?"

Without looking at him, Estella replied coolly, "You'll have to take care of your own meals for the next few days. I'm sure that capable assistant of yours can make sure you're satisfied."

Nathaniel had originally planned to ask her how to make sweet potato and milk oatmeal so his assistant could prepare it for Isabelle.

But seeing how indifferent she was, he didn't feel like asking anymore.

He turned to leave the house and head to the hospital.

"I'll be at the hospital with Belle for the next two days. If you're not feeling well, call my assistant."

Estella slowly chewed on a nut. "Got it."

Two years ago, after he pulled himself together and returned to work, she used to call and text him every day, checking on his health and asking what time he'd be home for dinner.

But he had found her concern annoying and blocked her number.

She could no longer reach him by phone and could only contact him through WhatsApp.

After that, she gradually stopped trying.

Instead, whenever he had an urgent matter, he would use his assistant's phone to call her.

...

At the hospital, Nathaniel's assistant had already brought breakfast.

"Mr. Hartwell, here's breakfast from Harmony Bites and Golden Hour Cafe. I got the sweet potato and milk oatmeal, eggs benedict, and some snacks, just as you requested."

Nathaniel nodded and gestured for her to take it into Isabelle's room.

Isabelle had just finished putting on light makeup. Hearing the knock, she quickly stashed her cosmetics in the cabinet.

Then, she lay back down on the bed and said lazily, "Come in."

When Nathaniel and the assistant entered, she stretched and yawned.

"Did I wake you, Belle?" Nathaniel walked over and held her hand.

Isabelle smiled at him. "How could you? You stayed with me all night. Estella won't be upset, will she?"

Nathaniel froze.

Isabelle's words made him realize that Estella's attitude this morning had been off.

Even though there's nothing inappropriate between me and Isabelle, Estella shouldn't be this indifferent. She should at least...

But he couldn't figure out what kind of reaction she was supposed to have.

"She had a good temper and never got angry. Let's have breakfast first."

Isabelle nodded. "Can you eat with me?"

"Alright."

Nathaniel scooped some oatmeal and placed it in front of her.

He took a bite himself but found the taste off.

He was used to Estella's cooking, and breakfast elsewhere always seemed to be missing something.

Seeing his frown, Isabelle asked, "What's wrong, Nate? Does it not taste good? This is Harmony Bites' sweet potato and milk oatmeal. We used to eat here all the time as kids. It still tastes the same."

Nathaniel didn't voice his thoughts. Instead, he said gently, "It's nothing. You enjoy it. I'm not really hungry."

He set his spoon down and didn't touch the food again.

Leaving the hospital room, he stepped onto the balcony, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag.

Only then did the restlessness in his chest subside.

His assistant approached and asked, "Mr. Hartwell, there's a meeting at half past nine this morning. Should I reschedule it?"

"No need."

Nathaniel's voice was low and cold. In his mind, Estella's gentle and quiet face surfaced.

He told his assistant, "Whitney, let Yvonne handle the meeting. You go pick up Mrs. Hartwell and bring her to the hospital for a checkup on her arm."

The assistant froze.

She often helped Nathaniel with personal matters, but he had never asked her to take care of Estella. Still, since it was his order, she had to obey.

"Understood. I'll head there now."

Nathaniel returned to the hospital room, said a brief goodbye to Isabelle, and left.

After packing up Isabelle's meal containers, the assistant was about to leave when Isabelle suddenly said, "Whitney, I have a headache. Can you stay and accompany me for a checkup?"

Hearing that, the assistant weighed her options.

To Mr. Hartwell, Ms. Isabelle is clearly more important than Mrs. Hartwell. If Ms. Isabelle isn't feeling well, of course, I should put her first. As for Mrs. Hartwell, even if I don't pick her up because of Ms. Isabelle, Mr. Hartwell won't mind.

She immediately put on a polite smile. "Of course, Ms. Isabelle. I'll call the attending physician right away to arrange it."

Seeing her act accordingly, Isabelle couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

...

With nothing to do at home, Estella called Selene out for a meal.

She wanted to discuss her future job.

They met at a cafe.

As soon as Selene saw her, she pulled her into a big hug.

"Stella, it's been so long since we last met!"

They reminisced about their university days, unable to help but feel nostalgic.

"Honestly, Stella, you should've gone into business with me back then. You won multiple national competitions. Professor Dallas even wanted you as his graduate student."

Thinking back, Estella felt like everything had changed.

Her father had passed away, and her mother needed money for treatment. Marrying Nathaniel had been a choice she had no choice but to make.

But now, she was finally breaking free.

Selene continued talking about work.

The organization she worked at was called Serenade Music Hub. The owner was a wealthy heiress who rarely managed it, leaving things to her partners.

Serenade Music Hub had money, resources, and connections, so its clients were all from high society. The teachers there were paid generously.

"If you work with us, you won't have to worry about your mom's medical bills. Serenade Music Hub offers the highest salaries in the industry, and the year-end bonuses are amazing. But our clients are all rich, and many kids and their families have bad tempers. You might struggle at first."

Estella nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best to adjust."

After three years with Nathaniel, enduring his terrible temper, she figured she had built up a pretty high tolerance.

Selene took a sip of her coffee and asked, "Stella, when do you plan to start?"

Estella counted the days. There were still about twenty left in the divorce cooling-off period. "More than twenty days to go. You know, my divorce isn't final yet."

Selene asked with concern, "Your ex-husband isn't going to cling to you, is he?"

After all, back in college, Estella had been the department beauty. No man would let go of such a stunning woman so easily.

Estella gave a self-deprecating smile. "He won't. He can't wait to be rid of me."

Nathaniel had eyes only for Isabelle now. He wouldn't even care about her.

"That's good, then."

Selene was a cautious person. She handed Estella a business card. "Of course, if you do run into trouble, don't worry. I have a friend at the top law firm in Javerton. She's an expert in divorce cases. With her on your side, you'll get out of this unscathed."

Estella didn't think she would need it, but she still accepted the card with a smile. "Thank you, Selene."

...

By the time Estella got home, it was already dark.

A pair of high heels sat by the entrance. A woman's clothes and handbag were on the couch.

She paused for a moment before hearing Isabelle's voice upstairs, then remembered that Isabelle had moved in earlier.

So, Isabelle had been discharged from the hospital.

She headed upstairs and realized the voice was coming from the master bedroom.

A flicker of displeasure rose within her.

Even though she was preparing for a divorce, the master bedroom was still hers. Isabelle barging in like this was simply too much.

She pushed open the door and saw Isabelle sitting on her bed, wrapped in a bath towel.

Nathaniel was crouched beside her, applying ointment to her ankle.

The sight stung Estella's eyes. She held back the urge to curse.

Isabelle quickly explained upon seeing her. "Estella, I slipped in the bathroom just now, and Nate helped me over to apply medicine. You don't mind, do you?"

Estella asked coldly, "Then why are you in my room?"

Isabelle seemed startled by her tone, her eyes turning red as she spoke pitifully. "The shower in my room suddenly broke, so I came here to borrow Nate's. If you mind, I'll leave right away."

Saying that, she immediately stood up.

But because of her injured ankle, she lost her balance and almost fell.

Nathaniel instinctively caught her by the waist.

Isabelle clung to him, eyes full of panic.

Nathaniel soothed her gently. "Don't worry, it's nothing. Estella won't mind."

Then he looked at Estella, his expression turning stern. "You were out of line just now. Apologize to Belle."

Estella found it laughable.

Isabelle was sitting on her bed, barely dressed, still wrapped around her lawful husband, and yet she was the one who needed to apologize.

She didn't bother to argue and turned to go downstairs.

"Estella!" Nathaniel's tone was displeased as he called after her.

Estella turned back, her gaze colder than his. "And what if I don't?"

Nathaniel's expression darkened, his voice carrying a trace of anger. "That wasn't a request. It was an order."

For three years, he had always spoken to her like this.

Before, she endured it.

Now, she wouldn't.

She was divorcing him anyway. There was nothing to be afraid of.

Estella lifted her chin and mocked, "Sure, I'll apologize. I'm terribly sorry for walking in on your little affair. After all, a proper Mrs. Hartwell should turn a blind eye to her husband's cheating."

"Estella!" Nathaniel's breath hitched, clearly furious. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Estella's gaze dropped to his arm. "Am I wrong, Mr. Hartwell? Where are your hands right now?"

Only then did Nathaniel realize he was still holding Isabelle's waist.

Tears welled up in Isabelle's eyes as she whimpered, "It's all my fault. Estella, don't misunderstand Nate, and don't fight with him because of me. I'll move out tonight."

After speaking, she limped out hurriedly.

Nathaniel was about to continue scolding Estella when he suddenly heard Isabelle's startled cry.

Estella turned back and saw Isabelle tumbling down the stairs.

Nathaniel immediately shoved Estella aside in a panic and rushed out.

Caught off guard, Estella fell hard onto the ground. The wound on her arm began to throb faintly again.

"Belle, are you okay?" Nathaniel's anxious voice rang out.

Then came the sound of the front door opening and closing.

Estella let out a mocking laugh.

It seemed that tonight, Nathaniel would be spending another night at the hospital with Isabelle.

She stripped off the bedsheets and threw them into the trash.

She found anything a wh*re had used disgusting.

Once she finished tidying up, Nathaniel sent her a message on WhatsApp。 "Go to Belle's room and bring two sets of clean clothes."

Estella acted like she never saw it, ignored him completely, and turned off her phone.

After washing up, she lay down on the fresh sheets, pushing thoughts of Nathaniel and Isabelle out of her mind. Before long, she drifted into sleep.

...

The next morning, Nathaniel's assistant arrived, speaking cautiously, "Mrs. Hartwell, Mr. Hartwell asked me to pick up two sets of Ms. Isabelle's clothes."

Estella pointed to a room upstairs. "That's Ms. Isabelle's room."

The assistant quickly grabbed the clothes and hesitated before adding, "Mr. Hartwell also asked me to bring you to the hospital... to take care of Ms. Isabelle."

She sounded uneasy.

Estella calmly ate her scrambled egg and cheese toast, ignoring her completely.

Feeling a bit wronged but powerless against Estella's indifference, the assistant remained silent.

Estella used to do anything for Nathaniel.

Now, she seemed unwilling to even acknowledge him.

Even the assistant found it absurd that Nathaniel expected his wife to care for his mistress.

She said nothing more and quickly excused herself.

After finishing breakfast, Estella went online and ordered some household essentials to be delivered to her new home.

Just as she completed the purchase, Nathaniel's WhatsApp call came through.

She picked up, and his scolding voice immediately erupted, "Estella, don't be so unreasonable! You caused Belle's injury, so you should come to the hospital, apologize, and take care of her!"

Estella sneered. "She fell on her own. What does that have to do with me? And what if I don't go?"

Nathaniel grew even angrier.

Estella had always obeyed him in the past. She had never defied him like this before.

Gritting his teeth, he spat, "Estella, don't forget who has been supporting you! You'll do whatever I tell you to do!"

Estella's temper flared.

She had done so much for him, even helping him rebuild his life, yet now he used those very words to insult her.

She didn't want to talk to him anymore. She hung up and blocked him on WhatsApp.

In the past, when Nathaniel blocked her number, it left her feeling suffocated, unable to sleep for nights.

Now, blocking Nathaniel gave her a sense of relief.

A while later, Nathaniel's assistant called her again.

Estella blocked the number and shut off her phone.

Finally, the world was quiet.

Thinking about work, she decided she needed some proper outfits and shoes.

So, she went to the mall.

Nathaniel gave her a monthly allowance of 4,000 dollars for living expenses and 700 dollars for personal spending, based on her requests.

If she needed to attend important events with him, she had to apply separately for funds to buy outfits.

All the designer bags and jewelry in her closet were for her use, but they were never truly hers.

After groceries and necessities, she always had a little left over.

Over the past three years, she had saved up more than 70,000 dollars.

Every cent he spent on her was carefully calculated.

Not even a fraction of what he would casually spend on a bag for Isabelle.

Every time she had to request money from him, she felt humiliated.

But he never cared about her feelings.

His actions constantly reminded her that he never loved her.